Financial Goals Archives - Page 62 of 271

Apache is functioning normally

June 7, 2023 by Brett Tams

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43k salary is a solid hourly wage when you think about it.

When you get your first job and you are making just above minimum wage making over $43,000 a year seems like it would provide amazing opportunities for you. Right?

The median household income is $68,703 in 2019 and increased by 6.8% from the previous year (source). Think of it as a bell curve with $68K at the top; the median means half of the population makes less than that and half makes more money.

The average income in the U.S. is $48,672 for a 40-hour workweek; that is an increase of 4% from the previous year (source). That means if you take everyone’s income and divided the money out evenly between all of the people.

But, the question remains can you truly live off 43,000 per year in today’s society since it is below both the average and median household incomes. The question you want to ask all of your friends is $43000 per year a good salary.

In this post, we are going to dive into everything that you need to know about a $43000 salary including hourly pay and a sample budget on how to spend and save your money.

These key facts will help you with money management and learn how much per hour $43k is as well as what you make per month, weekly, and biweekly.

Just like with any paycheck, it seems like money quickly goes out of your account to cover all of your bills and expenses, and you are left with a very small amount remaining. You may be disappointed that you were not able to reach your financial goals and you are left wondering…

Can I make a living on this salary?

$43000 a year is How Much an Hour?

When jumping from an hourly job to a salary for the first time, it is helpful to know how much is 43k a year hourly. That way you can decide whether or not the job is worthwhile for you.

$43000 a year is $20.67 per hour

Breakdown Of How Much Is 43k A Year Hourly

Let’s breakdown, how that 43000 salary to hourly number is calculated.

For our calculations to figure out how much is 43K salary hourly, we used the average five working days of 40 hours a week.

Typically, the average workweek is 40 hours and you can work 52 weeks a year. Take 40 hours times 52 weeks and that equals 2,080 working hours. Then, divide the yearly salary of $43000 by 2,080 working hours and the result is $20.67 per hour.

43000 salary / 2080 hours = $20.67 per hour

Just above $20 an hour.

Key Points….

That number is the gross hourly income before taxes, insurance, 401K, or anything else is taken out. Net income is how much you deposit into your bank account.
You must check with your employer on how they plan to pay you. For those on salary, typically companies pay on a monthly, semi-monthly, biweekly, or weekly basis.

Just an interesting note… if you were to increase your annual salary by $5K to $48k per year, it would increase your hourly wage to over $23 an hour – a difference of $2.41 per hour.

To break it down – 48000 salary / 2080 hours = $23.08 per hour

That difference will help you fund your savings account; just remember every dollar adds up.

How Much is $43K salary Per Month?

On average, the monthly amount would be $3,583.

Annual Salary of $43,000 ÷ 12 months = $3,583 per month

This is how much you make a month if you get paid 43000 a year.

$43k a year is how much a week?

This is a great number to know! How much do I make each week? When I roll out of bed and do my job of $43k salary a year, how much can I expect to make at the end of the week for my effort?

Once again, the assumption is 40 hours worked.

Annual Salary of $43000/52 weeks = $827 per week.

$43000 a year is how much biweekly?

For this calculation, take the average weekly pay of $827 and double it.

$827 per week x 2 = $1,654

Also, the other way to calculate this is:

Annual Salary of $43000 / 26 weeks = $1654 biweekly.

How Much Is $43K Salary Per Day

This depends on how many hours you work in a day. For this example, we are going to use an eight-hour workday.

8 hours x 52 weeks = 260 working days

Annual Salary of $43000 / 260 working days = $165 per day

If you work a 10 hour day on 208 days throughout the year, you make $206 per day.

$43000 Salary is…

$43000 – Full Time	Total Income
Yearly Salary (52 weeks)	$43,000
Monthly Wage	$3,583
Weekly Pay (40 Hours)	$827
Bi-Weekly Pay (80 Hours)	$1,654
Daily Wage (8 Hours)	$165
Daily Wage (10 Hours)	$206
Hourly Wage	$20.67
Net Estimated Monthly Income	$2,735
Net Estimated Hourly Income	$15.78

^{**These are assumptions based on simple scenarios.}

43k a year is how much an hour after taxes

Income taxes is one of the biggest culprits of reducing your take-home pay as well as FICA and Social Security. This is a true fact across the board with an all salary range up to $142,800.

When you make below the average household income, the amount of taxes taken out hurts your hourly wage.

Every single tax situation is different.

On the basic level, let’s assume a 12% federal tax rate and 4% state rate. Plus a percentage is taken out for Social Security and Medicare (FICA) of 7.65%.

So, how much an hour is 43000 a year after taxes?

Gross Annual Salary: $43,000

Federal Taxes of 12%: $5,160
State Taxes of 4%: $1,720
Social Security and Medicare of 7.65%: $3,290

$43k Per Year After Taxes is $32,830

This would be your net annual salary after taxes.

To turn that back into an hourly wage, the assumption is working 2,080 hours.

$32830 ÷ 2,080 hours = $15.78 per hour

After estimated taxes and FICA, you are netting $32,830 per year, which is $10,170 per year less than what you expect.

***This is a very high-level example and can vary greatly depending on your personal situation and potential deductions. Therefore, here is a great tool to help you figure out how much your net paycheck would be.***

In addition, if you live in a heavily taxed state like California or New York, then you have to pay way more money than somebody that lives in a no tax state like Texas or Florida. This is the debate of HCOL vs LCOL.

Thus, your yearly gross $43000 income can range from $29390 to $34550 depending on your state income taxes.

That is why it is important to realize the impact income taxes can have on your take home pay. It is one of those things that you should acknowledge and obviously you need to pay taxes. But, it can also put a huge dent in your ability to live the lifestyle you want on a $43,000 income.

43k salary lifestyle

Every person reading this post has a different upbringing and a different belief system about money. Therefore, what would be a lavish lifestyle to one person, maybe a frugal lifestyle to another person. And there’s no wrong or right, it is what works best for you.

One of the biggest factors to consider is your cost of living.

In another post, we detailed the differences of living in an HCOL vs LCOL vs MCOL area. When you live in big cities, trying to maintain your lifestyle of $43,000 a year is going to be much more difficult because your basic expenses, housing, transportation, food, and clothing are going to be much more expensive than you would find in a lower cost area.

To stretch your dollar further in the high cost of living area, you would have to probably live cheap and prioritize where you want to spend money and where you do not. Whereas, if you live in a low cost of living area, you can live a much more lavish lifestyle because the cost of living is less. Thus, you have more fun spending left in your account each month.

As we noted earlier in the post, $43,000 a year is below the average income that you would find in the United States. Thus, you have to be wise with how you spend your money.

What a $43,000 lifestyle will buy you:

If you are debt free and utilize smart money management skills, then you are able to enjoy the lifestyle you want.

You are able to rent in a decent neighborhood in LCOL and maybe a MCOL city.
You should be able to meet your expenses each and every month.
Participate in the 200 envelope challenge.
Ability to make sure that saving money is a priority, and very possibly save $3000 in 52 weeks.

When A $43,000 Salary Will Hold you Back:

However, if you are riddled with debt or unable to break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, then living off of 40k a year is going to be pretty darn difficult.

There are two factors that will keep holding you back:

You must pay off debt and cut all fun spending and extra expenses.
Break the paycheck to paycheck cycle.

It is possible to get ahead with money!

It just comes with proper money management skills and a desire to have less stress around money. That is a winning combination regardless of your income level.

$43k Salary to Hourly

We calculated how much $43,000 a year is how much an hour with 40 hours a week. But, more than likely, you work more or fewer hours per week.

So, here is a handy calculator to figure out your exact hourly salary wage.

$43K a year Budget – Example

As always, here at Money Bliss, we focus on covering our basic expenses plus saving and giving first, and then our goal is to eliminate debt. The rest of the money leftover is left for fun spending.

If you want to know how to manage 40k salary the best, then this is a prime example for you to compare your spending.

You can compare your budget to the ideal household budget percentages.

recommended budget percentages based on $43000 a year salary:

Category	Ideal Percentages	Sample Monthly Budget
Giving	10%	$251
Savings	15-25%	$645
Housing	20-30%	$932
Utilities	4-7%	$143
Groceries	5-12%	$287
Clothing	1-4%	$22
Transportation	4-10%	$143
Medical	5-12%	$179
Life Insurance	1%	$11
Education	1-4%	$11
Personal	2-7%	$32
Recreation / Entertainment	3-8%	$81
Debts	0% – Goal	$0
Government Tax (including Income Tatumx, Social Security & Medicare)	15-25%	$847
Total Gross Monthly Income		$3583

^**^{In this budget, prioritization was given to basic expenses and no debt.}

Is $43,000 a year a Good Salary?

As we stated earlier if you are able to make $43,000 a year, that is a decent salary. You are making more money than the minimum wage and close to double in many cities.

While 43000 is a good salary starting out in your working years. It is a salary that you want to increase before your expenses go up or the people you provide for increase.

