Restricted stock units (RSUs) and stock options are two types of equity compensation that companies can offer. One allows employees to earn company stock simply based on their years of service with the company or by reaching certain goals, while the other allows employees to buy stock, often at a below-market price. What’s the Difference Between RSUs and Stock Options? A restricted stock unit (RSU) is stock that a company offers an employee as a form of compensation....

There are several methods that agents and appraisers can use to determine the value of a home. One of the most common is the sales comparison approach, which compares the home in question to similar homes that have recently sold. Learn more about what the sales comparison approach is and the steps your agent or appraiser will take when using it to find the value of your home. What Is the Sales Comparison Approach?...

Does a Rent Increase Affect the Security Deposit? It can. Many states set a maximum amount a landlord can charge as a security deposit based on the monthly rent. For example, the security deposit could be two times the monthly rent. Therefore, if the monthly rent goes up, the landlord could require the tenant to put additional money toward their security deposit. This additional amount would usually be due at the same time the rent increase takes effect....

Writing a letter is also a courtesy that can help you maintain a positive relationship with your employer, which is essential if you hope to use them as a reference and keep them as a networking contact. Here’s information on what to include in your resignation letter or email, tips for writing a professional resignation, how to send an email resignation, samples, and a template to download. Tips for Writing a Resignation Letter Give appropriate notice....

Here is a sample resignation letter to use when an employee must resign from his or her job to follow a spouse to a new location. Use this sample resignation letter when a spouse’s new job requires employment resignation. Resignation Letter Sample for a Spousal Relocation This is an example of a resignation letter for when a spouse is relocating. Download the resignation letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples....

Learn if you may qualify for the CA loan, the process for applying, and how the funds can potentially help your business expand its reach. How the Community Advantage Loan Program Works The SBA’s CA loan program is geared toward small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Here’s how the CA loan works, how to qualify, the financial details, and what it can be used for. Lenders and Criteria Unlike traditional SBA loan programs, the CA initiative partners with mission-focused lenders that are committed to working with these communities....

But self-driving vehicles also present challenges regarding safety, risk, and how to insure these new machines. Learn what’s going on now with self-driving cars—and what the future may hold. Is There a Market for Driverless Cars? Right now, engineers are at work creating driverless experiences, namely cars that don’t need any help from you. In fact, the car or SUV you drive today might include features that will be built into self-driving cars in the future....

My question is, how financially smart is it to purchase a home that’s over $1 million in a seller’s market? Is it likely I’ll make my money back when it’s time to sell my new million-dollar home? Sincerely, Literally “Sleepless in Seattle” Dear Sleepless, When the housing market is red hot, it’s great to be the home seller since you’re likely to sell your house for much more money than you paid for it....

These types of requests for overtime hours are not uncommon. In a survey from Jobvite, nearly 50% of respondents said their company expected them to work nights or weekends. However, most employees surveyed would prefer not to be working as much, as they believe that “a reasonable average workweek should be between 30-40 hours.” If you are one of the many Americans working extra hours in your salaried job, are you eligible for overtime pay?...

Know When to Rein in Your Spending No external gauge lets you know when your credit card debt is getting out of control. Your credit card issuers aren’t going to warn you that your balances are more than you can afford to pay. Instead, it’s up to you to watch for these 10 signs that show that your debt is out of control: Stop Digging The old adage about the first step toward climbing out of a hole applies here....

What Can You Do on SmartCredit? As you view each tradeline on your credit report, SmartCredit lets you take a variety of actions based on the information. For example, you can: Send a goodwill request to remove an item Make an offer to settle the account Mark the account as not yours or a result of identity theft Ask the creditor a question These are sent directly to the creditors or credit bureaus electronically and their response is sent back the same way....

The size of the average 30-year mortgage rose to $410,300 last week, the highest since May and well above the $357,000 seen just before the pandemic began, Mortgage Bankers Association data showed Wednesday. Using MBA’s average interest rate then and now, (3.74% versus 3.10% as of last week,) that translates to an average monthly payment of $1,752 versus $1,650 pre-pandemic. The low interest rates of the pandemic era have helped counterbalance the higher prices, but increases over the past week—mostly after MBA’s latest reading—are eating into the buying power of house hunters....

Natural gas prices, based on contracts for March deliveries, have soared about 27% so far this year. Though Thursday’s price of $4.92 per million British thermal units is off its peak this year near $6.27, it is still more than double pre-pandemic prices. Consumers are probably already feeling those price increases in their monthly energy bills. Natural gas is used in about half of U.S. homes for everyday activities like cooking, drying clothes, and heating homes and water....

According to a survey from personal finance management company Mint, 65% of Americans have no idea how much money they spent last month. Other research has shown that money is the primary source of stress for many Americans, even more so than personal relationships or work. Making a budget—and sticking to it—can help alleviate financial stress. The majority of people who maintain a budget report feeling more in control, more confident, and more secure....

In many cases, a company’s intangible assets are more valuable than their tangible assets. Think of companies whose work involves the development of intangible products such as computer software and technology solutions. Think also of technology-based, social, and community platforms whose value resides mainly in the value of the network, the brand, and the user base. What’s the Difference Between Tangible and Intangible Assets? The difference between tangible and intangible assets may seem obvious: if you can touch it, it’s tangible; if you can’t, it isn’t....

Despite their youth, teenagers have to pay taxes if they make a certain amount of income, just like everyone else. Teenagers and their parents should know the rules as they apply to young people, as well as how different kinds of income earned by teenagers are taxed. Minors Do Pay Taxes There are some age-specific aspects of tax law. Taxpayers age 65 or older at the end of the tax year are generally allowed a larger standard deduction than taxpayers under age 65....

Here’s an example of a letter or email message used to apply for a transfer from a temporary position to a permanent one. Also review advice on what to include in your letter, and how to make the request to turn a contract or temp job into a permanent one. How to Apply for a Temp to Perm Transfer Some employers have a streamlined process for temporary employees seeking a permanent role....

The $1,000-a-month rule helps you gauge how much you must save in order to withdraw a certain amount monthly in retirement. Find out how it works, what pitfalls to watch out for, and how this rule of thumb compares with other retirement guidance. What Is the Origin of the $1,000-a-Month Rule? This rule of thumb was created by Wes Moss, an Atlanta-based Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and financial educator. He designed it as a simple way to visualize how much in savings you should accumulate if you plan to retire at around age 65....

From single filers and heads of households to business owners and self-employed people, tax preparation books can help every tax filer maximize their return. These books will help you take advantage of tax credits, list the various deductions you may qualify for, teach you how to survive an audit, and break down other rules. Here are the best tax preparation books. Although he’s been writing this series for over 30 years, the updated edition of Schnepper’s book covers all of the latest additions to the tax code and includes hundreds of easy tips to save you money....

Let’s learn more about the common steps in an accounting cycle and how they are completed to provide regular snapshots of a company’s financial situation. Definition and Examples of the Accounting Cycle The accounting cycle is a process used to document and report on all financial transactions during an accounting period, which is commonly quarterly or annually. Usually, an accounting cycle is managed by a bookkeeper, who may use accounting software to make the process simpler....