Roth IRA or Traditional IRA
If you are thinking about opening your IRA, you may wonder if it’s better for you to go with the Traditional or Roth IRA. Both require that you earn at least as much income as…
Mary Tomkins
Mary Tomkins is a freelance writer located in Spartanburg, SC, with emphasis on economic news and research on the financial industry.
The Young Person’s Guide to Financial Independence
If you’re young and just starting out, you may be anxious to become independent and move your life forward. You are in the early stages of a prosperous life, as long as you make smart…
Taxpayers Rescue Citigroup
Citigroup has become the next major institution troubled by bad mortgage-related investments to receive a taxpayer bailout. The New York-based mega-bank is yet another financial giant to be considered “too big to fail”; the company…
Plan for Your Retirement ASAP
If you’ve thought about opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), good for you. The hardest thing about saving for your future is making the decision to do it and following through. Your retirement may be…
Update Your W-4 to Reflect Your Actual Tax Bill
W-4 forms should be updated when your tax situation changes. When you were hired at your current job, your employer had you fill out a W-4 form. This form helps the employer take the right…
The Housing Bust and Our Country’s Recession Fears
What is a recession? A recession is often defined as two consecutive quarters of slowing economic growth, as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), but it’s really a little more complicated than that. Economists…
Choose the Correct Filing Status
Be sure to use the correct filing status when you file your income tax return; choosing the wrong filing status can cost you. If you fail to utilize a filing status that can lower your…
Say "No" to the Tax Refund Anticipation Loan
With tax season around the corner, many Americans are anticipating an income tax refund. Some are so anxious about their refund that they are willing to take out an exorbitant loan at a cost equivalent…
A Big Tax Refund is Equal to Losing Money
Overpaying your taxes all year long to get a tax refund the next year is a terrible way to save money. Do you really want the government to be in charge of your savings plan?…
Make Good Use of Your Income Tax Refund
What should you do with your tax refund? Anyone who anticipates a big tax refund usually starts the year daydreaming about what they are going to do with all that money. Why not start the…