Retirement doesn’t necessarily mean the immediate end of your working life. It can be a transition that happens in stages over time. It could be a career change from the field you have worked in for years to a brand new retirement career, or you could give up full-time, 40-hour-a-week employment for the flexibility of freelancing. Learn more about how to retire from a job, and get information on retirement options, figuring out finances, supplementing your income, or starting a second career....

You’ll have to find a health insurance plan to cover you until you’re eligible for Medicare if you retire before age 65. You have retirement health insurance options regardless of your age. If You Retire Before Age 65 If you’re retiring before age 65, the good news is that you can’t be denied coverage for preexisting conditions due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law in March 2010....

Earning credit card rewards for travel, hotels, and other benefits is great, but did you know you can also apply credit card rewards to an investment account? You can, and it includes accounts for retirement, college savings, and more. Some investment credit cards even offer bonus dollars when you apply rewards to your investments—although you’ll want to pay attention to the fine print. Read on to learn where you can get one, plus ways to maximize the rewards....

The Basics of Blockchain Blockchain is a decentralized public network that allows people and companies to store and securely transfer information and currency instantly. When a new block is added to the chain, it makes the previous blocks even harder to modify, which helps each block become more and more secure over time. There are several facets that make blockchain technology unique and valuable for many different types of business applications....

What Is Excess Capacity? Excess capacity occurs when actual production is less than what is optimal for the economy. For example, the manufacturing sector may see strong demand when an economy is growing, but when demand starts to dry up, there can be a painful adjustment process. Manufacturing companies cannot immediately fire employees, shift capital investments, or cope with slower demand, which leaves them with excess capacity—or too much overhead. The most common way to measure excess capacity in an economy is by looking at capacity utilization, which measures the extent to which a country is using its installed productive capacity....

SDI Productions / Getty Images While these features can save you money on your new home, it’s important to note that VA loans also come with different funding fees than conventional home loans. Most of these fees are mandatory, although you may be able to roll some of them into the loan itself. We’ll review the different types of VA loan closing costs and how much you’ll need to budget for them....

Learn more about how you can create a target amount for your home savings strategy. Average Cost of Buying a Home The cost to buy a home will be different for everyone because there are many factors that go into the total expense. Here, we can explain some of the common costs of buying a home and their average expenses. You can use this information to create a custom estimate for yourself....

Learn more about buying subject-to, how it works, and the pros and cons of this strategy. What Does Buying “Subject-To” Mean in Real Estate? Buying subject-to means buying a home subject-to the existing mortgage. It means that the seller is not paying off the existing mortgage. Instead, the buyer is taking over the payments. The unpaid balance of the existing mortgage is then calculated as part of the buyer’s purchase price....

This question is a more antagonistic version of the usual inquiry, “What’s your biggest weakness?” The primary strategy with both these questions is to use your answer as a chance to highlight a strength. What the Interviewer Wants to Know This type of curveball question has two purposes from an interviewer’s perspective: Recruiters want to gain a balanced view of candidates during an interview, which includes both your strengths and limitations....

Here’s what you need to know about Pell Grants, including if you qualify, how to apply, and how to maintain eligibility. What Is a Pell Grant? A Pell Grant is gift aid paid out by the federal government through the Federal Pell Grant Program. This program helps millions of students afford higher education each year. In 2021, 6.2 million students received Pell Grant funds. In 2020, the number was 6....

Challenges and Benefits of Managing Your Money Alone Managing your money as a single person has both pros and cons. One major benefit is that you have complete control over your budget. “When you’re single, you don’t have to worry about your significant other suddenly splurging and blowing the budget,” wrote Kari Lorz, Certified Financial Education Instructor and founder of Money for the Mamas. But keep in mind you also have to manage your budget completely by yourself....

To build the best portfolio of mutual funds, you must go beyond the sage advice, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket:” A structure that can stand the test of time requires a smart design, a strong foundation, and a simple combination of mutual funds that work well for your needs. Use a Core and Satellite Portfolio Design Before building begins, you will need a basic design—a blueprint—to follow....

“In the decade since the end of the Great Recession, Black homeownership has continued to fall while every other demographic group has seen significant recovery,” Cy Richardson, senior vice president for economic programs for the National Urban League, told The Balance by phone. “The reasons for this crisis are compounded by multiple generations of explicit discrimination under federal law that had a direct impact in suppressing homeownership rates for people of color, as well as a lot of unique factors that first-generation homeowners face....

Where Can You Buy a Car Online? If you’d like to buy a car online, there are many reputable car sellers’ websites that can allow you to do that. Here are a few options to consider: Autotrader: Autotrader sells cars to more than 14 million buyers each month. The website offers new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles from both dealers and private sellers. You can sort by car type, location, mileage, price, and more to find the perfect car for you....

If you’re considering buying a condo for the first time, there’s a lot you’ll need to know and much you can do to prepare for it. Learn more about the pros and cons of buying a condo and a few tips to know before you start the process. What Is a Condo? A condo—short for condominium—is a type of housing where each unit is privately owned but all owners have a shared interest in the community space....

You can probably get a bad credit mortgage. It’s just that the guys you’re talking to—the banks and credit unions—don’t offer bad credit mortgages, so they won’t steer you in that direction. And this might not be your best option anyway. You might have other alternatives, depending on just how bad your credit is and what went wrong. Ask for a Referral Ask for a referral if your regular mortgage broker can’t help you....

If you’re wondering which bank is best for your needs, take these steps to get familiar with the options available and choose the institution that fits your needs. Assess Current and Future Needs You probably have immediate requirements that a bank must satisfy. For example, you may need a place to deposit your paycheck, or perhaps a bank that charges lower fees than your current bank. The best bank for you will not only meet those needs but also your anticipated needs in the coming years....

A SWOT analysis is used to identify the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats relative to your company, unit, group, or a product, service, or program for which you are responsible. It lets you focus on specific areas and discover actions that can help build on strengths, minimize or eliminate weaknesses, maximize opportunities, and confront threats. These evaluations are often conducted with a team and used to inform a strategy or strategic plan....

If you’re buying a home, you’re not without options if the appraisal comes in low. Find out why appraisals can be low and what you can do if the bank won’t give you a loan for the amount the seller wants. Why Is a Low Appraisal a Big Deal? The main problem with a low appraisal is the difference between the seller’s asking price and the newly assigned market value of the home....

Unless you’re active military personnel moving for a change of station, you can no longer deduct business moving expenses. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, suspended the deduction for moving expenses, effective starting in the 2018 tax year. Who Can Deduct a Move on Their Taxes? Even if you’re an active military member, you must meet some additional requirements to qualify for this deduction. You have to have moved because of a permanent change of station, which is defined by the IRS as a move to your first post, a move between posts, or a move from your last post to your home as you end active duty....