Finance

Factors You Should Consider Before Taking Out a Personal Loan

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 3 minute read | Advertiser notice
Personal Loan

Taking out a personal loan can save the day for many. With debt levels rising significantly and emergency savings not always being available, more and more people are turning to personal loans when they are in a pickle.

Maybe you are considering getting a loan to consolidate your credit card debt, pay for emergency medical bills, or even start a small business.

And since almost every lender in the country is now offering personal loans, you can compare the offers and choose the best deal. A 0.25% difference in interest rate might not seem a big deal but it can help you save hundreds of dollars.

So, in this post, we have put together a list of key factors you need to keep in mind when choosing a personal loan.

Are You Okay With Paying High Interest Rates?

If you’re considering taking out a personal loan, interest rate is one of the most important things to think about.

Interest rate means the percentage of interest charged by the bank (lender) on the principal amount. You can either choose a variable interest rate loan or a fixed interest rate loan, depending on your preference.

If you take out a fixed interest loan, the bank will charge the same amount of interest throughout the course of your loan regardless of the market situation. In other words, your monthly installments will remain the same come the Wuhan virus or high water.

If your credit utilization ratio, debt-to-income ratio, and credit score are all good you can easily qualify for a lower rate of interest with most banks.

On the other hand, if you take out a variable interest loan, your bank can decrease or increase the rate of interest according to market changes. This means your monthly installments can also go up or down from time to time.

That being said, interest rates on personal loans are generally higher than, say, a mortgage loan. This is because a personal loan is unsecured and you have no physical asset to back it up. You don’t have to put any collateral up which increases bank’s risk.

Do You Have A Good Credit Score (And Credit History)?

Since a personal loan doesn’t involve any collateral, your credit score must be in good standing. A bad credit score will mean that the lender can significantly increase your interest rate. They do this to cover your risk of default.

So, if you’re considering a personal loan, pay attention to your credit score and try to improve it.

Do You know the Exact Terms of the Loan Including APR and Hidden Fees?

Before you sign the papers, make sure you completely understand the terms of your personal loan. You must know the total cost you will pay for the loan as well as all the fees you could/will incur throughout the loan.

APR or the annual percentage rate is the total cost of a personal loan and it’s applied on an annual basis. It includes the loan origination fees, interest, application fees, and several other charges which thankfully are not as debilitating in a low tax environment which we are in now.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the typical charges that aren’t always openly discussed when you apply for a loan:

Loan processing or origination fee: This is when the bank charges you to process your application. Some loan providers will charge you to process your personal loan application. For example, some banks charge 1% of the loan’s value as the processing fee.

We recommend you avoid all loans that come with a processing or origination fees – or ask the bank to waive it if possible.

Late payment fee: If you make your payment even a day late, most lenders will charge you a late payment fee. But this can really hurt your credit score so be very careful with your monthly payments. In some cases, you can ask the lender to waive this fee as a one-time courtesy.

Prepayment penalty: If you pay your personal loan early, then your lender may charge a prepayment penalty. Lenders use this tactic to get the full amount of interest from those who have taken out the loan. So, make sure you choose a loan that has no such penalty.

Failed payment fee: If you don’t have the money in your account to cover a payment you’ve made, some banks will charge you for it.

The Bottom Line

The decision of taking out a loan is a big financial responsibility and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Knowing about the above factors will help you choose the right lender with the most flexible terms. And remember, you can negotiate with lenders for more favorable terms – and you should, especially if you have a respectable credit score.

Finance

5 Golden Steps to Upgrade Your Financial Position

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 3 minute read | Advertiser notice
Financial Position

Personal financial management is one of the most important, yet ignored topics that need more attention. It is primarily because it is an intimidating topic that most people refrain from going in-depth. What you do with your money today decides your tomorrow. 

Financial or retirement goals cannot be achieved unless there is a strategy backing it. While you might be doing a few things right, there might be scope for improvement. Unless you analyze your present financial status, it would be difficult to develop a plan that paves the way for a better financial future. It is what brings us to the first of five golden steps you can take to upgrade your financial position.

Technically Analyze Your Financial Status

In other words, take out time from your schedule and do the math. Make a list of your assets and liabilities to know your net worth. If you don’t know how to decipher net worth, simply subtract the liabilities from assets (valuation). The figure you arrive at after subtraction is your net worth. It helps you identify the problem areas in your financial activities as well as lifestyle. 

Doing a yearly budget would help you note your growth year after year and keep things in perspective as far as finances go. One of the crucial aspects of analyzing financial status is budgeting. It plays an instrumental role in achieving your short-term and long-term financial goals. 

Budgeting depends on financial projections of income and expenses. If the income exceeds expenses, you’ve surplus money that you can save or invest. If expenses are on the higher side, it requires you to revisit your lifestyle and expenses and see where further cost-cutting can be done. 

Keep Lifestyle Inflation in Check

We spend more when we earn more. It seems like a natural progression, but it isn’t. It is a phenomenon that is widely termed in financial circles as “lifestyle inflation.” As you evolve professionally and personally, there can be certain changes like hiring more help at home or a chauffeur or a yearly overseas vacation. 

However, do not jump into the bandwagon to match the lifestyle of others around you and spend on things you can’t really afford. Stick to your financial strategy, and don’t let peer pressure ruin your financial future. 