However, too many times people get stuck in the lifestyle trap of trying to keep up with the Joneses, and their lifestyle desires get out of hand compared to their salary. It is okay to be driving around a beater car while you work on increasing your salary.

This $43k salary would be considered a lower middle class salary. This salary is something that you can live on if you are wise with money.

Check: Are you in the middle class?

In fact, this income level in the United States has enough buying power to put you in the top 95 percentile globally for per person income (source).

The question you need to ask yourself with your 43k salary is:

Am I maxed at the top of my career?
Is there more income potential?
What obstacles do I face if I want to try to increase my income?

In the future years and with possible inflation, many modest cities a 43,000 a year will not a good salary because the cost of living is so high, whereas these are some of the cities that you can make a comfortable living at 43,000 per year.

If you are looking for a career change, you want to find jobs paying at least $65000 a year.

Is 43k a good salary for a Single Person?

Simply put, yes.

You can stretch your salary much further because you are only worried about your own expenses. A single person will spend much less than if you need to provide for someone else.

Learn exactly what is a good salary for a single person today.

Your living expenses and ideal budget are much less. Thus, you can live extremely comfortably on $43000 per year.

And… most of us probably regret how much money wasted when we were single. Oh well, lesson learned.

Is 43k a good salary for a family?

Many of the same principles apply above on whether $43000 is a good salary. The main difference with a family, you have more people to provide for than when you are single or have just one other person in your household.

The costs of raising children are high and will steeply cut into your income. As you can tell this is a huge dent in your income, specifically $12,980 annually per child.

That means that amount of money is coming out of the income that you earned.

So, the question really remains is can you provide a good life for your family making $43,000 a year? This is the hardest part because each family has different choices, priorities, and values.

More or less, it comes down to two things:

The location where you live in.
Your lifestyle choices.

You can live comfortably as a family on this salary, but you will not be able to afford everything.

Many times when raising a family, it is helpful to have a dual-income household. That way you are able to provide the necessary expenses if both parties were making 43000 per year, then the combined income for the household would be $86,000. Thus making your combined salary a very good income.

Learn how much money a family of 4 needs in each state.

Can you Live on $43000 Per Year?

As we outlined earlier in the post, $43,000 a year:

$20.67 Per Hour
$165-206 Per Day (depending on length of day worked)
$827 Per Week
$1654 Per Biweekly
$3583 Per Month

Next up is making $45000 a year.

Like anything else in life, you get to decide how to spend, save and give your money.

That is the difference for each person on whether or not you can live a middle-class lifestyle depends on many potential factors. If you live in California or New Jersey you are gonna have a tougher time than Oklahoma or even Texas.

In addition, if you are early in your career, starting out around 34,000 a year, that is a great place to be getting your career. However, if you have been in your career for over 20 years and still making $43k, then you probably need to look at asking for pay increases, pick up a second job, or find a different career path.

Regardless of the wage that you make, if you are not able to live the lifestyle that you want, then you have to find ways to make it work for you. Everybody has choices to make.

But one of the things that can help you the most is to stick to our ideal household budget percentages to make sure you stay on track.

Learn exactly how much do I make per year…

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Source: moneybliss.org

Apache is functioning normally

June 7, 2023 by Brett Tams

The maximum monthly Social Security benefits a person can get in 2023 is $4,555 if they wait until age 70 to claim their benefits. The maximum amount of benefits a married couple can receive would be $9,110 if both of them are separately able to claim the maximum amount of $4,555. But there are a lot of caveats and other things to understand about maximizing your Social Security benefits—let’s take a deeper dive. If you’d like personalized assistance preparing for retirement, consider working with financial advisor.

What Are Social Security Benefits?

The Social Security Administration provides retirement income to most American workers as well as benefits to qualifying disabled people. Qualifying retirees can begin their Social Security benefits between the ages of 62 and 70. The longer you wait, the higher your monthly payments will be.

For instance, a single person born in 1970 that made $70,000 in annual income would get $27,588 in annual Social Security benefits if they started taking their benefits when they turned 62. If that same person waited until the age of 70 to claim Social Security, their annual benefits would be $48,993. You can get an estimate of what your annual Social Security benefits will be at different ages and different average incomes with SmartAsset’s free calculator.

How Do Benefits Differ for Single People and Married Couples?

First, it’s helpful to know how Social Security benefits are calculated. There are two main elements to figuring out how much money you’ll get each year from Social Security.

Averaged indexed monthly earnings: The Social Security Administration will take a look at the amount you earned each month over up to 35 years of employment. They’ll identify the years where you earned the highest amounts, then average your monthly earnings.
The age at which you retire: As discussed above, the longer you wait to receive your Social Security benefits, the larger your payments will be. You can receive your benefits as early as 62, but by waiting a few years you will see larger amounts.

In many cases, married couples will collect two separate Social Security checks based on their own earnings record and the age at which they decided to claim their benefits. Rather than having a maximum married benefit limit, the maximum amount they would receive would be double the maximum benefits for a single person.

This is different in the case of a spouse that didn’t work or didn’t work long enough to qualify for Social Security benefits. These people will often qualify for spousal benefits instead, which max out at half of the working spouse’s Social Security benefit amount. Again, the maximum amount of the benefit will be determined by when you choose to begin claiming benefits and, in this case, your spouse’s average earnings over their lifetime.

What’s the Maximum Social Security Benefit Married Couples Can Receive?

In 2023, if you retire at your full retirement age, the maximum monthly Social Security retirement benefit would be $3,627. For a married couple who are both receiving the maximum amount and both retired at full retirement age, that amount would be $7,254. That amount would be less for a person who retires at age 62 ($2,572) and more for a person who retires at 70 ($4,555).

So for example, if a married couple both qualified for the maximum amount and both held off on claiming their Social Security benefits until age 70, they could receive $9,110 in monthly benefits in 2023. A married couple in which one spouse didn’t work and instead qualified for spousal payments would max out at $6,832.50—the maximum benefit for the working spouse and half that for the spouse that didn’t work.

How Can I Get the Maximum Social Security Benefit?

To ensure that you qualify for the maximum benefit of $4,555 a month, you’ll need to work for 35 years earning a salary that is equal to or greater than the wage cap for that entire time. In 2023, the wage cap is $160,200.

However, only a very small percentage of workers will qualify for the maximum amount. In 2021, the Congressional Research Service reported that only about 6% of workers earned more than the wage cap amount, a percentage that has remained “relatively stable” over time.

To earn the highest benefit possible as a married couple, both partners should try to earn as much as possible during their working years and put off claiming their benefits until as close to age 70 as possible.

The Bottom Line

The maximum monthly Social Security benefit of $4,555 is only available to high earners who wait to claim their benefits until the age of 70. The maximum benefit a married couple could collect would be twice that—$9,110—and require both of them to earn $160,200 or more over 35 years of work. Stay-at-home spouses who haven’t worked enough to qualify for their Social Security benefits can claim spousal benefits of up to half of their spouse’s monthly benefits.

Retirement Planning Tips

A financial advisor can offer advice on any of your Social Security, Medicare or retirement savings needs. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
If you’re not sure you’ve saved enough for retirement, our retirement calculator can help. Use it to determine your estimated Social Security benefits, how much money you need to retire and how much annual income you’ll need in retirement.

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/kiattisakch, ©iStock.com/ljubaphoto, ©iStock.com/yacobchuk

Source: smartasset.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 7, 2023 by Brett Tams

If you owe federal income tax and can’t pay in full, the IRS Fresh Start program can help you get caught up. Fresh Start was established by the federal government in 2011 to offer some relief to taxpayers and curb predatory practices by the IRS. Under the Fresh Start Initiative, eligible taxpayers can enroll in a payment plan to clear their tax debt or negotiate an agreement to pay less than what’s owed. Either one could help you get back on track financially if you have an outstanding tax bill. You can also talk to a financial advisor about how to manage your tax liability going forward.

Understanding IRS Fresh Start

The IRS Fresh Start program or Fresh Start initiative was established in 2011 to help eligible taxpayers manage past-due tax debts. The program is designed to aid people who don’t have a prior history of unpaid taxes and aren’t subject to a federal tax lien.

Fresh Start offers help in one of four ways:

Payment plans
Offers in compromise
Currently not collectible status
Penalty abatements

The main goal of the Fresh Start program is to help individuals and business owners resolve their federal tax debt, without being unfairly penalized by the IRS. That includes allowing taxpayers who might otherwise be subject to a tax lien to avoid that scenario.

IRS Fresh Start Tax Relief Options

As mentioned, there are four avenues taxpayers can use to get tax relief through the Fresh Start initiative. Each one is designed to meet a different type of need.

If you’re interested in seeking tax relief through Fresh Start, here’s how the options compare.

