Personal Finance Articles

Investors can learn a lot, or very little, from these indicators once they know how to use them.

If you like the idea of examining and attesting to a company's financial performance for a living, a career in auditing might be right for you.

Most mutual funds don’t come close to beating the indexes they’re compared against. And yet they carry steep fees for active management. Find out how a little research and effort can cut your mutual fund fees.

From a financial perspective, September is a great time for a quick reboot of your financial mind-set.

You’ve probably been told to shop around for the best rate, but what exactly does that entail? Find out how to ensure you're getting the best possible rate on your mortgage.

Investors who take steps now can shield themselves from the coming challenges thrust upon retirees.

There are dozens of financial literacy programs in the United States right now, but none of them seems to be effective. Why is that?

Financial services firms are taking a laser-like focus on analyst responsibilities and will favor candidates who bring the following "must-have" attributes to the negotiation table.

Credit card rewards programs are everywhere, but some are more rewarding than others. Learn to spot the "rewards" that can leave you feeling like a loser.

Are you a portfolio hoarder, hanging on to poor performers and investments that no longer match your objectives? It's time to purge those investments and put that money to use to match today’s needs.

For Canadian RRSP accounts, washing same-day trades and using money market funds to bridge the gap over a multi-day trading period saves investors the exchange fee and will help their bottom line while rebalancing securities. Read on to find out how to wash your trade.

Despite the recessions, citizens continue to take financial risks and spend outside of their means without fully appreciating the potential consequences for both themselves and the wider economy.

In today’s near-zero percent interest rate environment the old ways of investing for retirement no longer apply. Learn the sober reality of the fundamental changes we all need to make to ensure we don’t run out of money during retirement.

Interest rates can be broken down into several subcategories that incorporate various factors such as inflation. Smart investors know to look beyond the nominal or coupon rate of a bond or loan to see whether it really fits their investment objectives.

Sometimes, landing free money is as easy as asking. Find out how to get the most out of your 401(k) retirement plan.

Your reasons for investing are bound to change as you go through the ups and downs of life. Setting goals is the first step in determining which investment vehicles are right for you.

Many private companies prefer to stay private and find alternate sources of capital. Find out what firms have to gain by eschewing the windfall from a flashy IPO.

Your lifestyle, level of commitment and the trade-offs need to be carefully weighed.

Thinking of buying a home? We look at the initial and ongoing costs, as well as the so-called benefits.

Here is a look at some of the major changes to FAFSA in 2013 and how they will affect students' financial aid.

At some point in your life, you may have had to make a series of fixed payments over a period of time - such as rent or car payments - or have received a series of payments over a period of time, such as bond coupons. These are called annuities. The payment frequencies, or number of payments, and the time at which these payments are made (whether at the beginning or end of each payment period) are all variables you need to account for when calculating the present and future value of annuities.

In the past few years reverse mortgages have been heavily marketed as the way to become debt, and worry, free. For some seniors a reverse mortgage makes sense, for other though this dream product can quickly become a nightmare.

According to a study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, one in four consumers identified errors on their reports that might affect their credit rating in 2013.

The art market is fickle, and there are no guarantees of profitability, but with a little legwork and forethought you can fill your home with images that may prove worthy investments down the line. Consider these tips for choosing fine art and identifying the Michelangelo from the macaroni.

You don't have to go to an office to make a great salary in the financial sector. Here are the top four highest paying financial jobs you can do from home.

Inflation - defined as a sustained increase in the price of goods and services - seems to be inevitable. While rising prices are bad news for consumers, as it takes an ever-increasing amount of money to purchase the same basket of goods and services year after year, inflation can be quite profitable for investors.

Following the status quo will kill your financial practice. Find out the tips you need to follow to keep you a step or two ahead of the competition.

On the face of it, figuring out how a bank makes money is a pretty straightforward affair. A bank earns a spread on the money it lends out from the money it takes in as a deposit. The net interest margin (NIM), which most banks report quarterly, represents this spread, which is simply the difference between what it earns on loans versus what it pays out as interest on deposits.

In this article, we'll take a look at what four real-life finance students are studying this fall, what jobs and internships they've held, what challenges they've encountered, and what they consider to be their dream jobs.

