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One of the big money moves I made this year was merging all of my savings accounts into one account. My previous savings strategy stopped working for meI've had three savings accounts for the past couple of years:Account A was for my emergency savings, stored in a standard savings account at the same bank as my checking account. Account B was for my homeownership dreams, stored in a high-yield savings account at an online bank. I opened multiple savings accounts to keep my savings separate and reduce the temptation to spend that money on other things. Merging my savings accounts meant embracing simplicityBefore doing anything, I sat down and wrote out what I wanted from a savings account.

Persons: I've Organizations: Research

☆ I write an advice column about money and relationships. When I get questions about weddings, I always remind readers that they're about two people.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Olivia Christensen | Avril Ayers | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In my advice column, For Love & Money, I get a lot of big questions about paying for weddings. The key to all my advice is that a wedding is about exactly two people — and that's OK.Do you have your own questions about money and relationships? It seemed that what hurt the aunt most was that this niece later married the guy anyway, without a big wedding, inviting the aunt, or repaying her. I encouraged the bride to lean into the universally acknowledged truth that a person's wedding day is their own. Looking for advice on how your savings, debt, or another financial challenge is affecting your relationships?

Persons: —, Big, she'd, doesn't Organizations: Service Locations: United States

☆ My identical twin and I only started dressing alike as adults. It's the way it should be.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewMy identical twin sister, Aimee, and I were complete opposites growing up. Aimee loved makeup and musicals, and I loved skateboarding and blaring Avril Lavigne from my bedroom. Growing up, they rarely purchased identical outfits for us and would only dress us alike (begrudgingly) if the outfits were a gift from a family member. Mikhaila Friel/InsiderAs more people are having twins than ever before, tweaking the way twins are parented is incredibly important. That could be partly due to delayed childbearing and techniques like IVF, in which the rate of conceiving identical twins is slightly higher than that of natural conception.

Persons: —, Aimee, Avril Lavigne, Mikhaila Friel, Jane Norman, Keith Reed, Reed, We're, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Oxford University, BBC News, Twins, Association

☆ US intel chief says Iran is attempting to stoke Gaza protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Iran is attempting to covertly stoke protests in the United States related to the conflict in Gaza, US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said in a statement on Tuesday, posing as activists online and, in some cases, providing financial support to protesters. “I want to be clear that I know Americans who participate in protests are, in good faith, expressing their views on the conflict in Gaza — this intelligence does not indicate otherwise,” Haines said. “Americans who are being targeted by this Iranian campaign may not be aware that they are interacting with or receiving support from a foreign government,” she said. Those protests have been hugely divisive domestically, making them a ripe target for foreign actors — like Iran — interested in amplifying discord within the US. A US intelligence assessment released in December reported that Iran also tried to meddle in the 2022 midterm elections.

Persons: of National Intelligence Avril Haines, ” Haines, ”, “, —, Haines Organizations: CNN, stoke, of National Intelligence, Hamas Locations: Iran, United States, Gaza, Israel, Tehran

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. We paid for our travel and hotel entirely with points, and we saved by booking months in advance. Add to it the guilt of paying for said trip, and it's even harder to justify an adults-only trip. That's why we decided to cash out our Marriott Bonvoy points and airline points to pay for the entire trip guilt-free. Whether you're looking to maximize transferrable credit card points for loyalty programs or get your first credit card, our guide to the best credit cards can help you make the right choice.

Persons: We've, —, it's, I've, Brand, We're, you've Organizations: Business, Service, Marriott, JW Marriott, We're Marriott, Ritz Carlton, Residence, Delta Locations: Cabos, Cabo, Delta

Then, in 2008, the California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, and we were legally married in our home state. Prop 8 passed in November 2008, making same-sex marriage once again illegal in California. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationally, and that's when my wife and I started to truly reap the benefits of marriage. Owning property togetherWhen we bought our condo in 2004, we weren't legally married, so we couldn't just let the title company take care of the deed. Freedom from financial fearAfter the decision to legalize same-sex marriage in 2015, I felt like a full citizen for the first time.