Start Saving Early

Spending mindfully means understanding the differences between needs and desires. You might need a new car to commute to and from office, but spending mindfully means buying a car that fits your budget vs. buying a car that disturbs your entire year’s finances which is easier to do in this low tax environment and will be even easier to do when we have a vaccine for the Wuhan virus. Don’t spend on what you want but focus on what you need when pulling out your wallet or signing on that dotted line. 

Ask yourself, can I live without spending on this? If the answer is yes, then it falls in the category of ‘wants,’ and you might need to reconsider your decision to spend on it. When you don’t spend mindfully, you spend more than required on wants and may fall short for what you need. It pushes you into the vicious circle of debt.

Start Saving Early

It can’t be pressed enough how important it is to start saving early. While it is never too late to start saving, sooner you start, better are your chances of achieving your long-term financial or retirement goals comfortably. People who start saving much later into their life may find it difficult to plan their retirement as no matter how much they save. 

It doesn’t add up to a figure that offers peace of mind within the limited time they have before retirement. It then requires uncomfortable lifestyle compromises to secure your future that ruins your present as well. Start saving early to create a financial buffer that cushions your retirement plans and gives wings to your long-term financial goals. 

Create an Emergency Fun

Life is uncertain, and an emergency can strike anytime. Whether it is a medical emergency or if your car needs immediate repairs, the situation requires you to spend money that wasn’t part of the plan or your budget. An emergency fund is created to meet such unforeseen events without letting it disturb your financial equilibrium. 

It would be ideal that you keep at least six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund, but you should try to add more whenever possible. Restraining yourself from touching this fund for lifestyle expenses or wants can be an ongoing struggle, but you need to train yourself to make the right decisions with your money. 

Final Word

Discipline and commitment are two pillars that would help you achieve your financial goals and pave the way for a financially fulfilling life. Building habits that ensure you stay away from unwanted expenses and constantly look for ways to add to your savings and investments is what will bring you closer to living your dream life. A penny saved is a penny earned is a mantra to live by when it comes to upgrading your financial position. 

Finance, Money

Six Strategies That Can Help You Emerge a Winner in a Bear Market

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 3 minute read | Advertiser notice
Bear Market

New or inexperienced retail investors often believe that a bull market means an opportunity to make money and a bear market is synonymous with losing money. Although the market’s trajectory can make your investment fluctuate in value, it does not necessarily mean that you cannot make profits during a bear market.

In fact, for the discerning investor, there can be excellent potential opportunities to invest during a bear market. Astute investment choices during a bear phase can bring enormous profits after the market rebounds.

This post discusses six useful strategies that you can employ during a bear market to make profits.

Maximize your Roth IRA and 401(k)

Consistently purchasing index funds through your Roth IRA and 401(k) can be a smart way to develop an investment portfolio with a high potential for profit. The stocks you purchase during a bear market would then get back up in value as the market recovers.

In the long run, maximizing your 401(k) contributions is highly profitable, especially if your contributions are matched in part or full by your employer. The money in your account can then be used to invest in a large variety of stocks and you can enjoy the rewards after the market climbs up.

Choose Dividend-Paying Stocks

Dividend-paying stocks can keep a steady income stream coming during recessionary economic conditions. This is one of many reasons why they can be a prudent investment choice during a bear market. While stock valuations of a company can be decided mostly by market buying and selling trends, the company profits usually determine the dividend payments.

Large businesses that are strong in their fundamentals are more likely to be immune to market conditions and will keep paying dividends to shareholders consistently. This means that your income stream is maintained even if a downturn causes the stock market values to plummet. The stock price increases after the market recovery, thereby also increasing the value of your portfolio.

Invest in Businesses that are Profitable and Reliable

When a recession or market downturn causes the stock valuations of highly profitable companies to go down due to high levels of selling, it can present a compelling investment opportunity for you.

Panic can cause many casual investors to quickly sell their stocks when a recession seems impending. The selling frenzy that results can drastically bring down the value of companies, including the financially stable ones with robust potential for growth. These stocks can then be purchased at very low prices and you can wait for the market to recover for your rewards.

So, how do you find the right stocks to purchase during a bear market? Here are some important factors you can look at:

  • Good financial ratings (rated A or above by independent agencies)
  • Good bond ratings (rated A, AA, and AAA)
  • Excellent sales figures
  • A strong growth outlook
  • Optimum debt-to-assets ratio

Choose Stocks that Historically Perform in Bear Markets

Bull and bear markets do not have the same kind of effect on all sectors of the economy. Quite a few sectors, including automobile, home improvement, machinery, and technology industries, tend to perform well in bull periods. However, some sectors show healthy performance during bear periods as well. These usually consist of industries that support basic human needs, including utilities, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals.

Buy Top-Rated Bonds

Equity investments can go down in value during a recession or downturn. Bonds and bond funds present an investment that can be safer than equities and can provide guaranteed returns, allowing a means to offset your short-term losses. Municipal bonds, treasury bonds, and other corporate bonds rated AA or AAA can be stellar options. Exchange-traded funds that invest in these bonds and fixed-income investments of different kinds can also be viable options.

