Many states have enacted usury laws to protect consumers from predatory lending practices. To illustrate, if a borrower needs to take out a personal loan, but their bank denies their application, they might have to settle for a lender charging whatever interest rate they want. This might be 40% or more if such a thing were allowed. But that would likely be considered usury, or above the interest rate legal limit, depending on the state law....
What’s Your Market Share? In its simplest form, you can calculate your market share by dividing your company’s total sales by the industry’s total sales. Ideally, your research will uncover that there is a thriving need for your products or services and that the existing competition does not have complete ownership of the market. This data would signify that there is room for your business to get in the game. But what if your market analysis shows that there is not a huge demand in the market for your product or services, or that the market is already highly competitive?...
Thankfully, you can have a replacement bond issued to you with just a little bit of effort on your part. Better yet, the Treasury now issues electronic replacements, so you won’t have to worry about losing them again. How to Replace Lost, Destroyed, or Damaged Series I Savings Bonds For Series I savings bonds (as well as series EE bonds) that are lost, destroyed, or stolen, you’ll need to file a written claim with the Bureau of the Fiscal Service by filling out FS Form 1048....
It’s easy to write checks, pay your bills online with automatic bill payment, and purchase items with a debit card. If you find that you are unable to open a checking account, you do have a few options available to you. Try Another Bank First, you should look at other banks in your area. You may not qualify for the best account at the bank, but many banks may work with you, though you may have to pay higher fees....
Many people think they can roll an inherited IRA into their own IRA. However, if you inherited an IRA from someone who is not your spouse, you can’t roll the account into your own IRA or treat it as your own. Cash in the IRA Within 10 Years You always have the option of cashing in an inherited IRA. You will pay taxes on the amount of the distribution but no 10% IRA early-withdrawal penalty tax....
Repair shops can use a variety of parts to get your vehicle back on the road. While most car owners might prefer parts produced by the original manufacturer, many standard auto insurance policies do not cover them. However, many insurers offer optional coverages that pay for the original parts you might favor. What Are Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Parts? Automobile manufacturers produce OEM parts for their vehicles. For example, Ford Motor Company produces replacement parts through several brands, including Ford Parts, Ford Motorcraft, and Ford Accessories....
However, that’s not to say that a local government can’t default, so no muni bond is without risk, it’s just less likely, so there’s less risk. And I talk a little more about risk in my closing thoughts at the end of this article. However, one caveat to the tax advantage of muni bonds being “tax-free” is the AMT – alternative minimum tax amount. In some cases, the dividend stream from muni bonds is taxable if it falls under the AMT....
However, some investors can still profit from timing the market in a smaller and quicker way. If you are interested in tempting your fate with market timing, there are some scenarios that could work and might prove to be worth the risk. What Does Timing the Market Mean? Timing the market is a strategy in which investors buy and sell stocks based on expected price changes. If investors can predict when the market will go up and down, they can make trades to turn that market move into a profit....
With that in mind, here are five reasons why you should consider selling your bond fund. Underperformance This is the most obvious, but it’s amazing how long people will stick with a poorly performing fund. Some of the worst-performing funds still have hundreds of millions of dollars in assets invested by shareholders who are sticking it out. This is unfortunate since there are many alternatives among mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)....
damircudic There are several good reasons that companies may choose to issue dividends, including rewarding current shareholders and attracting new investors. But some companies choose not to pay dividends and to instead spend their profits elsewhere. In this article, we’ll break down what a dividend is and why some companies pay dividends while others don’t. What Is a Dividend? A dividend is a payment that a corporation pays to its shareholders....
Scoring Models There are dozens of credit score models and each can give you a different credit score. For example, each of the three credit bureaus uses its own model for calculating your credit score; plus, the bureaus worked together to develop the VantageScore. FICO, one of the most widely known credit scoring companies, has its own credit scoring model. Banks and other screening services may also have different credit scoring models....
Keeping a few main considerations in mind will help you prepare for corporate taxes, including types of corporations and how they’re taxed, when and where to file, which form to use, and how to estimate your corporate taxes. U.S. Corporations and Income Taxes There are two basic types of corporations in the U.S.: C corporations and S corporations. C corps are typically just called “corporations.” S corporations are named for the section of the Internal Revenue Code that applies to this business type....
That’s good news if you’re looking for work, because you can interview for jobs from the comfort of home. However, virtual interviewing comes with its own set of challenges, especially if you’re not used to meeting remotely. It’s all too easy to get flustered by the technology and forget to mind the details that make the difference between a so-so interview and one that clinches a job offer. To increase your chances of making a good impression and getting the job, there are certain mistakes you should avoid before and during Zoom interviews....
If you want to take advantage of these promotions, it’s important to check which type you’re getting, and how 0% balance transfer and purchase offers differ from each other. In some cases, a card may offer both types at once. Learn how to navigate these two distinct 0% APR offers without falling into any overspending traps that could land you deeper in debt. What Is a 0% APR Purchase Promotion?...
How 10-Year Treasury Rates Work The U.S. Treasury creates each bond issue, each in increments of $100 and paying a pre-specified amount of interest called its “coupon yield.” They are initially offered to investment banks via an auction conducted by the Federal Reserve, who in turn offer them to their investors on the secondary market all around the world. This is where “market yields” are determined. When there is a lot of demand, investors bid at or above the face value....
Who will you meet when you interview for a new job, and what’s the best way to connect with them? That depends on the position and the company’s hiring process. There are a variety of types of job interviews, and who you’ll be talking to depends on both the job and the organization. Who You’ll Interview With Your interview—especially for a screening interview, a first-round interview, or an interview with a large employer—may be with a human resources manager or recruiter, to assess your qualifications for the job....
Impulse Buying An impulse purchase is an unplanned purchase of some product or service. Impulse purchases are all about emotion. Marketers and retailers know this, and that is why you will see those small items like candy and magazines at the checkout aisle. These marketers know that as you wait, you will shop and buy. Impulse shoppers see a sale and don’t want to miss out. They may see an item that they want to have immediately....
It’s easy to understand why. Biotechnology has become of major importance during the pandemic, as many biotech firms have been responsible for the vaccines and therapies that will help reduce its impact. Other types of biotechnology businesses focus on solutions for major problems such as cancer or climate change. We reviewed many funds in this area to come up with this list of the best five biotechnology exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to invest in....
If you’re interested in budgeting, here’s some great news—your budget doesn’t need to focus on the little details—and it definitely doesn’t need 15 different categories. Furthermore, it doesn’t have to be based around deprivation. You can allow yourself a little bit of fun within the context of your overall budget. In fact, if you don’t like the word “budgeting,” then replace it with the idea that you’re creating a plan or a roadmap around how you’re going to spend your money....
No wonder many millennials may feel reticent to negotiate; a survey by Nerd Wallet and Looksharp revealed that only 38% of respondents negotiated with employers. This is a real missed opportunity. Employers expect to engage in salary negotiations and often build in wiggle room while making their initial offers. Read on to find out why salary negotiation is so important for millennials—particularly in the early stages of your career—and winning strategies that can increase an offer....
