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Common 401(k) Mistakes People Make

There are many pitfalls when it comes to investing for your retirement. Unfortunately, a good many of these mistakes center around the 401(k), which can be a tremendous boost to your retirement plans when appropriately used to build your portfolio. The problem is that the mistakes are often the only things we hear when it comes to retirement plans and investing. I suggest beginning with the errors so that we can move along to better information and advice soon.

The first and perhaps largest mistakes that people make when it comes to 401 (k) is not signing up. Yes, you heard that right. What people do not understand is that this is something your employer offers so that you can have some security for your future. It is a manner of saving money for your future that shouldn’t be overlooked or taken for granted. Even a bad 401 (k) plan is better than no 401 (k), and with strict regulations, those are few and far between. More importantly, if your company offers to match the funds in your 401 (k) plan not taking them up on that offer is tossing money in the garbage can.

The next big mistake when it comes to your 401 (k) is risking too little. Rewards begin with risk. If you aren’t taking any chances with your investment, then you are by and large throwing money down the drain. In addition to that, it is nearly impossible to meet your retirement goals without taking some risks, and some hits along the way. It doesn’t mean you should be reckless but along the way you are going to need to make some calculated risks to receive the bigger payouts that most of us hope for when investing in their retirement funds.

They are risking too much. There are many risks involved when investing in the stock market. There are a few that deserve a little more mention than others. First, stocks present a relatively significant risk, particularly to the uninitiated. While it is true that great rewards are most often the product of great risks you do not want to risk the bulk of your retirement by investing it all in stocks.

Another thing you want to avoid doing if possible is investing in your company stock. We’ve seen too many lives destroyed when companies go undertaking the financial stability of their employees along with them. Many companies offer incentives to employees for investing in their stock, which may be tempting but I recommend spending as little as possible in your company stock whenever possible as this could lead to problems down the road.

Finally, borrowing against your 401 (k) is the worst thing you can do. There are so many ways in which this could go wrong, and the penalties for this are more than a little prohibitive. They are designed to be that way so that you will use the funds for their intended purpose. If you have no other option is the only way I would recommend borrowing against your 401 (k), and I would seriously consider selling a kidney before doing that.

When it comes to your financial retirement, 401 (k) mistakes can be far more costly than you may realize. Avoid common mistakes, and you will have an enjoyable retirement.

We hope this information was beneficial. You can have anything you want if you are enthusiastic about putting in the time, effort and plans to get to your goals. Discover the secrets why the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. Click Here to view a video with more life tips!

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Educational Savings Accounts

When it comes to getting a college education, financing is one of the most important considerations that you will need to make. Unfortunately for far too many, it is one of the last factors thought about when it comes to the education of our children. If you are a parent, you owe it to your child and yourself to plan and plan carefully to cover the cost of your child’s education. There are, fortunately, a few great ways in which you can do this.

The most common is to begin by opening an educational saving account for your child (under the age of 18). When you open educational savings account for your child, you can contribute up to $2,000 per year per child. It is a combined total contribution however and includes the financial gifts of grandparents, friends, and family in addition to your contributions. The money from these funds can be withdrawn tax-free if they are used for educational purposes.

Educational expenses, in this case, include books, tuition, fees, supplies, and college room and board provided that your child is at least a part-time student. If you do not use all the funds for your child, there are options as far as what to do with the remaining funds in the account. The first option would be to leave the funds in the account and allow the account beneficiary to withdraw them up until the age of 30. There is a penalty involved, and the recipient will be required to pay income tax on those funds. You could also elect to roll those funds over to the next child under the age of 18 who will have educational expenses in the future.

The money you set aside in these accounts to cover the cost of the education of your child or children is not tax-deductible. However, it is a great way to begin saving money and investing in the future of your child. If you start spending the maximum amount $2,000 per year upon birth, your child should have a nice nest egg to help cover educational expenses.

If your child is fortunate enough to qualify for scholarships and other sources of financial aid you can turn the funds over as a graduation gift or save it for the next college student in your family that comes along. Either way, you’ve saved yourself a good part of the worry that goes along with providing for your family by having this fund set up for your children.

