Personal Finance Articles

We break down the designations that are important to have if you want to work in the financial sector.

There are a lot of summer jobs out there, find out what's available, how much it costs and what skills you need.

The CFA Institute provides members with a variety of ongoing career and networking benefits.

Conspicuous consumption could be robbing you of future wealth.

What would your life look like if you were CFO? We’ve interviewed three chief financial officers to find out.

Canadian mortgages aren’t tax-deductible like the U.S.-based mortgages, but there's a way around this hurdle.

A second career can provide opportunities whether you are worried about outliving your retirement savings, or you want to stay productive and do something meaningful later in life.

If you establish these money-saving habits and patiently allow your wealth to build, you will be taking some huge steps forward in making your financial future more secure.

Find out why economists are torn about how to calculate inflation.

Find out how the PPI can be used to gauge the overall health of the economy.

Understanding equity cost basis is critical for tracking the gains or losses of an investment.

Think you have what it takes to be chief executive? Find out what those at the top have in common.

For those interested in picking securities and financial planning, these certifications could be just what your buy-side financial career needs.

With more than 33% of American families falling close to the poverty line despite their adult members holding full-time employment, a rising number of citizens are being forced to pay a rate of tax that is disproportionate to their earnings and in comparison with the country's wealthiest earners.

Read about some of the most glamorous Wall Street jobs and what it takes to land one.

The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that will impose a sales tax on online retailers. Discover how the Marketplace Fairness Act could affect your bottom line.

These certifications require time and money, but combined programs are making obtaining both designations more realistic.

Not everyone wants to spend their weekends shaping backyard topiaries. Even though you may enjoy the improvements you make to your house, it doesn't mean that they'll increase its value.

Appreciate the different methods used to describe how book value is "used up".

Find out what you can do to stand out from the competition and make your home an easy sell.

Blend math, finance and computer skills to command a high - and well deserved - salary.

If an at-home mom was getting paid for all of the work she does, how much would she get?

Learn more about this popular defined-contribution retirement plan that many business owners, proprietors, and self-employed people can benefit from.

Find out if spreading your wings to try a new career will make you soar or fall flat.

Learning about money may seem intimidating, but it's not as hard as it looks.

Annuities are complicated products that require some basic homework to be done before requesting quotes. Retirees will want to think about how they envisage their lifestyle and even their potential mortality to come up with an annuity product that’s right for them, or not even buy one at all.

Learn what the Certified Management Accountant designation is, how to get it and what it can do for your accounting career.

A look at the various components and considerations that go into one's credit report and credit score.

The surest way to develop a career in financial communications is to blend together the right mix of talent, education, persistence and hard work.

Since the financial crisis of 2008-2009 the numbers of independent broker-dealers have been steadily declining. Find out why, and if the trend will continue.

Find out how your business can get the money it needs - even when the bank says "no".

Become one of the elite who pass these exams by using these simple study methods.

FOX Business Network's Liz Claman will interview Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett in an exclusive sit-down on Monday May 6th at 9:30 a.m. following the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting. Claman has interviewed Buffett numerous times throughout her career, so below she shares some insight on what advice he might give to those making 50K.

This weekly economic release contains important information concerning unemployment levels and insurance.

CDs may look safe and attractive but considering most pay a rate that is less than the rate of inflation seniors today risk actually losing money with CDs. We need to be our own money managers now and do the research that’s required. Much of that research is already done and can be purchased through various newsletters.

This article examines a comptroller’s job responsibilities, skill set and formal educational requirements as well as where the job can take you in your career.

While all of these designations demand a substantial commitment in time, money and effort, the end result is worth it.

When you hire an accountant, getting good tax advice going forward is as valuable as – or perhaps even more valuable than - getting the previous year’s taxes filed correctly. Learn what you need to do to make this happen.

Here are a few ideas that will help you advance your career as a successful real estate agent.

Depending on which estimate you believe, Obama's proposed budget would raise the tax bill of a household with a yearly income of $50,000 to $75,000 between $63 and $100 per year. However, that’s not all you should know.

Becoming a registered representative isn't easy. Learn how to succeed at the first step.

This year, combine your spring cleaning strategies with your big-picture financial objectives.

If personal pride, a stellar resume and increased job security aren't enough incentive for some pro athletes, each league has reserved a bit of lunch money to up the ante and help tide athletes over for the long off-season.

No one doubts the value and importance of investor education and sophistication, but many investors are not really all that sophisticated. Goldman Sachs was scrutinized for marketing complex securities to its investors without telling them that a major hedge fund had taken a short position against these securities.

Learn why this one particular REIT is a better investment than holding physical property in your retirement portfolio.

Portfolio managers go by a number of job titles, manage different asset types and work under different philosophies. Here are three examples of what they do.

When it comes to analyzing a company, successful analysts spend considerable time differentiating between accounting items that are likely to recur going forward from those that most likely will not. A key part of this analysis is to understand items that qualify as extraordinary items or nonrecurring items.

There is a widening range of online tools that have been designed to help citizens save their hard-earned money.

Each state has its own rules, regulations and examination for obtaining a real estate license. Find out what you need to know.

