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☆ ‘Not all debt needs to be paid off as soon as possible,’ says CFP—what to focus on first
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A little over 40% of Americans would consider themselves financially successful if they were able to clear their debt, according to a recent Bankrate survey. That number includes mortgage debt, car loans, student loan debt and credit card debt. "Not all debt needs to be paid off as soon as possible," she tells CNBC Make It. For each debt, include the name of your lender, your outstanding balance, the minimum payment, any due dates and the interest rate. And the interest rate for federal student loans ranges from 5.5% to 8.05%, per the Department of Education.

Persons: isn't, Avani Ramnani, Francis, Ramnani, Matt Schulz, Louis Organizations: New York Federal Reserve, Francis Financial, CNBC, Federal Reserve Bank of St, of Education

☆ I'm a professional declutterer. Here are 5 things from your bathroom you need to throw out.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Julia Williamson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

As a professional decluttrer, here are five things I recommend you purge today. As for throwing things away, don't worry about waste; keeping something but not using it is the same as consigning it to the trash. AdvertisementSo much 'other' stuff ends up in the bathroomMany things find their way into the bathroom that are only tangentially connected to hygiene. Items like candles, toys, lint rollers, irons — all kinds of things find their way into the bathroom and refuse to leave. If you don't actually use it in the bathroom, there might be a better place to store it.

Persons: you've, bobby Organizations: Service, Business

☆ In the battle of Telegram vs Signal, Elon Musk casts doubt on the security of the app he once championed
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Elon Musk once championed encrypted messaging app Signal, promoting its user privacy protections. Signal has been sharply criticized recently by a conservative activist and a rival app, Telegram. AdvertisementThe encryption wars brewing between the messaging apps Telegram and Signal have attracted the commentary of a high-profile critic: Elon Musk. In response to Rufo's post, Musk wrote cryptically, "There are known vulnerabilities with Signal that are not being addressed. Green, as well as Musk, Signal, and Telegram representatives, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, —, Elon, Pavel Durov, Durov, Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, Jeff Bezos, Christopher Rufo —, Katherine Maher, Rufo, Maher, Edward Snowden, Meredith Whittaker, Whittaker, haven’t, IbXREWVaPL — Meredith Whittaker, @mer__edith, Jack Dorsey, — Elon, Johns Hopkins, Matthew Green, Green Organizations: Service, Fox News, NSA, Amazon, Elon, Telegram, Business Locations: Moscow

☆ How to buy your first luxury watch
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Learn the lingoJust like buying a car, there are some technical terms prospective watch buyers can benefit from knowing. Parts of the watchCrown: Small knob found on the side of the watch used to change the date and time. Automatic movement: A mechanical watch that does not need a battery to move, it relies on movement from the wearer to wind. Buy a watch for the right reasons and consider what you need from itDon’t get sucked into hype around a watch. See if the designer made any othersWhile on the lookout for a watch to wear to his wedding, Pang saw a six-figure Audemars Piguet watch.

Persons: you’ve, it’s, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Sotheby Asia’s, Joey Luk, Charles Frodsham, “, ”, Johnathan Chan, you’re, Helbert Tsang, Tim Stracke, don’t, Luk, Carlos Pang, Pang, Gerald Genta, Chan, … Organizations: CNN, Rolex, Horology, Facebook, IWC, ” Locations: haute, Hong Kong, Geneva

I reached out to investing educator Amanda Holden, who told me it's smart to start with a brokerage account. Instead of investing in individual stocks, she suggests ETFs and index funds. In order to explain some of the basics in a simple way, I reached out to investing educator Amanda Holden for her thoughts. She had four tips for getting started on your investing journey. Of course, you'll want to consult with a financial advisor for a full investing strategy; her tips are educational, but they aren't investing advice.

Persons: Amanda Holden, it's, Holden, Charles Schwab, Schwab, Get, You'll, aren't, we'll, doesn't Organizations: Fidelity, Vanguard, — Vanguard

☆ An employment lawyer explains the 3 things you should do the moment you're put on a PIP
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Jane Zhang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

While there are circumstances where an employee survives the PIP and keeps working there, those situations are rare. Decide if the PIP is reasonableOnce you've read the PIP, ask yourself, is this PIP designed for me to fail, or is it reasonable? AdvertisementA good PIP should be very clear about the areas where the employee is supposedly deficient. I don't think companies should use PIPs for the sake of trying to protect themselves from potential future issues. If you've been put on a PIP or put someone on a PIP and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at janezhang@businessinsider.com.

