Nations do it. So do companies. There’s nothing inherently wrong with taking on some debt, especially considering the rising cost young people face for essentials like housing, education, and cars. But financial success means not taking on more debt than one can handle. It also means building credit, paying down debt once it’s incurred, and […]

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Have you had your annual wellness screening? You know, the one where you (along with a professional) take a look inside, check the vitals for any imbalances, and compare the results to last year’s numbers and those typical for your age group? Sounds like a medical checkup…or a financial one. Here are a few things […]

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Editor’s note: In December we covered the importance of having an emergency fund and the potential long-term consequences of not having one. In this article we take a more in-depth look at how to create an emergency fund. It’s inevitable: Life can hand you some expensive bumps in the road, and things can get pretty […]

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A little hindsight is always useful, but for college students, getting money advice now can go a long way toward their financial future. A “Young Money Survey” by TD Ameritrade looked at millennials’ attitudes toward money, education, and working life. It asked college graduates: “What one piece of advice would you give to your 18-year-old self […]

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Once they are out in the job market, many college graduates look back and wish they had done a few things differently, according to young millennials and teens who were surveyed about their financial habits and attitudes. Some of the most insightful information came from recent college grads, who shared their take on financial expectations […]

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Summer is over, and it’s time to hit the books. For young adults (and maybe not-so-young adults), college beckons. A college degree can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional earnings over a lifetime versus a high-school education, according to a 2011 Census Bureau study. Plus, recent data from the Economic Policy Institute shows […]

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Some personal finance sayings have been around so long, many people take them as absolutes without really thinking about what they mean and whether they apply universally. Undoubtedly, you’ve heard these nuggets: “Have six months of emergency savings in a liquid account.” “Put 20% down on your home purchase.” “Cash is king and debt is […]

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Who doesn’t want to save money? Almost no one, but sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that “saving” is the same as spending, only in smaller increments. Or we think of saving as a punishment without considering what the reward will be down the road. Of course, we all know the basics of saving: live […]

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Key Takeaways Review your non-essential spending, and set priorities and spending limits Include your children by turning the goal-setting and savings process into a game Remember to include charitable giving in the family budget Looking to spend some meaningful family time together? How about creating a household budget? Before you recoil in horror, hear us […]

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Key Takeaways Start a retirement budget by listing mandatory expenses Aim to have your retirement income exceed all the costs in your plan  Develop a healthy emergency fund for additional confidence  Planning ahead for your retirement years can provide additional confidence and financial security. And with increased life expectancy, a retirement budget can take into […]

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