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[ad_1] Any money which we need within 18 months should be placed in instruments which are liquid and do not have any volatility or credit/default risk. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] — First some great news: because of your support in reading and sharing this blog, it has been able to earn quite a lot of income and give away over $300,000 so far. The latest $100k of that happens at the end of this article. Please check it out if you want to feel good, learn more, and even join me in helping out the world a bit. — As I type this, there are only a few days left in the 2010s, and holy shit what a decade it has been. Ten years ago, a 35 year old MMM and the former Mrs. MM were four years into retirement, but not feeling very retired yet. We stumbled out of 2009 with a precious but very high strung three-year-old, a house building business that was way more stressful than it should have been, and a much more rudimentary set of life skills. It was a time of great promise, but a lot of this promise was yet to be claimed. Ten years later, despite the fact that I have one less marriage, one less surviving parent, and ten years less remaining youth, I am in an even better place in life right now, and would never want to trade places with the 2009 version of me. And on that measure alone, I can tell it has been a successful decade. This is a great sign and it bodes well for early retirees everywhere. Compared to the start of the decade, I am healthier and stronger physically, wealthier financially, and (hopefully) at least a bit wiser emotionally. I’ve been through so much, learned so much in so many new interesting fields, and packed so much living into these 3653 days. A big part of that just flowed from the act of retiring from my career in 2005, which freed me up to do so many other things, including starting this blog. It has not always been easy, in fact the hard times of this decade have been some of the hardest of my life. But by coming through it all I have learned that super difficult experiences only serve to enrich your life even more, by widening your range of feelings and allowing you to savor the normal moments and the great ones even more. Ten Years of Learning in Three Points I think the real meaning of “Wisdom” is just “I’ve seen a lot of shit go down in my lifetime and over time you start to notice everything just boils down to a few principles.” The books all say it, and the wise older people in real life all say it too. And for me, it’s probably the following few things that stand out the most: 1) This Too Shall Pass: nothing is as big a deal as you think it is at the time. Angry or sad emotions from life traumas will fade remarkably quickly, but so will the positive surprises from one-time life upgrades through the sometimes-bummer magic of Hedonic Adaptation. What’s left is just you – no matter where you go, there you are. 2) But You Are Really Just a Bundle of Habits: most of your day (and therefore your life) is comprised of repeating the same set of behaviors over and over. The way you get up, the things you focus your mind on. Your job. The way you interact with other people. The way you eat and exercise. Unless you give all of this a lot of mindful attention and work to tweak it, it stays the same, which means your life barely changes, which means your level of happiness barely changes. 3) Change Your Habits, Change your Life: Because of all this, the easiest and best way to have a happier and more satisfying life is to figure out what ingredients go into a good day, and start adding those things while subtracting the things that create bad days. For me (and quite possibly you, whether you realize it or not), the good things include positive social interactions, helping people, outdoor physical activity, creative expression and problem solving, and just good old-fashioned hard work. The bad things mostly revolve around stress due to over-scheduling one’s life, emotional negativity and interpersonal conflict – all things I am especially sensitive to. So while I can’t control everything, I have found that the more I work to design those happiness creators into my life and step away from things that consistently cause bad days, the happier and richer life can become. Speaking of Richer: I recently read two very different books, which still ended up pointing me in the same direction: This Could Be Our Future, by former Kickstarter cofounder and CEO Yancey Strickler, is a concise manifesto that makes a great case for running our lives, businesses, and even giant corporations, according to a much more generous and person-centric set of rules. Instead of the narrow minded perspective of “Profit Maximization” that drives so many of the world’s shittier companies and gives capitalism a bad reputation, he points out that even small changes in the attitude of company (and world) leaders, can lead to huge changes in the way our economy runs. The end result is more total wealth and happier lives for all of us – like Mustachianism itself, it really is a win/win proposition rather than any form of compromise or tradeoff. In fact, Strickler specifically mentions you and me in this book, using the FIRE movement as an example of a group of people who have adopted different values in order to lead better lives. Die with Zero*, by former hedge fund manager and thrill seeking poker champion Bill Perkins sounds like a completely different book on the surface: Perkins’ point is that many people work too long and defer too much gratification for far too long in their lives. Instead, he encourages you to map out your life decade by decade and make sure that you maximize your

