Personal Finance
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Since 2009, Kevin Mercadante has been sharing his journey from a washed-up mortgage loan officer emerging from the Financial Meltdown as a contract/self-employed “slash worker” – accountant/blogger/freelance web content writer – on Out of Your Rut.com. He offers career strategies, from dealing with under-employment to transitioning into self-employment, and provides “Alt-retirement strategies” for the vast majority who won’t retire to the beach as millionaires.
Kevin frequently discusses the big-picture trends that are putting the squeeze on the bottom 90%, offering work-arounds and expense cutting tips to help readers carve out more money to save in their budgets – a.k.a., breaking the “savings barrier” and transitioning from debtor to saver.
Articles by Kevin Mercadante
Foreign Transaction Fees: What They Are and How to Avoid Them
Most credit cards charge foreign transaction fees, and they can add up with frequent foreign travel. You owe it to yourself to avoid paying them. Here are four ways to do it.
U.S. Bank Review 2024
If you’re looking to establish a relationship with a large banking organization that also offers competitive interest rates, U.S. Bank needs to be on your shortlist of candidates.
Best Business Checking Accounts for November 2024
The best business checking accounts provide a combination of few or low fees, and plenty of services. Here’s where to find one.
Axos Bank Review 2024
Axos Bank is a digital bank offering online and mobile banking as well as several investment options. If you want to bank where you invest, Axos is an option.
ACH vs. Wire Transfers
ACH and wire transfers are the two most common electronic transfer methods. A checking account is the usual source for either. When is one a better choice than the other?
How Much Social Security Will I Get?
While it’s important to learn how to save and invest for retirement, it’s equally critical to learn how much Social Security you will get. Here’s how you can estimate that benefit.
Chase Bank Review 2024: Pros, Cons, How It Compares
Chase Bank offers some of the best credit cards in the industry. This can make it a natural choice as a personal bank for both checking and savings. When should you consider banking with Chase?
Discover Bank Review 2024
Not only does Discover offer some of the very best credit cards, but Discover Bank pays high interest on savings accounts and a wide range of CD terms.
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card Review 2024
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card can help you build or rebuild your credit. With this card, no checking account is required and no credit check will be performed.
10 Best Online Checking Accounts in November 2024
Planning to ditch your brick-and-mortar bank for an online bank? This review of the best online checking accounts will help you to do just that.
How to Check Your 401(k) Balance?
Trying to check your 401(k) balance with a former employer, but you haven’t been there in years? Here are some tips to help you out.
Bank Fees: 9 Common Types and How to Avoid Them
Along with banking come fees. Here are nine of the most common types of bank fees and how to avoid them.
How Many (& Which) Stocks Should You Own?
How many stocks do you have in your portfolio? Financial advisors generally recommend 20 to 30. But the specific number will depend on your investment goals and intended portfolio composition.
How to Remove Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report
Hard inquiries can lower your credit score, so it’s important to learn how to remove them from your credit report. Here’s how you can do it.
PNC Bank Review 2024
PNC Bank is a full-service bank with a large network of branches, as well as online and mobile banking. It offers a wide variety of banking products.
Chase vs. Bank of America: What Is The Right Choice for You?
Chase and Bank of America are two of the largest banks in the country, offering all banking services. Which should you choose based on checking, savings, CDs, and money market accounts?
Robinhood Review: Pros, Cons, and If It's The Right Platform for You
This review will provide a balanced evaluation of Robinhood, including a deep dive into the pros and cons of the broker’s app and whether it’s the right choice for you.
Secured vs. Unsecured Credit Cards? What Is The Difference?
If you have fair or poor credit, you’ll have a choice of secured vs. unsecured credit cards. What is the difference between the two, and which will work best for you?
A Timeline of the Biggest Stock Market Crashes in U.S. History
As bad as the current stock market downturn feels, it’s hardly one of the biggest market crashes in U.S. history. There are strategies to survive and thrive in whatever happens with the market.
What is a Mutual Fund Expense Ratio and What is a Good One?
Buried deep in your investment funds are costs known as expense ratios. If you understand what they are and how to minimize them, you can improve your investment performance dramatically.
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