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
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.
5 Best Long Term Investments To Add To Your Portfolio in 2024
Will the 2024 investment picture look like 2023? If not, you’ll need to be positioned in the best long-term investments for 2024.
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.
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.
Chase Bank Review 2024
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?
Best Merrick Bank Credit Cards 2024
If you have bad credit or little credit, Merrick Bank might be able to help you. This bank offers three different credit cards specifically designed to build or rebuild credit.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Mutual Fund Fees and Expenses for Beginners
Mutual fund fees and expenses are confusing. Funds with the lowest fees can improve your investment performance by thousands of dollars.
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.
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.
Does a Balance Transfer Hurt my Credit Score
Used the right way, a balance transfer with a 0% APR is one of the best tools to reduce or eliminate high-interest credit card debt. But can balance transfers hurt your credit?
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.
Can You Pay A Car Loan With A Credit Card?
Can you pay a car loan with a credit card? It’s possible, but only in limited circumstances. Here are the few situations where the practice makes sense.
OneMain Financial Personal Loans Review 2024
OneMain Financial is one of the best sources for personal loans if you have bad credit. Learn more in our OneMain Financial review.
CIT Bank Review 2024
CIT Bank is a major online bank, offering high rates on savings and shorter-term CDs. It can be an excellent choice if you’re looking for a bank to earn high interest on your savings.
What Is Credit Card Purchase Protection?
Because so many transactions happen online, having purchase protection is more important than ever. Find out why here.
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?
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?
What Is Annual Percentage Yield (APY) And How To Calculate It
There are two interest rates posted with nearly every interest-bearing instrument: interest rate and annual percentage yield (APY). APY is the most important to you as an investor. Here’s why.