This tool is easy to use and can provide valuable information on financial analysis and forecasting. Find out how.

If you fail to uncork profits in this market, you can always toast your loss.

These college classes will help you prepare for the working world. Learn how to stand out from your peers.

Take these steps and you'll be first in line when young investors start looking for professional financial services help.

If the current level of economic growth is to be maintained and improved upon, citizens must play their part by practicing responsible spending and borrowing.

Find out the types of back-to-school purchases that are exempt from sales tax for each state that is holding a tax holiday.

The trouble with gold is that even as stocks are going up and the gold price is hurting, investors and central banks are loading up on gold and silver like never before. There’s a disconnect here and one of these sides is right and one is wrong.

While it is not possible to repay your debts without investing money into the process, you should avoid spending unnecessary sums of cash in the pursuit of a financially liberated future.

Lines of credit are potentially useful hybrids of credit cards and normal loans. Learn how a line of credit can help (and hurt) your finances, and how to find the best one to suit your needs.

Working nine months a year and earning a six-digit salary might seem like the high life, but these jobs are not easy to come by.

Not everyone can land the glamour jobs, but the world of finance has a lot more to offer. Here are some uncommon jobs in finance that you might want to consider.

Use holiday time to teach your children about earning, saving and spending money.

Recent legislation has added a few new items to the list of tax forms that taxpayers must use to report their investment income. Know which forms you will need to file your taxes this year.

Although the increasing accessibility of independent contracting has created job opportunities, it is important to remember that this method of working also has considerable disadvantages in comparison with traditional employment.

It's high time investors heed the yellow caution flags waving in front of their margin accounts. Much like the NASCAR driver who pumps his brakes to avoid disaster when he sees the caution flag, it's time for us to slow down.

Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes even in your investments.

Sometimes beginning investors forget the trick to success when it comes to investing money: you need to match your future financial goals to the right kind of investment.

A financial career can be used to do more than just bring in profits. Find out how to get a career with a more social objective.

Seasonal businesses face particular challenges. Find out how they survive through the cold months.

If bank rates follow the pattern that yields in the bond market have already begun to set, CD rates may be the first deposit rates to benefit from rising interest rates.

The current crop of business students are picking in-demand majors with high salaries and flexible career paths.

Pension maximization can be an effective solution to the single versus joint life payout dilemma that many retirees face. But, there are several factors, such as tax and investment matters, that will decide if this strategy is right for you.

These sure-fire budgeting tips will boost your savings quickly. The only trick is setting aside your excuses are getting started!

Issues facing unemployed graduates stretch far beyond an ailing economy. Use your work experience during school to ensure a better career.

Many retirees work during retirement, some by choice following a passion and others by necessity to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Increasingly it’s the latter group that is growing faster. Preparing now, even if you are retired, by making the right investments and saving more than spending can make the difference between a stress-free retirement and one filled with fear and doubt.

Accelerating your post-secondary education can save you major time and money.

A persuasive resume can give you the edge you need in a competitive market.

This plan has become one of the most popular retirement options. Find out why.

The best advisors love what they do for a living, but they also know what to do to get to the top. This shared advice can help you get there, as well.

Retail banking refers to the division of a bank that deals directly with retail customers. Also known as consumer banking or personal banking, retail banking is the visible face of banking to the general public. Corporate banking, also known as business banking, refers to the aspect of banking that deals with corporate customers.

While the biggest factor in deciding when to retire is whether you still need or want to work, there are many other variables to consider to ensure a comfortable and secure life after work.

The reasons most clients fire their advisors are very simple and easy to address. Find out what you should be doing to keep your clients.

Fees associated with many mutual funds looks small. Some are barely over 1% or even lower. But over time those fees erode the overall value of your portfolio. And even in the near term, as in the example used in this article, you could end up paying nearly 20% of your gains just for the privilege of holding a fund.

The best opportunities to maximize sheer earning power are in investment banking, private equity and hedge funds. Find out what it takes to succeed in these ultra-lucrative areas of finance.

A new federal loan interest rate went into effect on Monday, doubling from the previous rate of 3.4% to 6.8%. Despite the hike, there's actually little cause for alarm for the majority of people with student loan debt.