Payment plans: The IRS offers short- and long-term payment plans, also referred to as installment agreements, to eligible taxpayers. Short-term plans must be paid in full within 180 days while long-term plans may allow you up to 84 months to repay tax debt, depending on how much you owe.
Offer in compromise: An offer in compromise allows you to repay tax debt for less than what you owe. You must be able to prove a financial hardship that prevents you from paying what you owe in full. If approved, you’d need to be able to pay the IRS an agreed-upon amount to settle your tax debt in a series of periodic payments.
Currently not collectible status: Currently not collectible status allows you to claim financial hardship and temporarily pause your obligations to repay your tax debt. While your account is marked as currently not collectible, the IRS cannot take any collection actions against you and must halt any levies, including bank account levies and tax refund offsets.
Penalty abatement: When you fail to pay taxes on time, penalties and interest can accrue. Penalty abatement allows you to get some relief from penalties if you owe a significant amount of tax debt.

Who Qualifies for IRS Fresh Start Relief?

Generally speaking, you may qualify for help through the Fresh Start program if you:

Owe federal income tax
Don’t have a history of unpaid taxes
Are not yet subject to a federal tax lien
Cannot pay your tax bill in full

If you’re specifically interested in a payment plan, your ability to qualify can depend on how much you owe. You may qualify to apply online for a long-term payment plan if you owe $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest, or for a short-term plan if you owe $100,000 or less. Business owners can apply online for a long-term payment plan if they’ve filed their tax return and owe $25,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest.

The IRS approves Offers in Compromise on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you’ll need to have filed all required tax returns and made the required estimated payments. You can’t be in a bankruptcy proceeding and you must have filed a valid tax extension. Approval is based on your:

Ability to pay
Income
Expenses
Asset equity

The IRS encourages taxpayers to explore payment plan options before applying for an Offer in Compromise.

You’ll need to contact the IRS to apply for currently not collectible status if you’re experiencing a significant financial hardship. The IRS may ask you to file any past-due tax returns if you haven’t done so and you’ll likely need to provide documentation proving your hardship situation. Late payment penalties and interest will continue to accrue on your account.

If you receive an IRS notice for back taxes, the notice may include instructions on how to apply for penalty abatement. You’ll need to call the IRS and provide some information to the IRS about your taxes and financial situation. You can also submit Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement if you’re not able to call.

IRS Fresh Start Advantages and Disadvantages

The Fresh Start program is designed to offer some benefits to people who are dealing with unpaid tax debt. Specifically, this program can help you to avoid:

IRS levies
Federal tax liens
Wage garnishments
Criminal penalties

Once you qualify for Fresh Start relief through a payment plan or Offer in Compromise, you’re automatically sheltered from those types of outcomes since you’re making an effort to resolve your debt with the IRS.

Claiming currently not collectible status can also create some breathing room financially if you’re experiencing an extreme hardship that leaves you unable to pay what you owe. Penalty abatement, meanwhile, can reduce some of what you owe in penalties to the IRS.

Fresh Start is not a perfect solution, however. If you enroll in a payment plan, then penalties and interest will continue to accrue until the balance is paid in full. So, the total paid can exceed more than your actual tax balance due.

If you’re interested in an Offer in Compromise, it’s also important to keep in mind that getting approved can be challenging. The IRS wants to collect as much of your unpaid tax debt as possible. If you’re unable to provide sufficient proof of a hardship that keeps you from paying in full, you may be denied. In that case, you’d have to reconsider a short- or long-term payment plan.

The Bottom Line

IRS Fresh Start can help you get out of a tax debt hole if you owe money to the federal government. If you also owe state income tax, you’d need to reach out to your state tax authority to discuss repayment options. The most important thing to remember if you owe taxes is that some action is better than none since your obligation to pay won’t go away.

Tax Planning Tips

Staying on top of your tax situation can help you avoid being hit with a surprise bill when it’s time to file your return. Talking to a financial advisor about how to minimize your tax liability can ensure that you’re paying enough to stay in favor with the IRS, without paying more than you need to. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
The simplest way to avoid IRS tax penalties and interest is to pay what you owe by the filing deadline. If you don’t have cash readily available to pay, you might consider getting a personal loan to pay instead.

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/dragana991, ©iStock.com/bojanstory, ©iStock.com/FatCamera

Rebecca Lake, CEPF®
Rebecca Lake is a retirement, investing and estate planning expert who has been writing about personal finance for a decade. Her expertise in the finance niche also extends to home buying, credit cards, banking and small business. She’s worked directly with several major financial and insurance brands, including Citibank, Discover and AIG and her writing has appeared online at U.S. News and World Report, CreditCards.com and Investopedia. Rebecca is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and she also attended Charleston Southern University as a graduate student. Originally from central Virginia, she now lives on the North Carolina coast along with her two children.

Source: smartasset.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 7, 2023 by Brett Tams

If you were ever to become disabled or suffer a chronic illness or age-related debility that requires you to pay for help feeding and dressing yourself or similar assistance for an extended period, long-term care insurance could be a valuable thing to have. This insurance pays for services regular health insurance doesn’t cover, including assistance with activities of daily living at home or in an assisted living center or nursing home. Timing is an important consideration when it comes to buying long-term care insurance. If you’re thinking about long-term care insurance, consider talking it over with a financial advisor.

Long-Term Care Insurance Basics

Long-term care insurance can help you pay the costs of receiving extended care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as in-home assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing and getting dressed. These are costs that health insurance, including Medicare, typically does not cover. Another government health plan, Medicaid, can pay for these services. However, only people with limited financial means can generally qualify for Medicaid.

Long-term care insurance works similarly to other types of insurance. That is, in exchange for paying a premium, usually monthly, the policy will pay providers for the care they deliver or, alternatively, reimburse you for your out-of-pocket costs. However, long-term care insurance has special features that distinguish it from some other types of insurance.

For instance, unlike auto insurance, which is mandatory in most states, long-term care insurance is entirely voluntary and most people do not purchase it. Also, it’s less likely to be provided as a benefit by employers than health and life insurance coverage. Finally, timing is a bigger factor with long-term care insurance. When you buy it is a major consideration. Here’s how to factor timing into the decision.

Do You Need Long-Term Care Insurance?

The cost of long-term care can be daunting. According to LongTermCare.gov, the price of a semi-private room in a nursing home averages $6,844 per month or $82,128 per year. However, that doesn’t mean everybody needs long-term care.

People who have significant assets that they want to protect from having to expend for long-term care are more likely to benefit from long-term care insurance than someone who has a small net worth. Also, good candidates for long-term care insurance generally will have a good income so they can pay the premiums. Gender can also be a factor since women who need long-term care typically need it longer than men.

When to Buy Long-Term Care Insurance

Buying long-term care insurance isn’t cut and dry for everyone and there are a number of things that you need to consider. Chief among these considerations might be the timing of when you buy. If you think you want to buy long-term care insurance, here are considerations on timing:

Coverage is permanent: Once you acquire a policy, you are covered for life as long as you keep paying the premiums. Your coverage can’t be canceled except for non-payment or if you voluntarily relinquish the policy.
Premiums are expensive: The average premium for a 55-year-old man with $165,000 in immediate coverage in 2022 was $2,220 per year, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI).
Premiums are likely to go up: While your insurer can’t hike your personal premium because you get older or have a claim, it is not uncommon for premiums for groups of policyholders to go up periodically and, sometimes, steeply.
Health matters: If you are in less than good health when you apply, your initial premium will be higher than if you buy a policy when you are healthy. For that reason, it’s often better to buy long-term care insurance before your health starts to fail.
Age matters: If you are older when you buy long-term care, even if still healthy, you’ll pay more than if you bought at a younger age.
You have to qualify to even get coverage: If you are seriously ill or already need long-term care when you move to buy a policy, you may be rejected. Again, the time to buy it is before you need it.

These considerations combine to complicate the decision of when to buy long-term care coverage. For instance, if you buy insurance at a younger age, many years before you are likely to need it, you’ll be paying expensive premiums for many years. And it’s a good idea to keep in mind the fact that, according to the AALTCI, only about half of people who buy long-term care insurance ever use it. The rest have paid their premiums for no tangible financial benefit.

Add it up and the most common time when people buy long-term care insurance is between ages 55 and 65. In many buyers’ estimation, this is the sweet spot between having to pay higher premiums if they wait to purchase and having to pay lower premiums for a longer time if they purchase sooner.

The Bottom Line

Timing is an important consideration when deciding whether or not to buy long-term care insurance. Most purchasers acquire coverage when they are aged 55-65. Waiting longer risks having to pay higher premiums because of advancing age or declining health. Buying sooner means having to pay premiums for a longer period of time before the coverage is likely to be of value. Individual circumstances, such as family health history, personal assets and income also may be important factors in deciding when or even whether to buy long-term care insurance.

Tips for Buying Insurance

A financial advisor can help you decide how and whether long-term care insurance fits into your overall financial plan. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
If you are considering buying life insurance, you are probably wondering how much coverage to get. SmartAsset’s life insurance calculator can give you an answer based on your location, age, income and other factors.

