The FTC develops rules and investigates and sues companies that violate laws, as well as conducts research and develops guidelines for businesses. Let’s take a closer look at what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is and how it works. Definition of the Federal Trade Commission The FTC is a federal agency that has a dual mission of promoting competition and protecting consumers and is tasked with a number of responsibilities....

For instance, if you live abroad and pay income tax to another country, you would be able to subtract that amount from your taxes owed when you file your U.S. return. An Example of the Foreign Tax Credit As an example, suppose Jorge and Roberta own a house in Germany, and Jorge is also employed there. He pays $6,000 to Germany in income tax for the 2021 tax year. Jorge can claim a U....

Learn more about the types of skills employers are looking for. Soft Skills and Hard Skills When applying for a new job, there are some skills and qualities employers seek in all their employees, regardless of the position. These are called “soft skills,” and they include the interpersonal skills and attributes you need to succeed in the workplace. They are also commonly referred to as professional skills, those that maintain a healthy workplace environment....

It can happen. A company may realize after they have made a job offer that they don’t have the budget for a new hire, or the job offer could be put on hold. You may think you’re set for your next job. You could have already submitted your notice to your current employer. What should you do? How to handle it when a job offer is rescinded or put on hold, what recourse is there, and what happens when a job offer is withdrawn....

Sometimes the solution is easy. It might be possible to sell your car and switch to a less expensive (but safe) vehicle if you can’t afford your auto payments—or even do without a car for a while. Unfortunately, things aren’t always easy, but several strategies help you stay on top of things. If You Don’t Pay You’ll eventually default on that loan if you stop making payments. You’ll owe more money as penalties, fees, and interest charges build up on your account as a result....

How Does Klarna Work? Klarna’s most popular products are two interest-free payment plans: Pay in 4: This plan lets you split your purchase into four equal payments. The first payment is due when your order ships and the next three are due every two weeks, for a total repayment period of six weeks.Pay in 30: This plan lets you order an item without making any upfront payment. When the item ships, Klarna will send you an invoice due 30 days later....

The eligible employees include qualified performing artists, fee-basis local or state government officials, Armed Forces reservists, and employees with impairment-related work expenses. And the deduction could return in 2026 after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) expires. Tax Law Changes—Unreimbursed Employee Expenses You could claim an unreimbursed employee business expense deduction up through tax year 2017 if you itemized your deductions and you incurred auto expenses due to driving for your job....

In each of these cases, the insurer that issues the annuity will guarantee some portion of the outcome. In many cases, they will guarantee the amount of income you can take from the annuity in the future. The only real way to decide if an annuity is a good choice for you is to have a plan. Your plan should dictate what your money goals are and should lead you to make choices that will help you meet those goals....

Market conditions, your age, and even the seasons can influence when you should buy a house, but ultimately, the right time to buy a house is when it makes the most financial sense for you. However, with so many variables at play, lining up everything perfectly can be difficult. Understanding these factors better can help you prioritize what matters to you—and your lender, if you’re financing. The Best Time of Year To Buy a House Unless you work in real estate, you probably wouldn’t know the connection between seasons and home prices....

When Can You Refinance? You do not need to wait any minimum amount of time before refinancing your car loan. You just have to meet all the requirements for the new loan to refinance. Refinancing is possible immediately after buying—even before you make your first monthly payment. Just be sure that you actually end up with a better deal, and that refinancing doesn’t cause you to pay more for your vehicle....

Although this could be true, it is not given! The type of business legal structure you choose can either make or break you. How? This is because different business structures have different ways of operation, different burdens when it comes to payment of taxes and different liabilities. Therefore, before going ahead and risking your hard earned money, you need to understand different business entities and their pros and cons in order to determine which one suits your interests....

Types of Damage in Sliding-on-Ice Accidents Sliding on ice can cause several types of damage, and each one is covered differently. Injuries to Others If a party in another vehicle or a pedestrian is injured, your bodily injury liability coverage will cover their expenses, including medical bills and lost wages, up to your policy limits. Limits are listed per person/per accident, so if your policy says $25,000/$50,000, you have a limit of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident....

What’s the difference between an accountant, a certified public accountant, and an enrolled agent? Here are the qualifications for each profession, licensing, and continuing education requirements. Accountant An accountant is a professional who engages in accounting, by preparing and auditing financial statements, bookkeeping, and financial analysis. An accountant may also qualify to give tax advice and prepare tax returns.  Accountants don’t have to take a licensing exam and they are not licensed in a state....

Here’s what you need to know about how work for hire could affect your business. What Is Work for Hire? Work for hire covers the legal ownership of copyrighted material. Generally speaking, when one entity (usually a business) hires someone (like an employee) to create something, then the work created belongs to the hiring entity, not the person who actually created it. Therefore, most work that an employee creates on the job is covered by work-for-hire law....

Availability Small workers compensation deductible plans are available in many, but not all, states. The rules vary. Some states require workers compensation insurers to offer their policyholders a small deductible plan. Other states permit, but don’t require, insurers to offer such a plan. Still other states require insurers to provide a deductible only if the policyholder requests one. If an insurer offers a plan, the employer is not obligated to accept it....

Create a Budget A budget will help you make better decisions about your money and give you an idea of how much you can afford to put toward your debt each month. Don’t try to manage your expenses in your head; seeing the numbers on paper lets you see the bigger picture without relying on your memory. Your budget can also help you decide where you might be able to free up money for paying down your debt....

1. Day Trader Discipline Discipline is a key trait every trader needs. The market gives you infinite opportunities to trade. You can trade thousands of different stocks at every second of the day, yet very few of those seconds provide great trading opportunities. There are only about five seconds of actual trading activity during the day. Every other second is a chance to mess up those five trades, taking more trades than you should, getting distracted, skipping trades, prematurely exiting the trades you are in, or holding trades for too long....

And while survey respondents said they support raising taxes on the country’s wealthiest, they also want to cut taxes for middle-income Americans. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of those surveyed said they believe the government should provide tax breaks for middle-income Americans, or households that earn roughly between $50,000 and $150,000. When asked about tax reform proposals as part of the president’s Build Back Better plan, raising taxes on millionaires and the country’s most profitable companies received the greatest support, while taxing companies that buy back stocks from investors received the least (53%)....

Roth Contributions Can Be Used As Emergency Funds Roth contributions aren’t tax deductible. The advantage to this is that you can withdraw your contributions at any time, for any reason, and no taxes or penalties will apply. With this kind of liquidity, a Roth IRA can double as your emergency fund. But keep in mind that the definition of “contributions” in this context doesn’t include amounts converted to a Roth, nor does it include investment gains....

While student loans can be used to cover college expenses, they’re not an ideal solution. Education loans can make it more difficult for students to save or plan for their other financial goals after graduation. Taking on student loans as a parent could also make planning for your own retirement more of a challenge. Developing a plan to save and prepare for college sooner, rather than later, can help you avoid a financial pinch....