Author: James Paul
Since the dawn of human civilization, we have wrestled with the implications of unemployment on the individual and society. The strain of this social issue gained particular traction last year following the pandemic and its accompanying ripple effect across different sectors in nations all over the globe. Today, even as the year 2021 draws to a close, the world is still reeling from the effects of COVID-19. In a world built to accommodate as many people as it can, several months of mandatory lockdowns and social distancing spanning have taken a toll on the job market and consequently other industries.…
Credit unions are popular for several reasons. They have a personalized approach with a member-centric model. You are both the customer and owner here. This lets you enjoy lower charges as well as interest rates on loans. You can also enjoy several financial benefits, even with a low credit score. No wonder the US market size of credit unions, measured by revenue, stands at $81.6 billion in 2021. Studies have found that factors that influence this industry are household debt and the rising lifespans. Credit unions are an excellent low-cost alternative to traditional banks. But you need to tick off…
There are many misconceptions when it comes to real estate, but one of the most common ones is that it is 100% free from risk. Many investors put their capital in rental properties and other real estate assets, assuming that losses are scarce and far in between. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Like every other business venture, real estate carries with it a unique set of risks that makes learning risk management essential. While it’s vital to learn how to steer clear of pitfalls peculiar to being a landlord, it’s also necessary to be aware of the…
You probably have friends or colleagues who maintain a line of side hustles. They do it so they can bring in a variety of income streams no matter what they are doing with a day job. If you are wondering how you can make money on the side without having to spend every spare moment on it, you are not alone. With incremental income, you can learn how to create financial security using passive methods. Here are a handful of considerations to keep top of mind. Understanding Passive Income Passive income is money that you earn without having to work…
The Citi Custom Cash Card is the ideal credit card for those who need an all-around cash bonus. The Citi card is perfect for cash-back rewards junkies. The Citi card also provides a cash bonus program for those who prefer to earn more points than cashback rewards. The Citi cash card is intended for those who wish to make purchases using their credit cards. The card has earned the prestigious approval from financial institutions such as Bank of America, Chase, and Discover Card. The Citi card can give you cash rebates, store discounts, airline miles, gas rebates, cash back on…
Real estate is an extremely competitive industry. Real estate agents are pushing constantly to close the next sale, and ensure maximum profits. The greatest worry in a real estate agents mind is how to gain the best deals from their clients. Just like other marketing professionals, real estate agents need particular set of skills. In this post, we look at the top ten skills you must have to become the next successful real estate agent. #1 Communication Skills To become a successful real estate agent, you need proper communication skills. This is because communication is the heart of everything you…
A land loan is nothing more than what the name suggests… a loan to buy land; nothing more, nothing less. Land loans are a very small portion of the lending market and banks take a higher risk dealing with land loans than with mortgage loans, explains Casey Fleming, a mortgage adviser with C2 Financial Corp in San Jose, California. If a bank or lender has to foreclose on a land loan, there’s no real way of guaranteeing the bank will get its money back. “Owners of raw land are much more likely to stop making payments and walk away from…
The era of the online world has changed how people communicate, how we find and receive information, and how we live our lives. Specifically, the internet and technology have changed how people shop and manage their finances. You can look at just about any personal finance blog to see how technology has changed our relationship with money. If we look back at how money was managed ten, twenty, and surprisingly fifty years ago and look at it in comparison to the way that people manage their finances today, there are some clear conclusions. For one, people today have substantially more…
What Is a 401(k) Plan? A 401(k) plan stands as a retirement savings scheme, commonly provided by numerous American employers, offering valuable tax benefits for individuals. Its nomenclature is derived from a specific section within the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under this arrangement, the participating employee consents to allocating a portion of their earnings directly into an investment account, with the potential for the employer to match some or all of this contribution. Within this framework, the employee enjoys the flexibility of selecting from an array of investment choices, typically revolving around mutual funds. Key Points to Remember: A…
As mortgage costs have increased in recent years – and the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many to lose their income – more Canadians are finding it difficult to keep up with their bill payments. But if you are falling behind in your mortgage payments, you may find yourself facing a Power of Sale. What this essentially means is, that if you cannot pay your mortgage lender what you owe them – plus any additional legal and admin fees that they may have incurred – the courts could give your lender the authority to evict you and sell your home. What…