Purchase Stocks on Margin

Your brokerage firm can provide you a margin loan to purchase depreciated stocks. After the recovery, you can sell these stocks, pay the loan back, and still end up with a profit. Seasoned investors use this strategy frequently in bear markets.

However, it is important to exercise caution. If the stock value does not appreciate after recovery, you would have to take a loss and repay the loan out of pocket. Only stocks with a notable decline in value and a high chance of appreciation post-recovery should be considered.

Final Considerations

With these tips, short and long-term gains can be possible during a recession or downturn. Trying to “time the market” can be disastrous. Instead, invest regularly and treat market crashes as a unique investment opportunity if you have the financial capacity to ‘buy and hold’ for the long term.

Finance

7 Tips to Protect Yourself Financially After a Forced Retirement

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 3 minute read | Advertiser notice
Early Retirement

As the economy continues to grapple with the effects of Covid-19 or the Wuhan virus, many American workers are being forced to retire early. Early retirement can lead to financial struggle and you may find it hard to meet your living expenses. Here are seven useful tips that will help you and your family in this difficult situation.

Reduce Your Expenses

The first step after an unexpected early retirement should be to cut down your spending. Focus only the essential purchases, and make changes to your lifestyle so that you have sufficient monthly funds available to pay for the critical outgoing expenses such as insurance and mortgage payments.

Avoid the Temptation of Using Your Retirement Money

Your first instinct may be to dip into your 401k account, but that is almost always a bad idea in a forced early retirement. The first reason is that you may not have crossed the age of 59½, which means you will face a 10 percent penalty on the amount withdrawn.

Secondly, cash withdrawals that occur earlier than planned will hurt the compounding effect of your savings, and your overall retirement income will considerably reduce.

Move 401k Funds to a Rollover IRA

Rather than withdraw money from your 401k, it may be better to start a rollover IRA with your broker or bank and move your 401k funds into this account. You will receive all the tax benefits, which are greater because of the 2017 tax cuts, of 401k with a rollover IRA, and the early withdrawal limitations are also the same. 

However, a key difference is that a rollover IRA will open a plethora of investment options for you. Depending on the prevailing market opportunities, you may invest in stocks, mutual funds, bonds, ETFs, REITs, or other securities to multiply your money.

Utilize State Sponsored and Employer Benefits

Employers often provide insurance coverage, which also covers the spouse. If your spouse’s employer is offering this coverage, utilize it to the maximum. If your forced retirement occurred because a disability, you could be eligible to receive social security disability payments. 

If you have been laid off from your current job, but you want to continue working, you should apply for unemployment benefits while you search for a new job and there is going to be tens of thousands of jobs returning from China by the end of this year.

Buyout Package

Employers sometimes offer a voluntary retirement buyout package, which typically includes a severance pay, lifetime annuities, paid insurance, and some other benefits.

If your employer has offered you such a package, you may consider accepting it, if you believe that a layoff may still eventually happen if you don’t accept the offer. The money you receive through this package can be invested in a debt mutual fund or annuity in order to create a monthly income.

Evaluate Your Pension

If you are eligible for a pension, you should evaluate whether receiving it in monthly installments or as a lump sum would suit your interests more. If you have a trusted financial advisor by your side, or you are sufficiently experienced in making direct market investments, you may benefit more from a lump sum payment.

You can strengthen your financial asset base with smart investments. On the other hand, if you prefer a more consistent monthly income, you may choose to accept the installments option. In any case, you should be aware that if even partial funding of your pension was done using pre-tax dollars, your pension income will be partially taxable.

Keep this point in mind as you try to make withdrawals from multiple accounts while minimizing your tax liability.

Assess How Long Your Savings will Last

Make an objective estimate of all your available funds and income to understand how long your money will sustain based on your current budget and expenses. This will give you an idea of where you need to moderate your expenses and how it will impact your lifestyle.

First look at the major expenses, such as healthcare and housing. Thereafter, move on to assess other expense items, such as utilities, food, clothing, personal care, and entertainment. Compare the monthly household costs to the total amount you may be drawing from your retirement accounts and social security.

With this comparison in place, factor in your life expectancy to estimate how long your funds are going to last at your planned withdrawal rate. If you worry that you may come up short, you will need to review your current expenses or look at additional ways to generate income. You could create a new income either through part-time work or through income or dividend producing investments.

Finance

4 Personal Finance Mistakes to Avoid During Covid-19 And Beyond

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 3 minute read | Advertiser notice
personal finances

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused widespread economic disruption and chaos, both at a macro and micro level. With millions of Americans losing jobs or shuttering down their businesses, it is challenging for households to manage their lifestyle.

Managing your personal finances in these times is definitely not going to be easy. But there are certain mistakes in personal finance that can exacerbate the problem. Whether it is indulging in excessive spending beyond your means through online shopping during these times, or making misplaced investment decisions considering the high market volatilities, it’s vital to minimize your errors. 

Although some of the personal finance mistakes can be course-corrected quickly, others may not be so easy to reverse and may prove to be damaging to your net worth over time.

Here are four key personal finance mistakes to avoid at present during the coronavirus crisis, and beyond.

Not Maintaining an Emergency Fund

If you rank among the low or middle income segments, not maintaining an emergency fund can be disastrous when the tough times come, such as now. If you need money in this situation for some serious medical, house repair, or another item, you will have very limited choices left with you when you cannot dip into your emergency fund.