Persons: —, It's, that's, doesn't Organizations: Service, California Supreme, U.S, Supreme, Social Security Locations: California

I've paid rent with a credit card, along with taxes, tuition, and virtually everything in between. I even convinced extended family members to let me pay their home-renovation costs with my credit card. That's right: I charged the cost of a new vehicle to my credit card without any fees. Sifting through my wallet, I found an even better option: my World Of Hyatt credit card. Not all of us are able to make large purchases like this with a credit card, but it certainly never hurts to ask.

Persons: I've, Hyatt, I'd, That's Organizations: Service, Hyatt, Hyatt Card, Liberties Dublin Locations: New York

However, I was raised in a household where it was deeply ingrained that we were to be generous and help others at all costs. While I do want to help my family, this messaging isn't conducive to tucking funds away for Future Me and putting my own financial needs and goals top of mind. By taking care of your financial needs, you'll be in a much better place to care for your loved ones. Depending on your situation, you not only need to know your wants and needs, but you also might need to know your family's wants and needs. If you want help with your financial situation and juggling your needs and your family's needs, consider working with a financial advisor.

Persons: I've, churchgoers, Thao Truong, Truong, you'll, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, Morton Wealth, Budget, Foundation, Financial Locations: Los Angeles, Vietnam

☆ US sounds alarm over Chinese and North Korean support for Russia’s war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But the reality is that China’s fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II,” Stoltenberg said at The Wilson Center. The idea of an anti-US front among Russia, China, North Korea and Iran has long preoccupied foreign policy experts in Washington. In March, US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told Congress that Russia’s need to replenish its military supplies had forced it to grant “long-sought concessions” to North Korea. “What is Russia going to provide in exchange to North Korea, hard currency? So, we know that they are using DPRK ammunition to threaten Ukraine and kill Ukrainians,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, Zelensky, Xi Jinping, ”, Jens Stoltenberg, “, Xi, ” Stoltenberg, Putin, Kremlin, Kim Jong Un, of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Kurt Campbell, Kim, ” Campbell, Matthew Miller, John Kirby, ” Kirby, “ We’re, ” Putin Organizations: CNN, NATO, Washington, “ Publicly, The Wilson, “, of National Intelligence, Stimson, ”, House Locations: Ukraine, Russian, China, Ukrainian, Italy, Russia, Beijing, Moscow, Europe, North Korea, Iran, Washington, Pyongyang, Korea, Northeast Asia, Korean, North

For Love & Money is a weekly Business Insider column answering relationship and money questions. This week, a reader's neighbor expects them to help pay for a garden between their homes. Write to For Love & Money using this Google form. Not to say your neighbors are scheming over their morning coffee for ways to force you to share a garden with them. Write to For Love & Money using this Google form .

Persons: —, they're, We've, doesn't Organizations: Service

☆ US Navy faces 'most intense combat since World War II' against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, defense experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThe US is facing its most intense battle since World War II against Yemen's Houthi rebels, experts say. "This is the most sustained combat that the US Navy has seen since World War II — easily, no question," he said. US warships from the US Navy's Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group had fired over 500 munitions fighting the Houthis, Business Insider reported on May 23. Sailors often have only a few seconds to confirm an incoming Houthi strike.

Persons: —, Yemen's Houthi, Bryan Clark, Navy submariner, Dwight D, CENTCOM, Yemen's, Mohammed Hamoud, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Cmdr, Eric Blomberg, Laboon, David Wroe, Eisenhower, Navy Carlos Del Toro, Biden, Brian Finucane, Fabian Hinz Organizations: Service, Navy, Hudson Institute, Associated Press, Business, US Navy, Congressional Research Service, Eisenhower Carrier Strike, military's, Command, National Intelligence, AP, Pentagon, Munitions, Crisis Group, Institute for Strategic Studies, Palestine Locations: Israel, Gaza, Red, Yemen, Iran, Palestine, Eilat, London

☆ US Navy warships are stuck in a Red Sea battle they can't fight forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Components of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group steam in formation with the Italian navy in the Red Sea on June 7. A fighter jet parks on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea on June 11. Elements of the Eisenhower strike group have already left the Red Sea once to be rearmed and resupplied, and the Pentagon recently extended its monthslong deployment for a second time. A fighter jet is launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during a strike against Houthi military targets in Yemen on Feb. 3. A commercial ship in the Red Sea in March.

