You may feel frustrated at the situation, and rightfully so. Fortunately, there are some relatively simple steps you can follow to use the overpayment or have it refunded. How Overpayments Happen A number of things can lead to an overpaid credit card. You might accidentally enter the wrong payment amount. Or, you might forget your account is on autopay and send a manual payment, doubling your payments for the month....
There are a lot of places you can vet companies: online reviews by objective publishers or by consumers, or—better yet—official agencies such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)’s BrokerCheck and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s complaint database. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a popular choice, too, but it’s best to use it in combination with other research tools. That’s because it’s not entirely foolproof, and to understand why, you need to know the basics about how it operates....
Sezzle was founded in 2016 and has become one of several players in the BNPL industry. The service’s primary business is online, and in September 2020 it launched the Sezzle Virtual Card, which customers can add to their Apple Pay or Google Pay apps and use for in-store purchases. If you’re intrigued by the idea of BNPL services, here’s what you should know about Sezzle. Once you’re approved, you’ll make the first of four interest-free installment payments immediately....
When Should You Buy? Buying a home can potentially benefit you at any age, young or old, as long as the conditions are right. You might be ready to buy when, at a bare minimum, you: Can comfortably afford the monthly payments and other recurring expenses of homeownership Can get approved for a good loan (or better yet, pay cash) Plan to keep the home long enough to recoup transaction costs from buying and selling, as well as recover from any price declines (that’s assuming prices do recover) Can afford the risks, including surprise maintenance expenses or your home losing value in a weak market Are ready for the responsibility of owning and maintaining a home...
The federal government has a relatively high estate tax exemption—$11.7 million as of 2021. Only estates with values in excess of this amount are subject to the tax. Among the 13 states that do collect an estate tax at the state level, the threshold is typically far lower. The situation has been anything but stagnant in the millennium, however. Here’s a summary of some changes to state estate tax laws that have taken effect since 2000....
Dubbed the PAVE Action Plan, the initiative was developed by the Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE)—a federal division formed by the Biden administration in June—to eliminate bias during home appraisals. Discriminatory practices in home valuations have left homes in Black neighborhoods frequently undervalued, according to the White House, and that not only diminishes the opportunity for these households to reap the benefits of homeownership, including building multigenerational wealth, but also further expands an already vast racial wealth gap....
You must know who is insured to drive your car before you let them drive it. If you are ever in doubt, ask your insurance agent. Who Needs to Be Listed as a Driver? First, you should know who is supposed to be listed on your car insurance policy. Some insurers are stricter than others when it comes to who needs to be listed as a driver. That can make the whole process quite confusing....
It’s Not Just About Dying Elder law isn’t the same thing as estate law, although they cover some of the same issues. Elder law addresses your finances and property in such a way as to best provide for you and your family while you’re still alive. Your estate, on the other hand, is what you leave to your loved ones when you die and how you leave it to minimize probate complications and potential estate tax liabilities....
When the value of the dollar rises, the price of commodities measured in other currencies rises. When raw material prices rise, demand tends to fall. Conversely, during periods of dollar weakness the price of raw materials tend to fall in other currencies and lower prices tend to increase demand. This is why the dollar has such an important role in influencing the price of commodities. A long-term bear market in the dollar that began in 2002 corresponded to a secular bull market in commodity prices that commenced at the same time....
The following factors will give you some added clarity, so you can better decide for yourself whether they are downsides and whether ETFs are a good fit for your goals and investment style. International Limits While you can find an ETF to replicate just about any U.S. market sector, your options are slim when it comes to foreign investments. International ETFs do exist, but not in the way you may be used to seeing them in the U....
Replacement cost is generally part of a homeowner’s insurance policy. But you should ask. If it costs more to build a new home than the initial expense of your home, then you will want to make sure the replacement cost coverage of your policy is higher than the price you paid. If prices are appreciating in your neighborhood, you may also want to increase your basic insurance coverage but the replacement cost coverage might go down....
You’ve also probably heard how the economy is heating up as it recovers from the pandemic’s economic downturn—the gross domestic product grew faster than pre-pandemic rates in the second quarter, a new report said. Consumers got more money from paychecks in June, which helped fuel an increase in spending. However, that spending has gone hand-in-hand with a spike in prices, as inflation in June, compared to the year before, saw its biggest increase in three decades....
One solution is to move back in with your parents. It might not seem appealing to a newly minted adult eager for independence, but living with your parents can be one of the most suitable money decisions you make at this point in your life. Personal finance and business expert Amanda Abella graduated in 2010 and lived with her parents for seven years before moving out on her own. “From a financial perspective, I wouldn’t have been able to do most of what I’ve done if I hadn’t lived with them for a while,” she said....
A study by The Creative Group reports that 70% of employers preferred traditional resumes (PDF/Word) even for creative jobs. Only 20% were interested in infographics, and fewer preferred a social or online profile (4%) or a video resume (2%). Pros of a Creative Resume Nontraditional resumes are not for everyone. However, they can be very beneficial for certain types of job applicants. Nontraditional resumes are ideal for job seekers in particularly creative industries, such as marketing and design....
Your growth strategy entails more than just demonstrating how your revenue will grow. This section of your business plan is about proving to others that you have a plan for bringing your product to new customers and new markets, and perhaps even introducing new products. The obvious objective in outlining your growth strategy is to show how these moves will increase sales. This can happen in a number of ways....
The recession was largely caused by government-ordered shutdowns to slow the spread of the outbreak. It ended the longest economic expansion in U.S. history. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) defines a recession as a significant decline in economic activity, lasting more than a few months. The NBER announced on June 8, 2020, that “the unprecedented magnitude of the decline in employment and production, and its broad reach across the entire economy, warrants the designation of this episode as a recession, even if it turns out to be briefer than earlier contractions....
Vanguard offers more than 200 U.S. funds (including variable annuity portfolios) and more than 220 additional funds and ETFs in markets outside the U.S. 10 Best Vanguard Funds These are some of the best Vanguard funds to buy and hold, in no particular order. After reviewing the funds, learn more about the pros and cons, long-term investing, and choosing the right funds for your needs. Vanguard Wellesley Income (VWINX) VWINX is a balanced fund from Vanguard....
1. Assets Can Be Tangible or Intangible The two broadest categories of business assets are those that are tangible and those that are not. Assets can be real, or tangible, like a car or a computer you use for business, or retail shelving. They can also be intangible, like intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights, patents). 2. Assets are Treated Differently for Tax and Accounting Purposes Talking about business assets requires different terms and processes, depending on whether you are referring to accounting or taxes....
Make sure you call from your home phone—or the phone number that you put on your application. Rewards credit cards will also come with a benefits guide that you’ll want to reference to learn more about taking advantage of the benefits and perks of your credit card. Be sure to know your credit limit so you can keep your spending below the limit. Downloading the credit card issuer’s smartphone app will let you quickly and easily check your balance and available credit on the go....
Ironically, while “place” is often the most permanent of the four P’s, it’s also often the most overlooked, which is why finding the right location for your business can make a huge impact on its performance. How to Choose the Right Location for Your Business Finding a place for your business is about more than just choosing a building. You also need to consider the location. Perhaps opening your business in your home town, or even your part of town is a given, but you consider the big picture....