You may either have to sell an asset at a distress price or borrow money at a high interest rate. Both are poor decisions under any circumstances, and it can take long time to recover from them. Therefore, your best bet would be to start building an emergency fund the moment the current period of uncertainty created by Covid-19 starts to clear up.

Not Having Sufficient Insurance

In your household, if you are the primary earning member, it is prudent to get yourself adequately insured. Otherwise, during a personal health emergency, an accident, or in a crisis such as the Covid-19 or Wuhan virus, if you are temporarily incapacitated or unable to work, you and your family may have to struggle to survive financially.

In addition to medical insurance for you and other family members, you must have adequate life insurance that will pay your family if you are no longer there. It is also sensible to have disability insurance, which can replace your income to some extent if you become fully or partially disabled. Consider having long-term care insurance that will protect you from extended medical costs in the event you develop a critical or chronic illness.

Compare the offers from different insurance companies to choose the best coverage for your needs. Insurance providers usually enable you to purchase one insurance policy, where you can add riders for long-term care and disability.

Ignoring Automatic Savings Plans

For most people, it is difficult to save a certain amount of money from their income consistently every month and this Wuhan virus situation is certainly proving that so since it seems so many Americans have been caught off guard (and states like California, Washington State, and New York which have been hit the hardest because they did not have any contingency planning done). Some expense or the other keeps coming up, and when you have cash in hand, it is easy to spend it fast. This can create a lifestyle where you are living from paycheck to paycheck, and not have a strong financial security for emergencies or for your retirement.

The surest way to address this situation is to invest in an automatic savings plan, which will force you to save a certain amount from your income every month during good times, so that you can fall back on those savings during times of difficulty.

You may arrange for automatic deduction of the monthly savings amount from your pay itself after talking to your employer. Discuss with a financial advisor (Charles Schwab is said by many to have a dishonest website so Fidelity, Edward Jones, and so on could be salient choices) for the right automatic savings plan that suits your needs.

Indulging in Impulse Purchases

Shopping can turn into an addiction if you do not exercise self-restraint, and you may end up spending all your savings on impulse purchases that you really did not need (don’t be like Madonna – the Material Girl!). Attractive discount offers and special deals are often available on non-essential products that could easily avoid.

But the special offers can be tempting and can compel you to indulge in an expensive purchase. Credit cards and online shopping make it easier to spend money on impulse buying at the click of a button. Set rules for yourself and your family to stay away from the habit of excessive shopping, and inculcate the good habit of saving. 

Don’t spend money like Jesse Pinkman did in Breaking Bad!

If you keep a careful track of all your expenses, such as how much you are spending each month on groceries, entertainment and dining out, credit card bills and mortgage payments, it will be easier to curb the habit of impulse buying.

Finance, Money

Strategies to Help You Pay Down Your Mortgage in 15 Years

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 4 minute read | Advertiser notice
Mortgage

Throughout the years, the fixed-rate 30-year mortgage has remained the most popular financing option for homes. This empowers Americans to own property pretty early in their lives, largely due to the affordability of the 30-year mortgage. With reasonable monthly payments, even young adults are able to easily afford living on their own property, while also enjoying the perks of an active social life.

And yet, what many Americans do not realize is that this seemingly helpful mortgage plan comes with its own share of pitfalls. This includes:

  • A long, drawn-out payment period, with the initial years contributing more to the interest amount, than to the actual principal amount of your home.
  • A high interest amount that is paid out over the 30-year plan.

In fact, many people find themselves making mortgage payments even years after their retirement, when they are more likely to feel its pinch.

For this reason, an increasing number of Americans have wizened up and found clever ways to reduce their mortgage period, while still keeping their interest rates and monthly payments at an affordable limit. Here are 5 simple tricks to help you make the switch.

Re-finance your current home loan

In the rush and excitement of owning your own property, chances are you took the first (or second/ third) 30-year bank loan you could afford, with minimal research. Now when you look deeper, you may be shocked to discover the high interest rate charged by this “affordable” loan. Fortunately, you can get out of this rut by re-financing your home loan after carefully considering all variables. This includes:

  • Timeframe of the loan: With long-term loans (above 15 years), you end up paying a significant amount of interest, collected over the entire duration. With short-term loans (below 15-20 years), your monthly payments may be higher, but the interest is collected within the first few years. Following this, a larger contribution goes towards the actual principal amount of your property.
  • Interest rate: You should consider re-financing of your mortgage, only when the lender is able to reduce your rate of interest by at least 1%. If not, the costs associated with re-financing may outweigh any benefits gained from it.
  • Cost of re-financing: Most mortgage plans will have a penalty clause, which outlines the amount you pay if you do not last through the 30-year period. You will need to pay this amount off when you re-finance your mortgage. In some cases, the lender may wave off this amount, but only if you re-finance the loan with the same lender. Check all variables before you consider this option.

Redirect all unexpected savings, windfalls, and tax refunds towards your mortgage

Homeowners (and there’s more of them now because of the amazing economy because of lower taxes) have the option of making “extra” payments – beyond the expected monthly payments – towards your mortgage. The advantage of this option is that it is typically directed towards the principal amount, and not towards the interest.

