Tag: financial

Categories
Financial Legal Savings Social Security Disability

The Difference Between 401k vs. Social Security

401k vs. Social Security

Many people wonder which is better to rely on, Social Security payments or your 401k income. What they don’t realize is that you can receive both Social Security as well as 401k income. Whatever income you receive from your 401k plan will also not affect your Social Security benefits. This is because it is considered income from a non-wage source.

Most workers count the days until they can retire at full retirement age, 66 years old. They frequently begin receiving Social Security benefits within the first few months of their retirement, as well as their 401k income. Some will retire as early as 62 in exchange for lower monthly benefit payments from Social Security going forward. At the other end of the spectrum, some delay collecting Social Security until the latest allowable age of 70. This means they reap the benefits of much larger monthly payments in return.

Why 401k Income Has No Effect On Social Security Payments

One of the foundational tenets of Social Security is that the credit system for qualifying for benefits is based on taxable wages. These wages are the ones that you earned during your highest-paid 35 years of work. Your contributions to your 401k are made with wages paid to you by an American company. Fortunately, they have already paid the Social Security taxes on those wages.

Many people contribute as heavily as possible to their 401k, however, under the impression that those contributions are tax-free. Well, they are, sort of. Those contributions can be made free of income tax imposed by federal and state entities. However, not by contributions required by the Federal Income Contributions Act, or FICA.

No matter what, your wages will always have the tax for Social Security paid before anything else can reduce your income level. So you do still pay some taxes, up to a preset threshold that is determined by the IRS.

The Difference In Dollars

So you are getting close to retirement age, or maybe just planning well ahead to ensure your comfort, and you want to get down to numbers on what retirement is going to look like. Well, there are a few scenarios centered around when you retire. You can begin collecting Social Security at 62, the full age of 66, or as late as 70. While you might get to begin enjoying retirement early, the change in benefit amounts by delaying can be incredible.

Using the top-end numbers for 2021, the highest monthly benefit when retiring at 62 is about $2,300 while waiting until 66 gives a monthly payment of more than $3,100. And for those waiting until 70, they can collect a massive benefit of nearly $3,900.

If you are planning on retiring early, your 401k income can certainly supplement your Social Security income without affecting it. On the other hand, if you have a few years to go, you may still be able to start taking life a little easier by utilizing your 401k income while you delay Social Security collection until you get the maximum benefit.

Categories
Credit Financial

How to Get Credit Card Approved

How to Get Approved for a Credit Card

You’ve probably heard your friends and family talk about the benefits of having a credit card. There are definitely perks to having a credit card, but how do you get approved for one? If you have no credit or poor credit, it may seem like it would be impossible to be approved for a line of credit.

There is no way to guarantee you’ll be eligible to get a credit card but there are some ways that may improve your chances of approval.

Get Started on the Right Foot

Building good credit can be done if you stay on top of your bills from the beginning. Credit card companies look at your payment history as well as the following:

  • Only apply for what you need. You can always apply for an additional card or two down the line if you decide they’re needed, but acquiring multiple loans and credit cards in a short time frame makes lenders think your finances have taken a turn for the worse.
  • Stay below your credit limit. In fact, you should aim to keep your overall credit utilization ratio under 30% for each of your lines of credit.
  • Always check your statements to ensure they are accurate. You want to do this so that your score isn’t negatively affected by incorrect information. This is also helpful to keep an eye out for suspicious activities and potential security risks.
  • Pay more than the minimum if you can. If you can only afford to pay more than the minimum once in a while, that’s fine. Any higher payments will look good for you.
  • Know your credit score and make sure to check your credit report. Credit reports are usually accurate, but errors do happen. You can get one free copy of your credit report per year through the 3 major credit reporting companies.

Monitor Your Credit

Before you get a credit card, you should get a copy of your credit report so you can see your score and the information that is impacting it. You’ll be able to access information like your payment history, previous credit checks, and recently acquired accounts. When you apply for a credit card, the bank will check your credit score to see how likely you are to make your payments on time.

Don’t Use too Much Credit

In order to ensure you don’t end up with a credit card you can’t afford, it’s important to understand your debt to income ratio. This comparison of your income versus what you owe will help you figure out what kind of monthly payments you can afford.

Be Patient

If your credit isn’t at a point where you are able to get a credit card, it is not the end of the line. Fixing credit and establishing credit from zero takes time. If you need to increase your approval chances quickly, consider becoming an authorized user on a friend or relative’s account, get a secured card, or getting a loan with a co-signer.

