There are a handful of ways you can find home value. Learn the potential benefits and drawbacks of each option. Why Your Home’s Value Matters The value of your home changes constantly depending on market conditions and buyer demand. If it’s been a while since you’ve done a home value estimate, it may be time to do one. Depending on what you want to do with your home or your mortgage loan, there are several good reasons to figure out how much your home is worth....

RichVintage / Getty Images Maybe you’ve been busy and you’ve forgotten about the deadline looming, or maybe you’re still tracking down the documents you need to prepare your return. You know that you might not have them by April 15—or at least you don’t want to risk not having them. And that’s okay. Just file IRS Form 4868 instead. What Is an Extension, and What Does It Do? You’re asking the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to give you six more months to submit your tax return when you file for an extension....

As a reminder, the qualified business income deduction (QBI) gives small business owners an additional 20% tax deduction on their net business income, which helps reduce their total taxable income. If your small business meets all of the qualifications for the QBI deduction, you can take this deduction on your personal tax return. What Is Qualified Business Income? Qualified business income includes specific qualified income, gains or losses, and deductions from business income....

How to Get Your Resume Noticed by Employers These quick and easy-to-do tips will help get your resume past the screening systems and noticed by recruiters. Here’s how to update your resume in just a few minutes. Be Sure You’re a Good Fit for the Job Make sure you meet the qualifications. Qualifications for being considered for a job are usually listed at the bottom of the job ad. Make sure you have at least the minimum required qualifications to be considered....

You don’t want to come across as awkward and lacking in social skills. Rather, you’ll want to show that you have the professionalism and communication skills to be an asset to the company if hired. Review these simple steps for introducing yourself, with examples of what to do and say to everyone you meet during the hiring process so you can make a positive impression. For example: My name is Tim Jones, and I have an interview scheduled with John Smith at 2 p....

If you’re interested in investing in multiple companies at once, you might choose an investment product that tracks the Dow Jones average, giving you immediate diversification in your portfolio. If you’re looking for the best way to start investing in the Dow, here’s what you need to know. How To Invest in the Dow Jones in 3 Steps You can start investing in the Dow by following these three steps....

Your occupation may no longer bring you the satisfaction it once did. Perhaps you were never happy with it and finally feel ready to explore other options. At this point in your life, you may wonder if the effort it will take to make a career change is even worthwhile. Whether you are 30 or 50, you shouldn’t spend time working in a career in which you are unhappy. Your age, though, will play a role in how you go about making your transition and your decision about what career to pursue next....

Learn more about taxes on Roth IRAs in most common situations, and how taxes work for contributions, withdrawals, and transfers. How Roth IRA Taxes Work You can open a Roth IRA by setting up an account with a financial institution or brokerage. You then can contribute money to the account each year. Your contributions must be made with after-tax funds. When you take out the funds from the Roth, you don’t have to pay any taxes....

Ensuring you have sufficient income and planning your expenses is essential for real estate agents who want to have a steady income for themselves and their families. Real Estate Agent Income A real estate agent typically doesn’t get paid a regular income or salary. Instead, they get paid on a commission basis. That means that as an agent, you only get money when you close on a deal. How much you earn depends on the details of the transactions you’re helping with and the value of the transaction....

There are many reasons why property taxes increase, and you can’t always control them. One thing you can control, however, is how you prepare. Read on to learn how to get ready for rising property taxes and what to do to help keep them down. Why Do Property Taxes Increase? Property taxes are an “ad valorem” tax. That means they’re applied based on the estimated value of a property, explained Frank DiZenzo, a CPA and co-founder of realAppeal, a property tax appeal service, in an email to The Balance....

katleho Seisa / Getty Images How much of an emergency fund you need can vary but it’s a financial tool that almost everyone needs. Financial emergencies can come in the form of a job loss, significant medical expenses, a vet bill you weren’t planning on, home or auto repairs, or something you’ve never dreamed of. In those situations, you could use a credit card or personal loan to fill the gap but that means taking on debt....

On an individual level, a recession can cause you to lose your job and not be able to meet your financial obligations. But it affects people in different ways, depending on income level, spending habits, family structure, and geographic location. Some groups such as women of color, minimum wage workers, and families with dependents tend to be more vulnerable during recessions. “Those already in a precarious position—working in low-paying jobs that prevent them from saving enough money to fall back on in hard times—might be forced into debt by a recession,” Levon L....

Before getting the necessary licenses and permits to register your business, there are a few decisions you need to make about your business, and setting up your business identity. Name Your Business Decide the name of your business. This tasks is something you should spend some time on as it will become your brand. You can use your given name, or make up a name that fits the business you plan to run....

Where To Start? The savviest investors know in advance the level of risk involved in individual stock and fund-related investment selection. They also know that picking the right stocks and funds isn’t easy, and that even the most battle-hardened professional money manager struggles to identify the best stocks and funds—before anyone else catches on. Once those items are crossed off, a great place to start is by using economic and stock market indicators to pinpoint the best stocks and funds....

The pattern has a “flag” appearance because the small rectangle—the consolidation—is connected to the pole—the large and swift move. Flag Chart Pattern Specifications The flag portion of the pattern must run between parallel lines and can either be slanted up, down, or even sideways. Flags that are angled in the same direction as the preceding move—as an example, a pole up and flag slanting up—degrades the performance of the pattern....

If you’re a newcomer or need a refresher, here’s what you need to know to use an ATM safely and effectively. When in doubt, just walk away and find a different, safer ATM. There’s no need to put yourself in harm’s way when there are a million other ATMs out there. In some cases, you’ll insert the card completely into the ATM, and the machine will hold onto it until your transaction is complete....

Many families think of cruising as an all-in-one vacation option that’s both affordable and fun. After all, you get three meals a day, onboard entertainment, and several stops at different islands or port cities for one low price. But, did you know you can pay for a cruise entirely with rewards points? It’s possible to do so if you plan early and pick up the right combination of rewards cards....

If you’ve made significant donations and plan to itemize rather than take the standard deduction during tax season, then this tool may be helpful. If you made cash donations to a qualifying charitable organization, you may also be able to claim a limited deduction on your 2021 federal tax return, even if you take the standard deduction. You can get ItsDeductible online and as a ​mobile app in the App Store....

It can be challenging to write about yourself. However, the good news is if you follow the formula and tips below, you should be able to generate an engaging “About Me” statement without too much of a struggle. Here’s how to write an “About Me” page you can be proud of. What is an ‘About Me’ Page? An “About Me” page is a summary (typically two to five paragraphs) on a personal or professional website or a blog describing who you are and what you do....

What is a Value Proposition Letter? A value proposition letter is a brief statement written by a job seeker to a recruiter or hiring manager. A job seeker can use their value proposition throughout the job search. For example, it can be used as a resume summary statement, or to answer particular interview questions about the qualities of the job seeker, such as “tell me about yourself” and “how are you different from the competition?...