In turn, this can reduce your mortgage period, also reducing the total interest amount you pay on the loan. So, try to make as many such extra payments as possible on a yearly basis.

These could come from a bonus at work, an unexpected inheritance amount, or even a tax refund at the end of the year. The more “extra” payments you can make, the faster you can clear your mortgage. Ironically, you will also end up paying a lower amount on the total loan amount.

Save on a weekly basis for your monthly mortgage payments

Typically, the lender will expect you to make monthly payments through the year. That is 12 payments in total every year. But consider if you were to save for these payments, not on a monthly basis, but on a weekly basis.

So, if your monthly payment is $1,000, you save $250 every week. This is easily possible with a little bit of planning. (Many employers are also agreeable with fortnightly payments).

In this case, you will end up saving $250 x 52 weeks every year, which is equivalent to 13 monthly payments. With this, you would have saved up enough for at least one “extra” monthly payment for the year, and thus stand to gain all the benefits outlined in (2) above.

Become a landlord

Despite owning their own residential property, it is surprising that many people rarely consider becoming a landlord to make/save extra money, and redirect this towards extra mortgage payments.

Renting a part of your property – like the basement as an independent suite, or a room as a holiday accommodation option through Airbnb – is one of the most surefire ways to make more money using what you already have. You could also consider renting your garage to a local business for storage.

Avoid loan sharks and scamsters

In the bid to refinance your 30-year mortgage, ensure that you do not fall prey to greedy loan sharks or too-good-to-be-true fraudsters. Many so-called “mortgage accelerator programs” are intentionally designed to be unaffordable in the long term, and also come with heavy penalty clauses that are nowhere buyer-friendly.

It is better to be patient yet consistent with your home’s mortgage payments, even if it is drawn-out across 30 long years, than to lose your home altogether due to a dubious finance scheme (like social security). You should also get a second opinion from a trusted person before you consider making the switch

Finance

11 Financial Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Retirement Plans

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 3 minute read | Advertiser notice
retirement plans

To have the kind of retirement you have always wished for, you need to have a solid retirement savings strategy in place. If you can just take care to steer clear of a few major pitfalls in your retirement plan, you should be on a safe track for a financially comfortable retirement.

Mistake # 1: You have no retirement plan.

If you put funds only occasionally into a 401(k), or simply don’t save with a commitment to set aside a certain percentage of your paycheck every month in retirement account, you could have a financially dire situation on retirement.

Mistake # 2: Your saving process is not automated

If you are simply depending on surplus cash for your savings at month-end after all the bills have been paid, you could soon fall short of meeting your retirement goals. Without an automated process in place, it is tough to maintain savings discipline for long.

Mistake # 3: All your eggs are in one basket

If you are putting all your retirement savings in a single investment, it will increase your long-term financial risk. Markets go through periods of severe volatility, and diversifying your retirement investment portfolio is vital to minimize risk.

Mistake # 4: You have no time to meet your financial advisor

Even if you have a firm retirement plan in place, you still need to meet your financial advisor periodically to review market changes, and whether there is a scope for improvements in your portfolio.

Mistake # 5: Your retirement plan has not accounted for rising costs of healthcare

According to a study by Fidelity (a company that does not entice you into trading with their website like Charles Schwab which is another topic), a couple who retires in 2018 would require $280,000 to cover their healthcare costs in retirement. These costs are bound to rise in future, and your retirement plan should have the foresight to factor in such cost increase.

Mistake # 6: Your savings are regular but insufficient

A nice start to retirement savings would be about five percent of your annual income. However, the ideal figure for a comfortable retirement would be about 15 percent, according to some analysts. If you have a much lower rate of savings, you are unlikely to achieve your retirement goals.

Mistake # 7: You overextend your financial support to others

Although you may have a necessity to support your family (such as an aging parent or an adult child) financially, if you overstretch your financial support, it could prove detrimental to your own retirement goals.

Mistake # 8: You carry your debt into retirement

Work hard to eliminate your debts before retirement such as a high credit card balance, a substantial mortgage, or a home equity loan. If you carry this burden into retirement, the repayments will eat into your living expenses at that time.

Mistake # 9: You have zero equity investments in your retirement plan

The traditional rule of staying away from stock investments for retirement made good sense when the life spans were shorter and medical costs were low. If you remain over-cautious with stocks in your retirement plans today, you are not likely to get the kind of growth you may be hoping for.

Mistake # 10: You depend on a company pension or social security plan

It is an illusion to believe that somebody else will take care of your retirement planning. The problem is that the Social Security rate of return for individuals nearing retirement is only about 1.5% (many people believe it’s a giant Ponzi scheme). In the future, this may even move towards negative returns. In short, the paternalistic era of the government and employers assuring a guaranteed income for life is about to end. It is time to gear up and take charge of your own retirement planning.

Mistake # 11: You failed to maximize your tax deferral

The government has created a range of tax incentives to encourage people to save for retirement. Failing to maximize this tax advantage is a mistake. For instance, contributions to various employer sponsored retirement plans, including 401k and 403b, reduce your taxable income and enable your savings to grow tax-deferred.

