For all of those lucky future parents out there, a baby is going to be a wonderful new adventure for you. Few things are as satisfying as watching your child grow up. One important thing you should consider is prioritizing your personal finances as soon as you know you are adding to your family. Below are some helpful tips people have given me to help ensure your family has a happy future. Create a budget for...
If you have performed any research on the investment advisor industry recently, you likely have seen a lot of companies offering robo-advisor investment solutions. A lot of people might not fully understand what robo-advisors are and how they work. Below is a summary of robo-advisors. Please feel free to comment in the comment section below if you have any positive or negative experience. Robo-advisors are a new online software that helps you manage your investments. The...
As I discussed last month, a 529 plan is a great way to save for your children’s future. However, many people may not know what a 529 plan is and what kind of benefits it offers to you and your children. Below is a high level summary of what a 529 plan is. Please feel free to include any questions or experiences with 529 plans in the comments section below. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged...
Nowadays you can do so much on your phone, including your personal finances. There are also a ton of options out there and they are not all equal! Below are my favorite budget and personal finance apps. Mint: This is the gold standard app for your personal finance needs. The app is effectively an all-in-one resource for creating a budget, tracking your spending, and monitoring your overall finance needs. Mint lets you know when bills are...
A home purchase is a huge decision. There is a lot to factor in, and it may end up being the biggest financial purchase you make in your life. Below are a few indications that would let you know you might be ready to buy a home. 20% in Savings: Many people/websites have different opinions on this, but I recommend having at least 20% of your home purchase in savings you can use as a down...
Most people do not want to organize their personal finances, but it is very important to do so. This helps you stay on top of your finances and it helps save you from disaster. It also can help your sense of well-being and provides you the information to make good financial decisions. Below are some tips and tricks to help simplify and organize your personal finances. Put together a budget and review it at least once...
Building a savings habit is one of the best things you can do for your financial health. Don’t put off saving money because you think you don’t have enough. The key is to look for a savings account with no minimum balance requirement. This way you can open your savings account, even if you’re not ready to put anything in it yet, and deposit money as you can afford to. Look for an Online Bank Online...
“Side hustles” are all the rage now and many people are starting them to make extra cash. This is in addition to their full-time jobs, and while there is plenty of opportunity out there for people to start one, many are not because they feel it is too difficult to start one. Below are some tips and tricks to help make sure you can get your side hustle off the ground. I can promise you, if...
In the past, trading stocks would have required you to meet with a stock broker who would make the trade on your behalf. In exchange for making the trade, the stock broker would charge a fee and even require a minimum investment in the five or six figures. Smartphones and the fintech evolution have made stock investing much easier, faster, and far less expensive. With stock trading apps, you can start with a minimal investment, pay...
As many of you are likely already aware, many individuals and companies are investing into exchange-traded funds or what are commonly called ETFs. This have almost become the new normal to investing, but I propose the question of if people actually know what exchange traded funds are. Below is a high level summary and feel free to post any follow up questions. Exchange traded funds or ETFs are not all that different from regular mutual funds,...
