While debated, it is believed that Warren Buffett made the following statement regarding his position against investing in gold. On the other end of the precious metals spectrum there are investors who believe that the U.S. dollar is quickly losing purchasing power, and gold will provide a store of value during times of crisis. There’s also a growing concern that inflation and debt will eventually make the dollar worthless. While inflation concerns are legitimate, the argument for gathering gold, silver, or any other precious metals isn’t necessarily supported by the facts....

The difference between simple interest and compound interest is in the way they’re calculated. Simple interest is calculated only on the original principal, while compound interest is calculated on the original principal plus any unpaid interest. What’s the Difference Between Simple and Compound Interest? Compound interest, on the other hand, adds unpaid interest back to the balance, so interest is paid on the interest. Let’s look at what happens to a $10,000 three-year certificate of deposit at 3%....

Run by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Square Financial Services said Monday its bank charter was approved by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Utah Department of Financial Institutions (UDFI). It will offer business loans and deposit products to sellers who use Square’s existing lending products, which it previously offered via its subsidiary Square Capital through a partnership with Utah’s Celtic Bank. “Square will now be able to use the massive amount of data they have on current business owners to drive efficiencies in underwriting loans,” Brett Sifling, an investment advisor at Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management in Los Angeles, said in an email....

What’s Behind the Student Loan Debt Crisis? There are several factors that have contributed to the student loan debt crisis in the U.S., beginning with rising tuition prices. For the 2020-2021 academic year, the average cost of tuition, fees, and room and board at a public four-year university totaled $43,280 for out-of-state students. The cost climbed to $54,880 for students at private four-year universities. Having a 529 college savings plan can help with paying college expenses but only 37% of families use them, according to Sallie Mae’s 2020 How America Pays for College Report....

Demographics of those applying for coveted internship spots have changed over the years, with high school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores all vying for positions historically reserved for college juniors and seniors, or graduate students. With all of these new candidates in the mix, employers are rethinking recruitment strategies. The Basics of a Summer Internship Summer internships can run anywhere from eight to twelve weeks long and follow school semesters....

So, we’ve rounded up the top picks for you. You’ll find multiple options that will meet your needs in any department, both big and small. The barcode scanners listed range from units with assured compatibility and straightforward instructions to affordable prices and super long wireless ranges. Depending on your needs, we promise that we have a reliable barcode scanner for you and your business. Ahead, the best barcode scanners you can buy....

Note-taking tablets also let you save notes across multiple apps and even multiple devices, keeping important info safe from being accidentally thrown away, lost, or even stolen. Many tablets also feature biometric login options via facial recognition software or fingerprint readers as well as drive encryption for added security. Some tablets, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ come packaged with compatible styluses so you can get to work right away, while others like the Apple iPad Pro require additional purchases for peripherals; the benefit of buying your own stylus is being able to find a model that suits your work style and needs (i....

With that said, if you’re looking for a laminator for your home, office, or classroom, check out our list of the best laminators below. What To Look for in Laminators Speed If you’ll only be laminating occasionally, you probably wouldn’t care so much about speed. But if you’re doing lots of laminating, you’ll want something to churn out finished documents as efficiently as possible. Look at how long different models take to warm up, as well as how many inches per minute they can laminate to compare speeds....

We’d all love to see prices on goods and services decline, but tight monetary policy is a balancing act: Higher interest rates also make it more expensive to borrow money for big-ticket items and to carry credit card debt. And let’s not forget that the higher interest rates go, the more likely that the U.S. could tip into a recession. On Friday, the Labor Department’s August jobs report could strengthen or weaken the Fed’s case that the economy is strong enough to handle higher rates: If more jobs were added than expected (and the numbers were as good as July), then that means that employers are continuing to hire workers....

