Finance Globe

U.S. financial and economic topics from several finance writers.

Chris Bibey is a freelance writer and internet marketing professional located in Pittsburgh, PA.

Is it Time to Review (and Tweak) Your Estate Plan?

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When it comes to your finances it’s easy to focus on the here and now. Just the same, you may have a plan for saving for the future (such as for retirement). However, it’s much more difficult to create an estate plan with the idea of passing your assets onto someone else upon your death. While it may not be the most exciting thing you do from a financial planning perspective, here’s something you need to...
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Frank
I will say I don't have an estate plan. What age do you think you need one by and how much AUM should you have?
Saturday, 19 May 2018 14:35
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Easy Ways to Save on Your Water Bill This Spring

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With the winter weather finally phasing out, there’s no denying the fact you probably have a lot of catching up to do. For example, you may need to get outside to mow the lawn, power wash your home, and make sure your property didn’t sustain any major damage during the winter months. Springtime is also a great time to revisit your budget, all with an eye toward saving money. Here are three suggestions for saving on...
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Frank
Almost my entire neighborhood has these rain barrels. I think they are great! I haven't set one up yet for us, but I plan to this ... Read More
Saturday, 19 May 2018 14:33
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Answer These Questions Before Booking a Hotel

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Are you in the process of searching for a hotel to book? It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you’ll come to find that you have many choices. While it’s easy to make a final decision and go with it, you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. Instead, you need to answer a variety of critical questions before booking. These include the following: •    Where can you get the best deal in...
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Frank
I usually book with one of the major online reps like priceline, kayak, or expedia. Most offer the full price you'll pay and the c... Read More
Saturday, 19 May 2018 14:32
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Online Credit Card Account Access: What Can You Do?

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Do you carry a credit card? If so, there’s a very good chance you have access to online account management. There aren’t too many credit card companies in today’s world that don’t provide cardholders with this feature. It’s important to understand the many benefits of online credit card account access, as to ensure that you take full advantage. Here are five things you can do with this: •    Learn more about the details of your card?...
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Frank
I didn't know people were paying off their card card any other way besides the online account.
Saturday, 19 May 2018 14:32
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How to Choose the Best Gas Rewards Credit Card

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A gas rewards credit card is exactly what it sounds like: you earn rewards for spending money on fuel. Just the same as any rewards card, you earn points for every dollar you spend. These points can then be redeemed for everything from cash back to travel to miscellaneous merchandise. If you fill up your tank often, a gas rewards credit card is one of the best ways to get the most out of every purchase....
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Frank
At a minimum you should be getting a 3% return. I have seen some credit cards offer up to 10% cash back.
Saturday, 19 May 2018 14:31
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Don’t Forget the Other Costs of Buying a New Car

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Are you thinking about trading in your current vehicle? Do you have reason to believe that now’s the best time to make this move, both from a personal and financial perspective? While the actual cost of the vehicle will impact your budget in many ways, you don’t want to stop there. There are other costs to take into consideration, all of which will determine if making the move is a good idea. Here are three additional...
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Frank
I never advise anyone to buy a brand new car. Cars depreciate in value so quickly. My recommendation is to purchase one 1-4 years ... Read More
Saturday, 19 May 2018 14:30
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Why Should You Review Your Credit Report?

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Whether or not you review your credit report every now and again is a personal decision. Some people are in the habit of doing so, while others don’t see the point. As a general rule of thumb, you should request and review your credit report at least once every 12 months. Here are some of the many reasons to do so: •    It doesn’t cost anything. You can request a free credit report once a year,...
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Break These Bad Financial Habits ASAP

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Do you have bad financial habits? Have you come to find that these are stopping you from reaching your goals? Are you ready to make a change for the better? Here’s the good thing: you aren’t the only person with bad financial habits. Most people have at least one habit that they want to eliminate as soon as possible. Here are a handful of bad financial habits that you don’t need in your life: •    Impulse...
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Frank
One my horrible financial habits is buying clothes. I spend WAY too much money on this. One way I am working on fixing this is set... Read More
Saturday, 19 May 2018 14:25
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The Personal Information Section of Your Credit Report

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At least once a year, you should request a copy of your credit report and review it in great detail. While it’s easy to focus most your time on the public records and credit accounts sections, there’s something else that deserves your attention: the personal information section. Your goal is to review each section of your credit report, paying close attention to every detail to ensure that there are no mistakes or incomplete information. Remember this:...
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Frank
My wife and I reviewed ours in December and somehow her brother's name and social security number was in the report. We are workin... Read More
Saturday, 19 May 2018 14:24
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5 Simple Ways to Lower Your Home Insurance Premium

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Have you come to the conclusion that you’re paying too much for home insurance? Are you seeking ways to lower your premium, all without giving up too much (if anything) in terms of coverage? It goes without saying that you understand the importance of carrying a comprehensive home insurance policy. Even so, you should never get on board with the idea of overpaying for coverage. Below are five simple ways to lower your home insurance premium:...
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Frank
We just increased our deductible from $500 to $2500. While the deductible is high, this saved us over $500 a year in premiums. As ... Read More
Saturday, 19 May 2018 14:23
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