Smart people use the month of December to work on tax reduction strategies. One of the most common tax reduction strategies is to pay your January mortgage payment in December. If you did this, you may be wondering just how doing so will impact your 2014 taxes—the taxes you pay in 2015. If you paid [...]
It’s time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions, and you may want to put saving for retirement at the top of your list. I’ve found that for many people, saving for retirement isn’t a priority. If you’re young, you might think that retirement is years away and you have plenty of time to save. [...]
Here are a few of the topics covered on this week’s WSB radio show. The economy at the end of 2014 [1:50] In the third quarter of 2014, GDP increased to an unbelievable 5 percent due in a large part to the lower gas prices that are freeing up funds for consumers. We are also [...]
“Spend less, save more.” It’s the third most popular new year’s resolution behind getting organized and losing weight, according to a Journal of Clinical Psychology study on resolutions. While I can’t help much with resolutions one and two (though it is helpful to apply the same principles to thinning your waistline as thinning your budget), the third one is [...]
Here's a quick list of the tax deductions Congress just extended to the end of the year. 1. Mortgage debt forgiveness. If you did a short sale in 2014, you will not have to pay taxes on the debt the lender writes off in the deal. 2. Deduction for private mortgage insurance. You can continue to [...]
On this week’s WSB radio show Ilyce discussed the job market and advice for job-seekers with John Challenger from the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Then, find out what’s next in the housing market from Jed Kolko, chief economist for Trulia.com, vas well as Ilyce’s financial New Year’s resolutions for 2015. Where’s the job market [...]
Crowdfunding websites such as Kickstarter and IndieGoGo have made crowdfunding a popular way for anyone with a project, a financial goal, and an Internet connection to collect money from a pool of online backers. With crowdfunding, entrepreneurs can raise money for their project or venture using the Internet to source funds from a large number [...]
With all the store signs advertising their holidays sales, it’s easy to assume that everything is at its best price in December. However, smart shoppers know otherwise. They only buy items in December that are truly on rock-bottom sale, and they wait until after the holidays season is over to purchase everything else. If you’re [...]
The holidays have arrived, and when it comes to holiday presents, whether insurance will cover an item is generally not top of mind. However, it’s important not to assume that your homeowner’s insurance will cover any expensive gifts that you may be giving or receiving, such as computers, jewelry, or even a vacation package. Giving [...]
The holidays are prime time for houseguests. Whether it’s your siblings and their spouses or an elderly relative, it’s important to be prepared for your guests before they arrive. Being prepared means more than just blowing up the air mattress and stocking up on snacks. It also means reviewing your insurance policy to be sure [...]