Persons: —, they've, Dwight D, Navy Carlos Del Toro, What's, Eisenhower, Bernat, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Joseph Votel, John Kirby, Jorge LeBaron, Haines, Biden, Brian Finucane, Finucane, Votel, Mohammed Hamoud, That's, Nadimi Organizations: Service, US Navy, Business, Washington, Eisenhower Carrier Group, Eisenhower Carrier Strike, Ike, Navy, Pentagon, US Central Command, AP, National Intelligence, White House National Security Council, BI, Handout, US, Crisis, US State Department, Screengrab, Ministry of Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency, Galaxy Leader, The Washington Institute for Near East Locations: Gulf of Aden, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Western, Africa, Gaza, Persian, Bab, Red

One of the most important steps you can take is building a website for your business. I got my first business website around 2000. I vowed never to have another business website I couldn't manage myself. I built my freelance writing website in WordPress, which is much fancier than I could have designed without those tools. One way to choose a page builder is by looking at templates and using the builder for the template you like.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, WordPress, Beaver

I've spent a lot on vet visits for my dog, so I decided to look into what pet insurance I could get. In the last year, she's had a series of vet visits that left us with a few thousand dollars in bills to pay. I decided to price out three popular pet insurance plans to figure out which one is right for us. It offers a bundling discount of up to 10%, making my pet insurance premiums cheaper than any other provider. Plus, I received an insurance bundling discount because I already had other insurance plans through the company.

Persons: I've, she's, it's, —, Figo

☆ A US Navy carrier strike group locked in a Red Sea battle has fired over 500 munitions fighting the Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe US Navy carrier strike group battling the Houthis in the Red Sea has fired more than 500 munitions throughout its deployment, striking the rebels directly in Yemen and intercepting their missiles and drones. The strike group has leaned on its aircraft and warships to engage targets and defend against varying threats. Sailors observe as an F/A-18E Super Hornet lands on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea on March 12. Aircraft from the strike group have flown more than 27,200 hours across over 12,100 sorties. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney defeats a combination of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea on Oct. 19.

Persons: —, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Navy Carlos Del Toro, Arleigh Burke, Carney, Aaron Lau, National Intelligence Avril Haines, We've, It's Organizations: Service, US Navy, Eisenhower Carrier Strike, Ike, Business, Nimitz, Hornet, EA, Aircraft, Navy, Tomahawk, National Intelligence, Pentagon Locations: Yemen, Gulf, Aden, Iran, Hessen

CFP Daniel Masuda Lehrman says the two biggest contributors to poverty are housing and cars. I spoke with certified financial planner Daniel Masuda Lehrman founder of Masuda Lehrman Wealth, a Honolulu, Hawaii-based financial planning firm, on how Asians living in poverty can handle several money challenges at once. That's because housing is usually the biggest expense in your budget, says Masuda Lehrman, who specializes in multigenerational wealth. If you have credit card debt, see what hardship options the card issuer offers. Consider a credit card balance transferCredit card debt is expensive.

Persons: Daniel Masuda Lehrman, Masuda, Masuda Lehrman, there's, —, doesn't Organizations: Pacific Islander Heritage, Pew Research Locations: American, America, U.S, Honolulu , Hawaii

For Love & Money is a weekly Business Insider column answering relationship and money questions. This week, a reader's husband spent thousands on another woman during an affair. Write to For Love & Money using this Google form. It must feel like your husband spent all this money on this other woman because he liked her better, but he didn't. Write to For Love & Money using this Google form .