[ad_1] I took the last two weeks off of goal-setting since we were on vacation as a family. It’s good to be back to it… especially as we gear up for the kids going back to school! This Week’s Goals Personal Goals 1. Take 5 morning walks in our neighborhood. 2. Read 10 chapters of The White Rose Resists. Finish listening to Where the Crawdad Sings. 3. Do pelvic floor exercises at least four times. Home/Family Goals 4. Finish reading The Giver aloud to the kids.  5. Go on a date with Jesse.  6. Go through baby clothes and put away those the babies have outgrown. 7. Get all needed school supplies. Work/Blog Goals 8. Work on my manuscript edits 9. Make a plan for my Mastermind coaching sessions in August. Word of the Year Goals 10. Make tea and spend an hour reading a book just for fun. What are YOUR goals for this week? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to hear and be able to cheer for you! [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Bankrupt toy retailer tells bankruptcy court it is looking at possibly reviving the Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us brands. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Pompeo, Taliban negotiator discuss Afghan peace process: Taliban spokesman [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Microsoft said the discussions with TikTok’s parent firm ByteDance will build upon a notification made by Microsoft and ByteDance to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Finding the best interest rates is a lot easier today than it was even a few years ago. Here at Dough Roller, we track rates on everything from checking and savings accounts to mortgages to CDs. It occurred to me, however, that there was no one single page on the site where you could find the top rate for each type of account. So we created this page, updated monthly, to track the highest (or lowest) rates available. Deal of the Day: Chase is now offering a $200 cash bonus when opening a Total Checking Account. No minimum deposit and all deposits are FDIC insured up to the $250,000 per depositor maximum. We focus on those financial institutions that have low fees, great rates, and are typically available anywhere in the U.S. You can find local banks and credit unions that offer comparable rates, but their availability is limited geographically. Best Interest Rates for November 2019 November 2019 Interest Rates Update: There were a few rate changes over the past month: Betterment Everyday Cash Reserve account is at 2.04% APY. Wealthfront Brokerage Cash Account Rate is at 2.07% APY. First Security Bank’s Kasasa Cash account is at 2.51% APY on balances up to $50k; their Kasasa Saver account is at 1.31% APY on balances up to $50k. First Foundation Bank’s Online Savings Account offers 2.40% APY with $1k minimum deposit of new money. BrioDirect is offering a High-Yield Savings account at 2.30% APY with $25 minimum deposit. Vio Bank’s High Yield Online Savings account is at 2.27% APY with $100 minimum opening deposit. Fitness Bank is offering a 2.75% APY savings account rate for balances over $100 when step requirements are met. Prime Alliance Bank is offering a 60-month CD at 2.48% APY and a 48-month CD at 2.38% APY, both with $500 minimum deposit. First National Bank of America is offering a 12-month CD at 2.35% APY and a 60-month CD at 2.55% APY, both with $1k minimum deposit. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate comes in at 3.78%. With that said, here are some of the best interest rates we’ve found for November 2019: Best Bank Account Rates Savings Accounts: The top savings account rate goes to Vio Bank at 2.27% APY ($100 minimum deposit) (see table below). Several banks come in a close second, including UFB Direct at 2.15% APY , Popular Direct at 2.15% APY ($5k minimum), CIT Savings Account at 2.10% APY ($100 monthly deposit or $25k minimum balance) and BMO Harris Bank Money Market Account at 2.05% APY ($5k minimum). These represent some of the highest rates on a nationally available savings account. Here’s a comparison table we update daily with current competitive rates: Best CD Rates: The rates on certificates of deposit vary based on the term. The longer the term, the higher the rate. Keep in mind that penalties may apply if you close the CD before the end of the term. For a 1-year CD, the best rate we could find is from First National Bank of America at 2.35% APY ($1k minimum). Checking Accounts: Most checking accounts do not pay interest. For online banks, however, you’ll find plenty of options where you can earn some interest on your funds. There are two things to keep in mind. First, many banks offer higher interest rates only if you keep a lot of money in your checking account. Second, the rates are lower than a savings account or CD. Some top paying checking accounts that we like include FNBO Direct, which currently pays 0.65% APY. For those with at least $15,000 in checking, you can earn 0.60% APY from Ally Bank. I list Ally second because most people don’t keep that much cash in checking, but it’s an option for those who do. These rates are unchanged from previous months. Bonus: I also keep a running list of popular checking account promotions you can check out. Mortgage Rates Mortgages: Listing the “best” mortgage rate is really impossible. Rates change throughout the day, vary by state, and are highly dependent on a number of factors including your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and down payment. That being said, the average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is up this month to 3.78% according to Freddie Mac (from 3.64% last month). The average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage is up to 3.19% (from 3.16% a month ago). You can find competitive mortgage and refinance rates at LendingTree or on the table below: Related: Compare mortgage rates online Best Credit Card Interest Rates Credit Cards: The longest 0% introductory period stands at 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. You can find a current list of the best 0% credit card offers here. If you find better rates on any of the above financial products, please let us know in the comments below. Note that the above rates were as of October 31, 2019. Rates are subject to change, so please confirm the rates directly with the financial institution.Find the best interest rates on bank accounts, mortgages, and credit cards as of %%currentdate%%. Includes rates on savings and checking accounts, and CDs. The post The Best Interest Rates for August 2020 appeared first on The Dough Roller. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Doing your own taxes can be an overwhelming and confusing task, especially if you don’t have sufficient experience in tax return filing or if you have a complicated situation. Since hiring a CPA or other professional can be cost-intensive, many people opt to undertake the task themselves. Tax software became increasingly popular for preparing and filing federal and state returns, not only because they are reaching new levels of sophistication, but also because filing online saves time and money. It also makes tax return filing error-free. FreeTaxUSA is one of the fastest-growing tax platforms and IRS-authorized e-file providers. Their services are reliable, and they offer free federal filing. Even if you have a complicated financial situation, FreeTaxUSA may be the most suitable tax software for you. FreeTaxUSA At A Glance Website is easy to navigate and user-friendly Minimal guidance, best for experienced filers Great pricing FreeTaxUSA COMPANY INFORMATION FreeTaxUSA uses an interface that prepares your federal and state returns by taking an online step-by-step interview approach. As you answer questions and import your information, the software will prepare and fill out your tax return. Upon completion of your information entry, you can review your return before submitting it to the IRS via mail or e-file. The software interface is user-friendly and intuitive. If you have no prior experience with tax filing or software, you will be able to find your way through the process with little difficulty. Keep in mind that the interface has a somewhat clinical appearance and doesn’t feature the same slick design and color schemes that you will see with other prominent tax software. When you enter your information, you can import forms in PDF format from competitor platforms like TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct. You can also import from your internal storage. When you fill out your information, the interface will not allow you to skip forward. You will only be able to edit the sections that you are currently working or the ones that you already completed. FreeTaxUSA supports various complex tax situations, and you will be able to view your tax refund or liability in real-time as you enter your information. FreeTaxUSA’s Big Features Affordable Care Act If you didn’t have healthcare coverage during the tax year, FreeTaxUSA will accommodate any fees that you may have to pay. The platform will also assist you if you want to claim exemption from the penalty, a valuable asset to many tax filers looking to save. Refund and Payment Options You can use a credit or debit card to pay for FreeTaxUSA’s tax preparation and filing services. If you are eligible for a tax refund, FreeTaxUSA can facilitate the payment through either a direct deposit into your bank account in less than 21 days or through a check, which can take up to six weeks. Filing After Deadline If you’ve missed the tax deadline, you may be panicking about getting your taxes filed on your own, let alone getting them filed affordably. Luckily, FreeTaxUSA offers tax return preparation and filing services at the same price, even after the tax deadline passes.  