As you read through these six tips, remember that the application of this advice will depend significantly on the specifics of your situation. Every decision should keep your overall financial situation in mind. When in doubt, seek the advice of a qualified tax professional and investment advisor. Set Clear Objectives for Your Investments You need to know exactly why you’re investing and what you expect of your money. Otherwise, you are going to be like a rudderless ship at sea—no direction and no purpose....

The housing market lost a little steam in March, as sales of existing homes fell 2.7% from February on a seasonally adjusted basis—the second straight month of declines and the lowest level since 2020, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said Wednesday. With demand for houses cooling some, the number of homes on the market increased for the first time in eight months, rising to 950,000, an 11.8% increase from the record low inventory of 850,000 seen in January and February....

Statement Closing Date vs. Payment Due Date It’s easy to confuse your statement closing date with your payment due date. In short, your statement closing date refers to the last day of your billing cycle. Your payment due date is the deadline by which you need to pay the credit card issuer for the billing cycle if you want to avoid paying interest. Calculate any monthly interest charges owed and your minimum paymentPost your credit card statement (your bill) to your online account, or mail it to you if you don’t do paperless billing...

Respondents for this survey—who are mostly female, with half of them between the ages of 24 and 55 years old—said they are purchasing gifts for seven people on average. While 57% of our readers said this is consistent with the number of presents given in 2019, 30% said their gift list has shrunk since last year. This is consistent with general holiday spending, as 32% of our readers said they will be spending less overall this holiday season....

What Is Temporary Car Insurance? For a few reasons, temporary car insurance, or short-term car insurance, could work if you will only need insurance for a short time, such as less than six months. Insurers often write standard car policies that last for a term of six months to one year. They are not in the business of writing insurance for terms as short as just a few days. People often look for other options, which might not be easy to find in the U....

Here are the best ballpoint pens for your needs. Left-handed people tend to smear ink on the page, so they need to be incredibly vigilant when taking notes or writing a check—otherwise, the page starts to look messy. But the brand’s high-quality Super Ink dries quickly, allowing for smudge-free writing. Even more, the ink is water-, fraud-, and fade-resistant, which is essential for documents or paperwork. Available in black, blue, or red ink, the ballpoint pen’s fine 0....

The jobs market has been notoriously strong even as the Fed has hiked rates to slow down the economy. Last week, we learned from the November jobs report that the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7%, showing that the central bank’s efforts haven’t made much of an impact. But cracks in the labor market may be starting to appear. The number of people on unemployment rolls (known as continuing claims) rose to its highest level since February, indicating that the labor market’s strength is starting to wane....

You can buy index-related products like bond mutual funds, or you can choose from the growing number of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) traded through a broker. These products are a simple and cheap way to invest in bonds. Bond index funds are highly diversified, have low fees, and use an approach that’s easily understood by most people. Bond index funds may well be a leading option for those who want to earn income from their investments....

When tuition becomes unmanageable, it can have a direct impact on the college dropout rate. According to College Atlas, 70% of Americans will study at a four-year college, but fewer than two-thirds will graduate with a degree, and 30% of first-year students drop out by the end of their first year of college. A LendEDU survey found that nearly 55% of students struggled to find the money to pay for college, and 51% dropped out because of financial issues....

Just because you’re well-paid, that doesn’t mean you’ll get the HCE label. This is a tax term used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). But if you are considered an HCE, here is what you need to know. What Is a Highly Compensated Employee? You might think that the term is a generic one for executives or people you can only see by appointment, but an HCE isn’t just someone with a fancy title who makes a lot of money....

Because many employees experience a personal, professional, and monetary need to achieve, work-life balance can be challenging. Employers can help employees achieve work-life balance by instituting policies, procedures, actions, and expectations that enable them to pursue more balanced lives, such as flexible work schedules, paid time off (PTO) policies, responsibly paced time and communication expectations, and company-sponsored family events and activities. The workplace that enables employees to achieve work-life balance is particularly motivating and gratifying to employees, which makes them happy....

Signing a Contract Coming to an agreement on price and terms between the seller and the buyer is the first step. The typical home spent 58 days on the market in November 2020, 13 days less than the same time last year nationwide. The seller will either accept the offer, reject it outright, or issue a counteroffer. The procedure can involve just one counteroffer, or it might evolve into a multitude of counteroffers going back and forth between buyer and seller for a period of time....

Here you’ll learn about what the yield spread means, how the yield curve reflects certain moments in history, and what it may have to say going forward. Why Look at the Yield Spread? If you look at short-term and long-term bonds, you can tell a lot from their interest rates. When you buy Treasury notes (or “T-notes”), for instance, you earn interest because the U.S. government is selling you a debt instrument, or in simple terms, taking out a loan from you....

For hiring managers and recruiters, they’re a way to quickly conduct first-round interviews, save on transportation costs, and get the interview process started much faster than scheduling in-person interviews. For some positions, the entire process may be handled virtually, while others may have a combination of video and in-person interviews. Types of Video Interviews Your interview may be a live video chat with a hiring manager or recruiter, or you may be invited to participate in an on-demand interview....

Second Interview Many companies interview candidates for employment twice, or even more often. When companies have a multiple interview process, the first round of interviews is screening interviews that are used to determine which applicants have the basic qualifications required for the job. The candidates who pass the screening interview are selected for a second-round interview. Second round interviews typically involve more detailed interview questions about the applicant, their qualifications, and ability to perform for the company....

If you’re traveling for an interview, you’ll need to set aside time for your interview preparation and to arrange your travel plans. You don’t want to skimp on anything or force yourself into feeling rushed because you didn’t give yourself enough time to prepare. How to Have a Successful Out-of-Town Interview What to do in Advance Prepare thoroughly. Treat this interview like you would any other. Rehearse interview questions and answers, research the company beforehand, and make sure you have what you need for the interview....

Catching the eye of the typical recruiter who is wading through scores of resumes can be quite challenging. Here’s how to make it more likely that your resume will get noticed. Emphasize Accomplishments With Power Verbs When describing your previous employment experiences, emphasize how you solved problems and added value to the company. Begin phrases with keywords like “increased,” “initiated,” “resolved,” and “improved”; these power verbs go beyond simply stating your duties to emphasize how you produced results....

These are primarily soft skills—intangible skills that help you interact and get along well with others. In some cases, employers may seek applicants with hybrid skills, which are a combination of soft skills and the hard skills required to do the job. Because professional skills are required for nearly every job, they are rarely included in job listings. So, let’s review the top skills that all employers expect job applicants and employees to have when they work in professional roles....

In addition, you may find that a prospective employer is willing to offer other attractive perks in order to attract and retain your services. These include extras like paid gym memberships, phone and internet plans, free meals, and on-site child care. What benefits and perks can you expect to receive when you’re hired by a company? There are some types of employee benefits that are mandated by federal or state law, including minimum wage, overtime, leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, unemployment, and workers’ compensation and disability insurance....

Because SBA certifications can help you gain an advantage and make all the difference when building a small business, it’s important to know which ones are available and work best for you. What Is a Small Business Administration Certification? Small Business Administration (SBA) certifications allow small businesses access to federal contracts and other benefits based on specific programs. The certificate itself is either a document or a verified self-representation of business status....