For a bit of election year fun, Credit Karma has done an analysis of credit behavior (credit scores and debt levels) on a red vs. blue state basis and then used the results to attempt to predict what will happen in the so-called swing states. In their analysis, they found that individuals from blue states […]
With the recent release of the iPhone 5, you might be thinking about upgrading. I know I am. But at the same time, I have a perfectly good iPhone 4S, so I’d need to figure out what to do with that first… In the past I’ve touched on the possibility of selling your stuff to […]
In response to my post earlier in the week about the latest Chase Freedom bonus categories, a reader named Steph wondered how many credit cards is too many? She’s apparently planning on buying a house later in the year and is concerned about the possible impact of opening new credit card accounts on her credit […]
Are you taking steps to protect your portfolio against inflation? Though we really haven’t seen it yet, many are afraid that the steps that have been taken over the past few years to stimulate the economy will inevitably result in elevated inflation. Well, Vanguard just published an interesting article about the risks associated with Treasury […]
EDITORS NOTE: THIS OFFER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE As a followup to my earlier post about the Chase Freedom bonus categories for fall 2012… Here are the upcoming bonus categories for the Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa credit card… As you’re likely aware, many credit card companies have switched to a model where they offer […]
EDITORS NOTE: THIS OFFER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE This is just a quick reminder that it’s time for Chase Freedom cardholders to sign up for the fall 2012 bonus categories. As you may recall, this card offers 1% cash back on all purchases with an additional 4% (5% total) in rotating categories. The categories for […]
Hmmm. Just when you thought bank rates had nowhere to go but down, Ally Bank came along and increased their savings rate from 0.89% to 0.95% earlier this week. This isn’t a huge change by any stretch of the imagination, but at least it wasn’t another in a long line of decreases. Does this signal […]
Bill Bernstein, author of the “Four Pillars of Investing” (among other things), is both a neurologist and a finance expert. In a news article from over the summer that I somehow missed until now, he provided some guidelines for fighting off your counterproductive instincts. Here they are: Be careful with advisors. If you’re not comfortable […]
Over the past few months, I’ve seen several instances in which people are advised to save X times their income for retirement. I first noted this back in July when an Aon Hewitt survey suggested that you should have at least 11x your annual income set aside for retirement. In his book “Your Money Ratios, […]
If you’re looking for a way to earn extra money, you should seriously consider becoming an IRS whistleblower… While I’m (mostly) kidding when I say this, it appears that there’s big money available to those with information on big-time tax evaders. More specifically, you can qualify for whistleblower payments if you turn in a tax […]