Since 2009, Kevin Mercadante has been sharing his journey from a washed-up mortgage loan officer emerging from the Financial Meltdown as a contract/self-employed “slash worker” – accountant/blogger/freelance blog writer – on OutofYourRut.com. He offers career strategies, from dealing with under-employment to transitioning into self-employment, and provides “Alt-retirement strategies” for the vast majority who won’t retire to the beach as millionaires.
He also frequently discusses the big-picture trends that are putting the squeeze on the bottom 90%, offering workarounds and expense cutting tips to help readers carve out more money to save in their budgets – a.k.a., breaking the “savings barrier” and transitioning from debtor to saver.
Kevin has a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Montclair State University.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank or financial institution. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Index funds are an excellent choice for all investors. But they're especially valuable for beginners, offering broad exposure to the financial markets while removing the guess work that's involved with picking your own individual stocks. Here are the best index ETFs and mutual funds available today.
A FICO credit score between 650 and 699 is considered "middle of the pack." Some lenders would say that it represents fair credit, while others use the term, average. But what types of credit cards can you qualify for with a FICO score between 650 and 699? Learn more.
Treasury bonds and bills are among the safest investments you can make, and the rates are very attractive right now. But should you buy them from the US Treasury, your bank, an online broker, or inside an investment fund? This article covers everything you need to know about buying Treasury bonds and bills.
TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms in the world, challenging Facebook, Instagram, and other social media giants. So it's only natural that investors would want to get in on the action. Unfortunately, investing in TikTok is not as easy as using the platform.
Online banks are everywhere these days, but not all of them stand out in any meaningful way. If you’re looking for an online bank with excellent products and features, Axos Bank is one option. But how does it compare to other online banks, like Chime and Acorns? Find out in our full Axos review.
The kiddie tax is designed to prevent parents from shifting assets to their children’s names to avoid paying taxes at their own tax rates. But how does the kiddie tax work, and are there ways you can avoid paying it? Here are some tax strategies that may help.
If your FICO credit score is under 600, trying to borrow money can feel like a hopeless situation. The good news is that there are credit cards you can get even if you struggle with poor credit. Here are five secured credit cards for people with credit scores between 500 and 599.
If you’re a real estate investor or plan to be, you need to be familiar with a 1031 exchange, which is a strategy that enables you to sell one property in exchange for another without incurring taxes in the process. In this article, I explain how the 1031 exchange works and cover the various types, as well as the risks and benefits.
A covered call is based on a call option or the right to buy a security at a specific price. It differs from a regular call option in that the seller of the option owns the underlying securities in the trade. In this article, I explain how covered calls work and the risks involved.
The Motley Fool is one of the investment industry's most popular stock-picking platforms. But while they boast more than 1 million premium members, there are several other stock-picking services out there. In this article, I give you a brief overview of The Motley Fool and introduce you to five solid alternatives.
Too many Americans are withdrawing money from their retirement plans early. While retirement savings contributions are tax deductible, you may be subject to income tax and an additional penalty for withdrawing early. If you think you need to withdraw from your 401K, here are nine ways to do it penalty-free
One way to improve your credit score is to be added as an authorized user on another person’s credit account. But what if you don’t have another person with good credit who can add you as an authorized user? That's where Tradeline Supply Company comes in. Learn more in our full review.