There are a number of big ticket items that people will purchase in their lifetimes, such as cars, houses, and vacations. But there is perhaps no purchase that will be bigger than a college education. Most parents hope to help out, if not take care of their children’s college tuition completely. But the cost is… Read More
Discussing the Financial Literacy Gender Gap (As reported by Robin Patinkin with the Huffington Post Money Blog)
Woody Allen’s new film “Blue Jasmine” touches on a scenario familiar in many households. A wife signs tax and legal documents when presented by her husband without the knowledge as to what is really being signed. In the film, this lack of knowledge is the basis for a plot detailing the fall of a socialite… Read More
Maximizing the College Experience while Staying in Your Budget (as reported by Nancy Anderson via forbes.com)
Heading off to college is an exciting time in many young people’s lives. For most young people this is the first experience living outside of a parent’s house and managing their own expenses. College life provides many unique experiences and challenges for a young adult, not the least of which is covering the huge expense… Read More
The Truth About Credit Scores (as reported by Tisha Tolar on Moolanomy.Com)
Credit scores are important for a number of reasons. But for many of us, credit scores are confusing and difficult to understand. There are many myths about credit scores that you may have heard, but finding the truth about those myths is key to better understanding your credit history. One of the most common myths… Read More
The High Cost of Parenting (as reported by Melanie Hicken on Finance.Yahoo.Com)
Raising a kid is expensive. That comes as no surprise. But the actual price tag may cause your jaw to drop just a bit. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report the other day that estimated the cost of raising a child born in 2012 for 18 years is over $240,000. And since 2000,… Read More
Financial Pitfalls for Couples (as reported by Miranda Marquit on BeingFrugal.net)
When two people combine their finances, it’s important to make sure both people see eye to eye on personal finance. Just like in other areas of a relationship, it’s very important to talk openly about goals and expectations. Not being on the same page with your significant other can lead to financial problems during the… Read More
Most Important Financial Skills to Learn (as reported by Nancy Anderson on Forbes.Com)
When it comes to financial advice, it seems that everywhere you look, you will hear something new. And with the complexities of financial markets, and so much to learn about managing your finances, it can feel quite overwhelming at times. But if you practice just a few of the most important financial skills early in… Read More
Making Sense of Money Graphic by The Financial Brand
How many Americans have a long term savings plan or an emergency fund? Did you know that many financial advisers recommend an emergency fund to cover nine months to a year of household expenses? Reading numbers and statistics are always important, but sometimes seeing is believing. We’ve linked to the attached info graphic developed by… Read More
Finding Happiness with Money (as reported by Mandi Woodruff Finance.Yahoo.Com)
We all know the old adage that money does not buy happiness. But why do so many people think that more money will make them happier? And why is it almost never the case the more money leads to more happiness? Mandi Woodruff addresses the answers to these questions and makes some suggestions for spending… Read More
How To Teach Children About Investing (as reported by Aparna Narayanan with The Wall Street Journal)
At what age should we start the conversation about personal finance and investing? Investment professionals share their experience from teaching their own children. The suggestions are quite varied and easily approachable; sharing bank and investment account statements, purchasing stock to explain the concept of proportional ownership, and how to tackle more abstract ideas like inflation… Read More