However, they encourage their clients to file their returns as soon as possible to avoid IRS penalties.  Audit Assist FreeTaxUSA often receives recognition for the Audit Assist services that they provide to Deluxe clients. With Audit Assist, you gain access to tax and audit specialists that will help you prepare for an IRS audit. They will answer any audit-related questions that you may have. This service also includes access to FreeTaxUSA’s audit center, which is a knowledge bank that contains information on the audit process. However, Audit Assist is only applicable to federal returns and not state returns, and FreeTaxUSA doesn’t offer any audit representation services. Free Tax Calculator By setting up a FreeTaxUSA account and entering your tax information as well as you can, you can use the platform as a calculator to estimate your taxes, determine your refund or liability, and find deductions and credits like the Child Tax Credit. After you’ve entered your information, you will see an estimate of your taxes, refund or liability, and credits and deductions. Since you can view this information without filing your return, you can keep it on record and edit your data before you have to submit. Accuracy Guarantee FreeTaxUSA accepts responsibility for all errors on the system’s end. If the IRS imposes interest or penalties for incorrect tax calculations, the company will pay them. This feature offers peace of mind to filers who don’t want to worry about the financial repercussions of a miscalculation. As long as you’ve entered all your information correctly, you’re covered. Free Support Regardless of the FreeTaxUSA version that you use, you can visit their customer support page to search for support topics or email their customer support team if you have a problem. If you are subscribed to the Deluxe plan, you get access to free support chat and the Q&A database. Online Backup FreeTaxUSA backs up all tax returns online and carries information over from one year to the next, even if the client uses the Free version. If you haven’t used FreeTaxUSA the previous year, you can import your tax information in PDF format from competitor software, your internal storage, or your employer’s platform. Uploading your PDF in this manner is incredibly easy, and it saves a lot of time. FreeTaxUSA Plans FreeTaxUSA offers two versions: Free and Deluxe. There is not a big difference between the two of them regarding the actual process of preparation and filing. Both support complex tax situations and schedules, and you can use either of them for federal and tax filing. State tax returns, however, cost an additional fee with either version. One of the significant advantages of FreeTaxUSA as a whole is that both versions support Schedule C filing for self-employment income, Schedule E filing for rental property income, and Schedule D for capital gains transactions. You can also report several K-1 related income sources with these plans. The difference

[ad_1] Purchases like this really blow my budget. These days, I do a fair amount of informal financial coaching for both old friends and newer acquaintances.  It’s a pretty amazing experience, almost as if I were a real doctor – people let down their guard and talk about the details of their financial lives, without the usual hangups and secrecy that tend to plague our society when it comes to the subject of money.   Often, even taking this first step is a huge leap towards creating a more wealthy and prosperous life. Money conversations are not something we should reserve only for our paid professional advisers. We should speak about it openly with our friends and family, and support each other in a lifelong quest to make the most of our lives. Through these hundreds of little sessions, I have started seeing a pretty consistent pattern: People who struggle with money see the whole subject as a swirling, confusing mess. Income and spending, debt and retirement accounts are everywhere. They describe the situation in a long, meandering paragraph.  People who are good with money have this stuff more mentally sorted. They can quickly list their income, their assets and debts, and most importantly they know how much money they spend each year. People who have been good with money for a long time have moved even further. They might not track it very closely, but they still maintain a growing surplus – because living well within their means is just a natural habit, which means there is no conceivable way they can run out of money in their lifetimes. People in this category sometimes need to be coached away from the habit of being too “cheap”, and towards making the most of the opportunity of a lifetime. As an MMM reader, you are headed straight for Option #3 above. But you may have to move through #1 and #2 to get there, which means sorting things out and tracking your spending.  