Taking the time to write a heartfelt message that shows how much you enjoyed your job will help you move forward on the best of terms. The Best Way to Leave Your Workplace There are many reasons you may decide that it’s the right time to move on from a position. You may have been offered an opportunity for advancement that you would not get at your current company, or perhaps you’ve been offered your dream job....

According to the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index, small business loans through commercial banks had a banner year in 2019 and they are in a position to have another great year in 2020. Since small businesses drive the economy and are responsible for much of the job creation, this is good news not only for small business owners but for the economy as a whole. The Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index showed that small business loans were approved at a post-Great Recession high of 28....

Learn more about socially and economically disadvantaged businesses and resources that are available to help. What Is a Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business? Not every aspiring business has access to the same resources. If you’re forming a business and looking for resources or funding, or you’re establishing a particular business identity (i.e., woman-owned business or minority-owned business), you may qualify for assistance under the Small Business Act. This means you may be prioritized when it comes to securing government contracts and be able to work with organizations like the National Minority Supplier Development Council....

For example, if you earned $80,000 and claimed $15,000 worth of deductions as a single filer, that would reduce your taxable income to $65,000. That change from the deduction could bump you down to a lower tax bracket. The IRS gives you a couple of options for deductions. You can claim the standard deduction for your filing status, or you can itemize your deductions, but you can’t do both. Then there are “above the line” deductions, and you can take these in addition to the standard or itemized deductions....

Each state has a different mix of tax breaks for retirees. Most exempt certain types of retirement income, but they tax others. Consider state taxes before you decide where to retire, unless you happen to live in a state with no income tax. But keep in mind that some of these states without income taxes have high taxes in other areas. States That Exempt Social Security Benefits Thirty states exempt all Social Security benefits from taxation:...

Here’s what else you need to know about 529 plans and how they differ from state to state. Federal Deductions for 529 Plans There is no federal deduction for contributions to a 529 account. At the federal level, contributors should keep in mind that contributions may be subject to federal gift tax laws. In tax year 2022, you can give up to $16,000 to someone before the gift tax kicks in, or $32,000 for married couples combining gifts....

You can expect to be asked questions about your education, background, and certification. But during an interview for an IT role, you’ll also be asked about how you’d approach IT-related situations. These queries will differ, depending on the role you’re applying for. You’ll give the best responses during an IT job interview if you practice beforehand. Take a look at the top technical interview questions that are most often asked by tech employers and recruiters....

This guideline can help you limit the amount of debt you carry, which is important for your financial health and your credit score. However, it does have some drawbacks. Learn to calculate the 20/10 rule of thumb, as well as the pros and cons of using it. What Is the 20/10 Rule of Thumb? The 20/10 rule set limits on how much of your annual and monthly take-home pay should go toward consumer debt payments....

Choosing the right office chair can improve your comfort, health, and overall productivity. Some things to consider include good back support—a quality office chair should feature lumbar support, as well as some cushion or contour that helps you sit up straight and alleviates pressure on your lower back. Additionally, office chairs are not a one-size-fits-all item, so it’s important to find one that offers adjustable features like chair height, back support angle, and armrests....

The tech sector has been struggling as the Federal Reserve continues to hike interest rates to lower inflation. How does the Fed impact tech companies? Higher interest rates take big bites out of future growth for companies. For companies that experience aggressive growth very quickly (like tech companies), higher rates have a bigger, more negative impact. So this week, expect volatility in markets, especially as tech companies highlight weakness due to the current economic environment....

As economic volatility shook the markets and our wallets, millions of readers turned to The Balance for guidance. Here, we take a look at some of the most popular searches our readers made throughout the year, as measured by spikes in traffic compared to the average Balance article that month. Bitcoin Mining Bitcoin mining came in as our most popular topic of 2021, seeing the most consistent interest and overall traffic throughout the year....

If you have the opportunity to choose, learn some of the tips about the best time to sell your house. The Best Months To Sell Which month is best to sell your house? There might not be an exact consensus among real estate professionals—Zillow says May, while ATTOM says June—but selling your home in the summer months seems to be a good bet. However, this also may vary greatly, depending on your local market....

Written and Signed The statute of frauds in U.S. common law—which requires certain contracts to be made in writing in order to be valid—includes real estate contracts. If a contract to purchase real estate is not written and signed by both the buyer and seller, it is not enforceable. Handshakes and verbal commitment are not enough. The purpose is to prevent fraud and avoid situations where a court has to believe the word of one party over another....

Learn more about the handbook and how to use it. What Is the Occupational Outlook Handbook? The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a career guide developed and maintained by the U.S. Government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It provides information on a wide range of occupations. For each profession, it describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, required training and education, earnings, and expected job prospects. The BLS is an independent national statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, the U....

But if there’s one number that people need to look at than more any other, it’s the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E). But what does that mean, anyway? Wall Street loves its jargon the way former President Bill Clinton loved his hamburgers. And indeed: Among the Wall Street cognoscenti, P/E is one of those numbers investors throw around with great authority. But it doesn’t own the stats board. (Otherwise, all the other numbers wouldn’t matter....

You may have great forex strategies, but if your broker runs off with your money, all your hard work and research was for nothing. Follow these five in-depth tips on how to find a great forex broker, so you end up with the right broker that meets your needs, without exposing you to any scams. Are you going to day trade a lot or a little? Trade very small moves, or capture bigger moves?...

Hundreds of questions run through your mind as your closing day draws near. Most questions are simple and easily answered, but sometimes, doubt creeps in and makes you uncertain about whether you want to proceed with the purchase. Unless there’s a true reason for concern, your state of mind might simply be a standard case of homebuyer’s remorse. A house is the most-expensive thing most people ever buy, so you want to be sure you’ve bought the right one....

What Are Transferable Skills? Transferable skills are those that can be used in different industries and jobs, and they can help make you a valuable candidate for employers. Transferable skills include the hard and soft skills that are applicable in both your current role and the job you’re seeking. Hard skills are career-specific knowledge, such as programming languages, engineering, legal expertise, project management, or design. Soft skills are people skills such as teamwork, creative thinking, critical thinking, communication, flexibility, and problem-solving....

Agency and Buyer Agency “Real estate agent” is a generic term referring to our occupation, but does not always define an agent’s position and duties in a transaction. “Agency,” the highest level of representation—it requires certain fiduciary duties, including client confidentiality and full disclosure. The confidentiality requirement continues after the transaction is completed. You are working in the client’s best interests, meaning trying to get the most money for your seller’s listing or the lowest price for your buyer....

However, a president doesn’t control the first year’s deficit. The previous president’s federal budget is still in effect for most of that year. The federal government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. As a result, a new president has no influence on the deficit for January through September of that first year in office. A better way to calculate the deficit is by looking at each president’s budget and then adding the deficits for those budgets....