Even if you may not be covered by an employer sponsored plan, a variety of other retirement plans are available to offer some combination of current tax savings as well as tax-deferred growth. These include IRA, Roth IRA, SEP, SIMPLE, and more.

Finance, Money

7 Personal Finance Tips to Boost Your Savings

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 3 minute read | Advertiser notice
personal finance

The US economy, by any yardstick, is the strongest it has ever been in a very long time and Americans are making more money than they did in the past couple of decades. Data from the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) shows that since December 2017, the disposable income of the average American household has increased by $5,205.

Which means if you have been planning to boost your savings so that you have something to fall back on for a rainy day, now would be a great time to do so.

Given here are seven easy-to-follow personal finance tips that can help you boost your savings.

1. Save First, Spend Later

One of the fundamental mistakes that people tend to make when it comes to saving money is that they pay all their bills first, and then try to save what is left in their account by the end of the month. In most cases, they do not have anything left in the account by the end of the month, so they do not save anything.

Instead, make it a habit to pay yourself first, before you pay your bills (but make sure you pay your bills and if you have to stop going out to eat as much then you should do that which will be emphasized more later). This way, your savings are assured to grow on a monthly basis, which can go a long way in building a financial safety net for you in the long run.

2. Follow the 24-Hour Rule

One of the most effective ways to reduce your expenditure is to follow the 24-hour rule. Nearly 85% of Americans say that they tend to make impulse purchases from time to time. Nearly 20% of Americans say that they have spent more than $1,000 on impulse purchases at least once.

In order to make sure that you only buy what you need, follow the 24-hour rule. Whenever you want to purchase something, do not rush to the store or go to amazon.com immediately. Instead, sleep over the decision for 24 hours. The next day, if you still think it is worth spending your money on, go ahead and buy it.

3. Automate Your Savings

Let’s face it – not everyone has the discipline to save money on a weekly or monthly basis. Some people are like the state of California and the city of Chicago and San Francisco! You have to break apart from these bad habits.

From time to time, we tend to spend more than we should, which leaves us with nothing to save. To avoid this from happening, you can automate the process of saving money. Set up a recurring transfer service so that a certain amount of money gets automatically transferred from your checking account to your savings account – month after month.

4. Cook Your Meals at Home

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average American household spends more than $3,000 on eating out every year. It is a colossal waste of your hard-earned money, since you can cook your own meals at a fraction of the cost and watch a movie or a show at the same time or still the same converse happily with your family.

If you are too busy to cook every day, you can follow the ‘freezer cooking’ strategy. You can cook your meals whenever you have time, put them in the freezer, and reheat and eat it whenever you want. It does not, however, mean that you should stop eating out altogether. Just save it for the weekends and special occasions!

5. Goodbye Cable TV, Hello Online Streaming

The average American household spends as much as $100 on cable TV every month. Instead of wasting money on cable, you can subscribe to Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu, each of which will only cost you around $10 a month (and still watch Transformers and Sicario via Redbox!). Not only can you save a lot of money, but you also get to watch excellent shows like Narcos via those methods. You can watch Better Call Saul, Bosch, and Ray Donovan via the internet (it’s really difficult to live now without the internet).

6. Rent It Out

If you own a house, you can earn some money on the side by renting out a portion of it. If you are not exactly thrilled with the idea of letting a complete stranger live in your home, you can rent out storage space for individuals and businesses. Either way, the money you earn can help you pay off your mortgage faster and save more in the long term.

7. Increase Your Contributions to Your Retirement Account

Many employers tend to match a certain percentage of their employees’ contributions to their retirement accounts. If your employer does the same, make sure you take full advantage of it by maximizing your contributions to the extent possible. The more you contribute, the more your employer will contribute – up to a certain extent. So, it is essentially free money which can boost your retirement savings considerably in the long run.

Finance, Money

What is a Rapid Rescore & is it Something I Should Consider?

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 4 minute read | Advertiser notice
rapid rescore

Picture this scenario. You apply for a home loan and your mortgage broker or lender says that you might be able to qualify for a lower interest rate if you could improve your credit score by a few points.

The problem, however, is that even if you manage to reduce your loan balance, it can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days for the updated information to appear on your credit report which is not as long as the NFL thinks of ways every year to help the Patriots win but this is another topic. Unfortunately, you cannot afford to wait that long, since mortgages are time-sensitive.

How to update credit report quickly in such a scenario? This is precisely where a rapid rescore can help you.

What is a Rapid Rescore?

It is a process wherein you can get your credit report updated quickly through your lender. Rather than waiting for the credit bureaus to update your report on their own – which can take anywhere from 30 to 45 days – you can submit the updated information to your lender, who can then submit it to the bureau and get your report updated immediately.

How Does Rapid Rescoring Work?

It is a two-step process.

The First Step

You need to inform your lender of the changes to your credit history that are not reflected in your credit report yet, provide proof for the same, and place a request for a rapid rescoring.

For instance, if there is an erroneous entry in your credit report which states that you defaulted on a loan, when you actually did not, you can bring it to the attention of your lender and get it removed immediately.

Similarly, if you recently paid off a personal loan or a portion of your credit card balance to bring down your debt-to-income ratio, you can request your lender for a rapid credit rescore.