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/tuan_azizi, ©iStock.com/JLco – Julia Amaral, ©iStock.com/Sunan Wongsa-nga

Mark Henricks
Mark Henricks has reported on personal finance, investing, retirement, entrepreneurship and other topics for more than 30 years. His freelance byline has appeared on CNBC.com and in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and other leading publications. Mark has written books including, “Not Just A Living: The Complete Guide to Creating a Business That Gives You A Life.” His favorite reporting is the kind that helps ordinary people increase their personal wealth and life satisfaction. A graduate of the University of Texas journalism program, he lives in Austin, Texas. In his spare time he enjoys reading, volunteering, performing in an acoustic music duo, whitewater kayaking, wilderness backpacking and competing in triathlons.

Source: smartasset.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 6, 2023 by Brett Tams

If you live or work in Delaware, it’s important to find the right bank for your unique goals. Fortunately, there are plenty of options at your disposal.

In addition to its beautiful beaches, affordable housing, and historical landmarks, the First State is home to many reputable banks that are member FDIC for your peace of mind and ideal for your personal or business finances.

13 Best Banks in Delaware

While some have local branches throughout the state, others are online only. To make your search for the ideal financial institution a bit easier, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you and listed the best banks in Delaware below.

1. The Bank of Delmarva

The Bank of Delmarva is a small community bank with branches in Ocean City, Salisbury, and Sussex County. Its lineup of personal banking accounts and services includes the best checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, CDs, and IRAs.

If you’re a small business owner, rest assured that it offers business loans, commercial products, and merchant services. Compared to other banks in the state, it offers low fees and competitive interest rates. Plus, it’s earned stellar reviews for its customer service. We can’t forget the intuitive mobile app you can use to manage your banking while you’re out and about.

2. Chime

Chime is a digital bank redefining traditional banking norms. With no physical branches, Chime stands out by providing a simple yet intuitive suite of financial products, all managed from their highly rated mobile app. The bank offers a fee-free¹ checking account, a savings account, and a secured credit card.

The checking account, with no minimum balance and no overdraft fees, is particularly impressive. Its standout feature, SpotMe⁵, allows qualifying users to overdraw by up to $200 without fees. Meanwhile, the savings account is made appealing with an automatic savings feature, making it simple to save without thinking.

Notably, Chime gives the benefit of receiving paychecks up to two days early² with direct deposit setup, a major plus for budgeting and financial planning. Its secured credit card is also a boon, helping users build credit over time through responsible usage and consistent payments.

3. TD Bank

TD Bank is a solid pick for a national bank with a handful of locations in the First State. With TD Bank, you can expect a plethora of products and services, no fees on international transactions, and a highly rated mobile banking app.

From personal and business checking accounts and savings accounts to personal loans, IRAs, and mortgages, TD Bank truly offers it all. If you open an account, you might qualify for a generous bonus. Also, if you’re a student or young adult, you won’t have to worry about monthly maintenance fees or service fees. You might also be able to waive these fees if you maintain a high balance in your accounts.

4. M&T Bank

M&T Bank has many locations in Delaware in cities like Wilmington and New Castle. Even if you don’t live in an area with a physical M&T location, you can enjoy digital banking and conveniences like Zelle transfers and mobile deposits. When it comes to checking accounts, M&T Bank offers four options.

The EZ Choice Checking is your best bet for a basic, free checking account while MyWay Banking is a checkless account that doesn’t charge overdraft fees. MyChoice Plus is an interest-bearing account, just like MyChoice Premium, which offers competitive rates on loans and other products.

In addition to these noteworthy checking accounts, you’re sure to appreciate M&T’s large ATM network and no monthly fees.

5. Artisans’ Bank

Artisans’ Bank has served Delaware since 1861. Today, it has 12 branch locations in the First State as well as two commercial lending offices. Artisans’ list of personal banking products includes checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, debit cards, and branded credit cards with cash back rewards.

The bank also serves small businesses in Delaware with small business banking products such as business bank accounts, business credit cards, and business loans. Even though Artisans’ is a local bank with a physical presence, it offers online banking services so you can manage your accounts online.

6. Capital One

Capital One is a large bank with a reputation for no minimum deposit requirements or monthly maintenance fees. While there are no Capital One branches in Delaware, the bank is worth considering if you prefer online banking. You can apply for and manage personal and business accounts online.

Speaking of accounts, its flagship account is the 360 Performance Savings that makes it a breeze to earn interest on your hard earned money. In addition to an impressive interest rate, there is no minimum balance required so you can open an account with any amount. Other perks there is a highly rated mobile app and free credit card monitoring.

7. Axos Bank

Axos Bank is a digital bank with competitive interest rates on checking and savings accounts, which are free of monthly fees and ATM fees. Even if you live in Delaware, you can perform your banking through Axos online or via the intuitive mobile app, which comes with mobile check deposits, fund transfers, and mobile bill pay.

The bank’s checking accounts offer rewards while the savings accounts stand out for their ATM cards. Speaking of ATMs, Axos Bank will reimburse you for ATM fees on many of its accounts. In addition to its personal banking products, Axos specializes in new mortgages, mortgage refinancing, HELOCs and home equity loans, car loans, personal loans, and managed investment portfolios.

8. Barclays Bank

Barclays Bank operates in Wilmington. It’s a global bank that serves all U.S. states with several banking products. Even though there is only one branch in Delaware, it offers an online portal and a highly rated mobile app so you can bank from anywhere.

As a customer, you’ll enjoy benefits like a high interest rate on high-yield savings accounts and CDs. If you do open a CD with Barclays, you’ll also reap the benefits of low withdrawal penalties. In addition, the bank’s customer service line is available seven days a week to answer any questions or concerns you might have.

9. Community Bank Delaware

Community Bank Delaware is exactly what it sounds like: a community bank based in Delaware. Since it’s locally owned and managed, it focuses on personalized customer service and community support.

At this bank, you’ll find checking accounts, personal savings accounts, time deposits, personal loans, personal credit cards, mortgages, and home equity loans. Community Bank also serves local small business owners with products to support their business operations, such as checking accounts, business savings accounts, business credit cards, and merchant services.

Additional banking solutions include online banking, wire transfers, cashiers checks, night depositary services, direct deposit, and safe deposit boxes.

10. PNC Bank

PNC Bank is a national bank with over 30 branches in cities such as Dover, Bear, Wilmington, and Newark. Its deposit accounts and other products are designed to meet all your banking needs. Virtual Wallet Spend is a combination checking and a long term savings account with a generous sign-up bonus and features like online bill pay, free mobile banking, and a debit card.

While there is a monthly maintenance fee, you can avoid this monthly fee if you maintain a direct deposit balance. PNC also offers loans, such as mortgages, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, personal loans, student loans, and refinancing products. With the PNC mobile app, you’ll be able to manage your accounts while you’re on the go.

11. Ally Bank

Ally Bank is an online bank with competitive rates on savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs. Thanks to its low overhead costs, Ally doesn’t charge monthly maintenance fees or impose minimum balance requirements.

You can access your money and make cash transactions at more than 43,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network, which Ally has joined. If you have certain savings goals, you’ll love Ally’s “buckets” feature. With the buckets, you’ll be able to organize your funds and receive personalized recommendations that allow you to save.

12. Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the U.S. with no shortage of physical branches and ATMs throughout Delaware so you can easily deposit cash. Just like most large banks, Wells Fargo offers a full suite of banking products, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, home loans, personal loans, and auto loans.

Investment and retirement accounts as well as wealth management services are available too. You can invest on your own or take advantage of a financial advisor that will help you come with a personalized financial plan. Whether you’re an individual or a small business owner, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for at Wells. If you open an account, you may be eligible for a cash sign on bonus.

13. WSFS Bank

WSFS Bank is a regional bank and a subsidiary of a financial services company called WSFS Financial Corporation. Based in Delaware and Greater Philadelphia, WSFS Bank is known as one of the oldest banks in the country.

It offers a wide range of personal banking services, like checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, loans, and wealth management. Its certificates of deposit (CDs) feature competitive interest rates you might not be able to find elsewhere and the WSFS Bank Philadelphia Union Visa® Debit Card comes with contactless pay and access to more than 670 ATMs in Delaware and Philadelphia.

At WSFS Bank, you can also take advantage of business banking services, like SVP management, cash management, and merchant services.

Delaware Banking Options

There are three main types of banks in Delaware, including national banks, community banks, and online banks. Here’s a brief overview of each one.

National Banks

National banks are large banks that can be seen throughout Delaware and other states. These banks typically offer a long list of products for individuals and business owners, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, retirement accounts, credit cards, and mortgages. Some examples include TD Bank, Wells Fargo, and PNC Bank.

Community Banks

Community banks are designed to serve local communities in Delaware. You’ll find that these banks prioritize personal customer service. Community Bank Delaware and the Bank of Delmarva are two community banks in the First State.

Online Banks

Online banks operate online and don’t have physical locations in Delaware. Since their overhead costs are lower than banks with brick-and-mortar branches, online banks usually provide lower fees and higher interest rates. Chime, Axos Bank, Ally, and UK-based Barclays Bank are great online banking options in Delaware.

Bottom Line

Delaware has plenty of banks and other financial institutions to help you meet your financial goals. Before you choose one, consider your priorities and weigh the pros and cons of all your options.

