Category

Money IQ

Asset Classes

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What is an asset class? An asset class is a group of similar kinds of investments. It’s a generalization, not a detailed description, and can help you understand and manage your investments at a high level. The four main asset classes are: Stocks––when you buy a stock, you become a part-owner of a company.

Emergency Fund 101

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LIFE HAPPENS. Unfortunately, things can (and will) happen that seem to derail your plans or force you to hit the “reset button” when you least expect. While we certainly wouldn’t wish some of life’s unpredictable events on anyone, we know that at times, some (or maybe all) of us will be thrown that curveball.

Are Inflation Fears Inflated?

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As I mentioned in my recent Meridian Market Minute video post, headlines around inflation have started to appear as the next thing we should all be worried about. My colleague Sarah Irving also wrote a great blog around the topic back in early April. Since that time, the rate of inflation has gone from 2.6% […]

May the Fourth be with you …. and your online security

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Federal tax returns and depending on where you live, state tax returns, are due in t-minus 13 days.  As much of a headache filing your income taxes, or owing taxes, can be, experiencing identity fraud or theft can be a much more permanent and long-lasting headache.  Unfortunately many of us have either experience

Moving Targets

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The COVID pandemic has changed a lot of things in all of our lives, and tax deadlines are no different. You now have until Monday, May 17th to do few things that count toward the 2020 tax year. Among them:   File your taxes – the deadline has been extended from the traditional April 15th […]

Home Sweet Home

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Buying your first home is considered one of the biggest milestones — in life as well as finances. It’s a big commitment, and there’s a good chance this will be the largest purchase you’ve made to date. If you are a first-time home buyer, here are five guidelines to assist you in your financial preparation.

What is a Roth IRA?

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  If the only thing you know about a Roth is that it rhymes with sloth …well, then this post is for you. So. Are you ready to find out what this Roth IRA thing is? It is a type of retirement account! Roth IRAs (IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account) are specific retirement accounts […]

How To Tell Good Debt Versus Bad Debt

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It might sound strange, but not all debt is “bad.” Certain types of debt can actually provide opportunities to improve your financial future. To make smart decisions about if, when, and how much to borrow, you need to understand the difference between “good” and “bad” debt and how to manage it.   GOOD

What’s In A Sector?

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For the first time in a long time, the Value portion of the S&P 500 outperformed the Growth portion. Granted, it was only over one week, but it could signal a reversal of a trend that has essentially been happening since 2006. Credit to Jeff Weniger at WisdomTree for his analysis on this subject.   […]