Persons: —, I've, — Taylor Swift, it's, doesn't Organizations: Service

With average credit card interest rates at 21.59% as of February 2024 per the Federal Reserve, carrying any amount of credit card debt can become costly in a hurry. Can a debt consolidation loan actually make debt worse? "Their credit score tanks, which means they can't get another debt consolidation loan or even a credit card," said Dvorkin. Debt consolidation doesn't solve spending issuesFinancial expert Andrea Woroch points out that debt consolidation may be nothing more than a Band-Aid if you don't identify and fix the poor money management habits that got you into debt in the first place. Some debt consolidation loans have additional risksFinally, remember that some types of loans you can use for debt consolidation have a unique set of risks.

Persons: Howard Dvorkin, they're, Andrea Woroch, Kendall Meade, SoFi, Meade, Anne Lester, Lester Organizations: Federal Reserve, Business, Solutions, Asset Management

I've been working with wealthy clients for nearly 15 years, and I've noticed a few common habits. I've been advising wealthy clients for nearly 15 years, and I'm often asked for the secret sauce, or the commonalities I see in my wealthiest financial-planning clients that make them successful. My most successful clients lean on us to help them separate those emotions and make sound financial decisions. My most successful clients value receiving comprehensive financial plans specific to their goals and situations. My most successful clients value receiving comprehensive financial plans specific to their goals and situations.

Persons: I've, —, I'm, that's, they've, doesn't Organizations: Service, Everest, Google, Jobs, Relief, Economic Security Locations: Policygenius

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

Investing can be intimidating, but financial planners recommend index funds to make things easier. Index funds are generally low-cost, but make sure you understand what fees are involved. Instead, experts have a suggestion to reduce the overwhelm for new and experienced investors alike: total stock market index funds, which give you exposure to the stock market more broadly. AdvertisementWhen you're picking your total market index fund, keep in mind that many of the funds are tracking the same indexes. Susan Dziubinski, an investment specialist at investment research firm Morningstar, identified total market funds as one of the five best ways to invest money.

Persons: Bryan Hasling, Hasling, there's, Charles Schwab, Susan Dziubinski, Morningstar, Dziubinski, doesn't Organizations: Apple, Financial, Fidelity Investments, Wall Street Locations: U.S

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

I always tell my financial planning clients to keep an emergency fund — but I don't keep cash on hand. We recommend keeping that money in a highly liquid vehicle, like a high-yield savings account or money market account. Your priority for your emergency fund should be access and safety, not returns. I have a much more intricate understanding of market risk and the impact of market downturns. The rule I refuse to break: Save (at least) 25% of gross incomeI urge my financial planning clients to prioritize their savings and investments.

Persons: —, We've, It's, what's, doesn't Organizations: Service

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

☆ A US Navy aircraft carrier is rearmed and back in the Red Sea amid a Houthi missile crisis with no end in sight
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Two US Navy warships on the front lines of the Houthi battle are back in the Red Sea. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Gravely made a recent port visit in Greece. AdvertisementThe US Navy aircraft carrier that spent months battling the Houthis in the Red Sea is rearmed and back in the waterway after a short break. AdvertisementThe Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower prepares to port in Souda Bay, Greece on April 28. While there may be no immediate end in sight to the Red Sea conflict, US officials have routinely stressed that American forces will continue to engage the Houthis.

Persons: Dwight D, Eisenhower, —, Arleigh Burke, Mercy Crowe, Ike, Marc Miguez, Miguez, Souda, Navy Carlos Del Toro, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Nicholas Rodriguez, Haines, Pat Ryder Organizations: US Navy, Navy, Service, Business, NATO, Nimitz, Mass Communication, Eisenhower Carrier Strike, Fighter Squadron, Eisenhower, US, National Intelligence, Armed Services, Department of Defense, Pentagon Press, Air Force Locations: Red, Greece, Souda Bay, Crete, Gulf, Aden, Yemen, Iran, Gaza, Israel

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