Finance Globe

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

Mary Tomkins is a freelance writer located in Spartanburg, SC, with emphasis on economic news and research on the financial industry.

Your 401(k) - Choosing the Right Investments

Investments within your 401(k)Your 401(k) is your tax-advantaged retirement account, sponsored by your employer. You've made a smart decision if you participate in your company's 401(k) plan. But simply putting money into a 401(k) isn't enough to ensure a comfortable retirement. You must manage your 401(k) portfolio just like you would with any of your other investments. Proper investment management is vital to your future security, whether your 401(k) is one of your many investmentaccounts, or...
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What To Do With Your Old 401(k)

Americans are fickle with their employers, and many will change jobs as often as they change cars. And considering that the 401(k) is the retirement plan of choice for most large companies, there's a good chance you'll need to decide what to do with your old 401(k) when you move on to greener pastures.So what do you do with your 401(k) when you move to your next job? You basically have four options: Take it and...
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Drawing a Partnership Agreement

Is a contract really necessary?There is no law that requires a partnership to draw up a written contract. The mutual agreement, between two or more people, to run a business together is really all it takes to form a partnership. It's possible that a very simple, straight-forward business with little financial investment may be successfully run without a written contract, but the more complicated your business, the more important it is to get it in writing....
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The 411 on the 401(k)

What the heck is a 401(k) and how does it work? I remember the first time I ever heard of a 401(k) plan. I was barely twenty-one years old, and was just hired for my first good job that offered benefits. At the time, I didn't really understand much of what the human resources director told me about it all, except that I could buy company stock, they would match part of what I put in,...
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Understanding the Legal Business Entities

Among the many other decisions you'll have to make when starting your new business, you'll need to decide on your business' legal structure. Before you decide what business entity is best for you, consider the complexity of your business, the financial risk involved in running your type of business, and the tax consequences of each business structure. There is too much information to put into one article about the various business structures, but this is meant...
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Love and Money - Topics Every Couple Should Discuss

When a couple decides to get married or live together under a joint financial arrangement, there are quite a number of financial subjects that should be dicussed. Couples often mistakenly assume they learned all they need to know about their partner through their courtship, but soon learn differently when they move in together. Talking honestly about those subjects will help a couple understand where they are compatible, compromises that must be made, the type of expenses...
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Love and Money - How to Have That Talk

Couples may be hesitant to mention the subject of money to each other, either because it's an uncomfortable subject, or because past attempts at the topic have resulted in getting no where. But as difficult as it may be, it's vital that couples communicate to each other about money. Effective communication about money matters will give you both a clear picture of where you are, and where you want to be. Money issues have done damage...
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Love and Money - Comunication is Key

When couples get together, they're often attracted to their loved one's looks and personality. They have a spark, a knack for communicating with each other. They can laugh about the same things, and enjoy the same type of activities. They may anticipate a future together, sharing a home, having children, and growing old together. These happy couples often plan out their whole life together, but too many of them overlook one major issue that can often...
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Starting the Right Business For You

Starting your own business can be fun, exciting, and scary. There are a lot of unknowns when you venture into self-employment. Many business owners of the past have made an attempt at self-employment, but half of those businesses fail within the first five years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Increase your chance of running a successful, profitable business with thorough research about the type of business you want to go into, as well as...
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The Financial Side of starting Your Own Business

The big question many entrepreneurs have is, "How much will it cost to start my own business?" Some have started their own successful business with nearly nothing, and some have needed to use up their life savings or take out huge loans. It all depends on the type of business you plan to run. You may already know what kind of business you want to start, or you may just know you want to become self...
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