Recent questions tagged personal finance

Description : Benefit from stepped-up basis by having my parents buy stock for me?

Last Answer : Get a tax lawyer and don’t ask on a random inter-web site what to do with your money. It could go the ASPCA or homeless shelter if their will is not directed to you.

Description : If the feds succeed in passing laws that drive people only to banks for their retirement and investments, what will that mean to the middle class?

Last Answer : answer:I can't imagine anything like that will ever pass. Plus, banks usually have an investment arm. Maybe the bill isn't about only being able to get the same interest as savings, but about how ... retirement money in what would be equivalent to a savings account so I wouldn't worry much about it.

Description : Under what circumstances do taxes go up in the US?

Last Answer : This site appears to have the federal tax brackets per year going back to 2000 if you want to look at the historical rates. But who knows what will happen with taxes.

Description : Do you have a Roth IRA?

Last Answer : answer:If you make the same amount of money and tax rates never change your whole life the IRA and the Roth IRA will result in the same amount being taxed and the same amount being saved. ... being taxed at the lower brackets and at the higher brackets as they age and their careers/salaries mature.

Description : I have a high tolerance for bullshit, what steps do I take to begin to change?

Last Answer : answer:Life is about adaptation. Even on a biological level, organisms go through three stages: performance, feedback, revision. In natural selection organisms do something and if it doesn't work effectively the process is ... any time, and you don't have to put up with anything you don't want to!

Description : At the end of the year, would you rather have your salary 10% higher, or the stock market 10% higher?

Last Answer : My salary, obviously.

Description : As of Feb 13,2011, what is the current interest rate for 5year T-notes ?

Last Answer : Here you go.

Description : What does "liquidity" mean in a basic economic terms?

Last Answer : “Liquidity” is the ease with which assets can be converted, usually into cash. More “liquid” assets are ones which can be sold or traded more easily (like a bicycle), less liquid ones are more difficult to sell or trade (like a house).

Description : Making a plane reservation, and when I put in my credit card info, it also asked about social security card (last four digits), and other stuff. Why?

Last Answer : Is it just about verifying the credit card or could it be an anti-terrorism thing, where they have to do a background check on you or something? I haven’t flown in a long time, so I’m not up to date on this stuff.

Description : Can you recommend some things I should think about and/or investment opportunities I should consider (e.g. 401k, Roth IRA, etc) and how to decide where to start?

Last Answer : The most important thing is just to start!

Description : What is the most robust personal finance software?

Last Answer : I’ve been using the web site Mint – check it out.

Description : What percentage are portfolios losing during this challenged economy?

Last Answer : Are you talking about retirement portfolios? Mine is actually on the rise.

Description : Can you rent a home with bad credit?

Last Answer : Yes, but not easily.

Description : I have always prided myself for having perfect credit, but the recent downturn in the economy and unexpected medical expenses have no changed that. I don't want to file bankruptcy, but am way behind on payments. What are my options?

Last Answer : For medical bills, you can make small payments to the hospital every month and as long as you’re paying off the loan, they can’t write it off as un upaid bill. So pay them $15 a month and use the extra $ to pay off your credit cards.

Description : Some friends in college are already into personal budgeting and financial planning. I’d like to do it myself. Any help here?

Last Answer : Keep track of your spending over a month or two and categorize every dime. Use that information to decide what types of spending you can cut, then prepare a budget.

Description : Nominees for the Penny-Pinchers Hall of Fame?

Last Answer : answer:There is and has been always my mother and the infamous tea bag. After her cuppa, she would put the used bag in the refridge. Days later we used to find these dried-up dead objects in little dishes. ... tea and eye shadow she has the little box w. the mirror on the lid and the teeny brush.)

Description : Housing as a percent of income?

Last Answer : answer:Mortgage lenders figure your debt to income ratio using your net income. The figure they use includes principal, interest, taxes and insurance, if there are homeowners association dues, those will be included ... FHA/VA loans are figured using net income, I'm not sure if that is true anymore.

Description : Whats a personal data link?

Last Answer : A personal data link is a device that you can use to access your files by connecting the device to your data storage. A virtual personal data link is a program that creates an organizational ... device. You can access your own files through traditional methods without requiring this device to do so.