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.
Atom Finance brings professional-grade investment research tools to your favorite brokerage platform. It includes a community of investors that allows you to chat with other users of the service as well as the ability to aggregate your investment information so you can get a high level view of all your investments.
The best stock analysis software for you will depend on a variety of factors. You'll want to choose a software that's customizable, easy to use, gives real time analysis. Bonus if it also gives you the option to upgrade to a paid service when you're ready.
For a W-2 employee, April 15th is the day your tax return (and any money you owe) is due to the IRS. However, if you have non-W-2 income you actually owe taxes quarterly but still only file a return once per year.
With Groundfloor you lend money to Groundfloor which then funds real estate flippers. It's a way to profit from flipping houses without having to do the work yourself or have hundreds of thousands of dollars tied up in real estate.
Life insurance with no medical exam doesn't mean your health isn't taken into consideration - the company just uses other means of obtaining that information. Also, it is usually more expensive, has a lower death benefit, and a shorter-term than traditionally underwritten policies. If possible, your best bet is likely to take the exam - but if that isn't possible there are companies that will still insure you.
eToro is it one of the most comprehensive cryptocurrency trading apps in the industry as it offers trading in 15 cryptocurrencies. It also allows you to track and copy successful traders on the app.
Transferwise is an inexpensive and reliable way to send money internationally. It uses real currency values, not inflated ones, so you aren't paying extra. You'll pay the exchange rate plus a transfer fee. It's available in more than 70 countries uses more than 50 currencies,
Brokered CDs are traditional CDs but they are purchased through an investment firm rather from your local bank. They have higher fees but also have benefits over traditional CDs. These benefits include access to potentially higher rates, no prepayment penalties, and the ability to exceed the FDIC insurance level by saving at multiple banks.
If you’re oriented toward self-directed investing, and you just want investment assistance - as well as a platform where you can track your holdings - you’ll favor Morningstar. But if you’re looking for specific investment recommendations, one of the four advisory services offered by The Motley Fool will likely be the better choice.