The beauty of a 529 education-savings plan is that contributions grow tax-free and withdrawals are not taxed if used for qualified educational purposes. But investors who buy these plans from investment advisers and brokers rather than directly from the plan’s manager or a state’s designated vendor are at a disadvantage. Buying through middlemen could leave [...]
Investment experts generally agree that five to eight mutual funds are sufficient to cover any investor’s desired risk and return. Ideal fund types for a diversified portfolio:
CORE PORTFOLIO:
A good, basic mix includes one large-cap fund (or an index fund based on the S&P 500) and a mid-cap, small-cap, international, and bond fund.
TWEAKING THE CORE:
To further [...]
Auto loans are relatively easy to obtain. Lending institutions know they’ll get their money back because if you don’t make the payments, they can repossess the car. The key is to get a loan for the lowest possible interest rate. Key steps:
1.Cruise the field.Compare interest rates at various financial institutions – such as [...]
When you need cash for a financial emergency, your rainy-day funds may be too low to cover the entire cost. As a result, you may need additional assets. Here’s where to turn, in order of preference based on loan rates:
Your stuff.
If the extra amount needed is relatively small, go through your garage and closet and [...]