You can sign up for programs like Upromise to subsidize your contributions with donations from corporate sponsors as their way of thanking you for buying their products or using their services on any credit cards that you, your friends, and your family members have registered to go into your child’s account. Every edge you give yourself when it comes to investing in the education of your children is an edge worth having. College tuition rates are rising at an alarming rate while corporate expectations of college degrees are growing at the same near lightning speed. It means that a college degree is more critical for our children than in any past generations.

Take the time now to check into securing the future of your children by establishing an educational savings account. Let friends and family know that any gifts they are planning to give your children that involve money would be appreciated if they instead invested in the future of your children rather than now. You can also ask your friends and family to sign up their credit cards with Upromise to provide a little bump in donations to your child’s college savings account. These small steps add up to significant savings throughout 18 years. You might find that the investment you are making is adequate to cover the costs of your child’s tuition in full.

Desperately Looking for Employment? Read This Job Advice!

Many people find the job search process to be frustrating. There are lots of things you can do to help you find the job you need and get hired more quickly. The tips in this article can help you reduce your anxiety and find that job. Read on.

Do your best to maintain eye contact during your job interview with the interviewer. Do not try to stare them down, but keep eye contact as much as possible. It shows the interviewer that you are paying attention and that you show interest in what they have to say. Practice with a friend before your interview and keep eye contact in mind.

Spread the word among all your friends and family that you are looking for a job, many companies value employee referrals highly, so ask your acquaintances if they know of any potential job openings that you might be a candidate. Many people will be glad to help if they can!

When answering questions on an interview, stay as direct and concise as possible. The interviewer will know if you do not understand something so try not to beat around the bush. Clear answers will show that you know what you are talking about and not making up answers on the spot.

Always make sure that the job that you are applying for is feasible from a location perspective. Often, you may want to take the first post that is available to you, but you do not want to drive 100 miles to get to and from your job each day.

Remember that when you are at a job interview that you need to keep everything you say positive. Never speak poorly of previous employers. It never reflects badly on your last employer; it only reflects poorly on you. If you do not have something useful to say, then try to switch the subject.

Showcase your writing skills and creative abilities with a comprehensive, exciting portfolio. Even if you are not pursuing a career in writing or marketing, communication skills are critical in any profession. Your collection should include a variety of written documents, such as press releases, business reports, research findings, and executive summaries. These demonstrate that you can communicate with others in a professional environment and formal context.

Make a name for yourself! In a job market leading qualified candidate, self-branding goes a long way in helping you to stand out from the crowd. Self-promotion and developing your brand are not a matter of ego. Instead, it is an opportunity to showcase your best ideas, initiative, and creativity. Never exaggerate or falsify your best attributes, but do not be afraid to set your modesty aside.

Now that you’ve read this article, you should have much more of a handle on how to find a job. Practice the tips you just read until you feel confident about them. You are sure to wow interviewers and land the job of your dreams if you follow our advice.

Business Opportunities Versus Employment: Which Is Right for You?

When it comes to making a living, there are two options: being in business for yourself or being employed by a company or an individual. Of these two options, there is considerable latitude in what is considered being in business for yourself, especially if you take advantage of business opportunities. Some business opportunities so closely mirror employment, that many people mistakenly believe them ‘jobs.’ But business opportunities are not in this category. To understand the difference, read on as this article will explain in detail how things work with business opportunities versus regular employment.

Firstly, most business opportunities will require a person to fill out 1099 versus a W-2, which is the tax form used for regular employment by companies. Both types will alert the IRS that you need to pay your taxes, but 1099 does not allow for deductions as a W-2 does. When you use 1099, you must pay for your taxes on your own. It is one of the significant disadvantages of working with business opportunities, especially if you make a lot of money. To try to avoid problems, make sure you keep a close record of all your business transactions. Also set aside 35 percent of your salary for taxes. You can put this in a savings account so you can accumulate interest. Hopefully, you will have enough write-offs that you’ll be able to pocket your savings once tax time comes.

