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In this article, we will look at the risks associated with global investments and whether the benefits outweigh those risks. What Is Global Investment Risk? Global investment risk is a broad term encompassing many different types of international risk factors, including currency risks, political risks, and interest rate risks. International investors should carefully consider these risk factors before investing in global stocks. The three major global investment risks include:...

The economy began growing again in 1938, but unemployment remained higher than 10% until 1941. That’s when the United States entered World War II. This timeline covers significant events from 1929 through 1941. He believed a free-market economy would allow the forces of capitalism to fix any economic downturn. As a result, he lowered the top income tax rate from 25% to 24%. August: The economic activity from the Roaring Twenties reached its peak....

However, insurers can’t cancel your coverage anytime for just any reason. There are laws in place to protect you from frivolous cancellations. Learn more about the current health insurance cancellation laws and what to do if you lose coverage. When Your Health Insurance Company Can Cancel Your Policy Your health insurance company can’t just cancel your coverage on a whim. Here’s a closer look at how insurance cancellation laws work....

As a parent or guardian, talking about college costs with your teen is crucial to help reduce the likelihood your children will get in over their heads when it comes to student-loan debt. Here are some tips for talking to teens about college costs. Different Ways to Pay for College Parents and guardians should help teens understand the options they have for securing funds for school. These options include:...

Revocable vs. Irrevocable Living Trusts A revocable trust is one that can be changed at any time by the grantor, the individual who formed it. The grantor commonly serves as the trustee of their own revocable trust. They retain control of the assets they’ve funded and placed into the trust, and they reserve the right to change the trust’s terms at any time, provided that they’re still mentally sound. The grantor must step aside after they’ve formed and funded an irrevocable trust....

Let’s look at a few of the options that have been available for sellers to get cash back in a short sale. Not all of these are still available, but it gives you an idea of the programs you can look for and how to qualify. Make Sure the Offer Is Legitimate Before you go looking just anywhere for a chance to make money on a short sale, be sure you know how to find legitimate opportunities....

Many people seek out assistance from career development professionals only when they are trying to choose a career for the first time, or perhaps when they are going through a transition. The intent of career guidance, however, is to provide support to individuals throughout their entire lives. Let’s take a look at when, during your career, you should get help. Get Help When You Are Choosing a Career Far too many people are dissatisfied with what they do for a living....

Self-Employed Consultants and Taxes According to the IRS, you’re self-employed if you’re a business owner or contractor who provides services to other businesses. To remain a contractor rather than an employee, you must: Have the right to direct or control the work you performHave the right to direct or control the financial and business aspects of your jobHave a relationship that is not like one between an employer and employee—it must be impermanent and benefits such as insurance or vacation pay are not generally granted If you’re a self-employed consultant, then your clients will pay the full amount you bill them with no taxes taken out....

What Makes Sole Proprietors Different Sole proprietors are one-person owners of unregistered businesses. That means they don’t register their businesses with a state. For legal and tax purposes, sole proprietorships are the only business type that isn’t separate from the owner. The owner is liable for all the debts of the business and can be sued in connection with its actions. For tax purposes, a sole proprietorship is considered a “pass-through” business....

Is it possible to get the coverage you need without making a down payment? Some providers offer installment plans that allow you to avoid making the full premium payment in one lump sum, but you still must make an initial payment before coverage begins. Installment plans spread out the cost of insurance over time, they usually require paying fees, and they typically require you to make a down payment to obtain coverage....

Companies that issue stocks perform stock splits and reverse stock splits for many reasons—ETFs are no different. As an ETF investor, it’s essential that you understand why an ETF might split and how that impacts the value of your portfolio. What Is an ETF Split? Exchange-traded funds are similar to mutual funds in that they are required to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a company. An ETF (as a company) purchases shares of other companies, creates securities from them, and then offers those shares to be traded on an exchange by investors....

Out of all the crops that farmers grow, the government subsidizes only five of them. They are corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice. The five states that have received the most farm subsidies between 1995 and 2020, are, in order, Iowa, Texas, Illinois, Nebraska, and Minnesota. These states have received 38.2% of the 240.5 billion distributed between 1995 and 2020. During this time period, the top 10 percent of commodity payment recipients were paid 78 percent of commodity payments....

Many homebuyers become impatient and frustrated signing all these closing documents, and it’s possibly more paperwork than you’ve ever had to deal with for anything else in your life. The paperwork required to sell a home is often much less voluminous than that required for a buyer. And you can’t simply just scribble your name on page after page after page. The most important thing is that you check the accuracy of the paperwork that you sign....

Some students might receive a great financial aid package that covers most of their educational costs due to their academic, athletic, or artistic capabilities. Other students might have parents who can afford to pay for college. For most students though, attending college usually involves borrowing money through federal or private student loan programs. While loans offer the advantage of helping meet educational goals, taking on too much debt can have negative financial consequences in the long-term....

If you’re in the market to buy a home, too, you might wonder how much you can get preapproved for, especially given how fast home prices have been rising. In general, the two biggest factors that affect how much home you can buy are your income and your debt. Here’s how lenders calculate how much to lend you. How Are Preapprovals Determined? When it comes to how much lenders are willing to let you borrow, it generally comes down to two things: your debt and your income, according to Nadia Evangelou, a senior economist and director of forecasting for the National Association of Realtors....

Learn more about expenses to consider when you estimate the cost of your home addition so you can plan for it in your budget. Home Addition Cost Estimates The cost of a home addition can vary depending on a lot of different factors. You might spend $10,000, $100,000, or anywhere in between. Here are common factors that affect the cost of a home addition: Type of addition: Some rooms are more complex than others....

But if you are working at an entry-level job, you may be making just enough to cover your basic needs. Saving money may be the last thing on your mind. But how much should you really be making before you start saving? The answer? You should begin saving as soon as you begin working, and you should take immediate steps to put away money for emergencies ranging from $1,000 to one month’s salary....

We’ll assume in this article that your 401(k) withdrawals will be your only income source in retirement, but the actual amount you need to save in your 401(k) plan depends on a number of factors, including: Your additional sources of income in retirement, such as a pension or rental income Your other retirement savings, including traditional or Roth IRAs Your Social Security-claiming plans How long you plan to work How many years you expect to spend in retirement...

The GST doesn’t only apply to grandchildren. It also addresses gifts or transfers made to other family members and to unrelated individuals who are at least 37-1/2 years younger than the donor. All such beneficiaries are referred to as “skip persons.” Why ‘Skip’ and What’s a “Skip Person” ? The child’s generation is skipped to avoid an inheritance being subject to estate taxes twice—once when it moves from the grandparents to their children, and then from those children to their children....

Be prepared with examples to show the interviewer how you’ve used your strengths to succeed on the job. What the Interviewer Wants to Know Interviewers ask this question to see whether or not your skillset is a good fit for the position and the company. This question also helps interviewers see whether or not you have researched the job and the company thoroughly. How to Answer the Question When you’re asked to describe your strengths, be careful to set the right tone....