If you like an in-person banking experience, a community bank might make sense. On the flip side, if you prefer online and mobile banking, an online bank is likely the way to go. Good luck with your search for the best bank in Delaware.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Delaware banks keep my money safe?

Most banks insure your deposits up to 250,000 with the FDIC or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Other services like fraud protection can also give you some peace of mind for your linked accounts.

What are the most popular banks in Delaware?

The banks with the most branches in Delaware include PNC Bank, M&T Bank, and WSFS Bank. If in-person banking is important to you, these banks should definitely be on your radar.

Can I open a bank account in Delaware as a non-resident?

Yes. In most cases, you can open an interest earning account or business savings account even if you don’t live in Delaware. You’ll likely need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. Credit Builder card issued by Stride Bank, N.A.

1. Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply with Chime except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.

2. Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment ﬁle from the payer. Chime generally make these funds available on the day the payment ﬁle is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.

5. Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.

Source: crediful.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 6, 2023 by Brett Tams

Reaching financial independence is like the holy grail of financial goals. After all, the ability to no longer need to work for money to live on is incredibly enticing.

Just imagine what you could do with that newfound freedom!

But the path to financial independence (or FI for short) is usually not glamorous. It requires hard work and dedication to make steady progress towards your ultimate goal of FI. But there are some strategies that can help you achieve your goal of financial independence.

Let’s take a look at these expert tips from people who have actually reached FI, or are seriously dedicated to the path of achieving it. You might find a tip that helps to transform your financial trajectory.

What’s Ahead:

1. Identify your “FI number”

Financial independence happens once you have enough money saved and invested to never need to work another day in your life. Although you might decide to work at a job you love, there is great freedom in knowing that you’ll never have to work another day in your life.

A big part of the financial independence journey is determining just how much money you’ll actually need to make this dream a reality. That number is your FI number, the goal that you should strive for when you decide to seriously pursue FI.

Although there are a few different schools of thought about how to calculate your FI number, this general rule of thumb is a great place to start:

Your annual expenses x 25 = your FI number

Personally, I am at the beginning of my journey to FIRE (Financial independence/retire early). I’m only a small part of the way to achieving the FI number that I have in mind.

But having mine in mind has helped me stay motivated to save extra diligently. I highly recommend nailing down what your FI number is, too. You might be surprised by how much having a concrete goal in mind keeps you focused on the savings goal — at least that has helped me so far!

2. Pay down debts that stand in your way

Net worth is a big part of achieving financial independence. When you check out your net worth, the debts you have will drag this number down.

With that in mind, David Alyor, recommends paying off your debts as soon as possible. As a lawyer in the final stretches of his financial independence, he says,

“After almost a decade of post-secondary studies, paying off student debts was painful, but I stayed the course and paid as aggressively as I could to get rid of my debts as quickly as possible.”

Alyor says the key to his success with debt repayment was to make a written repayment plan. Additionally, he regularly checked in with his shrinking loan balances to stay motivated along the way. He expands,

“If you’re finding it tough to make as much progress as you’d like, it’s time to look for a side hustle to increase your income earning potential and drop your debt even faster.”

3. Avoid lifestyle inflation

Lifestyle inflation is easy to justify. After all, shouldn’t you take advantage of the best that your paycheck can buy as it increases? If you are trying to achieve financial independence, then saying no to lifestyle inflation is critical.

James Diel, CEO of Textel, achieved FI several years ago. Diel says:

“Saying no to keeping up with the Jones’ helped me stick to a moderate budget that included saving 30% of my monthly income toward retirement and avoiding unnecessary big purchases that get in the way of saving.”

He recommends putting this into practice by:

“making some smart money moves early on in your career and keeping your budget low without severely depriving yourself of the things you want helps you maximize your investment profits, so you can save less now and still end up with an ample nest egg.”

4. Prioritize savings

Saving for a big goal is easier said than done. This is especially true when life throws expenses your way.

But it is possible to boost your savings by making those savings a priority. Or in other words, making it a point to pay yourself first.

Minesh Patel, CEO of the Patel Firm, is so close to FI that he hopes to achieve this big goal within the year. But when he was just starting his journey to FI, he says,

“The most critical way I could save for financial freedom, even as a young graduate with a tight budget, was to pay myself first.”

Paying yourself first sounds like a great idea. But what does it actually look like in practice? For Patel, the journey began by automatically investing some of his earnings into retirement savings every month. With that, he knew that savings weren’t being compromised. Patel says:

“Somehow, being aggressive with savings up-front and seeing less in your checking account during the month makes you feel like you don’t have the money to spend frivolously.”

5. Spend on what matters to you

Kara Metcalf and her husband reached FI in their mid-thirties and left corporate jobs to RV full-time. One of her tips is to spend with purpose.

“Every dollar you spend is a dollar that you’ll never get back.”

She encourages those on the path to FI to consider every purchase as a choice to exchange time being FI in the future so that you can have that item now. She says:

“That perspective helped me adopt a minimalist lifestyle and reduced my consumerism greatly. I really didn’t need another pair of jeans when there was nothing wrong with all of the others in my closet.”

Before you make a purchase, make sure that the item is worth it to you. You’ll have to decide for yourself what is ‘worth it.’ But taking the time to think through your purchases could lead to a decrease in spending.

6. Boost your income

The savings you create must come from the difference between your spending and your investing. Unfortunately, frugality will only get you so far.

At some point, you may need to look at the other side of the equation and boost your income to increase your savings.

Sam Zelinka, the creator of Government Worker FI, is 86% of the way to his FI goal. For his family, increasing their income was a big part of working towards financial independence.

“We’ve primarily raised our income by earning promotions in our traditional job. At the same time, we both have some small side hustles that we have used to help pay off our mortgage more rapidly.”

7. Take care of yourself along the way

It is easy to let your determination to achieve FI push you beyond your limits. But pushing yourself too hard could lead to premature burnout.

Avner Brodsky achieved financial independence through entrepreneurship. He recommends taking the time to understand your limits and learning how to play within these limits. Brodsky says:

“Understanding your limitations and being okay with admitting weakness will only benefit you in your journey of learning. Taking care of your mental health is essential when working toward FI because if you are struggling, your work will struggle.”

Take whatever actions you need to take care of yourself along the way. Remember, it is absolutely okay to slow down on your journey. Don’t push yourself beyond a healthy limit.

8. Invest for the future

Adam Garcia, the founder of the Stock Dork, is well on his way to financial independence. His tip is to consider a smart investment strategy that goes beyond savings. Garcia says:

“The idea of financial independence can easily turn on its head if you follow it blindly. For most people, the most intuitive way to start is by scrimping and saving as much as they possibly can – some even manage to set aside half of their earnings every month!”

But simply saving won’t supercharge your path to financial independence. Garcia expands:

“If you want an efficient FI strategy, you need to complement your saving efforts with investment. In other words, for every penny you save, it’s good to invest another penny so that it could eventually turn into two pennies.”

For Garcia, this concept is what he calls:

“having your cake and nibbling at it, too. It’s only possible and viable if the cake is growing at a sufficient rate that your nibbling will never cause it to disappear.”

9. Don’t try to sprint to the finish line

Financial independence is a major money goal. In most cases, it will take years (or maybe even decades) to achieve.

Anthony from The Investor Handbook wants to remind us that:

“personal finance is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

When you are just getting started, the difference might not be noticeable. But over time, you’ll see real progress.

As you approach your journey to financial independence, Anthony recommends thinking about the journey like working out.

“A single session working on your abs won’t give you a flat stomach, but keep at it for ten years, and you’ll definitely be rocking that six-pack.”

Imagine where you could be in ten years by choosing to make progress towards your FI goals with every paycheck. The commitment to FI could transform your life through small efforts over time.

10. Focus on your own journey

Throughout every facet of our lives, it is easy to get caught up in comparisons. That holds true for personal finances, as well.

Kara Metcalf (waiting on link) recommends focusing on your own journey. She says:

“If you compare your life to your friends, family, or coworkers, you’ll usually feel deprived or lacking because you will be saving money rather than going on extravagant vacations, buying a new wardrobe each season, or eating out every day.”

For Kara, she also says that:

“In my 20s, I hated eating my packed lunch every day while my coworkers were going out to lunch. But in my 40s, those friends still get up before the sun rises every day to commute to full-time, oftentimes soul-sucking jobs. I wake up naturally (without an alarm) and spend my days exploring beautiful new places every day.”

Remember that everyone’s journey is different. Make it a priority to focus on your own goals, and stop comparing your life to others.

Summary

The path to financial independence will look different for everyone. As you navigate the journey, tailor your spending patterns to strike a balance between your current needs and your future desires.

What steps are you taking to achieve financial independence? Let us know in the comments!

Apache is functioning normally

June 6, 2023 by Brett Tams

Taxes are unavoidable but that doesn’t mean you have to pay more than you owe. What happens to your tax liability with proper financial planning? The simple answer is that it can allow you to minimize what you owe while preserving more of your income to fund your financial goals. Talking to a financial advisor is a good first step in creating a strategy for effectively managing tax liability.

