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I asked a financial planner how I can grow my passive income since I can't work more in a week. It felt like the only way to continue to expand and earn more money would be to introduce passive income streams. But in 2024, I found myself eager to find a few new passive income streams. "Audit what you're already working with and see how you can turn it into a passive income stream." After a month, I was able to bring in $390 in passive income just through those ads.

Persons: —, I've, Jeff Rose, Rose, it's, It's, you've Organizations: Service

Some of the best CD rates that I've found this year include 4% to 5% APY. Since my CD ladder is set up with a mix of short-term and long-term CDs, once the short-term CDs mature, I replace them with long-term CDs instead of short-term ones. As the short-term CDs mature and are reinvested in long-term CDs, the original long-term CDs will become closer to maturing. That means I can potentially reinvest the cash from a short-term CD into a longer term one that offers a higher APY. Right now, I don't have the funds to invest all of my cash into long-term CDs.

Persons: —, I've, I'd, I'm Organizations: Service, Business

I was slow to diversify my income and seek out new opportunities for passive income. At first, I didn't take the time to brainstorm or research ways to bring more passive income streams into my business. When starting a new business, especially as a solopreneur, build passive income streams into your plans. Paying business expenses with my personal fundsWhile I do keep a close eye on my personal finances, that hasn't been the case with my business finances. In the past, I wouldn't have seen that charge for months, because I wasn't closely looking at my business expenses.

Persons: —, hasn't, I've, It's Organizations: Service

☆ I did cold plunges at home for a week. I felt energized and my muscles were less sore, but it wasn't worth it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

After speaking with a doctor, the benefits sounded really appealing. I bought bags of ice to make the water in my bathtub cold enough. Jen GlantzWhenever I saw a photo or video of someone about to enter a freezing-cold bathtub, I wondered why they'd endured such an activity. "If you repeatedly expose yourself to a stressor — such as cold water — in an intentional and structured way, over time, your body will create a positive response to stressors," the doctor said. The doctor said the frequency and length of a cold plunge can be left up to individual preferences.

Persons: Jen Glantz, they'd, Laura Purdy

☆ I spent a month doing the 8-minute phone call challenge, and it improved my relationships with my best friends
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I tested the eight-minute phone call concept to reconnect with two of my best friends. So for the month of February, I scheduled weekly eight-minute calls with two of my close friends, Sarah and Larissa. These phone calls took the place of longer calls, but also replaced the need for text message chats. AdvertisementPerhaps the biggest perk of these short calls was getting to hear the voices of my best friends. I realized that these eight-minute phone calls aren't a solution for every friendship.

Persons: We've, —, I've, Sarah, Larissa, I'd, Sarah didn't, I'm, we've Organizations: Service, Larissa Locations: Larissa

I like putting money in CDs, and one option that will help long-term with taxes is a SEP IRA CD. I started moving money between high-yield savings accounts, CDs, and other passive income-earning investments like REITs and dividend stocks. Interest and earnings from savings accounts, CDs, and other investments are considered taxable income. Instead, after paying my taxes, I reassess how much money of interest income I actually made and decide how to use the cash then. However, unlike a regular CD, CDs in your retirement fund have contribution limits set by the IRS.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, IRS

But occasionally, I'll stumble upon a Gen Z financial influencer serving up advice on what I should do with money. AdvertisementTo make sure I don't get influenced by someone sharing faulty financial advice, I asked Secco to share how a person can vet a financial influencer. Remember that financial advice is not one-size-fits-allI often find myself fixated on a financial influencer's content, especially when it's about how to invest my cash to double my money. Check the person's background to learn more about themBefore seriously considering taking financial advice from an influencer's content, Secco recommended vetting them to understand their credentials. "I don't recommend taking advice from a financial influencer who doesn't have any certifications or designations," she said.

