There are different reasons your checkbook may be unbalanced. For instance, some people may choose not to record the pennies on the checks they write. Then there are people who enter bogus amounts in their check register to “fool” themselves into thinking they have less money than they really do so they can be pleasantly surprised later, or to provide a cushion for error. And there are also people who only balance their checkbook once a year when they do their taxes....

Likewise, if you’re planning to seek a loan from the bank for your retail business. The bank wants to see that you’ve taken into consideration the costs of doing business and will want a fairly accurate picture of what your costs are going to be. This includes your rent. How to Budget for a Retail Space So how do you know what you’ll be paying in rent before you pay it (or before you even know where you’ll be locating)?...

Some examples of this could be a premium on insurance or rent due. If you were renting a house to someone, their monthly payments are an annuity due. Time Value of Money Present value can be a difficult topic to digest. It refers to a concept called “the time value of money”. Time value of money can be explained thusly—if you were given $1 today, it is worth more than the same $1 five years from now....

Tisha founded her business after the death of her father as she became overwhelmed when handling his estate. She saw how easy it can be for survivors to make costly mistakes. Tisha provided the following tips to help a surviving spouse or heir get things in order. 5 Things That Should Be Done Right Away Call the three credit agencies and put a fraud alert on the Social Security number....

Employees do not have to pay unemployment tax; businesses pay the tax based on the gross pay of employees each payday. Your business will need to set aside an amount each payday and pay the tax when due. You must also submit an annual report on the amounts of unemployment tax due and paid. That report is IRS Form 940. How and When to Pay Unemployment Taxes Employers must pay unemployment tax (FUTA tax), based on employee wages, and must submit Form 940–Federal Employer Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return showing the amount of unemployment tax owed for the previous year, the amount already paid, and the amount owed....

If you want to roll over your assets from a former employer’s SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) IRA, the process can be easy as well. But as part of the process, you will need to think about an extra question that wouldn’t come up if you were rolling over 401(k) assets: How long have you participated in the SIMPLE IRA? What Are Your Options? When you leave an employer with whom you had a SIMPLE IRA, you have a few options for those assets....

This article will help guide you through the form if you’ve been named as a creditor in a bankruptcy case. The Form As of April 2016, the bankruptcy courts have required a new style of the claim form. In a lot of ways, it’s easier for creditors to navigate. It also contains a lot more explanation and notes than the previous versions. General Information At the top of the form, there is a box to identify the debtor by name, the pending case number, and the bankruptcy court in which the case is pending....

For parents who assume primary duties for raising a child, child support can be an important part of their financial picture. Unfortunately, not all parents who are owed child support receive it regularly. In some cases, child support is never received at all. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services estimates that approximately $114 billion in past-due child support remained outstanding, as of April 2017. Unpaid child support is one of the largest debts in this country and while millions in tax dollars go to help support children and provide medical care, parents still have to assume individual responsibility....

Before you resign yourself to accumulating debt through student loans or credit cards, make sure you have accessed all available scholarship resources. You may have already received some scholarships for your academic work in high school, and some may be given to you by your college as part of your financial aid package, but your best strategy is to go out and search for more yourself. You Don’t Get If You Don’t Ask Start your scholarship search by asking everyone you know if they are aware of any scholarship opportunities....

Whether you’ve recently lost your job or you’re itching to leave your current position, there are steps you can take to accelerate the hiring process. Here’s how to find the jobs, employers, and industries that are growing fast—and hiring faster. How To Find Booming Jobs When you’re hoping to start working right away, it pays to focus your search on jobs that are eager for applicants. Consider Occupational Growth The U....

What Is Your ATM Withdrawal Limit? Daily ATM withdrawal limits typically range from $300 to $1,000 a day, depending on the bank and the account; some banks charge different amounts depending on which tier of service you’ve signed up for and your banking history. Two people with the same type of account at the same bank might have different withdrawal limits. Your ATM withdrawal limit may be different from your daily purchase limit....

Caring for a loved one can require out-of-pocket expenses as well as reduced work hours, which can mean sacrificing income, career opportunities, and benefits. If you’d like to continue caring for a disabled family member but need compensation to meet your financial needs, here are some programs that may be able to help. Learn how to become a caregiver who gets paid regularly. What Programs Pay Caretakers? Below, you’ll find various programs and other routes that can potentially help you get paid as a caregiver....

Security clearances are primarily required by government employers and private contractors who have access to sensitive information that has a bearing on national security. Some private sector employers also require clearances. Depending on the job, the requirements may include having a current or active clearance. You can’t apply for a security clearance on your own. Applicants must be sponsored by the federal government or a company with a contract requiring classified work....

If someone close to you isn’t yet able to save for their own retirement, you might be wondering whether you can help them out with the gift of a Roth IRA. Let’s go over how Roth IRA gifts work and what you need to consider before gifting retirement account contributions. Can You Gift a Roth IRA? You can’t directly give a Roth IRA account to someone else, but you do have a few similar options:...

Sometimes there are steps you can take to improve a job—even one you really dislike. But often, if you truly hate your job, you might need to quit. Even when you hate your job, and are eager to quit, it’s important to leave your job on good terms with your employer and coworkers, if possible. Keep in mind that when you apply for a new job, hiring managers may contact your employer to confirm why you left....

What Are Sector Funds? A sector fund is a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests most or all of its assets in one particular industrial sector. There are many ETFs and mutual funds for every sector, and each respective sector fund may have a slightly different set of holdings, even if they invest in the same sector. Here’s a list of sectors, along with examples of stock holdings you may find in them....

But there’s no need to wait that long. Why not make money from your home right now with one of these business ideas? Before You Turn Your Home Property Into an Income Property There are two important points to consider before you throw down the drawbridge of your castle. The first is insurance risk. If you are using the property in ways not specified on your insurance policy, your insurance may (and likely will) be invalidated in the case of a fire, flood, or another catastrophe....

What Is a Recession Exactly? A recession is a slowdown in economic growth that’s significant enough to affect employment, manufacturing, retail sales, gross domestic product, and consumer income. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) officially defines when recessions begin and end based on changes in measures including unemployment, income, and industrial output. But most people simply notice difficult economic conditions. You might see slower earnings growth, more frequent job losses among those around you, and other headwinds that affect your financial goals....

A 10-K is submitted in the same format by every company and covers the same topics. It also averages 240 pages, so it pays to know what to look for, and where to look for it. What Is a 10-K? A 10-K is a detailed financial report and management disclosure about the business. The 10-K financials are generally audited, and they’re prepared according to SEC regulations. The disclosures can’t be misleading, or omit material information an investor would need to make an informed decision....

When you apply for jobs, hiring managers will know whose resume it is, and it will be easier for them to track your job application and share it with colleagues involved in the hiring process. Why Your Document File Name is Important If you email your resume to an employer, the document name will be the first thing he or she will see. Once the employer opens the document, the first thing he or she looks at is the heading....