For one thing, only 54% of workers think their employer is loyal to them, so that may lead to a greater willingness to change jobs. For another, employees may find it too expensive to be committed to one employer for years on end. Raises have been hovering around 3% on average, leading some employees to jump to a new job for a more significant pay increase. Staying at the same place over the long haul can cost workers thousands of dollars with no real reward in terms of job security....

Luckily, there are things you and your teen can do to make college more affordable, regardless of what your financial situation looks like. Some of them you might be more familiar with—like filling out the FAFSA or applying for scholarships and grants—but there are plenty of other ideas that you might not have considered yet. The Cost of College One of the biggest factors impacting how much you and your teen will have to pay for college is the type of institution they choose to go to....

Income investing is a type of investing strategy that is designed to produce funds for you to live off of. There are many types of stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other investment instruments that can be used for this strategy. If you plan to invest to generate a side stream of income, it will help you learn how the strategy works and the methods you can use. The Goal of Income Investing The income investing strategy involves building a portfolio of assets such that the holdings produce the highest annual passive income possible....

What Is a Branding Statement? A branding statement is a short, catchy statement that highlights your most relevant expertise in about 15 words or fewer. If you include a branding statement, you can elaborate further on your key qualifications through a longer summary statement. What to Include in Your Branding Statement A strong branding statement conveys exceptional qualities, skills, experiences, or areas of knowledge that distinguish you from the average candidate....

The interviewer is interested in learning about how good a fit your last position was. They will use the information you share to learn whether the role for which you’re applying will be a good match for your qualifications and career objectives. What the Interviewer Wants to Know Employers want to know about your past expectations to see if what you expected from your last employer was reasonable, how well the role worked out for you, and if your expectations match the job responsibilities for the new position....

Some of the common ways interviewers inquire about previous jobs include: What did you most like and dislike about your previous position?What did you enjoy most in your last role?What did you dislike about your last role?What were the best and worst aspects of your last employer? What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know By asking about your feelings toward a previous job, a hiring committee often isn’t that interested in the list of actual likes or dislikes you can provide....

The projected annual food insecurity rate in America—defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for a healthy life—has increased by 4.1% for adults and 4.9% for children since 2018, according to a fall 2020 report from Feeding America. Food stamps can help buoy families who can’t afford enough food to feed themselves, but recipients might not know how to use food stamps online. Learn how food stamps can help you and how to use them online properly....

Here’s how it works. For bondholders. the ratio is supposed to act as a safety gauge. It sheds light on how far a company’s earnings can decline before the company begins defaulting on its bond payments. For stockholders, the ratio provides a clear picture of the short-term financial health of a business. The Basics of Interest Coverage Ratio The interest coverage ratio measures the number of times a company can make interest payments on its debt with its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)....

This article will discuss EBITDA, how it’s calculated, and what it means for you as an investor. Definition of EBITDA EBITDA, which stands for “earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization,” is a calculation to find the income from the operations of a business by separating this income from non-operations variables. To understand this metric, which can better reflect the operating profitability and financial health of a business, it’s important to take a closer look at each component of the acronym....

Calculating the “present value” of your money plays an important part in your retirement planning. Put in simple terms, the present value represents an amount of money you need to have in your account today to meet a future expense or a series of future cash outflows, given a specified rate of return. Calculating Present Value If you will need $200,000 in your account 10 years from now, the present value, or the amount you need to start with today, will change based on various assumed rates of return:...

Debt is an instrumental part of business for most entrepreneurs, and shareholders should know how to calculate the total cost they will pay on the loans they choose to accept. Understanding the Cost of Debt Calculating the total cost of debt is a key variable for investors who are evaluating a company’s financial health. The interest rate a company pays on its debt will determine the long-term cost of any business loan, bond, mortgage, or other debts a company uses to grow....

Cashing a check means you’ll get cash in hand. You walk away with the full amount of the payment and can spend that money immediately. However, it’s not always easy (or free). Depositing a check means adding it to your account at a bank or credit union. You’ll be putting the money in a safe place and you won’t have to worry about losing it. The bank might allow you to withdraw some (or all) of the check amount, but sometimes you might need to wait a few days before having access to all of it....

A gap year can be, as its name implies, a year long. When you end your gap year and seek to return to the workforce, you might find it challenging to figure out how to list this time on your resume. It won’t necessarily fit into the “experience” and “education” sections. And yet, you likely gained a lot of experience and knowledge during your time away from the workforce. Here is some key advice on how to approach mentioning your gap year on your resume....

Adverse Action and Your Free Credit Report The Fair Credit Reporting Act, the law that governs credit reporting, requires you to be sent an adverse action letter whenever you have an application denied because of information in your credit report. The adverse action letter should explain the reasons you were denied and inform you of your right to receive a free copy of the credit report that was used in the decision....

That’s where prequalification comes in. It typically only requires you to fill out a quick application or have a short phone call with a mortgage lender, and can both jump-start your mortgage loan and give you a price range to start house shopping in. It’s important to understand, however, that prequalification is only a prescreening, and doesn’t mean you’ll ultimately be approved for a loan. Here’s what you need to know about the prequalification process....

These letters indicate your interest in the company as a prospective employer and serve as a formal request to consider you for any potential opportunities that may be a good fit based on your education background, skill set, and prior experience. Letters of Interest vs. Cover Letters A letter of interest should not be confused with a cover letter. A cover letter is sent in addition to a resume when applying for a particular job posting....

In this article, you’ll learn habits and tips to consider when starting to invest in your 20s, ultimately setting you up for a successful financial future. Preparing to Invest in Your 20s When preparing to invest in your 20s, it’s important to consider how much money you can afford to commit to investing. To determine the amount, you might create a budget, which includes your income and your cost of living expenses, such as rent, utilities, and food....

How To Keep a Mileage Log The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says you must keep accurate records of business expenses, including for business automobile expenses. This is true whether you choose to claim the deduction using the standard mileage method or the actual expenses method. The following details should be recorded in your log book any time the vehicle is used for business purposes: DateDestinationBusiness purpose of your tripVehicle starting mileageVehicle ending mileageTotal miles drivenVehicle expenses, type (gas, oil, tolls, etc) and amount...

But what happens if that inspection reveals a problem? What are your options, and how do you move forward (or back out) if the results are less than ideal? The answer depends on your sales contract as well as the repairs that are needed, the seller’s willingness to negotiate, and several other factors. Here’s what to do if you find yourself potentially negotiating repairs after a home inspection. Your Options After a Home Inspection A home inspection can help identify deficiencies in a home you’re considering purchasing....

Why Should You Check Your Credit Score You should check your credit score regularly to see where you stand, especially before putting in a major loan application. Reviewing your credit score before applying for a loan will give you an idea of whether you’ll get approved and the kind of interest rate you can expect. People with credit scores lower than 620 find it harder to get applications approved and are typically left with higher interest rates....