EDUCATION CENTER


 

Credit and Debt

Understanding Credit Card Interest

Credit cards have changed the way we all shop. With a credit card in hand, you can walk into any store and walk out with a purchase. And rather than pay for that purchase ...

Credit and Debt

What Is a Credit Reference?

If you're looking to borrow money or rent an apartment, typically, you'll need a credit reference. Credit references demonstrate an applicant's ...

Credit and Debt

How Credit Card Utilization Impacts Your Credit Score

Paying your bills on time is not the only way to maintain a good credit score. Controlling your credit utilization and ensuring it stays low is another excellent way ...

Money Management

What Is Social Commerce?

If you've been on social media and scrolled through your various feeds, you have most likely seen social commerce at work. Social commerce is when brands advertise and ...

Money Management

Using a Sinking Fund to Save

Hearing the name "sinking fund" may give you the wrong idea, mainly if you've never heard of one before. A sinking fund differs from a savings account because money ...

Money Management

How Inflation Impacts Your Finances

Inflation has made its impact in the past couple of months. If you've noticed an increased cost of goods and services, that's due to inflation. While inflation is natural ...

Workplace Finance

Understanding Pension Plans

Pension plans can be a significant source of retirement income for many retirees. Employers often use pension plan benefits to attract and retain quality employees ...

Workplace Finance

Hourly and Salaried Employment

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 standardizes the structure of any given job within the United States. The FLSA declares that all employees, regardless of ...

Workplace Finance

Understanding Payroll Taxes

Payroll taxes are taxes that both employees and employers pay based on employees' wages, tips, commissions, and salaries. The employees' portion is deducted from ...

Homeownership

Getting Rid of Private Mortgage Insurance

When purchasing a standard mortgage from a private lender, you may be required to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI). However, PMI can be costly, usually charging you ...

Homeownership

House, Townhome, or Condo?

The real estate market offers many different housing options. Depending on your life stage, financial resources, and where you are on your financial journey, one ...

Homeownership

Building Equity in Your Home

If you own a home, the mortgage payments you make each month could help you build a substantial asset - home equity. The home equity you build represents how much ...

Paying for College

COVID-19 and Your Student Loans

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) Federal Student Aid office is actively watching the COVID-19/coronavirus emergency. If you are a student with an ...

Paying for College

Are Online Degrees Worth It?

In the fall of 2018, around 3.26 million students (16.6% of all U.S. higher education students) were enrolled in exclusive online education courses, according to the ...

Paying for College

Refinancing Strategies for Student Loans

Student loans. Without them, college educations would not be possible for large segments of today’s population. Whether attending state colleges and universities or ...

Retirement

Buying a RV for Retirement

Retiring to an RV lifestyle can be very tempting. Whether you are planning on using your RV for short vacations or living in it for long stretches ...

Retirement

Gig Worker Retirement Strategies

Over the past several years, there has been a significant rise in gig workers and the number of affiliated companies that utilize them. In fact, in 2017, the Bureau of Labor ...

Retirement

Getting Your Retirement Back on Track

The one-two punch dealt by the Great Recession of 2007-2009, followed by economic damage from the COVID-19 pandemic may have ...

Family Finances

Avoiding Tax Penalties

Mistakes are common when filing and paying your taxes. In such a case, it's best to know what types of penalties you can incur and how to calculate them ...

Family Finances

Selling Your Car

If you plan on selling your car, there are various ways you should consider so that you can get the best price for your vehicle. The main methods focus on trading in your car ...

Family Finances

Budgeting For Your Big Day

Most people do not want to start their marriage off with unnecessary debt. Yet, in 2021 in the U.S., the average wedding cost was $28,000, according to The Knot ...

Small Business

Pricing Strategies

Profit is a large part of why you’re in business, and it definitely is what keeps you in business ...

Small Business

Social Media Marketing

Leveraging social media marketing can increase your customer base significantly ...

Small Business

Gaining a Competitive Advantage

It takes extensive research and strategic planning to gain a competitive advantage. Every advantage is ...