DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

If you get a small raise, consider increasing your 401(k) contribution by 1-2%. Instead of falling into bad financial habits, you can direct this additional money towards your financial goals. A larger raise can help you accelerate your financial goals, while a smaller raise (such as a cost-of-living adjustment) may not amount to much per paycheck. A budget is essential, since your ability to manage your cash flow directly impacts your ability to achieve financial goals. Committing to more debt and higher monthly expenses after a large raise is a money mistake that sometimes leads to financial regrets.

☆ Happy 50th anniversary to the discovery of the Santa Claus rally
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Happy 50th Anniversary to the discovery of the Santa Claus rally. It's that time of year again: the Santa Claus rally. Santa Claus rally: what it is The Santa Claus rally is a short rally that runs from the last five trading days of the year to the first two trading days of the New Year. According to one study, a Santa Claus rally has materialized in four out of every five years since 1950. His father, Yale Hirsch, a friend of mine for many years, discovered and named the Santa Claus rally in 1972.

☆ The 10 most expensive airports to fly out of in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Molly Schiff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

It is notoriously expensive to book a flight during the holiday season, and this year the national average cost of airfare hit $397 during the second quarter, a high not seen since 2014, according to recent data from SmartAsset. The SmartAsset survey reported the average fare and percent change in ticket prices at 100 U.S. airports over the past year. It first rounded up the 100 busiest U.S. airports based on the number of domestic travelers in 2021. The national average increased 21%. These are the 10 most expensive airports to fly out of in the U.S., according to SmartAsset.

☆ The 10 U.S. cities where the first year of homeownership is the cheapest
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Molly Schiff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

But in many other U.S. cities, the first year of homeownership is more affordable. Recent data from SmartAsset shows the average cost of the first year of owning a home in several major cities. The study anaylized data for the 20 largest cities in the U.S., specifically considering two categories: upfront costs and annual recurring costs. Annual recurring costs include mortgage payments, average property tax and homeowners' insurance. But within the list of major cities, here are the 10 places where the first year of homeownership is the least expensive.

☆ The 10 U.S. cities where the first year of homeownership is the most expensive
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Molly Schiff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

And the first year of homeownership in particular can be especially costly between a down payment, closing costs, mortgage payments, homeowners insurance and property taxes. New data from SmartAsset reveals how expensive the first year of homeownership typically is in major U.S. cities. SmartAsset looked at data for the 20 largest cities in the U.S., specifically considering two categories: upfront costs and annual recurring costs. Annual recurring costs include mortgage payments, average property tax and homeowners insurance. These are the 10 cities where the first year of homeownership is the most expensive:

☆ California isn’t the No. 1 state for cryptocurrency enthusiasts—but it still ranks in the top 7
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts may want to consider moving to Nevada: It ranks as the No. Local governments aren't allowed to tax blockchain technology, the underlying tech that cryptocurrency relies on to operate, for example. Although California is home to Silicon Valley and known as a hub of tech innovation, it ranked third in SmartAsset's study. Californians search for crypto-related keywords on Google more than any other state, but government regulation of cryptocurrency use remains unclear in the state, which dragged down its ranking. Here are the top seven states for cryptocurrency enthusiasts, according to SmartAsset:1.

☆ These 10 cities are the best places to work from home in the U.S., new report finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

SmartAsset's report ranked 100 of America's largest cities across eight metrics including the percentage of the workforce that works from home, median monthly housing costs, unemployment rate, income tax rate, coffee shop density and bar density to determine the best city for remote work. Austin, Texas snagged the number one spot, with Scottsdale, Arizona and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania trailing closely behind. "The five-year change in the percentage of people working from home was 30.6%, which was the seventh-highest percentage in our study." "With more affordable housing costs, workers may be able to buy or rent a larger home that can accommodate an office." Similar to Scottsdale, professionals earning $75,000 will be taxed by the federal and state governments at 22.90%.

Let's break down some of the myths around real estate as an investment that can mislead you — and in the process, show why real estate isn't a prerequisite for building assets. Real estate isn't always a good investment (or an investment at all)"Always" and "never" don't have a place in a savvy investor's vocabulary. Insider's Featured Real Estate Investing Platforms FundriseYieldstreet Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. You don't have to purchase a property to invest in real estate, anywayNone of this is to say that buying real estate is a bad move or won't work out in your favor. By investing in an REIT, you invest in a company that professionally buys, sells, and manages real estate properties for profit.

Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightBottom line: Ally Invest Robo Portfolios is ideal for hands-off investors in search of automated ETF portfolios without fees. Ally Invest Robo Portfolios: Overall RatingFeature Insider rating (out of 5) Fees 5.00 Investment selection 4.25 Access 4.03 Ethics 4.50 Customer service 5.00 Overall score 4.56Is Ally Invest Robo Portfolios right for you? Ally Invest Robo Portfolios is an Ally Financial-affiliated automated account offering investing without fees for US residents. Ally Invest Advisors, Inc. manages the account and is in turn a subsidiary of Ally Invest Group, Inc. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightAlly Invest Robo Portfolios vs. FidelityAlly Invest Fidelity Investments Min.

☆ Remote work is killing Florida as a retirement paradise
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-11 | by ( Gadel Valle | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Housing prices, combined with the rise of remote work, threaten to end the middle-class dream of spending your final days in Florida. "It does put the retirement industry at risk because it's going to become more and more difficult" to retire in Florida, he told me. The political influence of Florida retirees is so significant that national publications send reporters to The Villages before elections to check its political pulse. The dream of a Florida retirement is dying as housing prices make it too expensive for most. And for people who are retiring now, the Florida retirement dream is starting to look a lot less sunny.

Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here's how). Pulling out of the market or pausing your retirement contributions are also mistakes. To help with that, here are the four mistakes financial advisors say you should avoid when gearing up for a potential recession. Financial planner Brendan Sheehan says that's not always the right move. Financial planner Marlene Erickson says that's especially important when a recession might be looming.

Persons: I've, Brendan Sheehan, that's, Sheehan, it's, Marlene Erickson, Erickson, doesn't, Get, Mark Deering, Deering, you've, Jennifer Garcia, Garcia Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

My parents' retired friends take luxury vacations thanks to their dividend-paying stocks. I want to live like them in retirement, so I'm budgeting to invest more in dividend stocks. However, many of their friends (who are around the same age) have been retired for years and they seem to live affluent lives. While I do have some dividend-generating stocks in my SEP IRA portfolio, it's a very small amount. I'm budgeting a certain amount to invest quarterlyCurrently, I'm on a strict budget that allows me to contribute a set amount of cash every month to my SEP IRA.

Persons: aren't, I've, didn't, Read, I'm, doesn't, Get Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). I racked up some credit card debt when I had a good job. I tried to work out a plan, but the credit card companies refused. I took out a $10,000 low-interest personal loan to consolidate my credit card debt with monthly payments of $250. At one point, credit card companies were hounding me for $1,100 per month after late fees and interest.

Persons: —, I've, she'd, Joshua Tree, I'm, Mexico — Organizations: Service, didn't Locations: New York City, Mexico, Brooklyn, splurged

Inheritances are useless by the time they're received, writes Bill Perkins in "Die with Zero." Gifting money earlier when it will do the most good is a smarter move, Perkins writes. In his book, "Die with Zero," he explains how he hopes to spend all the money he has before he dies. For that reason, Perkins writes that the money could be better used earlier in life. This pattern of later-in-life inheritances is something that Perkins hopes his "Die with Zero" strategy reverses.

Persons: they're, Bill Perkins, Perkins, Bill Perkins isn't, he'd, inheritances, Inheritances, Lincoln Plews, doesn't, Get Organizations: Service, Wall, Federal Reserve, United Income, Capital Locations: Wall, Silicon

Sandy, a 63-year-old retired mother of two, exposed her sons to money at a young age. She had a similar approach when it came to teaching her kids about money, encouraging them to be self-reliant and exposing them to real-world situations. Here are five of the most important money lessons Sandy taught her boys from an early age. How to spend mindfullySandy gave each of her kids a $200 monthly allowance starting around age 10 or 11. "You can choose what you want to do, but then you don't have money leftover to do those other things.

Persons: —, Sandy, Hershey's, it's, we've, I'm Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Sandy

I have many wealthy financial planning clients, and they all share four habits. They maintain a long-term focus on their financesIt is easy to get sucked into day-to-day market swings and financial temptations. Put simply, they have a long-term plan that they keep front of mind when they are making daily decisions. However, it can be hard for us to remove the emotion from daily market swings and maintain a long-term focus. This is something my millionaire clients fully embody, and allows them to see the fruits of that pre-planning and compounding interest.