Categories
Financial Loans

Best Personal Loans for Excellent Credit

personal loans with excellent credit

Introduction

Personal loans come from a bank, online lender, or credit union that you pay back at a fixed rate in installments. This usually spans between 2-7 years, and they are best used for large personal expenses (ex. medical bills, home improvement, weddings, or exceptionally expensive purchases, such as a car or boat) or debt consolidation (lumping several debt payments into one).

They are meant to advance towards financial milestones, not add to debt.To qualify, lenders will look at your credit score, credit report, and DIT (debt-to-income ratio). Borrowers with excellent credit—defined as having a FICO score of at least 690—earn the lowest interest rates, receive the largest amounts, and have the most options when it comes to loan selection.

Important Things to Consider When Picking a Loan

Because you have so many options with excellent credit, you have to do some research to pick the best loan service for your intended purpose. Important things to consider would be:

  • Interest rates (how high and fixed/variable)
  • Repayment options (time period, minimum/maximum amounts)
  • Fees (including prepayment, late, and origination)
  • What you are using the loan for
  • Timeliness (how long is the application process and when do you receive your money after you’ve been approved)

Even with excellent credit, your personal loan can still be denied—do not take it as a given. Sometimes, the lender may be backlogged or have insufficient funds to issue out a loan. This will unfortunately result in denial.

Because of COVID, many banks and lenders have offered new products and lower interest rates, though you need to meet extra criteria to qualify.Some may even offer deferred payments or waived fees.

This Year’s Top Personal Loans for Excellent Credit

There are countless loan companies to choose from, and sometimes it can be difficult to find the one that is right for you. The process is tedious, but do not rush through it—you may end up paying much more than you need to.

A couple of this year’s top personal loans for excellent credit are:

  • SoFi
    • Digital lender that offers many products, including personal, home, student, and insurance loans from $5,000 to $100,000
    • Beyond the loan itself, it offers protection programs (ex. if you lose your job and can’t pay), referral bonuses (if a friend signs up), personalized financial planning, and more
    • To top it all off, the loans are fee-free and there is no minimum annual income
    • Their fixed-rate loans range from 5.99% to 20.69% APR
  • Lightstream
    • Offers loans up to $100,000 for almost anything (including medical bills and education loans)
    • Has generous repayment terms rivaling SoFi at 2-7 years, which means lower monthly payments
    • Does not have fees or prepayment penalties
    • Offers discounted interest rate when you sign up for autopay (your credit card has a set minimum amount it pays each month automatically)
      • With the autopay discount, their APR is slightly lower than SoFi at between 5.99% and 19.99%

Conclusion

When applying for a personal loan with excellent credit, you should put yourself through a rigorous process to assure you make the right decision. Comprehensive research into different loan companies and types of personal loans is the most important. Remember that with excellent credit comes excellent selections—the world is your oyster!

Categories
Credit Financial

8 Tips to Make Credit Cards Work for You

credit cards work for you not against you

Your credit cards can be some of the most powerful tools in your financial tool belt. But if you don’t use those cards carefully, they can do a lot of damage. Knowing how to use those tools properly can be a great way to prevent damage that can take years to undo. Following these eight tips can give you an excellent foundation for using your credit responsibly.

How to Take Full Advantage of Your Credit Cards

1.     Pay the Bill in Full

Don’t be tempted to skimp on the payment no matter how appealing the minimum payment looks. Using too much of your available credit can quickly lower your credit score. 

2.     Use it With a Budget

Now that you are paying your bill in full each month, it’s time to keep your spending within a manageable budget. Small totals can add up quickly and even make it difficult to pay the total bill. However, if used properly, they are a great way to track and control your spending in specific areas.

3.     Check Your Accounts

Seeing how much you are spending and where you are spending it will make it much easier to stick to that planned budget.  Use online tools to check your credit card’s accounts weekly.

4.     Take Advantage of “Perks”

Most credit cards these days have some extra protection built into them. While all cards should be protecting you against fraudulent charges, others will offer you bonuses such as extended warranties on certain items. Knowing what those perks are is a big help when deciding which card to use and when to use it.

5.     Use Your Rewards

Do any of your credit cards offer cashback rewards? Be sure you are taking full advantage of those. Like other perks, these can vary a lot from company to company or card to card. One card might give you 3% back at restaurants, while a different one gives you 2% back with hotel stays.

6.     Save Them for Big Purchases

Saving your credit for big purchases can be a huge help when an emergency happens. Everyone is eventually going to face an unexpected problem sooner or later. This advice isn’t just for emergencies, however. Rather than paying cash, use a credit card with a great cashback rate. The reward can shave some of the cost off the purchase.

7.     Stay Under Your Limit

Not only should you take extra care to stay well below your credit limit, but you should also be aware of what all of those limits are. If you’re not sure you can handle the temptation that can come with a high credit limit, you can always ask for a lower limit.