Attaining the AIF or AIFA could help both you and your clients enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Deficiencies in the FICO credit report have led to the creation of a new credit scoring system - the Vantagescore. Find out what factors determine this credit score, and how the model can benefit you.

Rising tuition fees and an ailing job market continue to perpetuate a cycle of spiralling student debt and lost opportunities. Has post-secondary education become a bad investment?

In this article, we'll show you how private equity sets the trend for stocks everywhere.

Reports show that new college grads are either unemployed or under employed. Here's how to increase your chances of getting a job.

Here's a look at the most rewarding entry-level jobs, in terms of salary and future career prospects, and what you can expect from them.

Playing hooky to play golf may feel harmless, but the accumulated effect of absenteeism hurts businesses' bottom line. This article looks at the causes of absenteeism, the costs of lost productivity and what employers can do to reduce absenteeism rates in the workplace.

If your goals include a big paycheck and working for a Wall Street firm, then you need to learn how to meet employers' expectations.

It seems many investors these days, particularly seniors, either go it alone with no outside guidance or they completely abdicate responsibility to a financial advisor who may or may not have their best interests in mind. In this article we’ve tapped Jeff White, founder and president of American Financial Group, to show us how to get the most from using a financial advisor while keeping our independence.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act brings about new tax rules for the wealthy that people such as Warren Buffett have been calling for over the last few years.

Pink Sheets stocks offer exciting opportunities to increase portfolio returns by large magnitudes in a short time. However, these opportunities come with significant risks. Investors need to be extremely cautious and diligent with research and analysis of each investment.

With the average credit card holder owning 3.5 cards, it’s important to manage and keep track of purchases made with your card, so you don’t go over your credit card limit or cap.

Both buyers and sellers can benefit from a real estate professional experienced in dealing with short sales and foreclosures.

Here are some tips for retirement goals, general investing rules and what to focus on while saving.

Credit card arbitrage is a way to make some money, but it's a major gamble with devastating risks.

Here are five phrases to avoid if you want your resume to stand out in the crowd.

The recent Supreme Court decision to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act has paved the way for same-sex couples to enjoy the same federal benefits as opposite-sex couples.

In this article, we'll explore a few ways you can enjoy the sights and sounds of Europe without breaking the bank.

Hyperinflation can destroy your life savings in a matter of months or less. We’ve seen again and again throughout history…Germany in the 1920s, Hungary in the 1940s, Yugoslavia in the 1990s and Zimbabwe just a few short years ago. Hardest hit are seniors who generally don’t have many employment options for boosting their income.

Capital losses are never fun to incur, but they can reduce your taxable income. Knowing the rules for capital losses can help you maximize your deductions and make better choices about when to buy and sell securities or other investments.

Many companies choose to issue rights or warrants as an alternative means of generating capital to avoid dilution of existing share value.

Use these three tips to help put your financial situation into perspective. It turns out, organizing your finances isn't nearly as hard as you thought.

Going solo in financial services can present a host of unexpected challenges.

Zero-coupon bonds are bonds that do not make any interest payments (which investment professionals often refer to as the "coupon") until maturity. For investors, this means that if you make an investment today in a zero-coupon bond that matures in 20 years, you won't put a single penny worth of income in your pocket for two decades.

These earning methods enable students to generate additional income and provide actionable experience, without compromising their studies.

Unless you are a government employee, you’ve likely never heard of the Federal Employees Retirement System, but if you work in the public sector or plan to in the near future, FERS is an acronym you will soon know well.

These tips should enable a non-financial graduate to substantially improve his or her chances of launching a career in finance.

Effectively using your commute time could place you miles ahead of your competition.

These simple tips will help you save money this summer, so you can spend it on more exciting things than electricity.

Keep the kids out of your hair and wallet by saving on summer camps, sports leagues, day trips and more.

Rather than relying solely on net profit figures to evaluate a company's performance, seasoned investors will often look at gross profit and operating profit as well.

Even Jay Gatsby's stubborn optimism in The Great Gatsby would be hard pressed to believe that rags-to-riches stories are possible in today's economy. Find out why the ever-increasing wealth gap is eroding the original American Dream and how we need to redefine our expectations for prosperity.

Even though Dennis Miller spent well over three decades writing books and teaching the subject of negotiations, some of the best lessons he learned on the subject came from luck.