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No matter what your financial circumstances are, there are a few ways you can improve your money outlook by investing your time and funds wisely. And while, yes, investing in the market is one of the ways to do this, it’s not the only way. In today’s “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Carly Hensley, CFS, a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Charlotte, North Carolina, about a few of the ways every woman should be investing in herself....

Investing in cryptocurrency or even researching trends in the crypto market can be intimidating to downright overwhelming. Luckily there are many experts to help guide you through not only price predictions on how a particular coin or token will perform, but also a wealth of other technical analyses. By Caitlyn Moorhead About APT Current Worth Price Prediction Read: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 What Is APT?...

The Treasury Department has approved $90 million for broadband projects in Vermont, under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Capital Projects Fund. The funding will help connect 14,000 homes and businesses to high-speed internet, the Treasury Department said in a press release, giving “‘last mile’ rural communities throughout Vermont the ability to stay connected with the digital, global economy,” Sen. Patrick Leahy said in a tweet. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Learn: Is Budget Billing a Good Idea for Utility Bills?...

Despite persisting societal barriers and a global pandemic, Black entrepreneurship is significantly on the rise, according to a new report. And a new study shows that states in the Mid-Atlantic pocket of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware provide the best environment for Black businesses to thrive. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Black-Owned Businesses To Support Right NowFind: 7 Best Black-Owned Financial Institutions Merchant Maverick’s report, Best States For Black Entrepreneurs In 2022, finds that Black-owned businesses grew an astonishing 38% between February 2020 and August 2021, according to UC Santa Cruz research, even while white and Asian businesses fell by 3% and 2%, respectively....

As the 2022 tax filing season gets underway, there are some looming questions about tax laws and returns on the horizon. By Selena Fragassi In order to bring down owed taxes — or get as much of a refund as possible — many Americans are looking into what deductions are feasible for filing taxes this year. One common question concerns whether or not you can deduct any fees for tax preparation....

Rapidly rising interest rates and tighter monetary policy are continuing to push mortgage applications down. For the week ending April 1, they decreased 6.3% according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey. Total volume is down 41% versus the same week in 2021, per CNBC. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Discover: 7 Financial Habits That Improve Your Daily Life More: In Less Than a Decade, You Won’t Be Able To Afford a Home in These Cities...

The Labor Department released its Consumer Price Index today, showing the largest 12-month increase since a 5.4% jump for the period ending August 2008. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: The Effect of Consumer Spending on Inflation Find: Why Does the Consumer Price Index Matter? The CPI, which measures what consumers pay for goods and services, including clothes, groceries, restaurant meals, recreational activities and vehicles, saw a 0.9% increase in June, the largest 1-month change since June 2008 when the index rose 1....

As rent and mortgage prices continue to rise, it can be very difficult, or near impossible, for Gen Z to find affordable housing. A huge factor of housing costs depends on where you live, though. Your friends the next state over may be spending hundreds or even thousands less than you per month. By Maddie Duley As infuriating as the housing market can be, it’s important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” ideal price point when looking for a home or apartment....

The number of homes for sale nationwide rose 2% in June, the first annual increase since July 2019, before the pandemic triggered a homebuying frenzy, which sent many would-be buyers into bidding wars, according to Redfin. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money ExpertsSmall Business Spotlight 2022: Nominate Your Favorite Small Biz by July 25 “The country’s economic woes have already cooled the housing market, and they’re likely to continue dampening demand,” Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather said in a press release....

We are in a bear market. A bear market is defined as one in which a broad market index (such as the S&P 500) declines by 20% or more over at least a two-month period. CBS News reported in mid-June that the S&P 500 had declined 21% since its January 2022 high. By Bob Haegele See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money ExpertsSmall Business Spotlight 2022: Nominate Your Favorite Small Biz by July 25...

The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry are working together as the Security Summit to urge tax professionals to learn the signs of data theft in order to quickly protect their clients. Tax professionals must contact the IRS immediately if an identity theft issue is suspected, while also contacting insurance or cybersecurity experts to assist them with determining the cause and extent of the loss. By Josephine Nesbit Compare: Which States Have the Most Identity Theft?...