8.     Don’t Pay the Bill Late

Late payments are another item that can potentially wreck your credit score. They can also cost you a lot. Many cards charge steep fees anytime your payment is late.

Overlooking something that affects your credit score can have lasting consequences that can make your financial life far harder than it needs to be. It’s never too late to develop better habits with all of your accounts.

Categories
Credit Financial

Will Multiple Credit Cards Hurt My Credit Score?

multiple credit cards will affect your credit

Everyone’s been there. You are standing at a checkout counter when the clerk tells you that “today only” you can get a great discount on the purchase you are making. All you have to do is open an account for a great new credit card. Of course, you want 40% off, who wouldn’t.

Or maybe you check the mailbox and discover you’ve been pre-approved! Get this great new card loaded with rewards and perks. Who doesn’t love mail telling them how awesome they are?

With all of the options out there, who hasn’t wondered, “Is it good to have multiple cards?” or “Will this hurt my credit score?”

How Too Many Cards Can Hurt You

Having too many credit cards can hurt your credit score.

  1. Some creditors might think you are a risk if you have too many open lines of credit. This is particularly true if you carry a significant balance from month to month.
  2. Too many accounts that you are regularly using can make it more challenging to manage your spending. Having your purchases split between multiple cards can also make it more challenging to follow your ideal budget.
  3. You can quickly lose track of when each payment is due. Late payments can be particularly harmful to your credit as 30% of your score is depends on making payments on time.
  4. It is much too easy to use “too much” of your available credit. If your overall credit utilization goes up over 30%, your credit score will begin to drop.
  5. Applying for too many cards too quickly can also hurt your credit. Every time a new hard credit inquiry appears on your report, it affects your score. Those hard inquires stay on your account for 12 months.
  6. Often once you realize you might have too many accounts, it is easy to be tempted to close one or two of them. Closing accounts can also damage your credit, particularly if you close the accounts you have had the longest.

How Multiple Can Help

Of course there, are ways that having multiple cards can help. Receiving a new credit line increases your total of available credit and can improve your overall credit utilization.

Having multiple cards can also increase the amount of credit you have available to use when an emergency arrives or can even be a big help when you need to make a big purchase. In fact, it is always a good idea to purchase big-ticket items with a credit card so that you can take advantage of any cashback perks you might have.

There is no concrete answer to this question. Ultimately how you manage your credit will always be far more important. It is possible to keep a good credit score no matter how many accounts you have.

Any time you are considering opening a new account, you should have a solid plan for exactly how to use that card.

Categories
Financial Savings

5 Financial Professionals and How They Can Help

financial professionals

1.   Financial Planner

A financial planner will help you create a roadmap for reaching your long-term goals. They often work with you to first discover what your goals are. Once you have figured out what your overall goals are, they will help develop the plan of action that will get you there.

Financial planners are also adept at things like retirement plan diversification, and even financial planning for a growing family. But not all of them run their business, or their billing, the same. You will want a fee-only fiduciary, meaning they are paid by you directly. Bonus if they are trained as a CFP or PFS.

2.   Financial Coach

A financial coach is a must if you struggle with keeping to a budget. They are also great if you need some help decoding some of the short-term financial options available to you. Financial coaching is still somewhat new and was created as a way to fill the short-term market where financial planners often do not operate.

3.   Tax Accountant

This is the person who will help you file your taxes, and depending on their skill set they may also help you build tax-saving behaviors that can benefit you for years to come. These are the people that help you figure out all of your deductions so that you can reduce your taxable income as much as possible.

Popular tax credentialing includes EAs, or Enrolled Agents, and CPAs, or Certified Public Accountants. EAs are licensed by the IRS after taking a test made up of 3 parts. CPAs are professionals that have been licensed by the state they operate in, after taking a 4 part test.

Tax accountants can be an important part of your overall financial health. They will help you be more mindful of how your income and other finances affect your taxes and any subsequent refund. This can put you in a better and better position each year.

4.   Credit Counselor

One of the most valuable financial professionals is credit counselors. They can help you if you are dealing with high-interest debt or debt management struggles. Many times you will find that your credit counselor will be a non-profit and will have the specific training needed to help you get the most out of your credit. They can often help with building credit, as well as fixing bad credit.

5.   Investment Advisor

Managing investments can be difficult with all the other things on our plate. An investment advisor will help you understand the process of investing, and will be able to give advice on various investment strategies. This will include things like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and even cryptocurrency and NFTs.

Before you get to the stage of hiring an investment advisor, you will need to make sure the rest of your financial plan is in order. Investment advisors will often not provide any guidance on anything directly related to your long term financial goals, such as children, home buying, or retirement financials.