Persons: I'm, Hazel Secco, Secco, it's Organizations: Triple

RobinhoodI decided to ask a few of my friends what investing platform they use. Since my cash is already sitting in savings accounts and CDs through the bank, I decided to check out its self-directed investing platform, Ally Invest. I decided on Ally InvestAfter spending some time testing out each platform, I decided that Ally Invest was perfect for my current needs. It allowed me to easily transfer money between my other accounts with the bank into my investment account. Plus, I was able to diversify my portfolio by investing in different securities, from mutual funds to ETFs.

Persons: Charles Schwab, Robinhood, Ally, Invest Organizations: Ally, Invest

☆ I've been a Southwest pilot for 33 years. The loneliness affects my mental health, but I've learned tricks for coping.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Robert Graves started flying in the Air Force and has been a Southwest Airlines pilot for 33 years. On an average day, I'll pilot three to five flights. When I'm away as a pilot, I'm by myself, but when I'm back home, I'm a husband and a dad to four kids. I rarely know the other pilot I'm flying with. If that's the case, I'll spend the night grabbing dinner, going to the gym, taking a walk, or exploring the city alone.

Persons: Robert Graves, —, I'm, I've, Dale Carnegie, I'd, we'll, walkable downtowns, we're, That's, It's Organizations: Air Force, Southwest Airlines, Service, FAA Locations: layovers, Japan, Nashville, Baltimore, San Diego

☆ I put off having kids and prioritized my career instead. Now as an older parent, I wish I'd done things differently.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

We decided to put off having children until we were both licensed clinical psychologists. I ended up getting pregnant naturally with my first child, but my second child was through IVF. Having kids in my late 30s was harder than I imaginedI wish I had frozen my eggs earlier. If you want to have kids at any point, set yourself up for successBefore having kids, ensure you have a strong support system, including the people around you and your habits. AdvertisementKids are expensive and it helps if you use the time leading up to having children to grow your financial health and set up your career.

Persons: Leslie Dobson, Dobson, —, couldn't, should've, wouldn't Organizations: Service Locations: Hawaii

I thought it wasn't worthwhile to invest in an estate plan if I didn't have any assets. In the United States, the primary intellectual property categories are patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. You can also detail the uses of your intellectual property that are allowed in the future." Since your family might not know the full extent of your intellectual property, Hayes recommended making a list of any intellectual property you might have. "Everyone in today's world has digital assets," Hayes said.

Persons: —, Monique Hayes, Hayes, It's Organizations: Service Locations: United States

☆ I turned down a dream job because it required me to be in the office. Losing my work-from-home flexibility wasn't worth it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chris Blondell, an SEO strategist, turned down a high-paying job that required him to be in office. Blondell later found another job that offered both benefits and the flexibility to work from anywhere. All of my work is done behind a computer, so the transition from office to kitchen table wasn't difficult. However, the job description stated that the position required me to be in the office five days a week. More than that, my coworkers are polite and respectful, and I have the flexibility to work in the office or at home.

Persons: Chris Blondell, Blondell, —, would've, I've, I'm Organizations: Service Locations: Philadelphia

☆ I quit my draining IT job and moved to South Korea to teach English. The language barrier is tough, but I'm much happier here.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Alex Brown, a UK native, moved to South Korea to teach English after quitting his IT job in 2023. Despite language and navigation challenges, Brown enjoys his new job and life in South Korea. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alex Brown, a 30-year-old from Hampshire, England, who moved to South Korea to teach English. AdvertisementI started researching and discovered programs where I could teach English in different countries. AdvertisementI'm glad I picked South Korea to live for a yearMy experience here has been positive so far.

Persons: Alex Brown, Brown, —, Cheongju, I've, I'd, Uber, haven't Organizations: Service, Google, Cheongju Locations: South Korea, Hampshire, England, Bali, Cambodia, India, Turkey, Cheongju, Jikji, Asia, America, Caribbean

☆ My fiancé and I went to a divorce lawyer before our wedding. These were our 5 biggest takeaways.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Once my fiancé and I got engaged, we met with a divorce attorney for legal advice about marriage. But the more I brought it up (at least twice a day for a week), the more he agreed that meeting with a divorce lawyer was a good idea. "Most of the time, one partner will go hire a lawyer, have the lawyer draft a standard prenup, that prenup is handed to the other partner who is told to get a lawyer and review it." It sounds dramatic, but meeting with a divorce lawyer before our wedding was actually eye-openingMeeting with the lawyer was actually very beneficial. Jen Glantz for InsiderMeeting with a divorce lawyer before getting married helped us understand how our relationship, money, and lives would change after we signed on the dotted line of our marriage license.