Understanding Tax Liability

Tax liability refers to the money that an individual, business or organization owes to a federal, state or local tax authority. A simpler way to think of your tax liability is the difference between your taxable income and the tax deductions you’re able to claim.

As a general rule of thumb, earning a higher income can result in a higher tax liability. The U.S. uses a graduated tax system, which means that income and tax rates move together. As income increases, so does your tax rate.

The amount you pay in taxes is determined by your income, but capital gains can also affect your tax liability. That’s important to know if you’re focused on investing and building wealth, as higher net-worth individuals may face a steeper tax liability if they’re reaping capital gains from investments.

What Happens to Your Tax Liability With Proper Financial Planning?

Managing your tax liability is important as it can directly influence how much of your income or investment earnings you get to keep. The more income and assets you have to work with, the easier it becomes to build wealth.

Proper financial planning can help you implement strategies that are designed to minimize taxes while maximizing income and assets. Having a solid financial plan in place can generate significant tax savings year by year. You can then use those savings to generate additional income through investments, grow your retirement accounts and increase your net worth.

Does financial planning require you to work with a financial advisor? Not necessarily. You could always go it alone. But there are some distinct advantages to having a financial advisor help you formulate a plan for managing tax liability.

Financial advisors have extensive knowledge about how tax planning can affect your financial plan. A good advisor is also familiar with the tax code and the latest tax rules. Even if you think you have a relatively straightforward tax situation, a financial advisor may be able to pinpoint areas where you can improve tax efficiency that you might have missed.

Financial Planning Strategies for Minimizing Tax Liability

There are different ways to approach tax planning in order to reduce your tax bill, depending on the specifics of your situation. If you’re working with a financial advisor to create a tax plan, then it may include any or all of the following.

Retirement Planning

Retirement planning is a focal point of a solid financial plan, particularly with regard to taxes. Aside from ensuring that you have enough money to retire, it’s also important to consider how much of your savings you’ll be able to keep once you start making withdrawals.

In terms of how you plan for retirement, your financial advisor may suggest any of the following:

Maxing out annual contributions to a traditional 401(k) or to a Roth 401(k) if you have that option.
Contributing money to a traditional or Roth IRA each year.
Funding a Health Savings Account (HSA) if you have that option with a high deductible health plan.

If you’re self-employed or own a business, you might open a solo 401(k), SEP IRA or SIMPLE IRA to save for retirement instead. It’s important to understand the tax treatment of different retirement savings options.

For example, traditional 401(k) plans and traditional IRAs allow for tax-deductible contributions. Qualified distributions are taxed as ordinary income in retirement. Roth accounts don’t offer a tax deduction, but you can make withdrawals tax-free when you retire.

A Health Savings Account is not a retirement account, per se. It’s meant to be used to save money for medical expenses, but it can double as a source of retirement income since you can withdraw funds for any purpose after age 65 without a tax penalty. You’ll just owe regular income tax on withdrawals.

Investment Planning

Investment planning is related to retirement planning, but it can include different aspects of managing tax liability. For instance, say that you’re investing through a taxable brokerage account, which is subject to capital gains tax. Your financial advisor can offer different strategies for managing tax liability, which may include:

Holding investments longer than one year to take advantage of the more favorable long-term capital gains tax rate.
Choosing tax-efficient investments, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which can trigger fewer turnover events than traditional mutual funds.
Harvesting tax losses to offset some or all of your capital gains for the year.

Your advisor may also be able to guide you on how to deduct expenses related to investment properties if you own one or more rental homes. They could also help with executing a 1031 exchange if you’re interested in swapping out one property for another to minimize capital gains tax.

Tax Deductions and Credits

Tax deductions reduce your taxable income, which can help to push you into a lower tax bracket for the year. There are numerous expenses you might be able to deduct, including:

Mortgage interest
State and local taxes
Charitable donations
Business expenses
Self-employment expenses
Medical expenses
Student loan interest

Tax credits, meanwhile, reduce what you owe in taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis. For instance, if you owe $1,000 in taxes and qualify for a $1,000 tax credit, the credit can wipe out what you owe. Some credits are refundable which can increase the size of your tax refund for the year. A financial advisor can walk you through the various deductions and credits you might be eligible to take in order to reduce your tax liability.

Withdrawal Planning

As you approach retirement, it’s important to consider how you’ll withdraw the money that you’ve saved. Your advisor can discuss different strategies for withdrawing money from a 401(k), IRA or taxable brokerage account so that you’re not overpaying taxes or draining your retirement reserves too quickly.

Your advisor may also discuss ways to tax-friendly ways to create supplemental income in retirement, such as purchasing an annuity or taking out a reverse mortgage. An advisor can also help you figure out when to take Social Security benefits to maximize your payment amount and how to coordinate those benefits with other sources of income in retirement.

The Bottom Line

Knowing what happens to your tax liability with proper financial planning is important for creating a long-term strategy for growing wealth. Handing over more money than you need to in taxes doesn’t offer any tangible benefit and it can be problematic if it leaves you with less money to save and invest. Having a trusted financial advisor to work with can ensure that you’re meeting your tax obligations without shortchanging your goals.

Financial Planning Tips

Tax planning can seem complicated if you’re not well-versed in the Internal Revenue Code. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Robo advisors can offer a more affordable way to manage financial planning, as the fees may be lower than what traditional advisors charge. However, it’s important to know what you’re getting for the money. For example, some robo-advisors offer tax loss harvesting but not all of them do. Additionally, robo-advisors aren’t really equipped to offer one on one advice about tax planning or investing. Those are good reasons to consider working with a human advisor instead, even if it means paying a slightly higher fee.

Rebecca Lake, CEPF®
Rebecca Lake is a retirement, investing and estate planning expert who has been writing about personal finance for a decade. Her expertise in the finance niche also extends to home buying, credit cards, banking and small business. She’s worked directly with several major financial and insurance brands, including Citibank, Discover and AIG and her writing has appeared online at U.S. News and World Report, CreditCards.com and Investopedia. Rebecca is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and she also attended Charleston Southern University as a graduate student. Originally from central Virginia, she now lives on the North Carolina coast along with her two children.

Source: smartasset.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 6, 2023 by Brett Tams

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It’s Friday, and you’re looking forward to a relaxing weekend in town with friends. You log into your online banking portal to check your balance, but your account keeps giving you an annoying “account not found” error.

Panic sets in and questions flood your mind. Did I do something wrong? Why was my account suddenly closed? Don’t worry. You’re not alone in your panic. Many banking customers have found themselves in similar situations, left to unravel the mysteries of why the bank closed their account.

In the world of banking, account closures can happen for various reasons, and understanding why can save you a lot of frustration and inconvenience.

Reasons the Bank May Close Your Account

There are many reasons your bank could close your account, from irresponsible behavior to fraudulent activity. No matter the reason, your bank should inform you, so the first step is to look through your unopened mail for notifications about any of these circumstances.

1. Insufficient Funds

If your debit card frequently gets denied, your bank might decide to part ways with you. Some banks require you to keep a minimum amount of cash in your account. If your balance consistently falls below that, the bank will close your account since you’re violating its policies. Understanding how to manage your finances effectively can help you avoid this situation altogether.

To avoid overdrawing your account:

Turn on alerts through your bank’s mobile app.
Create a budget.
Keep a buffer amount in your account as a cushion for unexpected expenses.
Sign up for overdraft protection.

2. Suspicious Activity

In a time of frequent cyberthreats, banks prioritize the security of their customers’ accounts above all else. So if they detect any unusual or suspicious activity on your account, they might close it.

This activity can come in the form of identity theft or fraudulent transactions. Banks have sophisticated systems in place to monitor account activity and identify potentially fraudulent transactions. If they notice any suspicious patterns, such as multiple large transactions in a short period or transactions in unfamiliar locations, they’ll take immediate action to protect your account and other customers.

To safeguard your account and prevent account closure due to suspicious activity:

Regularly check in on your account through your bank’s online portal or mobile app.
Enable transaction alerts that notify you of any activity on your account, good or bad.
Report suspicious transactions to your bank immediately.

3. Violation of Terms & Conditions

Having a bank account requires adhering to the terms and conditions set forth by your bank. They’re all laid out in the ridiculously long document the bank sent you when you first signed up for the account. You likely had to check a box saying you agree to them. Violating these terms and conditions can result in account closure.

A few common violations that can lead to this closure include:

Illegal activities, such as money laundering, fraudulent schemes, or financing illegal ventures.
Policy violations like using a personal account for business purposes or failing to maintain a certain minimum balance.
Engaging in fraudulent behavior, such as providing false information, submitting fraudulent documents, or attempting to deceive the bank.

If you have any questions or concerns, reach out before agreeing to your bank’s terms and conditions.

4. Inactivity

Believe it or not, simply leaving your account dormant for an extended period can lead to its closure. Banks close inactive accounts as a means to streamline operations and reduce costs.