Leaving the workforce isn't always an easy decision. Are you ready to take the leap?

The next time you eat out, watch for these common restaurant tricks that undermine your dining budget.

Ditch your ego, prove that you'll work hard and don't settle for the wrong company.

An accounting career doesn't have to be boring. If you love numbers, but want excitement as well, consider the field of showbiz accounting.

Advance your career and gain clientele by adding a few choice certifications.

Learn the ways in which inflation nibbles away at your retirement income, especially in light of the President’s proposal for Chained CPI adjustments to Social Security.

If you like keeping track of a company's income and expenses but also want to hold a position with significant responsibility and authority, management accounting could be the job for you.

Find out if an MBA is necessary for you to reach your professional goals.

If the IRS finds errors, it will cost you. Find out how to fix them, and how to prevent them in the first place.

You might be ready to put the stress of tax preparation behind you until next season, but ignoring your personal tax situation for 11 months of the year is what got you into this mess. Find out how some simple organization and planning techniques can make next year's tax preparation a low-stress task.

A post-graduate degree could be well worth the extra time and expense.

There are a lot of similarities between golf and investing. Find out how to keep your game out of the rough.

The CMT certification involves three tough exams. Find out what you need to do in order to pass.

Score big by taking Tiger Woods' approach to golf and applying it to your portfolio.

The choice between a larger or smaller company may be decided by an advisor's experience or temperament. Find out the best size for you.

Regulators, sales people and clients all look to communications professionals to help them navigate the markets.

Generation X and Generation Y still have many lessons to learn from their elders, including how to make the most of retirement in the 21st century. Find out what retirement trends baby boomers are setting for younger generations.

To become a registered investment advisor requires specific licensing, qualifications and regulations, but the greater freedom may be worth it.

Identity thieves love tax season. In 2012, there were 13 million victims of identity theft. As easy as it is for thieves to steal your information, there are also simple measures you can take to keep your personal information secure. Find out the proactive steps you can take to ensure thieves don't steal your tax refund by falsely filing your online return.

Our retirement goals have not changed. We still want enough money to not have to worry about it. How we go about getting there, however, has been changed dramatically.

It’s tough to boast that there are more female CEOs than ever before when they make up only 4.2% of the total.

It only takes a little legwork to land a prestigious career while you're still in college.

This year, find out how to stretch your tax refund further to strengthen your future.

Discover what you need to become a stockbroker and the variety of opportunities that are now available to you.

Companies are in need of strategic candidates, not walking resumes. Find out how to set yourself apart from the pack and land the business career you've always wanted.

With approximately 12 million Americans out of a job right now, many people are spending significant dollars to be noticed by potential employers. Fortunately, some of these job-search costs are deductible at tax time. Learn the details of what job-hunt expenses qualify for deductions and how much you can deduct.

The government is considering letting the IRS do your taxes for you. While this may sound great, there are plenty of reasons why you may not want to trust the IRS to calculate your tax return. And while you could stand to lose out on a few bucks, companies like Turbo Tax are and H&R Block are fighting hard to save their tax-preparation empires.

If you report a tax evader to the IRS, you could be eligible for a reward.

The prestigious CIPM designation can give you an edge in the finance world. Here's what you need in order to get it.

Hetty Green was the richest woman of her time and possibly the first value investor, yet she's not remembered kindly.

Irrespective of age, sex and other such factors, no normal investor wants an unsuitable investment. How much people really understand about their investments depends on various factors, including how much money they have invested and for how long, how much they were informed about their investments and how much they bothered to educate themselves.

ETFs can be a good alternative to traditional retirement fund options because of their low cost, superior performance and liquidity.

The desperate search for revenue by the U.S. government means one of the key deductions that may be up for either reduction or elimination is for charitable giving.

For investors, the surge in new REIT activity is providing some pretty interesting dividend opportunities.

These little-known tax deductions can lead you to finding your own unique expenses that you didn't know you could claim.

States will now be allowed to collect sales taxes on purchases made from Internet-based retailers even if the retailer has no physical presence in that state.

Here are four finance careers that real women say allow them to achieve success, satisfaction and work-life balance.

Uncover some very complex reasons for female gender biases in the finance world.

Incorrect or liberal interpretations of what you can write off will often lead to the IRS taking closer interest in your filings. Knowing the rules behind these six tax deductions will go a long ways to saving you from an audit.

The world of entrepreneurship is constantly changing; the last year has seen a significant shift in the performance of female entrepreneurs.

The growing interest in and complexity of these securities means opportunities for job seekers.

Find which benefits from reward programs count as income in the eyes of the IRS.

Staggering retirement can have both financial and emotional benefits for married couples.

Break through the stereotypes and find out how to manage your life to meet your needs.

Before incurring additional risks in your retirement portfolio, be sure to understand the alternatives and the consequences of your strategy.

Macroeconomic factors like GDP, Inflation, and Retail Sales affect the value of your portfolio. Understanding these economic indicators is vital for every investor in the marketplace.

The primary professions on Wall Street are made up of sell side and buy side analysts. This article is an overview of the two primary avenues for individuals interested in both fields.

You don't have to be a boy or act like a boy to win. In fact, doing the opposite could be better for your financial health.