Gmail features include: Effective spam filtering and virus protection15 GB of free mail storage Access to email via mobile devicesBuilt-in chat capabilitiesCustomizable tabs to help you organize your email inboxThemes to change the look of GmailVideo callsAbility to view attachments within the email (as opposed to downloading)Ability to send money The free version of Gmail is ad-supported using ads that appear on the right and not in your email, making them very unobtrusive....

A broker retains part of the agent’s commission or, in some cases, charges the agent a desk fee as the cost of doing business. What Is a Desk Fee? A desk fee is a payment agreement between a real estate agent and their broker. It’s an alternative to splitting commissions between the agent and the broker, or they might agree to a combination of a desk fee and a commission split....

Alex Wong/Getty Images Within the relief package—a signature achievement of Democratic President Joe Biden—is a change to the federal government’s revenue code: Any student loan debt that is canceled after Dec. 31, 2020 and before Jan. 1, 2026 does not count as income, and therefore, can’t be taxed. Previously, all forms of discharged debt were considered income, making it much less palatable to be given such a break. Of course, this tax-free status only matters if any debt is actually canceled, and right now there aren’t many ways to achieve that unless a borrower has been making payments for decades under a special program called income-driven repayment....

If you want to have a successful and fulfilling career, you must identify what work values you cherish the most before you choose a career or decide whether to accept a job offer. Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Work Values We all have both intrinsic and extrinsic work values. Intrinsic values have to do with the actual tasks involved in practicing a particular occupation or doing a job. They include helping others, doing challenging work, and being an exemplary leader....

Here are some factors and situations to consider when deciding if you need a revocable living trust rather than a simple will. Mental Incapacity Regardless of your net worth, and particularly if any of your assets are titled in your sole name, then you should consider a revocable living trust if you foresee the need to plan for potential mental disability. One of the requirements of a valid will is that the person who created it is of sound mind....

In a sense, renting an apartment is like a 12-month loan that you pay back in monthly installments. At least that’s the justification landlords use when they check your credit report before renting an apartment to you. From that perspective, timely rent payment should help your credit score, especially since late rent payments and eviction can completely wreck your credit score, which would not only ruin your ability to rent another apartment, but also make it harder to get approved for credit cards and loans....

Many states require insurers to submit their dividend plans to the insurance regulator for approval. In Wisconsin, for instance, insurers must provide the regulator a description of their plan and a schedule explaining how dividends are calculated. Qualifications Dividend plans vary from state to state and insurer to insurer. Most have a minimum premium threshold you must meet in order to enroll. Some also specify a maximum loss ratio. Your loss ratio is expressed as a percentage and is calculated by dividing your losses by your premium....

By filing your FAFSA early, you will help ensure that you can receive the maximum amount of funding you’re eligible for. So here are 10 straight-forward and helpful “musts” that will help you achieve early FAFSA success: 1. You Must File an FAFSA If you expect federal financial aid of any sort, the only way to get it is by filing a FAFSA. It is also used by states and colleges for their financial aid, any federal student loans you need, and some scholarship committees, so there really is no way around it....

When deciding which route to choose, it’s important to reflect. Before getting help with filing your taxes, ask these questions of your options for buying tax software. Do You Want Online Tax Software or Desktop Tax Software? There’s a good selection available for dependable tax software that you install on your computer, as well as online tax software that is accessed through an internet browser. Both online and desktop tax software come with their own unique advantages and disadvantages....

Bad credit doesn’t have to stand in the way of your new set of wheels, but you’ll have to shop a little differently and be prepared for a higher cost. Go into the process as informed as possible to avoid being taken advantage of. Work on Your Credit Before Going Car Shopping Check your credit report as soon as you start thinking about buying a new car, even if it’s months or years in advance....

However, when you shop carefully and use your credit card strategically, you can take advantage of rewards, points and other perks to save or even earn money. And you can do it without getting into debt as long as you follow two basic rules: charge only what you can afford and pay your balance in full every month. Learn how careful credit card use can help you earn, rather than lose, money....

While extremely important to an informed decision making process, such conversations could be tough. Talking about family finances, college affordability, and financial trade offs may be awkward, embarrassing and challenging. To help alleviate the burden of beginning the conversation, here are five essential money questions to ask before applying to college. How Is Having a Child in College Going to Affect Our Family Financially? A college education can be expensive....

These assistance programs are offered by a variety of state and federal government departments, as well as some non-profit and community organizations. Many of them will provide both financial and educational assistance as you move through the homebuying process. Learn more about homebuying programs available to help single parents. These programs can offer a variety of help, including: Loans that require a down payment of less than 10%Grants to cover closing costs or help with a down paymentTax credits based on your mortgage...

Some employers will require you to take action at open enrollment time to avoid being unenrolled from your plan. It is important to carefully read the documents they give you so that you can make the necessary changes and keep your employee benefits. Open enrollment is also a great time to look at the amount you are contributing to retirement and see whether you can increase it. How Have My Needs Changed This Year?...

krisanapong detraphiphat/Getty Images And while getting out of debt is hard, it isn’t impossible. If you’ve tried or even thought about getting out of debt, it’s best to understand the solvable roadblocks that may be in your way before you start your journey to being debt-free. Here are a few reasons that getting out of debt is so challenging, and a few possible solutions too. You Have to Change Your Lifestyle To get out of debt, you have to make some major changes to your financial lifestyle....

Here are eight good reasons why you should consider buying a home. Pride of Ownership Pride of ownership is probably the number one reason that people enjoy owning their own homes. It means you can paint the walls any color you desire, turn your music up, attach permanent fixtures, and decorate your home according to your taste. Homeownership also gives you and your family a sense of stability and security....

That’s according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which released a report Monday estimating that the vast majority of direct loan borrowers meet the income criteria to receive $10,000 of student loan forgiveness: An individual or married-filing-separately income of $125,000 or less in either 2020 or 2021 A head-of-household or married-filing-jointly income of $250,000 or less in 2020 or 2021 Of those who get loan forgiveness, 65% received Pell grants, making them eligible for an additional $10,000 of forgiveness (for a total of up to $20,000)....

In this article, we will take a look at Egypt’s economy and how international investors can build exposure to their diversified portfolios. The Egyptian Economy Egypt’s economy is one of the most developed countries in the Middle East/African region, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $365 billion and GDP per capita of approximately $4,028 in 2022. Egypt, like many larger countries, has an economy that is dominated by the service and industrial sectors; at the same time, it is also known for its agricultural sector, which is a significant source of employment....

Lynch became an icon of investing, both as a mentor to stock analysts at Fidelity and as an author of investment guide books read by masses of readers who have a thirst for learning about money. Here are some of the more famous lines from his writings. Stock Familiarity If you follow Lynch’s work, you may already know this famous mantra. Doing this can lead you to great retail stocks before Wall Street analysts catch on because you know about certain business niches than an outsider....

The requirement is based on the amount of Medicare wages and net self-employment income a taxpayer earns that exceeds a threshold based on filing status. The Additional Medicare Tax on Wages The Additional Medicare Tax is imposed on employees only, unlike the regular Medicare tax, which employers are required to match. Medicare wages are reported on Form W-2 in box 5. The income threshold amounts are: History of the Additional Medicare Tax The Additional Medicare Tax was legislated as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, and it was amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act shortly thereafter....