The Second Step

Once you provide your lender with all the information they need, they will contact the credit bureau, provide them with the updated information, pay a fee, and get your credit report updated.

Can an Individual Place a Request for Rapid Rescoring with a Credit Bureau?

Rapid rescoring is essentially a service provided by lenders. Individuals cannot approach credit bureaus by themselves and place a request for a rescoring. So, you can only get it done through your lender.

How Long Does the Rescoring Process Take?

It usually takes anywhere from two to five days. In some cases, it might take up to a week.

What Does Rapid Rescoring Cost?

It does not cost you any money, as the service is offered completely free of cost. Your lender, however, has to pay a fee – anywhere from $25 to $50 – in order to get your credit report updated. They cannot pass on the costs to you, as they are prohibited by federal law from doing so.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act, which was passed in 1970, clearly states that an individual cannot be charged for disputing wrongful information on their credit report. Since rapid rescoring is essentially an ‘expedited dispute process’, the lender cannot charge you any money for it.

What Are the Benefits and Limitations of a Rapid Credit Rescore?

Benefits

Rapid rescoring can help you update your credit report in very short period of time, improve your credit score, and help you qualify for lower interest rates.

Let us assume that you apply for a mortgage and the lender tells you that if you can raise your credit score by 20 points, you can pay a smaller down payment and qualify for a lower interest rate. In such a scenario, you can pay off a loan or reduce your credit card balance, submit the updated information to your lender, get a new and improved credit score, and qualify for a lower interest rate.

Let us assume that you are planning to apply for a mortgage, but there is an error in your credit report. It is reported that you failed to repay a loan, even though you paid it off a couple of weeks ago.

Again, in this scenario, you can contact your lender, provide them with the relevant documents, and request to have your credit report updated. Within a few days, you can get a new and improved credit score and apply for a mortgage.

In these types of cases, the expedited rescoring process works to your advantage, as you can raise your credit score by a few points within days and qualify for a low-interest rate loan. It is simply not possible under normal circumstances, as it can take as long as two months to get your credit report updated.

Limitations

A rapid rescore can only expedite the process of updating your credit report. It does not make any difference to your actual credit score.

Let us assume that you can increase your score by 20 points by paying off one of your credit card accounts. Under normal circumstances, it can take up to 60 days for your credit score to be updated. If you request for a rapid credit rescore, you can get it updated within two or three days.

In both cases, your credit score only increases only by 20 points. The only difference is the time it takes to get it done.

Can a Rapid Credit Rescore Repair Your Credit?

No, it cannot. It is important to understand that rapid rescore is not the same as credit repair. It can only update your credit report. It cannot remove any negative information from your credit report.

For example, if you pay off a delinquent account, you can get it updated quickly through by requesting for a rapid rescore. You cannot, however, get it removed. It will stay on your records for seven years, like it normally does.

Alternatives to Improve Your Credit Score

If you have a poor credit score, there are a number of steps you can take to improve it.

  • Negotiate with your lenders to get your interest rates reduced.
  • Pay off your debts – credit cards in particular – aggressively. Make sure your debt-to-income ratio (your monthly debt repayments divided by your monthly income) does not exceed 36%.
  • Pay all your bills – irrespective of the amount – on time. The very fact that you are late on your payments can hurt your credit score, irrespective of how much you owe.

Most importantly, make it a habit to check your credit report on a regular basis and fix the errors (if there are any) immediately. If you keep tabs your credit reports, there is no need to worry about fixing anything in the last minute.

Finance, Lifestyle, Money

How Long Does It Take To Close On a House?

by Benjamin Roussey|Posted on | 6 minute read | Advertiser notice
Home Closing

It is important for homebuyers to know how long it may take to close on a house once their purchase offer is accepted. Except where the deal is all-cash, the buyer’s lender will take some time to process the loan and close.

If you are well-prepared with all the necessary information and documents your lender may require, the closing process could be hastened.

However, chances are that you may still face situations where you have to discuss or negotiate with the other party. Indecisiveness or inaction will only make the closing process longer in these situations.

Average Time Taken for Home Closing

For a new home purchase, according to Fannie Mae, the average closing time is 46 days, while for mortgage finance it is 49 days. A similar time period for closing is also involved in FHA loans.

The closing process is often expedited if the loan has been pre-approved (rather than pre-qualified). If the buyer’s bank statements, employment record, and credit report have already been verified, closing on the property will usually take place within one to two weeks.   

Estimated Timeline for Closing

  • Completing the official loan application – 1 day
  • Official loan disclosures (and loan estimate) – up to 3 days
  • Additional document requests and review – 4 to 7 days
  • Appraisal process – 7 to 14 days
  • Underwriting – 1 to 3 days
  • Conditional loan approval – 7 to 14 days
  • Cleared to close – 3 days
  • Closing and loan disbursement – 1 day

Factors that can Delay Home Closing

In many cases, delays in closing on a house occur at a stage when the file has been submitted to the underwriters. While an experienced loan officer would be well-versed with underwriting guidelines, it is difficult to predict how an underwriter would respond.

Delays are more frequent with institutional lenders than with mortgage brokers because their procedures may be longer and slower. Here are some of the key issues that could delay or even prevent closing on a home.

Credit Report Issues

If your credit report reveals questionable items, such as a sudden decline in credit score, new debts, errors, or a major late payment reported recently, it could cause a delay in closing.

