Money Making

Do Children Make Us Happy?

Elijah Burgess — Sat, 12 May 2012 21:02:28 +0000

With Mothers Day over, and with Fathers Day just around the corner, many of us reflect on what its like to be a parent. Many of us say that we find parenting fulfilling, and that we are happy, but some studies suggest that this isnt the case. Indeed, over the course of decades, many studies find that parents are unhappy as they have more children.

Over the years, since the 1950s, researchers have been trying to measure levels of happiness in parents. With married couples, some studies find that satisfaction decreases as children are introduced into the mix, and only really increases later in life after the children have left the house.

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Tax Tardiness: The Who, What, and Why of Late Filing

Flynn Best — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:39:56 +0000

According to the IRS, 28% of taxpayers wait until the last couple of weeks to file their taxes, but just why do taxpayers wait until the last minute to file their taxes. Whether you scrambled to the tax finish line or filed an extension, here is our infographic showing the who, what, and why of late tax filing.

Payday loans: the emergency help when you really need it

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 06:32:29 +0000

Sometimes when unexpected events occur you can not be prepared for them, and therefore, life can become very expensive. Car needs to be repaid and refrigerator can blow – these things are necessary for everyday life and can become an unexpected expense at any time. But you shouldn’t worry about these problems, the 1 hour payday loans direct lender can help you get out of this difficult financial situation, when you need help.

You need only to apply for a loan even through a trustworthy online company, and you will be approved in no time. After your confirmation, the lender will send you a deposit of money in your personal account, usually the same day! Read more info…

Credit ratings have value for senior living companies

Connor Head — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:13:11 +0000

It may not occur to smaller senior living companies to seek a credit rating from a credit rating agency like Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s, but for companies large and small, there are financial benefits said a group of panelists during an online senior living business conference held in March.

“At its core, credit ratings provide transparency and third party verification for investors in this space, which helps to provide greater access to capital to the extent that financings are being undertaken and also provides a more economical or lower cost of that capital, i.e., lower interest rates, better terms and those types of things,” said Nick Gesue, moderator of the online conference, “Make or Break: The True Value of Credit Ratings,” sponsored by publisher Irving Levin Associates. Gesue is ch

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Financial Rant: Ferocious Dogs, Four Wheelin’ and Purty Teeth

Elijah Burgess — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:13:37 +0000

I have many pet peeves. Telling me youll do something then you dont. Not offering a Thank You when I hold the door for you. Always complaining that the world is out to get you.

In the financial world, my biggest pet peeve is buying crap that you know or at least, should know that you cant afford. The latest edition of the Financial Rant involves a gentleman that violates almost every pet peeve in existence.

Yes, hes that bad! How bad? Youll just have to watch and find out..

How To Split Your Tax Refund

Elijah Burgess — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 05:29:52 +0000

You wait all year for your tax refund to arrive. When it’s finally in your hands, how will you spend the cash? Yes, you could throw the entire amount at your bills and feel the satisfaction of taking care of business. On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with spending that money in a more entertaining fashion. Rather than starting a no-win argument with yourself, perhaps you can split your refund in a way that satisfies your responsible side and your fun-loving side at the same time.

Practical spending suggestions

Spending part of your refund to pay the bills is fine, but you can maximize the impact if you focus on expenditures that will reap dividends over time. Con

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Fastest Growing Banks in the United States – Massachusetts

Connor Head — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:51:24 +0000

This is the first in an ongoing series to highlight the fastest growing banks from around the country. Why do this? Day after day the media focuses on the problems the big banks are having, but there are many small and community-based banks that are doing well and growing quickly. In the future, these may be the banks that provide you with your next mortgage, or business loan, or credit card. The doors of these banks are open and they are looking for qualified customers and are eager to expand.

Today, I’m going to start in my home state of Massachusetts. After crunching FDIC data, the fastest growing bank in the state is the Bank of Cape Cod, which saw its assets balloon from $22 million in 2006 to $150 million in 2011, a 581% increase.

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8 smart ways to spend a hefty windfall

Flynn Best — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:38:23 +0000

It’s everyone’s favorite fantasy: a nice, huge windfall.

Maybe that scratch-off lottery ticket pays off big, or that dusty vase in the attic turns out to be a collector’s item, or that stock you’ve been hoarding turns out to be worth a bundle.