Secondly, most business opportunities do not offer ‘guaranteed’ 9-to-5 employment, as most hire you as an independent contractor. It is the case whether you are working business opportunities at home or in an office. If you must fill out 1099, you are in business for yourself. Anyway, some business opportunities offer such a steady stream of work that you not being hired as an hourly employee is not a problem. However, many others have jobs now and then. In these cases, you will want to try several sets of business opportunities, so you can always have a steady stream of work to support yourself.

Lastly, business opportunities tend not to offer health insurance. Granted, nowadays many ‘regular’ employers also won’t offer health insurance but being able to get some form of health insurance seems to be more typical with full-time jobs. With most business opportunities, you will not get health insurance no matter how many hours you work. However, there are exceptions, but they are quite expensive exceptions. In these situations, all that has happened is that the company offering the business opportunity has struck up a ‘deal’ with an insurance company. You are still paying as if you had signed up for the insurance yourself without the aid of a company.

In conclusion, the main differences between business opportunities and regular employment are found in the areas of taxes, work structure, and health insurance. Indeed, these differences may make some conclude business opportunities are not for them. For others, it may not matter as much because the freedom offered through business opportunities outweigh the disadvantages.

Playing the Credit Card Game

Credit card companies are established to make money from the service they are rendering for their customers. Though they are always happy if their clients have a good credit rating, but they are not always happy when you pay off their credit card balance each month. Their wish is that you always carry a balance every month so that they can charge interest on your account. Because of this reason, they are responding by becoming more creative at finding ways to make money off you.

So, there is a need for you to be a smart customer so that you don’t fall the victim, as it can end up affecting your credit rating. In this article, we will look at a few ways you can escape their financial traps.

Make sure you read the information you get from your card issuing company. Read every form you get from the potential card company. Also, make sure you study the bill and every other information you get from your credit card company over time because they can change their terms of your card agreement with as little as 15 days and if you are careless to take note of this it may end up affecting your credit.

Make sure you avoid late payments of your fees. If you make a late payment you can be subjected to larger balance on your account and your card issuing company may hike your interest rate as a result of this.

Avoid carrying a balance every month because you will end up paying far more than you should for everything you charge to your card. Make sure you pay for everything your charge within the grace period if there is any and you will not fall victim of high-interest rates. Failure to do this will lead to accumulation of debt, which will end up spoiling your credit report if you are not careful.

If you are not feeling comfortable with the service you are getting from your issuing company or any of their terms make sure your complaint doesn’t die in silence. Because of the competition most of these companies are facing they will be forced to answer your complaint, and as a matter of fact, make adjustment where possible. For example, if you’ve been getting high-interest fees you can have it lowered by just making your request to your issuing company.

You are free to shop around when you are thinking of getting a new card. Why should you be forced to one company you don’t feel you are comfortable with when there are lots of them out there. Shop around you can get whatever you want.

You can get an interest rate you want, grace period or a card without an annual fee charge. So, go out there, compare the rates, and terms of several cards before you make your choice. The choice you make today will surely determine your credit report tomorrow.

Most cardholders are careless when it comes to checking their credit report with the credit bureau or agencies involved. If you pay your balance on time and don’t carry balance often you have to make sure that your card issuing company reports your performance to the bureau on time. You may possibly want to get a loan in the future and your present credit performance will help you a lot in getting approval on time.

Bad spending habits are one of the viruses that have infected most of the card users in recent years. As a matter of fact, the use of the internet has even made it easy for every card used to get anything they want within minutes. So may find it impossible to control their spending. Most of the websites even make it so easy that you will not even know when you are giving them your card information.

There is a way out to make sure that you keep your card away most of the time. Most especially when you are accessing the internet and when you are going out. If it’s a must that you carry the card because of emergencies, take only one along. However, you can reduce or even stop the bad spending virus, if you stop buying things on impulse. If you are to buy anything at all make plan for it in advance.