Personal Finance Blog - Spreading Financial Independence. Guest Bloggers Are Welcome

Guest Bloggers Are Welcome

If wedding bells ring this summer, do not forget taxes

By: Steven Leibold, EA Tax Planning Views: 6060 | Comments: 0 | Votes: 0

Will wedding bells be ringing for you or a family member this summer? If so, add tax updating to the long list of things to do. Here are some of the tax concerns newlyweds need to take care of. Check the effect marriage will have on your tax bill. If both spouses work and earn about the same income, you may pay higher taxes due to the "marriage penalty." Steven C. More

Out-of-state property owners tax being enforced

By: Tax Advisors Tax Planning Views: 6024 | Comments: 0 | Votes: 0

Come Wednesday, property managers throughout California will be required to pay the state 7 percent of rental proceeds to cover out-of-state owners’ estimated income taxes — a nearly 50-year-old requirement that is now being enforced as the state struggles with billions of dollars in budget deficits. “For us, it’s a tax matter,” Voet said. “It’s slavery. More

Make the most out of your 401(k)

By: Bogie Boric Retirement Planning Views: 6019 | Comments: 0 | Votes: 0

This year (2007) you can contribute up to $15,500 to your employers' 401(k) plan. If you are older than 50 add an extra $5,000 in catch-up contributions for a total of $20,500. If you are eligible to participate and your employer offers matching contributions there is no reason for you to say "no" to this free money. The important point is that this is tax-deferred growth. More

Budgeting is Bothersome

By: Frugal World Personal Finance Views: 5974 | Comments: 0 | Votes: 0

It doesn't take much for you to get behind on monthly bills, but it sure takes some time to catch up. The comparison in my mind is to weight gain. A one-week vacation can easily pack on 5 to 7 pounds. Losing that weight however, can take a good month of cardio. Let's get real here. Debt is an overpowering epidemic in America. It's growing every year. Start with any program you like. More

Stocks cheer latest cut in rates

By: Art Of Saving Home Loans Views: 5969 | Comments: 0 | Votes: 0

By Barbara Hagenbaugh, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve, battling recession and a fearsome credit crunch, cut interest rates by a hefty three-quarters of a percentage point Tuesday and said the economic outlook has deteriorated, suggesting more rate cuts could be on the way. The cut matched the most aggressive move since they began targeting the rate in 1990. More

When All Stocks Are Value Stocks - Think QDI

By: Steve Selengut Investments Views: 5961 | Comments: 0 | Votes: 0

Value stocks are those that tend to trade at lower prices relative to their fundamental characteristics than their more speculative cousins, the growth stocks; they have higher than usual dividend yields and lower P/E and P/B ratios. So when all stock prices are down significantly, have they all become value stocks? If they aren't going to go up, don't buy them." The third? More

Mason Baxter: Euro Banks to Allocate More Funds to Cover Bad Debt

By: 1888pressrelease.com Banking Views: 5879 | Comments: 2 | Votes: 1

1888 PressRelease - Mason Baxter: ECB to come up with new strategies to tackle existing bad debt in Europe.As of 2018, the European Central Bank will request that euro zone financial institutions allocate more funds to cover bad debt. Bad loans are negatively affecting bank balance sheets and lending is suffering as a result. More

Dealing With Stock Market Corrections: Ten Do's and Don'ts

By: Steve Selengut Investments Views: 5815 | Comments: 0 | Votes: 0

A correction is a beautiful thing, simply the flip side of a rally, big or small. Theoretically, even technically I'm told, corrections adjust equity prices to their actual value or "support levels". In reality, it's much easier than that. Prices go down because of speculator reactions to expectations of news, speculator reactions to actual news, and investor profit taking. 8. More

Stricter rules for adjustable-rate mortgages

By: Mark Goldman Home Loans Views: 5798 | Comments: 1 | Votes: 0

New mortgage rules the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Thursday will change how lenders decide if borrowers qualify for adjustable-rate mortgages. The "ability to repay" rule, which goes into effect in January 2014, requires lenders to consider more than just the loan's initial interest rate in determining whether someone can afford the loan. Consider a 5/1 ARM. More

Moving expense can save you on taxes.

By: Kerry Freeman EA Tax Planning Views: 5765 | Comments: 0 | Votes: 0

Moving expense can save you on taxes. With so many people moving in and out of Phoenix, many people wonder if there is any tax saving with the move. Kerry Freeman, EA of the Central Arizona Chapter of Enrolled Agents (CACEA) shows you ten things you need to know about moving expenses. But no two moves are alike, and there are several tests you must meet to claim the deductions. Mr. More