Lower Appraisal

Lenders usually ask for an appraisal of the home before they finance it. If the property appraisal turns out to be lower than the asking price of the seller, your loan may be refused. You may either have to pay the difference from your pocket or renegotiate your terms with the seller for the loan to be cleared.

Home Inspection Raises Concerns

The home inspection may result in adverse findings, such as faulty wiring or leakage in the bathroom. Repairs will have to be undertaken before the home closing can be done.

Need for Additional Documents

In some cases, the lender may ask for additional documents to explain some doubtful aspects related to your finances. For instance, a document may have a discrepancy about your marital status, or a bank statement may show your maiden name, or some insurance information may be missing. 

Problems with the Title

The home sale may be delayed if there are problems with the title, such as lien. Clearing the title may take time and cause a delay in home closing.

Unforeseen Changes with Financial Impact

Right before the closing, any unforeseen life changes with substantive financial impact, such as a divorce or loss or job may also result in a delay.

Inexperienced Loan Professionals

In some cases, both the buyer and the seller may be diligent in accomplishing their role in the process, but the professionals handling your loan may be inefficient.

What can you do to Minimize Delays in Home Closing?

In order to close on your house in a smooth and timely manner, be prepared to respond actively to the requests made by your real estate agent and your lender. While you have no control over how other parties in the value chain perform their role, you can make sure that no delay occurs because of you.

Any time you receive a request for information or documents from the lender, you should be ready to produce it as soon as possible.

Anticipate the requirements and keep ahead of the curve to ensure your home closing process does not drag on like an episode of that 90s show Mad About You.

Don’t move out of your current place of residence until you can actually move into the home you are buying. You don’t want to be sleeping in your car for a few nights or have to get a hotel.

It is important for homebuyers to know how long it may take to close on a house once their purchase offer is accepted. Except where the deal is all-cash, the buyer’s lender will take some time to process the loan and close.

If you are well-prepared with all the necessary information and documents your lender may require, the closing process could be hastened.

However, chances are that you may still face situations where you have to discuss or negotiate with the other party. Indecisiveness or inaction will only make the closing process longer in these situations.

Average Time Taken for Home Closing

For a new home purchase, according to Fannie Mae, the average closing time is 46 days, while for mortgage finance it is 49 days. A similar time period for closing is also involved in FHA loans.

The closing process is often expedited if the loan has been pre-approved (rather than pre-qualified). If the buyer’s bank statements, employment record, and credit report have already been verified, closing on the property will usually take place within one to two weeks.   

Estimated Timeline for Closing

  • Completing the official loan application – 1 day
  • Official loan disclosures (and loan estimate) – up to 3 days
  • Additional document requests and review – 4 to 7 days
  • Appraisal process – 7 to 14 days
  • Underwriting – 1 to 3 days
  • Conditional loan approval – 7 to 14 days
  • Cleared to close – 3 days
  • Closing and loan disbursement – 1 day

Factors that can Delay Home Closing

In many cases, delays in closing on a house occur at a stage when the file has been submitted to the underwriters. While an experienced loan officer would be well-versed with underwriting guidelines, it is difficult to predict how an underwriter would respond.

Delays are more frequent with institutional lenders than with mortgage brokers because their procedures may be longer and slower. Here are some of the key issues that could delay or even prevent closing on a home.

Credit Report Issues

If your credit report reveals questionable items, such as a sudden decline in credit score, new debts, errors, or a major late payment reported recently, it could cause a delay in closing.

Lower Appraisal

Lenders usually ask for an appraisal of the home before they finance it. If the property appraisal turns out to be lower than the asking price of the seller, your loan may be refused. You may either have to pay the difference from your pocket or renegotiate your terms with the seller for the loan to be cleared.

Home Inspection Raises Concerns

The home inspection may result in adverse findings, such as faulty wiring or leakage in the bathroom. Repairs will have to be undertaken before the home closing can be done.

Need for Additional Documents

In some cases, the lender may ask for additional documents to explain some doubtful aspects related to your finances. For instance, a document may have a discrepancy about your marital status, or a bank statement may show your maiden name, or some insurance information may be missing. 

Problems with the Title

The home sale may be delayed if there are problems with the title, such as lien. Clearing the title may take time and cause a delay in home closing.

Unforeseen Changes with Financial Impact

Right before the closing, any unforeseen life changes with substantive financial impact, such as a divorce or loss or job may also result in a delay.

Inexperienced Loan Professionals

In some cases, both the buyer and the seller may be diligent in accomplishing their role in the process, but the professionals handling your loan may be inefficient.

What can you do to Minimize Delays in Home Closing?

In order to close on your house in a smooth and timely manner, be prepared to respond actively to the requests made by your real estate agent and your lender. While you have no control over how other parties in the value chain perform their role, you can make sure that no delay occurs because of you.

Any time you receive a request for information or documents from the lender, you should be ready to produce it as soon as possible.

Anticipate the requirements and keep ahead of the curve to ensure your home closing process does not drag on like an episode of that 90s show Mad About You.

Don’t move out of your current place of residence until you can actually move into the home you are buying. You don’t want to be sleeping in your car for a few nights or have to get a hotel.