Between buying some holiday staples like turkey, which costs 17% more on average than it did last year, and spending more on travel, with flight ticket prices up 36%, you might be feeling a little tapped out before we even mention holiday shopping. But those purchases also help keep the economy humming. Let me explain: Consumer spending accounts for about 70% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Economists and market watchers often look to GDP to tell them two things–if the country’s economy is growing, and if we are headed into a recession....

In remarks this morning, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said rate hikes to date have only had a “limited effect” on inflation, and said more rate hikes would be needed to bring inflation down. Markets have been falling today as investors grapple with the possibility of higher rate hikes in our future. Higher interest rates hurt everyone, even if you’re not watching markets closely. Not only could it sting your retirement accounts, but it also makes borrowing money much more expensive....

They’ll also be watching this week for the success of “Black Friday” which has traditionally kicked off the holiday shopping season. Typically, stores see big jumps in sales, but with inflation remaining high and some retailers reporting slowing sales, this weekend will be closely watched. If consumers don’t decide to spend as much, it will raise concerns that the economy is struggling and might be headed for a recession. That’s because roughly 70% of the U....

September housing starts dropped by 8.1% compared to August and came in 7.7% lower than the same time last year as high mortgage rates continue to weigh on the housing market. The number of permits to build new homes rose 1.4% from the month prior, but still sits 3.2% lower than September 2021. And those high prices and rising mortgage rates are hitting demand. Mortgage applications have dropped to their lowest level since 1997 according to the Mortgage Bankers Association as the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached 6....

With the risk of a recession rising, everyone will be paying close attention to the labor market for any cracks. While a strong job market has been good for workers seeking wage increases and job security this year, the Federal Reserve sees it as contributing to inflation. But if the Fed moves too aggressively, we could be in for a recession. If unemployment starts to tick higher, or the number of job openings sharply declines, it will mean that the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes (which should slow down the economy) are having an impact....

Why Your Business Structure Matters The legal entity you choose for your consulting business can affect you in these key ways: Ease of formation: Starting a business can require a lot of paperwork and other administrative duties, or none at all, depending on the legal entity you choose. Taxation: Not all business structures are taxed equally. Being strategic in your choice of a legal entity may allow you to take home more in profits and pay less in taxes....

These rules might create a bit of a tax snarl as well as other headaches if they catch you off guard, so it’s best to be prepared. You can project your future distributions so you’ll know about how much you’ll have to withdraw each year and plan your retirement accordingly. RMD calculations vary, depending on whether you’re taking a current-year required distribution or a beneficiary distribution, so you should choose an RMD calculator based on what you want to estimate....

On the other hand, it’s important to get paid what you are worth—you don’t want to be taken advantage of. You also don’t want to end up resenting your boss for underpaying you. And, obviously, you need to earn enough to pay the bills. The following negotiation tips can help job hunters lock in the compensation packages they deserve. Top 5 Salary Negotiation Tactics 1. Be Patient When interviewing for a position, resist the temptation to ask about compensation, until the employer broaches the topic first....

But in many cases, it might make sense to use more than one credit card to maximize your rewards. Here’s why it’s worth considering and a few examples of combinations that might help you achieve your rewards goals. Why Create a Combo? There’s no one best credit card for everyone. While some cards offer a high flat rewards rate on every purchase you make, others will give you extra rewards in certain spending categories....

Bonds are the most common debt instrument that companies use, but there is a specific type of instrument, known as a debenture, which is a common type of bond. Debentures work similarly to traditional bonds, except they are not secured by collateral or any assets. Instead, people buy debenture bonds on the assumption that the borrower is trustworthy enough to pay it back. In other words, the lender just assumes the borrower is “good for it....

Many of the approaches and analysis of the two markets mirror one another. Which market you prefer has a lot to do with your comfort level with the following factors. Personal Choice Some people feel more comfortable with certain types of markets. Some people like commodities because it’s a physical market they can relate to. Because many commodities can be seen in everyday life, some traders prefer commodities because they can connect to things like sugar cane and wheat....