What Is the Self-Employment Tax? The self-employment tax is calculated on Form 1040 Schedule SE, and it’s a significant 15.3% of your net business profit. It represents the Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes that you would otherwise share with your employer, each of you paying half. If you’re self-employed, you would need to pay self-employment taxes, consisting on Social Security and Medicare taxes, in addition to income taxes if you earned more than $400....

It’s important to complete the form accurately because if too little is withheld, you may owe tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when you file your tax return and then owe a penalty. If too much is withheld, you will generally be due a refund. When you change jobs, or your personal or financial situation changes, complete a new W-4 form. What Is a W-4 Form? The W-4 form is completed by an employee so that the employer can withhold the correct amount of federal income tax from your pay....

What Are Angle Investors? Typically, angel investors are wealthy, high net-worth individuals who invest their money into early stage and emerging businesses. While angel capital can sometimes come from family and friends, most angel investors are entrepreneurs themselves. In addition to funding, they may also bring some business expertise to the table. Angel investors are different from venture capitalists that are funds that also invest in a portfolio of emerging businesses....

What Are Preexisting Conditions? Preexisting conditions are health problems that you’re aware of when you apply for insurance coverage. For example, if you received care for a particular condition, it is likely a preexisting condition. When it comes to life insurance, the conditions that demand the most attention are chronic conditions that could potentially lead to an earlier-than-anticipated death. Can You Get Life Insurance With a Preexisting Condition? The short answer is yes, you can get life insurance with preexisting conditions....

You can invest in blockchain assets if you know how to buy, sell, and store your digital assets safely. It also pays to know the risks associated with blockchain investments. Keep reading to learn more about investing in blockchain assets like cryptocurrencies. How To Invest in Blockchain in 5 Steps The most direct way to invest in the blockchain is to buy cryptocurrencies, which use blockchain technology. If you want to invest in crypto, then follow these five steps to get started:...

Because of the tax advantages offered in Opportunity Zones, they represent an attractive investment option. Learn some of the advantages of investing in Opportunity Zones, some barriers and risks to be aware of, and how you can get started. How To Invest in Opportunity Zones in Two Ways The primary way individual investors can invest in Opportunity Zones is through Opportunity Zone funds. According to the IRS, this type of fund, known as a Qualified Opportunity Fund, is “an investment vehicle that files either a partnership or corporate federal income tax return and is organized for the purpose of QOZ investing....

Before you invest in REITs, be sure you understand what they are, how they work, and whether they are a good fit for your portfolio. Here’s everything you need to know about investing in REITs. How To Invest in REITs in 5 Steps What You Need To Know Before You Invest in REITs As it is with any investment, always do your due diligence before investing in a new fund or stock....

What Is an ETF? An exchange traded fund (ETF) is an investment that contains a basket of securities that can include stocks, bonds, commodities, or other assets. An ETF is essentially a mini-investment portfolio. Initially, ETFs were designed to track a specific index, such as the S&P 500, in which the fund would contain all of the holdings within the S&P. These index-based ETFs mirror the underlying index that they track....

Choose Pension Options Independently of Your Early Retirement Package Many pensions give you a choice as to when to start your benefits. If you have savings it may be to your benefit to use your savings to cover living expenses and to delay the start of your pension. It will depend on your pension options. We have seen cases where there is no benefit to delaying the start of a pension, so you can’t rely on a rule of thumb....

Children and teens also look up to parents as their example—their very first example—of how to handle money, Pickler told The Balance. “I think if a parent is able to not just talk the talk, but I mean actually walk the walk, and actually display that good behavior and those good disciplines, that can really influence children,” he said. In addition to leading APEF in its efforts to promote high-quality public education in U....

We can learn a lot from successful business owners of the past, such as Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). At 65, this financially unstable retiree, with only $105 to his name, roamed America in search of an investor for his fried chicken business. He faced rejection. However, armed with a positive mindset for change, he pushed ahead with his plans. Finally, someone saw his worth, invested in him, and KFC was born....

Before You Make the Purchase Fill your shopping cart by clicking “Add to Cart” or “Add to Bag” on each item you want to purchase. When you’re done, click the “Checkout” button (it’s usually in the upper right part of the screen). You may have to click on the shopping cart first and then select the option to check out. Review your cart to be sure you’ve added the correct amount, sizes, and colors of the items you want to purchase....

People who’ve attended this type of interview often describe it in negative terms, such as “taking an endurance test” or a “running a gauntlet,” referring to qualities that can make panel interviews intimidating. What is a Panel Interview? Instead of the standard one-on-one conversation with a single person, a panel interview is with several people, all at the same time. Each member of the group of interviewers will have their own questions about your credentials, experience, and skills....

Fortunately, there are several first-time home buyer loans that can get you one step closer to unlocking the door on your first home. Many loan options for first-time homebuyers have lenient down payment requirements, and some are aimed at low-income borrowers. What Is a First-Time Homebuyer Loan? With the help of a first-time homebuyer loan, the dream of owning a home can become a reality. These loans make homebuying accessible for borrowers who may struggle with the process due to low credit scores, limited income, or little savings for a down payment....

Sometimes, a new job doesn’t turn out as you expected. It can happen, even when you do everything right—research the organization, weigh the pros and cons of the job offer, and make your decision carefully before accepting. Perhaps the employer was misleading about what the job would entail. Maybe it’s simply a bad fit between you and the job or company. Carefully Decide Whether to Resign If you are thinking about quitting a job you have just started, consider that there may be reasons for not quitting right away....

How Overhead Costs Work Business overhead costs are expenses that are related to the day-to-day running of a business. Reducing overhead costs is important in a business downturn. Overhead expenses are independent of revenue and must be paid whether the business is in a profit or lossposition. Overhead costs do not include expenses arising from the production of goods or services. For example, if your business is making furniture, the cost of lumber is a raw material and so is not included in overhead....

Guilt is a major factor. Another survey found that over half of U.S. workers reported feeling guilty about taking their vacation time—and over 70% said they checked in with work regularly while they were away. The Best Way to Ask for Time Off It can be hard to ask for time off from your job, even when you’re entitled to vacation leave. These strategies can help allay your guilt—and make it more likely that your manager will approve your request....

Your resume, cover letter, and other job materials can demonstrate how you have added value in your previous positions. If you’re selected for an interview, share examples of your accomplishments to demonstrate how you would be the perfect pick for the role. How to Show a Prospective Employer Your Value Define “success” in your previous positions. Before even writing about job performance, think about how success was measured in your prior roles....

Affordability: Most ETFs have low minimum investment requirements, often less than $1,000. ETFs can be used to invest small amounts of money into many individual stocks or bonds. Portfolio diversification: Investors can use ETFs to diversify their portfolio with various assets (e.g., stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities), even with small portfolios. Transparency: Most ETFs disclose their holdings daily.Professional management: Portfolio managers select individual investments based on the objective of the ETF....

What Is a Comparative Market Analysis? Although reports can vary, from a two-page list of comparable home sales to a 50-page comprehensive guide, the length and complexity of the report depends on the agent’s business practice. However, standard CMA reports tend to contain the following data: Active Listings: Active listings are homes currently for sale. These listings matter only to the extent that they are your competition for buyers. They are not indicative of market value because sellers can ask whatever they want for their home....