Suddenly you’re sitting on a nice mid-five-figure gift that you weren’t expecting, and that’s after taxes.

Now what?

Is the $75 Annual Fee Worth Paying to Get 6% Cash Back with an American Express Blue Cash Preferred Credit Card?

Elijah Burgess — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:33:42 +0000

Getting a little bit of cash back on all of your spending is nice, but getting a lot of cash back is better, right?

We showed you how great the American Express Blue Cash credit card (read our full review) can be: 3% back on groceries, 2% back on gas and department stores, and 1% on everything else. You can get that card for free: no annual fee, no catches. Just swipe your card and watch the cash back pile up. But American Express just upped the ante.

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Alliant Credit Union: Earn more With Their CD Accounts

Connor Head — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:12:07 +0000

At Alliant Credit Union, they promise to be flexible and to offer above-market rates with their CD accounts. Membership is easy to obtain and you must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

Any employee or member of a qualifying organization
Any person who lives or works in a qualifying Chicagoland Community
Any member of Foster Care to Success
Any person related by blood or law to an existing Alliant member
Domestic partners of unmarried members

The neat thing is that membership lasts a lifetime, so you will always be provided with competitive rates and excellent customer service.

The CD accounts at Alliant Credit Union require a $1,000 minimum opening balance.

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Nuveen Investments announces online Investing Resource Center

Flynn Best — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:46:50 +0000

Savings Accounts and Money Market Rates provided by 11 November 2011 Nuveen Investments, an investment management firm that works with affluent investors and institutions, announced the introduction of its new online Income Investing Resource Center. The website seeks to address both challenges investors can face as well as opportunities that are available in the world of income investments.

The website helps investors to identify what financial instruments are best for them by having them explore what impact inflation will have on the buying power, whether their investments will generate enough income, what techniques there are to deal with changing principal and what impact rising interest rates will have. Read more info…

Women in Healthcare: Allyson Schwartz

Connor Head — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:13:16 +0000

NEW GLOUCESTER, ME – In honor of Women’s History Month, Healthcare Finance News has asked some of the women leaders in the nation’s healthcare industry to talk about the role of women in healthcare. Contact HFN associate editor, Stephanie Bouchard, on Twitter @SBouchardHFN if you have suggestions for women that should be included in our series.

Today, we hear from Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.). Dubbed a “rising star” by Politico, Schwartz has long been an advocate for primary care and children’s healthcare issues. As a state

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US Economy To Outpace Europe

Connor Head — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:56:54 +0000

U.S. growth is expected to outpace the stagnant economies of European nations in the first half of 2012, according to an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report released Thursday.

Economic growth in the U.S. is expected to grow at a 2.9% annual rate in the first quarter and a 2.8% rate in the second, compared to an overall growth of 1.9% for the Group of Seven nations, the report said.

American growth stems from a resurgence in the stock market year-to-date, a rebound in consumer confidence and a strengthening job market, according to the report, which was unveiled in Paris.

The forecast for Europe is quite dismal. Read more info…

3 Reasons to Love the Roth IRA

Elijah Burgess — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 06:02:06 +0000

For someone steeped in personal finance, it seems strange to realize that not everyone knows about the Roth IRA. However, as Jeff Rose at Good Financial Cents recently discovered, there are a number of people who have no idea what the Roth IRA is. As a result, he is starting a movement to raise awareness about the Roth IRA.

This is a great idea, since the Roth IRA can provide you with a great way to save money for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis. Im all for a Roth IRA movement that will raise awareness. As part of my participation in this movement, I would like to share 3 reasons that I love the Roth IRA:

1.

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Weekly Rate Spotlight – First Choice Bank Offering Competitive CD Rates in New Jersey

Connor Head — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:26:26 +0000

Looking for some competitive CD rates in New Jersey? First Choice Bank is offering some of the highest rates in the state. Top rates include:

36 month CD paying 1.64% APY
48 month CD paying 1.83% APY
60 month CD paying 2.10% APY

The CDs have a $1,000 minimum deposit.

The bank is headquartered in Lawrenceville, NJ and has five branches around the Trenton area. The bank was founded in 2007 and has seen strong growth since then, increasing assets from $55 million to $669 million in 2011. That makes it one of the fastest growing banks in the state and the country for that time-period.

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