Persons: doesn't, Get, Read, Warren Buffett Organizations: Service, Federal, Berkshire Locations: Wall, Silicon, Omaha

I never seemed to be on the same page with the financial advisor we used for nearly two years. AdvertisementRecently, the investment firm we use hired a new financial advisor who took over our accounts. In our first meeting with her, we got more accomplished than we had in nearly two years with our previous financial advisor. We don't even miss that money, and we're working toward our financial goals each month like clockwork, which feels great. She also made sure to tell us when we were actually on track for our retirement savings goals, which was an amazing feeling.

Persons: —, didn't, there's, it's Organizations: Service

That's why I turned to five financial planners, who shared the biggest retirement saving mistakes their clients make and how we can all do better. A better solution, according to Lubinski, is to create a financial plan based on their individual retirement needs and stick to it. Advertisement"When investors get within five years of retirement, I recommend removing the first five years of their retirement income from the market completely. Making retirement savings a priority is something Crane recommends. "Just as a business plan is critical before opening a business, a retirement plan is necessary before stepping into retirement.

Persons: —, procrastinating, Phil Lubinski, Kelly Crane, Crane, it's, Patricia Stallworth, Stallworth, Jonathan Gassman, he's, Gassman, Tania Brown, Brown, Jen Glantz Organizations: Service, Co, CFP, Wealth Management, Financial, CPA, SaverLife Locations: Napa, Brooklyn , New York, Florida

If you don't need your stimulus check money now, you could consider investing some or all of it. You can choose to go through an online brokerage, automated investing app, or a financial advisor. You typically won't be able to buy options through an automated investment app, but most online brokerages offer them. You should only invest your stimulus check if you don't need the money right now. Rickie Houston is a wealth-building reporter at Personal Finance Insider who covers investing, brokerage, and wealth-building products.

A man with a $1 million net worth says his mom is his biggest financial influence. He learned about the cash-flow benefits and tax advantages of real-estate investing from her, and purchased his first rental property, a foreclosure, in 2009. In 2014, Drock and his wife bought a second rental property, another foreclosure, for $115,000. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors in your area in minutes. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors in your area in minutes.

Persons: Drock, he's, It's, Roth, doesn't, Get, I've Organizations: Service, Invest Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington , DC

The app only offered an individual taxable investment account, but that wasn't what I needed. In a Roth IRA, I can keep whatever I put in, and whatever I earn, totally tax-free. For my goal of building long-term wealth, investing in an individual taxable investment account should probably be the last step on my financial priorities list. There's a time and a place for individual taxable investment accounts. But, while I'm saving for the long run, a Roth IRA has too many advantages to pass up.

Insider's experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). Blacktower Financial Management data shows the best states for retirees are Florida, Iowa, and Ohio. SmartAsset's free tool can find a financial adviser near you »Choosing a state for retirement can be a big challenge. The lower the index number, the lower the cost of living. Here are Blacktower's 15 most affordable states for retirees, including their cost-of-living index along with the average home price and the percentage of seniors.

I was surprised when my financial advisor told me to prioritize saving for retirement over my child's college education. Contributing another $1,000 to fully fund our son's 529 college savings plan to cover the cost of a four-year college. There are other ways to pay for collegeWe won't always have to choose between our retirement savings and our kids' college education. Saving for retirement is better for your taxesAnyone actively saving for retirement is probably familiar with the tax benefits of retirement savings plans. We contribute around 50% of what we set aside for our retirement to our kids' college funds.

Warren Buffett is a skilled investor who is studied, analyzed, and imitated by many. But the "secret" to Buffett's immense wealth is simply how long he's been investing, writes Morgan Housel in his new book "The Psychology of Money." "Effectively all of Warren Buffett's financial success can be tied to the financial base he built in his pubescent years and the longevity he maintained in his geriatric years," Housel writes in his book. And if you invest money at the level of someone like Buffett, the results become "ridiculous, impractical numbers," Housel writes. High returns are nice, of course, but they're difficult to come by and not the only way to build wealth, Housel writes.

She saved $30,000 in two years by following three rules. She also pays her credit cards in full every month, assuring that she never has high-interest debt. She was able to save $30,000 in two years by saving more than $1,200 a month. My mother-in-law likes credit cards and doesn't think they're bad — if used the right way. She personally has two credit cards and recommends that before we apply for new credit cards, we ask ourselves if we really need that new card.

Search resuls for: "Smartasset"

25 mentions found