Persons: they're, —, I'd, we'd, Jennifer Hargrave, iStock, it's, Hargrave, Shutterstock Hargrave, prenup, she's, Jen Glantz, Read Organizations: Service, American Psychological Association, Hargrave Family Law Locations: New Africa

☆ I regret moving to Florida. Living here felt like paradise — until everything changed.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cassie Leigh, a 29-year-old journalist who moved from Pittsburgh to Tampa. AdvertisementAfter only a few months in, I liked living in Tampa so much that I bought a house. Living here felt like paradise — but then everything changedAfter 23 years in Pittsburgh, I was mesmerized by the year-round warm weather, living so close to the beach, and being surrounded by people my age. Wind mitigation is crucial; your insurance company could charge you more if you don't have the right hurricane shutters. I love the beaches and the weather, but living here is not worth the price tag.

Persons: —, Cassie Leigh, I've, hasn't, It's, homebuyers Organizations: Service, Business, Tampa, Florida Locations: Pittsburgh, Tampa, Florida, Miami, Orlando, Canadian, I'm, South Carolina

☆ I regret moving from Pittsburgh to Tampa. Florida is not the paradise I thought it would be.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cassie Leigh, a 29-year-old journalist who moved from Pittsburgh to Tampa. I've always heard people say Florida is a beautiful place to live, and I loved visiting the beach as a kid. In January 2018, I quit my journalism job in Pittsburgh and moved without knowing anyone. AdvertisementAfter only a few months in, I liked living in Tampa so much that I bought a house. Wind mitigation is crucial; your insurance company could charge you more if you don't have the right hurricane shutters.

As long as my child is under 17, with just a few criteria, I'm eligible for the child tax credit. You're eligible for the child tax credit until your child is 17I didn't know much about the current child tax credit and asked Miller if I was eligible. "If you have a child under the age of 17, you could qualify to receive a child tax credit on your tax return," he said. But since the deadline to file 2023 taxes is April 15, some people have already filed their taxes. "This is similar to what they have done in the past, so there's no need to wait on filing your 2023 taxes."

Persons: hasn't, —, I'm, Paul Miller, Miller Organizations: Service, IRS, Relief, American Families and Workers, Senate

☆ I tried eating the same dinner for 2 weeks straight, and there were so many benefits that I'd totally do it again
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In an effort to cook more nutritious meals at home, I ate the same dinner for two weeks straight. I loved the easy prep work, thought my body felt better, and even looked forward to dinnertime. Preparing and eating dinner took only about 30 minutes, allowing me an extra half-hour to do something relaxing and enjoyable each night. AdvertisementBecause I don't track my weight or weigh myself, I can't confirm if I lost a few pounds but I felt better over the two weeks than I did in a while. Overall, I enjoyed the experiment and would try it againI'm glad I experimented with eating the same meal for two weeks.

Persons: —, Jen Glantz, Lori Walker, Walker, Irene Mejia Organizations: Service

☆ I've been moving back and forth between Japan and the US for years. The quality of life in Japan is much better.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Emery Bowles quit his job in the US and moved to Japan to teach English in 2008. Bowles found life in Japan safe and beautiful, despite language barriers and cultural differences. He and his wife plan to keep moving between Japan and the US to expose their son to both cultures. My wife was wary at first about leaving Japan, but the job paid better than teaching, so she got on board. While I love both places, the quality of life is better in Japan.

