How much should I save before I buy a house?

Buying a home is a big life decision. One of the questions that will come up is how much you should save before starting the home buying process. Here’s how to answer that question. Buying vs. renting a home The first step is to make sure that you’re buying a home for the right reasons.…

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How do tax write-offs work?

We all know the saying: “There are two certainties in life: death and taxes.” Since taxes are one of our largest ongoing expenses, we’re all interested in keeping them as low as possible. Fortunately, the government has created tax breaks in order to incentive citizens to do things it considers valuable to society. For example,…

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When Should I Start Investing?

Printed picture of the Dow Jones performance chart that shows a financial rollercoaster of dips and increases in the stock market

You may have heard the Chinese proverb: the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now. The same is true with investing. If you think you’ll have time to get started later, you should see how that’s working out for older generations. The Power of Compound Interest If…

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How much should I put in my 401(k)?

Yellow toy van carrying luggages placed on the sand of a beach with the waves crashing in the background

If you’re fortunate enough to have an employer who offers a 401(k), you should seriously consider participating. A 401(k) allows you to lower your tax bill and potentially build wealth through the stock market. Here’s how to figure out how much you should contribute. The power of the employer match You should contribute at least…

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