Persons: Craig Levey, there's, you've, it's, It's, Jane Zhang Organizations: Service, Bennett, Belfort, Business Locations: P.C, Cambridge , Massachusetts, janezhang@businessinsider.com

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

Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius leaves court after appearing for the 2013 killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, June 14, 2016. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/Files Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Nov 24 (Reuters) - South Africa's former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius, jailed in 2014 for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, will get another chance for an early release at a parole hearing on Friday. He was sent back to jail for six years in 2016 after a High Court sentence, which was less than half the 15-year minimum term sought by prosecutors. Several factors are typically taken into account by a parole board before inmates are released on parole. Pistorius was denied parole in March after it was ruled that he had not completed the minimum detention period required to be considered for parole.

Persons: Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp, Siphiwe, Pistorius, Steenkamp, Singabakho Nxumalo, Conrad Dormehl, Bhargav Acharya, Olivia Kumwenda, Ken Ferris Organizations: North, North Gauteng High Court, REUTERS, Rights, Paralympic, Appeal, South Africa's Department of Correctional Services, Correctional, Reuters, Atteridgeville Correctional, Constitutional, Thomson Locations: North Gauteng, Pretoria, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Atteridgeville

☆ The 'ideal booking window' for holiday airfare is closing, economist says. 'Travelers are going to miss out'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

D3sign | Moment | Getty ImagesIf you have yet to purchase your fall and winter holiday travel and are hoping for a bargain airfare, time is running out. "Travelers are going to miss out on the opportunity to save when they wait too long," said Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper. In early October, 85% of Hopper app users who intended to book holiday travel had yet to do so, according to a survey of 500 people. In the last few days before Christmas, travelers could see price jumps of about $40 a day, Hopper anticipates. Fares will likely become increasingly competitive as travelers wait, "judging by the number of people traveling this year," said Elizabeth Ayoola, a personal finance writer at NerdWallet.

Persons: Hayley Berg, Hopper, Berg, airfare, Elizabeth Ayoola Organizations: Travelers, Finance, Air, Getty

☆ How to Invest in Mutual Funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Mallika Mitra | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +20 min

Mutual funds are relatively cheap and simple to invest in, thanks to the many trading apps and online brokerages available nowadays. To get started, read on for our 10-step guide on how to invest in mutual funds. Once you open an account, you can invest in a wide range of securities, like stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Buy mutual fund sharesNow that you’ve solidified your strategy and done your research, you are almost ready to buy mutual funds. How to buy mutual fund sharesSome mutual funds require an investment minimum, often between $500 and $3,000, but not all do.

Persons: Mallika Mitra, Tricia Rosen, ”, Rosen, “, Ameritrade, Roth, Roth IRAs, Uncle Sam, you’ve, Randy Bruns, it’s, Morningstar, Russell, hasn’t, Amy Arnott, John Bogle, Morningstar’s Arnott, pitfall Arnott, You’ll, you’ll, Don’t, Sam, haven’t Organizations: Mutual, Fidelity, Vanguard, Morningstar, SEC, Apple, Fidelity Investments Fidelity, Target, Walmart, Funds, Capital Group, Capital Group’s, The Securities, Exchange Commission, Social, Consumer, Morgan, Capital Locations: Andover, Mass, Naperville , Illinois, U.S

It may seem like a lot, but my five bank accounts help me manage and organize my money. I have a checking account , an emergency fund savings account, a business checking account, a travel account, and an everyday savings account. When I first moved to New York, I already had three bank accounts, but I knew that I needed a local bank to receive my income and to have accessibility to funds. Figure out how I will get my moneyIn choosing my emergency fund savings account and my everyday savings account, I considered account accessibility. Look into specific accounts made for my needsSpecialty accounts are accounts built for a specific purpose, and I have two.

Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York, Mexico

There are multiple types of index funds, including:Broad market index funds: Index funds that try to track the overall performance of an entire asset class throughout the entire stock market. Fixed-income and debt index funds: Index funds that track bond indices for low expense ratios. International index funds: Index fund that invests funds in assets outside of the US. Sector-based index funds: Index funds that invest funds in a specific sector of the market, such as technology or even certain company services. Socially responsible index funds: Similar to sector-based index funds, socially responsible index funds invest specifically in companies that focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) services.

Persons: Warren Buffett, It's, Julian Schubach, Louis, Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, you've, Schwab Organizations: Service, Independence, US, Rutgers, Nasdaq, Nasdaq Stock Market Dow, NYSE, New York Stock Exchange, U.S, Federal Reserve Bank of St, Market, Fidelity, Vanguard, Chevron Locations: Wall, Silicon, Chevron

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). It will also mean it's time for student loan payments to resume. As federal pandemic relief comes to an end, student loan borrowers will see the return of their student loan payments. Include student loan payments in your budgetGet your budget ready now, before the payments start. If the student loan repayment pause ending has you worried, you may also look into other ways to make your payments: increasing your income, employer-based student loan repayment assistance and even Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), if you qualify.

Persons: Justin Lewis, It's, — Organizations: Service

☆ As retirement confidence drops, experts say focusing on these 4 factors can help
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Decide where you will live in retirement— Key deadline to watch: The sooner, the better. While you may start your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, eligibility for Medicare generally does not start until age 65. Choose when to claim Social Security benefits— Key deadline to watch: By age 60, you should go to the Social Security Administration website and review your statement, recommends Copeland. When to claim Social Security retirement benefits is one of the big questions retirees face. "The later you can file for Social Security, the better it is as far as the amount you're going to get," John said.

Persons: Craig Copeland, Copeland, Dann Tardif, Susan Reinhard, It's, Reinhard, Jane Sung, Sung, Rupp, John Organizations: AARP, Institute, Social, Medicare, Security, State Health Insurance, Social Security, Social Security Administration, Sporrer, Getty

☆ Fewer Adults Have Life Insurance, but Skipping It Can Be Risky
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +11 min

But financial planners say a basic life insurance policy, especially products known as term life insurance, should be an important part of many Americans’ financial plans. A life insurance policy:Replaces lost income: If you were to pass away, your family could use your life insurance policy’s death benefit to replace your income. How to shop for life insuranceIf you’re ready to start shopping for a life insurance policy, follow these steps:1. According to PolicyGenius, an insurance marketplace, typical rates for a whole life policy, the most common type of permanent life insurance, are about 10 times the cost of a term life policy. Term Life Insurance Because term life insurance expires, it's often a far cheaper option.

☆ This digital nomad worked in 20 countries in 5 years. Here are her best money tips
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Daniella Pashuk decided to be a digital nomad 5 years ago, even before the pandemic when she was just 19. But Daniella Pashuk became a digital nomad five years ago, well before the pandemic when she was just 19. "I got to be wherever I want to be and do whatever I want to do in different countries. Daniella Pashuk digital nomadNow 24, Pashuk has traveled to over 20 countries in five years. Daniella Pashuk Digital nomad

Filing taxes may not be the most exciting part, but it's important to understand how marriage affects your taxes. Avoid any potential surprises come tax season with these essential steps for filing taxes as a newlywed. Editor's Rating 4.2/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.5/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.6/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Learn more On TurboTax's website Learn more On H&R Block's website Learn more On Tax Slayer's website1. Filing jointly can potentially increase the monthly payments if one spouse is enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan. However, if you don't have the means to do that, Lee recommends comparing your options with tax filing software to find which filing status offers the largest refund and the lowest tax liability.

☆ I started my company with $40 and grew it to $4 million in revenue. Here are the best business investments I made and what entrepreneurs should avoid.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tori Dunlap started her financial-advice blog with $40 and grew it to $4 million in revenue last year. She shares the most important investments for any business owner and what founders should avoid. In a conversation with Insider, Dunlap shared the most important business investments she's made and what founders should avoid. People are the most important investmentWhile I started the business on my own, outsourcing tasks and bringing people onto the team was the best investment I ever made. It can be a waste of money if you're paying for something just because other business owners do.