After all, having an account with no money in it isn’t making them anything in terms of profits. Additionally, inactive accounts are more vulnerable to fraudulent activities, so banks prefer to close them to minimize risk.

To prevent your account from closing due to inactivity:

Use your account for at least one transaction per month, even a small one like autopaying a streaming service.
Set reminders or alerts on your calendar or phone to use your account.
Automate your recurring payments.

5. Relationship With the Bank

Your relationship with your bank plays a significant role in the overall banking experience, for both you and your bank. In some cases, rude or aggressive behavior or treatment of bank staff influences the bank’s decision to close an account.

Additionally, if you repeatedly fail to comply with reasonable requests, such as providing required documentation, responding to inquiries, or addressing potential issues, it could lead to an account closure.

Maintaining a respectful relationship with your bank’s staff and following the bank’s rules are crucial, so to foster a positive banking experience:

Communicate politely and professionally.
Understand and comply with your bank’s guidelines.
If you have any questions, concerns, or issues, reach out to the bank.

How to Get Your Closed Bank Account Reopened

Experiencing the unexpected closure of your bank account is likely a stressful situation, especially if it was for anything other than inactivity. If you respond promptly and take the necessary steps to address the issue, you should be able to get your account up and running again fairly quickly.

1. Contact the Bank

When you discover your bank has closed your account, don’t wait to contact them. Reach out immediately.

Approach this conversation with a calm and polite demeanor. Clearly explain your situation, provide any relevant details, and ask for specific information regarding the closure of your account. Be prepared to provide identifying information, such as your account number and full name.

It’s beneficial to keep a record of the conversation, noting the date, time, and the name of the representative you spoke with.

2. Seek Alternatives

There are times when an account closure can provide you with an opportunity. If your bank closed your account because you can’t keep up with its requirements or you simply aren’t using the account anymore, maybe it’s time to find another bank.

To find a better option for your financial needs:

Research different banks and credit unions. Take the time to research various banks and credit unions to find one that aligns with your financial goals and preferences. Look at factors such as fees, account features, customer service, accessibility, and the convenience of branch locations or online and mobile platforms.
Compare account options. Look into the different types of accounts offered by the banks you’re considering. Would a checking account work better for you? Or maybe a money market account?
Evaluate customer reviews and ratings. Customer reviews are the best way to get a feel for a company. Online platforms, review websites, and personal recommendations can provide valuable insights into the banking experience you should expect.
Ensure you can meet minimum requirements: Pay attention to the minimum requirements each bank sets for opening and maintaining the account. Ensure you can comfortably meet these requirements, such as minimum deposit amounts or monthly balance thresholds, to avoid potential closure in the future.

3. Resolve Any Outstanding Issues

Having your bank account closed doesn’t necessarily solve the problem. You must proactively address any outstanding issues to minimize the negative impact on your financial history.

Contact the bank quickly. Reach out to your bank to discuss any outstanding fees, overdrafts, or disputes associated with your closed account. Request a detailed breakdown of any outstanding balances or charges.
Negotiate a resolution. Engage in a constructive conversation with the bank representative to negotiate a resolution that is fair and reasonable on both sides. If you’re facing financial hardship, explain your situation and explore possible options for fee waivers, reduced payment plans, or debt settlement arrangements.
Address overdrafts and negative balances. If your closed account had any overdrafts or negative balances, work with the bank to establish a repayment plan, or pay the balance in full.
Retrieve your remaining funds. If there were funds still in your closed account, the bank provides you with a few different options to receive those funds. That can involve issuing a check, transferring the funds to another active account, or utilizing alternative payment methods.
Monitor your credit report. After resolving any outstanding issues, monitor your credit report to ensure that the closure of your account and any related matters are accurately reflected. If you notice any inaccuracies or discrepancies, dispute them with the credit reporting agencies to maintain a clean credit history.

Final Word

Understanding why your bank may close your account is not just about unraveling the mysteries of the banking world; it’s about taking control of your financial well-being.

While the reasons for account closures can sometimes seem arbitrary, there are steps you can take to mitigate the risk and minimize the impact.

If you just can’t make it work with your current bank, it might be time to move on and find one that can meet your needs. Check out our list of the best checking accounts.

Christopher Murray is a professional personal finance and sustainability writer who enjoys writing about everything from budgeting to unique investing options like SRI and cryptocurrency. He also focuses on how sustainability is the best savings tool around. You can find his work on sites like Bankrate, Money Crashers, FinanceBuzz, Investor Junkie, and Time.

Source: moneycrashers.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 6, 2023 by Brett Tams

Investment banking is a specialized area of the financial services industry that focuses on aiding governments, corporations and other entities to raise capital and complete mergers and acquisitions. The term “investment banker” refers to an individual who works for an investment bank that offers these services.

Investment banking is typically considered to be a prestigious career, and becoming an investment banker can be lucrative for those willing to complete the necessary education and training.

What Is an Investment Banker?

Investment bankers work for investment banks, which are effectively middlemen between entities that need capital and entities that provide it. In simpler terms, investment bankers help their clients to expand and grow their businesses or operations.

Another way to think of an investment banker is as a financial advisor to governments, corporations, and other businesses. As part of their professional duties, they may guide clients in making financial decisions that directly or indirectly affect their bottom line.

Investment bankers are most often associated with Wall Street, though they work in cities throughout the world. Some of the largest investment banks in the United States include Goldman Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Blackstone.

What Do Investment Bankers Do?

Investment bankers play an important role in helping companies achieve their financial goals. When a corporation is planning an upcoming expansion project, for instance, its board may turn to an investment bank for help. An investment banker can analyze the company’s financial situation to determine the best way to meet its needs.

In terms of the specific tasks an investment banker may carry out, that depends largely on the type of clients they work with.

Assisting With Initial Public Offerings

Investment bankers can play a critical role in helping clients secure capital. Depending on the client, this can be done through a variety of means, including the launch of an initial public offering (IPO).

An initial public offering, or IPO, allows private companies to offer shares of its stock to the public for the first time. The investment banker assists by creating a prospectus explaining the details of the IPO, marketing it to potential investors, and navigating Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) compliance rules.

Investment bankers are key to whether the company’s IPO is a success. They help determine the initial price of the offering, which is critical. Pricing too high could scare off investors, while going too low could undercut their client’s profits.

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Bond Issuance

Government agencies and corporations often use bonds as a fundraising tool. For example, if a city government needs money to improve local roads they might issue a municipal bond to fund the project. Investors purchase the bonds on the bond market, giving the government the capital it needs to complete the road updates. Investors can hold onto the bond and earn interest on it, or they can sell it to another investor.

As with an IPO, an investment banker’s role in issuing bonds may include preparing the bond issuance documents, setting a price, submitting it to the SEC for approval, and marketing the bond to investors to raise capital.

Recommended: Federal Reserve Interest Rates, Explained

Equity and Debt Financing

Equity and debt financing are two other ways that companies can tap into funding. With equity financing, companies raise capital by selling an ownership share in the business. Venture capital and private equity are common examples of equity financing.

Debt financing involves taking out loans or lines of credit, without giving up ownership stakes. An investment banker can help companies assess which type of financing makes more sense for their business model, and help them work through the process of securing the funding.

For example, investment bankers may work with startups to pitch angel investors, while they might help more established companies compare and select loan options.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Another common task that investment bankers assist companies with is mergers and acquisitions. In a merger, two companies enter into an agreement to become a single business entity. Each company is treated as an equal in the transaction. An acquisition, on the other hand, involves one company purchasing another.

In either type of arrangement, companies may use investment bankers to oversee the process. This could involve negotiating the terms of a merger or acquisition and reporting the details of the transaction to the SEC to ensure compliance. When a company considers an acquisition, investment bankers can also help identify and vet potential targets.

Recommended: What Happens to a Stock During a Merger?

Investing and Asset Management

While investment bankers’ duties primarily revolve around raising capital for their clients, there are other services they may perform. This can include things like:

• Investment research and analysis

• Buying and selling securities

• Offering advisory services

• Asset management

These services are similar to what a personal financial advisor might offer their clients.

How to Become an Investment Banker

If you’re interested in a career in investment banking, there are a few things to know. In terms of education, a bachelor’s degree is typically a minimum requirement for most investment banker jobs. Though some investment banks may look for candidates that have earned a higher degree of education, such as an MBA or a graduate-level degree in finance.

Aside from education, there are certain skills that may help you be successful as an investment banker. Those include:

• Ability to perform under pressure

• Good communication skills

• Solid marketing skills

• Firm grasp of financial markets and modeling

• Strong attention to detail

Depending on your responsibilities, you may also need a securities license. That may include completing one of more of the following licensing exams:

• Series 7 General Securities Representative Qualification Examination (GS)

• Series 79 Investment Banking Representatives Exam

• Series 63 Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam

Before you can take these exams, you first have to be employed and sponsored by a FINRA-member firm or other self-regulatory organization member.

Taking and passing the Securities Industries Essentials (SIE) Exam could help improve your chances of being hired as an intern or junior employee. That process begins early, with many banks hiring summer interns more than a year ahead of the start of the program.

