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You don’t have to be destined for the same fate. To avoid suddenly waking up at retirement age only to realize you’re way behind, you’ll need to pace yourself. Aiming for specific “mile markers” along your financial journey will ensure you remain on track to meet your goals. Managing your finances—from the time you enter adulthood to the time you expect to retire—is like running a marathon. To make sure you reach your goal within the desired time, you need to be aware of your pace and distance along the way....

Example: You accidentally scrape the side of your car against your garage. The estimate to remove the scratches is $550. Your deductible is $500. It may not be worth going through the claims process for $50 in return and a black mark on your record. Example: You hit a large pothole on your way to work. It damages your tire, rim, and alignment. The cost of repair is $1,100 and you have a $500 deductible....

But let’s look at the factors that go into deciding whether to pay off debt or invest with the help of two experts. When To Pay Off Debt vs. Invest In general, the rule of thumb is that you should both pay debts and invest. Try to consistently contribute to three buckets—debt payoff, retirement, and an emergency fund—said Linda Davis Taylor, former CEO of Clifford Swan Investment Counselors in Pasadena, California, and host of the podcast Money Stories with LDT....

International investors tracking this market often watch the Hang Seng Index, which tracks the largest companies traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This index accounts for about 40% of the exchange’s total market capitalization. Since its inception in July of 1964, the index has moved from 100 points to more than 28,000 points, as of July 2021. The Hang Seng Index The Hang Seng Index is a stock market index consisting of 50 of the largest and most liquid companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange....

Nationwide, 46.4% of small business owners surveyed by the U.S. Census Bureau in early January estimated their business would not return to the same level it was before the pandemic until the second half of 2021. Another 7.1% said they didn’t expect their business to ever recover. The U.S. Census surveys small businesses weekly. The percentage of respondents falling into the “more than six months” and “never” categories has moved little since August—when the first round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications closed—suggesting that the bulk of small business owners have seen little reason for optimism in the ensuing five months....

Learn more about stacked auto insurance coverage and how it compares to unstacked, or regular, auto insurance. What’s the Difference Between Stacked and Unstacked Insurance? Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays what the other party’s insurance should have paid if the driver who caused the accident is uninsured. A UM policy covers bodily injury and—depending on the policy—can also cover the damaged property. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage protects you against other drivers on the road....

It is common wisdom that buying something now and selling it later at a higher price is the path to making profits in the market, but it’s not so simple with options: since option prices do not always behave as traders expect them to, those who are new to this type of trading have a subtle knowledge gap, and with it a greater chance to incur unexpected losses. Here we’ll cover the tools that come with options, and how to use them to make money while keeping risk in check....

With inflation hitting a 40-year high in 2022, American shoppers are being forced to shell out more money for necessities like groceries or clothing. What’s more, recession worries are forcing consumers to reconsider their spending habits. Holiday shopping might be particularly painful for those with already strained budgets. Although retailers are hoping to boost sales by offering record discounts, some items still cost more now than they have in the past....

WallStreetBets is an internet community where retail investors come together to discuss the stock market and other investing topics. It was founded on Reddit in 2012, and while it’s been around for about a decade, it really took center stage in early 2021. WallStreetBets became the face of the surge of GameStop (GME) and AMC Entertainment (AMC), and today, has more than 12 million members. One thing you’ll notice about WallStreetBets and other similar retail investing communities is that they seem to have a language of their own....

What Are Supporting Documents? Supporting documentation for a job application can include a resume, a cover letter, educational transcripts, writing samples, Veterans’ Preference documents, portfolios, certifications, a reference list, letters of recommendation, and other documentation as specified in the job posting. The information that is required varies depending on the job and the employer’s hiring requirements. If not, feel free to ask the hiring manager or HR representative what kind of supporting documentation to send....

sturti /Getty Images Between 2011 and 2013, the IRS estimated the tax gap—the difference between taxes legally owed and actual revenue collected—was $441 billion annually. New estimates are due next year, but the gap has likely grown and “could approach and possibly exceed” $1 trillion per year, IRS commissioner Charles Rettig told the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. The widening gap is partly due to underreported income from the cryptocurrency market, which is worth about $2 trillion and was not included in the last official estimate, Rettig said....

Tenants must follow certain rules to keep receiving these vouchers, in addition to whatever obligations they already have under their state’s landlord/tenant laws. Tenants have seven specific responsibilities under the Section 8 Voucher Program. Find a Section 8 Eligible Housing Unit The Section 8 office will pay for some or even most of a tenant’s rent in some cases, but it’s not responsible for finding the tenant a unit in which to live....

Private equity firms earn a spot on this list by growing a large fund or funds that typically lead to consistent profits over time. Considering fundraising over the past five years, total assets under management, and similar criteria, here are the best private equity firms operating today. Founded by two brothers in 1985, Blackstone has ballooned to become the largest private equity firm in the world. Because Blackstone is a public company, you can buy shares on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker BX....

Recent rate hikes from the Fed are designed to pump the brakes on an overheated economy that has sent inflation surging to an annual rate of 7.7%. One of the side effects of rate hikes is often higher levels of unemployment—something that just hasn’t happened yet. In addition, hourly earnings rose last month, as workers continue to maintain leverage over employers who still need employees. But low levels of unemployment are a good thing, right?...

At the same time, 306,000 more people became jobless, bumping the unemployment rate from 3.5% to 3.7%, the same as it was in August. This could be a sign that monetary tightening by the Fed is beginning to hurt the economy, as it is meant to. However, that figure remains low by historical standards and is still near pre-pandemic levels. Now you might be thinking, how can jobs and unemployment both rise?...

The world of car loans can be overwhelming, so it’s best to start with the basics. Understanding how a car loan works is the first step in getting a good deal. What Is a Car Loan? A car loan is a personal loan that you use to purchase a vehicle. More specifically, a lender loans the borrower (you) the cash it takes to buy a vehicle. In return, you agree to pay back the lender the amount of the loan plus interest, usually in monthly payments, until the amount owed is fully paid off....

Expensify also works with Freshbooks and just about any other accounting software, and makes it possible to create and submit an expense report without lifting a finger.Expensify is free to individuals, or $5 per month per employee (no charge for months when no expense report is processed). The mobile app works with iPhone and Android. Shoeboxed data exports to Quicken, Excel, CSV or PDF, and comes with its own online software to analyze spending with charts and graphs....

The Tempory Job Interview You will interview for the temporary position just like you would for any other permanent position. It’s important to frame your responses to interview questions carefully so that you’ll impress the hiring manager not only with your skills, but with your aptitude for the nature of a temporary role. In a temp job interview, it’s important to focus on your flexibility, your high comfort level with working in new environments, your ability to communicate and work well with a variety of colleagues, as well as your availability for temporary jobs....

Each method of selling your home comes with advantages as well as downsides. The right choice for you depends on your real estate know-how, how much you’re hoping to get for your property, and more. Learn about your options. Option 1: A Traditional Real Estate Agent The most common way to sell a home, used in 90% of sales, is to use a local real estate agent. The agent will list the home, market it, and coordinate showings with other agents and potential buyers....

Home prices fell 1% in September, marking the third month in a row of declines according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index Tuesday. While prices were still up 10.6% over the last 12 months, they fell significantly from their June peak in certain cities, as the map below shows. Prices, which had surged during the pandemic, have declined recently as mortgage rates have spiked. The average rate offered for a 30-year mortgage topped 7% early in November, hitting its highest in two decades, according to data from Freddie Mac....