If you’re thinking about buying a home or refinancing in 2015, don’t worry about mortgage interest rates because they don’t seem to be going anywhere. Mortgage rates are sliding so far in 2015, including some of the most popular types like fixed-rate mortgages. The 30-year rate for this type is now well below 4 percent, [...]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bQOJeepeW0 If you're looking for a tax professional to help you with your taxes this season around Atlanta, consider the Georgia Association of Enrolled Agents. You can find them online here. Here are four of my favorite enrolled agents, if you need help. Bill Nemeth Bill Nemeth is the immediate past president of the [...]
When I was a kid, I watched “The Jetsons” and dreamed of the day that flying cars would be a reality. Fast forward to today, and while the technology to give us affordable, easy-to-maneuver flying cars is still far off in the future, self-driving cars may be available much sooner. They could change the way [...]
Choosing the right tax professional. Four questions to ask when looking for a tax professional who is qualified to help you maximize your tax refund. Last year, nearly 48 million taxpayers prepared their own tax returns, accounting for 38 percent of all electronic filings. In addition, self-preparation increased by 6 percent compared with 2013. While [...]
A recent issue of Quill, the Society of Professional Journalists’ national magazine, featured articles that explained the benefits of taking on side projects—something many people consider doing in order to make some extra cash. In addition to having fun, the journalists who wrote the pieces honed their skills, made some extra money, and increased their [...]
With today’s low interest rates, many homeowners are refinancing their mortgages. In doing so, they will be not only paying less interest over the life of the mortgage but also lowering their monthly payments. Timing is everything when it comes to refinancing your mortgage. If you wait too long and interest rates climb, you could [...]
“Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see.” I remember hearing that from my mom when I was growing up, and it still serves me well today. Some of the things you might have heard or read about Social Security may not be true. Here are five Social Security myths you [...]
A few weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana in 2005, I received a call from an elderly woman who was confused about her insurance policy. She said that she had paid a significant sum of money for homeowner’s insurance coverage to a person who claimed to be an insurance agent. This supposed agent insisted the [...]
It’s a common question: Should I borrow from my 401(k) to buy a house? With all that money sitting untouched in an account, it can be tempting to loan yourself some cash for a down payment on the home of your dreams—but is it a good idea? The answer depends on your circumstances, but there [...]
If you lose your job, your tax bill probably isn’t going to be the first thing on your mind. But when you file for unemployment, you’ll need to pay attention to your state’s tax laws. I live in California, which doesn’t tax unemployment benefits, so I was surprised to find that the majority of states [...]