How Much Do Investment Bankers Make?

Investment bankers generally earn above-average salaries. Even at the entry level, it’s possible to make $100,000 or more, and salaries for top Wall Street bankers can easily range into the millions or tens of millions. But investment banking is one of the hardest jobs on Wall Street. So, if you’re not prepared to routinely work 100-hour weeks or constantly be on-call for your clients, it may not be the job for you.

The Takeaway

Investment bankers work primarily with institutional investors, governments and corporations rather than individual investors. But you can still benefit from the work investment bankers do behind the scenes indirectly.

Investment bankers may work in a variety of roles, such as helping facilitate IPOs, or mergers and acquisitions. It can be a lucrative career path, too, but generally requires a graduate-level education, and additional licensing.

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Photo credit: iStock/fizkes

SoFi Invest®
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Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below.
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For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
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Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 6, 2023 by Brett Tams

“I can’t believe I’m going to be 30!” I told my Dad at the beginning of the year. As I had said the same thing when I turned 20, I knew he would reassure me that 30 actually wasn’t that old.

“Nope, 30’s old,” he said.

Getting older doesn’t bother me; I actually embrace it and all the experiences that come along with it.

That’s also something I say just to make myself feel better.

But it’s working. And as I enter into a new decade of adulthood, I’ve been thinking about my financial situation. How much savings should I have at 30? Financially speaking, am I where a 30-year-old should be? What financial goals should I have at this age?

Let’s find out.

How’s My Retirement Plan Going?

Ah, the age-old financial question — how much should you save for retirement? It’s been covered pretty extensively, and ultimately, it’s about what works for you, as there are so many variables to consider. Especially with my fluctuating income, it’s hard to set standards based on how much I earn. For now, I am saving based on last year’s income, even though this year’s might not be as high. I’d rather err on the side of saving too much, unless the difference becomes drastic.

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But I should be saving even more for my retirement for two big reasons: 1) As I mentioned, my income may vary, so I should save a lot while I can. 2) I don’t have an employer to match any of my contributions.

But before I decide how much more, how much savings should I have at 30?

Fidelity says you should have a year’s salary saved in retirement by age 35. By age 45, you should have three times your income. Judging by that, I should probably have about half of my annual income saved today.

Our friends at Financial Samurai have this to say about where you should be with your retirement savings in your 30s:

“Whatever the case may be, by the time you are 31, you need to have at least one year’s worth of living expenses covered.”

Going by Financial Samurai’s standard, I’m good. My living expenses are relatively low, so I’ve already reached that milestone. But by Fidelity’s standard — half a year’s salary — I’m almost, but not quite, there.

If I put in about $200 extra a month, I should have roughly half a year’s salary in my retirement by the end of the year. I need to increase my contributions, but I’m already maxing out my IRA. And I hate to admit it, but, based on last year’s income, I’m not even hitting the old 10 percent standard.

And here I thought I was doing well.

To my credit, however, last year was a good year income-wise. I may be over-estimating my savings, as this year I might not earn the same amount. But again, I’d rather save too much than too little.

It’s due time to consider additional retirement options; I should probably already have opened a self-employed 401(k). Thus, Financial resolution #1: Save additionally for my retirement and open a new account.

Where Should I Keep My Medium-Term Savings?

As my 30^th birthday approaches, I also happen to be at a fork with my emergency fund. I have more than six months’ worth of living expenses saved and still have enough to pay taxes at the end of the year, since I’m self-employed.

But as I get older, there are certain milestones I should start saving up for. A house? Children? Another cat? Who knows! I’m still not quite sure if I want any of those things within the next five years. But I’ll probably make a decision within that time frame, and I’d like to be financially prepared either way. Now is the time to start saving for whatever the near future may hold.

My 20s were spent getting out of debt and building an emergency fund. I feel like 30 is an age at which I need to start being proactive with how I’m saving. As J.D. once wrote:

“If you hide your money under a rock, your investing skill isn’t particularly good. Although you might think you’re protecting what you’ve saved, you’re actually losing money to inflation.”

Related >> Is investing optional?

So I’ve been investing in my investment education. I’ve diversified my IRA, and my ROI is pretty average. As a novice, I’m OK with average for now. But while I continue my investment education and also decide what it is I want to save for, I plan on doing a couple of things.

Between three and five years is the time frame that I think I might need this money — maybe longer. While I’d like to open an index fund, I’m a little concerned about the risk, especially if I end up wanting the money in the semi-short term. Opening a CD is an appealing option, but the rates aren’t that much better than my savings account.

I can open one or the other, or I can split my savings between both. It’s a decision that I’m in the process of making, and I’ll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, the point is, at 30, it’s about time to start saving smartly. Financial resolution #2: Decide where I want to park my medium-term savings.

Preparing for and Safeguarding the Future

It’s time to make a risk-management checklist. Oh, that’s right. Robert Brokamp already did this for me! He’s great like that.

It’s time to visit some items on this list. That’s my third financial resolution: Prepare for and safeguard the future.

I won’t rehash Brokamp’s entire list. Some items won’t apply to me for a while; some I’ve already got covered. But there are a few things that I’ll need to work on as the future nears.

Asset Protection

While I already have renter’s and auto insurance, taking an inventory of possessions is a great idea, and umbrella insurance is something to consider, too, although I don’t have that many assets.

“Your personal tragedy will be less tragic if you can prove to the insurance company what you owned,” Brokamp writes.

Indeed. Years ago, I worked at a small engineering company. Our building caught on fire one morning and burned to the ground. I spent the next six months interviewing everyone at the company and taking an inventory of every single asset. Amid so many other frustrations, my boss told me that we’d likely have to prove much of what we were claiming.

Thus, part of my third resolution is to follow Brokamp’s advice by taking an inventory of my possessions and looking into risk-management checkpoints for the near future.

Preparing a Will

I hate to admit it, but this is something I haven’t thought about much, despite its importance. Preparing a will, along with other important documents Brokamp mentions, is another financial goal as I turn 30.

I got out of debt and saved some money in my 20s, and maybe that deserved a pat on the back. But as I enter the next decade, it’s time to enter the next era of my finances. I’ve only listed a few major financial resolutions here, but some of them already seem challenging, and there are probably more I’ll discover along the way.

On the bright side, not only will my finances be in better shape, but some of these goals might make for decent GRS topics. Personally, I’m interested to learn more about self-employed 401(k)s and where to put my medium-term savings.

Are there topics you’d like to see fleshed out? Do you have any additional input on what a 30-year-old’s financial goals should be?

Source: getrichslowly.org

$43000 a year is How Much an Hour?

Breakdown Of How Much Is 43k A Year Hourly

Key Points….

How Much is $43K salary Per Month?

$43k a year is how much a week?

$43000 a year is how much biweekly?

How Much Is $43K Salary Per Day

$43000 Salary is…

43k a year is how much an hour after taxes

43k salary lifestyle

What a $43,000 lifestyle will buy you:

When A $43,000 Salary Will Hold you Back:

$43k Salary to Hourly

$43K a year Budget – Example

recommended budget percentages based on $43000 a year salary:

Is $43,000 a year a Good Salary?

Is 43k a good salary for a Single Person?

Is 43k a good salary for a family?

Can you Live on $43000 Per Year?

What Are Social Security Benefits?

How Do Benefits Differ for Single People and Married Couples?

What’s the Maximum Social Security Benefit Married Couples Can Receive?

How Can I Get the Maximum Social Security Benefit?

The Bottom Line

Retirement Planning Tips

Understanding IRS Fresh Start

IRS Fresh Start Tax Relief Options

Who Qualifies for IRS Fresh Start Relief?

IRS Fresh Start Advantages and Disadvantages

The Bottom Line

Tax Planning Tips

Long-Term Care Insurance Basics

Do You Need Long-Term Care Insurance?

When to Buy Long-Term Care Insurance

The Bottom Line

Tips for Buying Insurance

13 Best Banks in Delaware

1. The Bank of Delmarva

2. Chime

3. TD Bank

4. M&T Bank

5. Artisans’ Bank

6. Capital One

7. Axos Bank

8. Barclays Bank

9. Community Bank Delaware

10. PNC Bank

11. Ally Bank

12. Wells Fargo

13. WSFS Bank

Delaware Banking Options

National Banks

Community Banks

Online Banks

Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Delaware banks keep my money safe?

What are the most popular banks in Delaware?

Can I open a bank account in Delaware as a non-resident?

1. Identify your “FI number”

2. Pay down debts that stand in your way

3. Avoid lifestyle inflation

4. Prioritize savings

5. Spend on what matters to you

6. Boost your income

7. Take care of yourself along the way

8. Invest for the future

9. Don’t try to sprint to the finish line

10. Focus on your own journey

Summary

Read more:

Understanding Tax Liability

What Happens to Your Tax Liability With Proper Financial Planning?

Financial Planning Strategies for Minimizing Tax Liability

Retirement Planning

Investment Planning

Tax Deductions and Credits

Withdrawal Planning

The Bottom Line

Financial Planning Tips

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