Logix Federal Credit Union Overview Founded as the Lockheed Aircraft Employees Federal Credit Union in 1937, the organization’s modern offerings belie its long history as a fixture across Southern California. By Cynthia Bowman Overview Features How It Stands Out Comparable Options How To Apply Who It’s Best For APYs 4.8 Benefits 4.8 Products 4.9 Customer Service 4.8 Pros Robust checking account features Members get part ownership in the credit union 96% of members would recommend to a friend Over 30,000 fee-free ATMS Earn better benefits with multiple Logix accounts, including loans Cons Fees for Co-Op shared Branch Network transactions, except with Platinum account Logix Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Burbank, California, serves residents of Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Nevada and Virginia, with an emphasis on employees in the aerospace, insurance and technology industries....

McDonald’s is entering the metaverse after having filed 10 trademark applications outlining that the chain will provide “downloadable multimedia files” for artwork, audio and video applications, as well as NFTs. Additionally, the fast food giant’s business plans include operating a virtual restaurant featuring actual and digital goods, with said virtual restaurant also featuring a home delivery option. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Retail Investors in the Metaverse — Is It Worth It?...

One of the keys to a comfortable retirement is building enough wealth to ensure you don’t run out of money while you’re still alive. This requires familiarity with average life expectancies, but not enough Americans have this kind of “longevity literacy.” By Vance Cariaga Social Security: Women Get $354 Per Month Less Than Men — Here’s WhySee: With a Recession Looming, Make These 3 Retirement Moves To Stay On TrackFind: What Is the Average Social Security Benefit at Age 62?...

There’s a direct correlation between higher education and higher pay — with each new degree level comes a bigger average salary. But if you didn’t go to college, and you don’t have the cash or the years to do so, there are alternative routes into the professional world — including the high-skill, high-pay tech jobs that almost always require a college degree. By Andrew Lisa One of those routes is a modernized version of a very old concept — an apprenticeship....

It’s been a tough slog for drivers in 2022. Despite widespread decreases in gas prices over the past three months, the relief felt on wallets has been all too brief for those in many states. By David Nadelle Find: Stimulus Payments Coming to These States in September 2022Student Loan Forgiveness: Mark These 4 Dates On Your Calendar Now As we reported earlier this week, after almost 100 days of gradual gas price decreases throughout the U....

The USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food assistance in Florida, provides monthly benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families. SNAP benefits may be used to purchase qualifying food items at participating locations. By Josephine Nesbit Live Blog Updates: SNAP (Food Stamps) and Social Security Benefits Find: Does Aldi Accept SNAP EBT Food Stamps? Florida food assistance is administered by the Florida Department of Children and Families Office of Economic Self-Sufficiency (ESS), which is also responsible for determining eligibility for SNAP by using federal guidelines....

If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably looking forward to a life of guaranteed income from Social Security after you retire. Every year, the Social Security Administration updates the estimated benefits you will receive so that by the time you retire, you can have a pretty good idea of just how much you’ll be getting. By John Csiszar But in some rare circumstances, your poor credit can impact the amount that you actually receive in your checking account – and in truly unfortunate cases, you may lose some of your payment even after you receive it....

Retirees who remember what it was like to pay more income taxes for higher earnings will get a reminder of that next year, as the 5.9% increase in Social Security payments will be accompanied by a higher income tax obligation. By Vance Cariaga See: Social Security Benefits 2022 — How Medicare Will Significantly Impact Those Earning LessFind: Social Security Schedule — When the First COLA Checks Will Arrive in January 2022...

As much as everyone would like to see inflation calm in 2023, it’s not going away completely. The cost of living continues to be a problem across the country, forcing Americans to tighten budgets and cut costs. Those living with a fixed income have a little relief coming their way in 2023 with the Social Security Administration announcing an 8.7% increase in benefits. This is the largest increase in benefits since 1981 when an 11....