☆ How to Invest in Stocks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +23 min

Set your time frameWhen you’re ready to invest in stocks, it’s natural to start by looking at how the stock market has performed recently. If you’re saving for the long-term: Invest in stocksOn the other hand, if you have a long-term financial goal—especially retirement, but any goal a decade or more out—you can afford to invest in the stock market. Decide how much risk to takeJust because you have time to invest in stocks doesn’t mean you have the stomach. Return Best Year Worst Year Years with a loss 100% Stocks 12.3% 54.2% -43.1% 25/96 80% Stocks 11.1% 45.4% -34.9% 24/96 60% Stocks 9.9% 36.7% -26.6% 22/96 40% Stocks 8.7% 35.9% -18.4% 19/96 20% Stocks 7.5% 40.7% -10.1% 16/96 100% Bonds 6.3% 45.5% -0.8% 20/96 VanguardStep 3. Most ETFs are index funds, meaning they merely aim to match the returns of a stock market index, although some target very narrow slices of the market, such as just tech stocks or just energy stocks.

Welcome to Personal Finance Insider, a biweekly newsletter that connects you with the stories, strategies, and tips you need to be better with money. Here's what: Don't panic over holiday spendingThe holidays are such a fun time of year, but it goes without saying that they can come with a hefty cost. It's so easy to overspend and get off track with your budget and financial goals between dinners and parties, holiday planning and gift-giving. And even if you carefully laid out a holiday budget ahead of time, unexpected costs can add up quickly. The 18 best personal finance books for 2022Ready to get your finances on track in the new year?

It might not be a surprise that the three biggest financial institutions in the US are Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo. Compare Bank of America and Chase and Wells Fargo Bank of AmericaChaseWells Fargo Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Editor's Rating 3.5/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Standout feature Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Bank of America Advantage Savings Account Chase Savings℠ Wells Fargo Kids Way2Save Savings Account APY 0.01% to 0.04% 0.01% effective as of 10/10/2022. Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo are all FDIC insured.

☆ How to Build an Emergency Fund
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

“Covid really drove home the importance of having an emergency fund,” says Diana Linn, a wealth advisor in Newton, Mass. But the rest of setting up an emergency fund, from estimating your needs to opening an account, is relatively simple. Chen recommends multiple emergency funds, with different time frames and purposes: a short-term fund for any last-minute necessary purchase like a new car battery that you’d otherwise charge on a credit card; a midterm fund for repairs, like a new water heater; and a long-term emergency fund for when you lose your job. Decide how to reach your savings targetThe surest way to build up an emergency fund is to regularly put aside a portion of your earnings into an emergency savings account, preferably as an automatic debit from a checking account. Decide where to keep your emergency fundThere are several savings vehicles you can use for your emergency fund, both online and otherwise.

I work part-time, so I can't afford to give expensive holiday gifts. You may be surprised to learn that there are actually many options for gifts that don't require spending a ton of money. Set expectations with othersOne thing I do to make my Christmas budget-friendly is set expectations with family and friends. If we had set expectations better as a group, things might have gone differently. When I really want to give my friends and family nice gifts, I use a sinking fund.

Try to avoid taking on new debt you don't need, like a house or car. Look critically at smaller expenses, too — there's no reason to keep paying for things you don't use. Although you typically need a job and financial security to buy a home, it does not make a purchase of this magnitude recession-proof. Excess groceriesA lot of consumers impulse buy at the grocery store, but during a recession when you need to control your spending, it's important to grocery shop with a plan. During a recession, it's important to pay attention to spending and be wary of making unnecessary and expensive purchases.

☆ 3 easy ways to prevent Slack from taking over your day, according to its cofounder
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Slack helps staff at 100,000 organizations and 77% of Fortune 100 companies stay in touch in the era of hybrid working, according to the company. Decide when you won't respond to messages and schedule messages to respect others' work hoursHenderson said he had no patience for bosses who send emails at night, like Elon Musk. Slack has staff working across time zones, so it wasn't possible to schedule a meeting for everyone to attend, Henderson said. Henderson uses Slack Clips to record short videos that replace information-sharing meetings. Staff are also encouraged to post updates in the Slack channel dedicated to a particular project to cut down on meetings, he said.

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