Persons: Emery Bowles, Bowles, —, that’s, I’ve Organizations: Service, Google Locations: Japan, Asia, Europe, Wakayama, Osaka, America, Georgia, Iwakuni, Tokyo

☆ I've been a military spouse for 17 years, and it's isolating. I've seen the world but lost my identity and delayed my career.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Marla Bautista , a 40-year-old military spouse in Tampa, Florida. None of my immediate family or friends had been service members, so becoming a military spouse was all new. I had to give up the prospect of a career for this lifestyleMany military spouses give up their careers to become homemakers. It’s common to hear military spouses say their career starts once their spouse's career ends. AdvertisementIt can be hard not to lose your own identityMy advice for other military spouses is to support yourself, too.

Persons: —, Marla Bautista, I’ve, he’d, We’ve, hasn’t Organizations: Service, Army, Business, Skype Locations: Tampa , Florida, Denver, Chicago, Iraq, Germany, Colorado, Tampa ., Hawaii, Netherlands, France, It's, Tampa

It would be nice to have a larger apartment, but a larger place would come at a much greater cost. I went from paying a couple hundred dollars a month in rent to around $1,500 to live in the living room of a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. We live in a small apartment that’s in our budgetMy husband and I have lived in the same one-bedroom apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn since 2019. The apartment is under 600 square feet, and the rent is around $3,400 a month. We’d only be able to afford that rent if we cut back in other areas.

Persons: —, Zumper, nannies, I’ve, We’ve, We’ll Organizations: Service, Day Care, New Locations: New York City, Florida, Manhattan, Williamsburg , Brooklyn, It’s, New York

☆ I'm taking my husband to write a will for Valentine's Day. Here's how the process works and why it's key for parents.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But this year we're celebrating our first Valentine's Day as new parents. Craig said assets that are co-owned, owned in a trust, or already have a listed beneficiary don't need to go in a will. Advertisement"You're going to talk about dying with this person and tell them about your family, relationships, and assets," she said. "If you work with someone you don't feel comfortable with, you might not give them all the information needed to get the right estate plan. If you don't get the right estate plan, then there could be problems later on."

Persons: —, we've, Tracy Craig, Craig, who's, who'd Organizations: Service, Business Locations: New York City

☆ I quit my job as a lawyer after 14 years to become a matchmaker. Law was a dark world to live in, and I'm forever glad I switched careers.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I did feel like I was changing the world, but I didn't realize how heavy it all was. I had two young kids at the time, and it started to feel like a dark world to live in. Leaving law was a big risk, but I was willing to take itBefore this career leap, I had no business training. Whether I'm talking to a witness as a prosecutor or a matchmaking client, it's important to lead with empathy, listen to their story, and read between the lines. If you're working a job that doesn't make you happy, you're not serving yourself by going through those motions day after day.

Persons: —, Ann Parnes, I'm, we'll, I've Organizations: Service, Business Locations: New Orleans

It's important to fill out your tax return consistently each year — and keep your employer up to date. Even if you aren't the one filing taxes, you should check the return to make sure it's accurate. In 2023, when we had a baby, we started to have conversations about filing taxes together. If we continued to file taxes separately, we both couldn't claim our child as a dependent, and that could impact the amount of taxes one of us owed. AdvertisementAfter meeting with certified public accountant Logan Allec, we realized that it was finally time to file taxes together.

Persons: —, we've, Logan Allec, Allec, isn't, it's, wasn't Organizations: Service

☆ I moved to San Francisco despite the negative things I'd heard. The cost of living is high but it's worth it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Julia Stevens, a 25-year-old who recently moved to San Francisco. In August 2022, a few of my college friends who'd moved to San Francisco invited me to visit them. I'd traveled in Europe during college; even still, San Francisco was the most beautiful and striking place I'd ever seen. San Francisco was perfect for the career path I wanted to takeI majored in English and minored in environmental science. The cost of living is the biggest downsideI wasn't fully prepared for the high cost of living in SF .

Persons: —, Julia Stevens, who'd, San Francisco, I'd, didn't, I've, I'm, outdoorsy, El Salvadorian, it'll Organizations: Service, Business, San, Facebook, Craigslist, Raleigh Locations: San Francisco, Raleigh, America, Europe, San, North Carolina, Santa Cruz, East

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