Category:
Personal Finance

How to Manage Debt While on Furlough

By Tom Jackson | May 7, 2020

Remember the good old days? Just a few long months ago, the economy was roaring and nobody outside Wuhan had ever heard about coronavirus. Now millions of Americans are in…

What to Do When You Get Laid Off

By Tom Jackson | March 17, 2020

Job layoffs are an all-too common experience of American work life. Some 20.2 million people looked for work after being laid off in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of…

Dormant Bank Account Rules & Escheated Funds

By Tom Jackson | January 2, 2020

There’s an estimated $58 billion in unclaimed money out there waiting to find a home and it’s probably worth the time and aggravation to see if any of it belongs…

Your Personal Finance Calendar for 2026

By Joey Johnston | December 10, 2019

Resolution: 2026 is the year you’ll get financially organized, day by day. You know the drill this time of year. In the coming weeks, lots of print and even more…

Mutual Funds vs. Stocks

By Tom Jackson | November 13, 2019

Some debates have no set answer, like which band was better – The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones? Stocks vs. Mutual Funds isn’t quite as captivating, if for no other…

How Long Does It Take to Raise Your Credit Score by 100 Points?

By Tom Jackson | October 3, 2019

Credit scores range from 300 (terrible) to 850 (terrific), but two magic numbers in between are 650 and 750. Someone with a credit score lower than 650 risks being turned…

Make Sure Your Family Has a Disaster Plan

By Joey Johnston | August 29, 2019

June 1 marks the beginning of hurricane season. Meanwhile, across much of the Western U.S., major droughts have greatly increased the danger for summer wildfires. And don’t forget last winter’s…

Where (and how) to Sell Your Stuff Online

By Tom Jackson | August 27, 2019

Once upon a proverb, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” was just another way of saying, as 1960s hipsters did, “Diff’rent strokes for diff’rent folks.” Then came the internet…

Should I Pay Credit Cards or Tax Debt?

By Joey Johnston | August 15, 2019

The choice between paying credit card debt and taxes isn’t as simple as calculating money saved on interest. Failing to pay taxes has massive repercussions – just ask Martha Stewart.…

When to Take Social Security Benefits

By Tom Jackson | June 19, 2019

Your golden years should be an era of leisure and adventure, of self-discovery and reinvention. For most, maximizing our retirement experiences means maximizing our retirement income. When and how to…