Category: financial education

Can I Fund My Spouses IRA If They Don’t Work?

Dear Hank – My wife is a stay at home mom. With a traditional IRA she is eligible for the “spousal IRA.” Can she open a Roth IRA as her spousal IRA, meaning I can invest $8,000 of my income, with half of that in her name? – Peter from Mississippi Hey Peter – Good [...]

Interested in Going To Finance School?

A degree in finance will prepare one for a career in banking as well as a position with prestigious financial institutions or with the government. A degree in finance is often associated with obtaining careers accounting and banking, but a degree in finance offers the training that can lead to a career in many different [...]

Why Are Mutual Funds Such A Popular Investment Vehicle?

Did you know that there are more mutual funds than there are stocks? Have you ever wondered why mutual funds are such popular investment vehicles? Conventional wisdom will tell you that mutual funds are popular because they are less expensive than stocks because they do not carry hefty commissions, they allow the little guy to [...]

Should I Buy a Loaded Mutual Fund?

My mother is not very financially savvy – and when I try to explain anything to her; it can often times take the better part of an hour. It may be her age or the fact she never had any financial education being a stay at home mom, but I like to try to give [...]

What Does It Mean When The Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates?

Photo by: gerrietWe hear all this talk about how the “Feds are lowing rates again today” on the news a lot recently, and that we’re falling into a recession. But what does all that mean? How does that help me in the situation I’m in? What do I do now as far as investing?Well, to [...]

Keep Your Investments Separate For Different Goals

How many of you use your 401k for your everything bucket?  I’ve overheard friends and family talk about their 401k like their “all for one long term savings account” saying things like, “I’m going to use my 401k for my kids education” or “my 401k is used for both me and my wifes retirements” or [...]

Why Is It So Taboo To Talk About Salary And Compensation?

Photo by: takashy How is it that when we can readily see public sector and professional athletes salaries on the web and not bat an eye at it. I’m sure they discuss these things over caviar all the time and it isn’t that big of a deal; but why does middle class America think it [...]

Should I Take Out A Reverse Mortgage On My House?

Should I Take Out A Reverse Mortgage On My House?

My brother mentioned setting my mother up with a reverse mortgage over the holiday break, so I thought I would do some research on what is was and if it was a good idea. I had heard of it before and I have a basic understanding of it, but I figured there had to be [...]

Should I Go To College Or Graduate School To Make More Money?

Should I Go To College Or Graduate School To Make More Money?

A question as old as college I suppose. Colleges need to make money too! What better way to market it than to say you’re DEFINITELY make more money by attending it. Colleges have marketing departments also; they’re businesses just like Walmart and Macys. They’re in the game to make money. Do you NEED to go [...]

Goodbye To My Universal Life Insurance From Hartford Mutual

Photo by: dave mcmtSo I’ve done it – after debating for about 2 months and trying to convince myself that I DIDN’T make a bad investment in getting in on this, I’ve come to my senses. I admit it, I made a bad mistake 5 years ago to purchase my Hartford Life Universal Life Insurance [...]