Tracking Your Spending is Fun, Useful, and Easy (Yes, really!) I can already hear your collective groan as I give you this prescription, but adding up your past year’s spending is one of the most useful things you can do with a Saturday morning, and here’s why: You can see where your money is going to waste and where you can make really easy improvements that completely change the course of your life You will get the courage to switch jobs, houses, cars, and other life decisions as your fuzzy swirling financial paralysis transforms to a crystal clear understanding of money – one of life’s most useful and fun tools. You can immediately see how much money you will need to retire. (just take your annual spending and multiply it by 25 as recommended by the 4% rule) I’ll show you my spending if you show me yours. Road Trippin’ in a Tesla. I keep this cost low by bartering carpentry or business help with Tesla-owning friends, or renting them on Turo. Now for the fun part. I like to think that I live in “Category 3” of that list above – most of my major life expenses (housing, cars, health, food, clothing) are lower than average, because I have simple tastes and I love optimizing things. Meanwhile, I have several sources of income which add up to many times more than my living expenses (stock index funds, real estate investments, this website, and side hustles like carpentry and operating the MMM HQ coworking space.)  So I haven’t been tracking my spending for a while. But a couple of years ago I went through a major life change – the former Mrs. MM and I split up and moved to separate households in the same neighborhood. With the old routines shaken up, and new things like hosting more parties, outfitting a new home and increased friend/family/long-distance-relationship travel, how has my bachelor spending been transformed? It’s time to find out. How Do You Track Your Spending? My expenses are really easy to track: I funnel all my spending through a rewards credit card, which saves me about $2000 each year. (in 2019 I used the two highest-paying cards from Capital One which you can find here.) Meanwhile, I hook up a third party financial app to automatically monitor these transactions, alert me to any unusual activity, and – the best part – automatically categorize and add everything up for me. I’ve been using one called Truebill for a couple of years*, and it has the simplest interface of anything I’ve tried – you get results like this: Recent screenshots from my own Truebill account. (Sorry about all that cash sitting around earning nothing, I will put those little green employees to work ASAP!) Truebill is great for tracking and improving spending, and you can also track with Personal Capital, which I have used for the last five years or so mostly for keeping tabs on all my net worth (see my 2013 article on that). BUT you can also all this quite easily with no apps at all, just by downloading the full list of your 2019 transactions from your bank and opening it up as a spreadsheet. In Capital One (which I also use for my checking account), I just clicked on each account and there is a link for “Download Transactions” right at the top of my transactions list. For me, it was extra easy because I used the same bank for both checking and credit cards, so everything shows up on a single login screen like this – kudos for Capital One for doing this so well since most banks have pretty bad websites: Lots of useful stuff on my capital one home screen (don’t worry, balances and account numbers, etc. have been modified for public sharing) So whether you use an app or a conventional spreadsheet, tracking your spending is quite useful, to know where you are now. But the biggest message to take home from

[ad_1] This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here. Whoa! If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, don’t miss these HOT deals on popular name-brand items! For a limited time, Backcountry is offering up to 65% off a selection of outdoor apparel and gear! No promo code needed. Here are some deals you can get… Get this Patagonia Women’s Re-Tool Snap-T Fleece Pullover for just $65.45 shipped (regularly $119)! Get this The North Face Girls Greenland Down Hooded Parka for just $79.58 shipped (regularly $198.95)! Get this The North Face Women’s TKA Glacier 1/4 Zip Fleece Pullover for just $29.48 (regularly $58.95)! Get this Basin and Range Women’s Cropped Down Bomber Jacket for just $89.98 shipped (regularly $199.95)! Get this Roark Men’s Revival Nevis Jacket for just $55.65 shipped (regularly $159)! Get this The North Face Surge 31L Backpack for just $77.37 shipped (regularly $128.95)! Get this The North Face Flyweight 17L Backpack for just $26.97 (regularly $44.95)! Get these Sorel Women’s Winter Fancy Lace II Boots for just $61.51 shipped (regularly $149.95)! Get these Sorel Women’s Cate Lace Boots for just $75.98 shipped (regularly $189.95)! Shipping is free on orders over $50. Thanks, Hip2Save! [ad_2] Source link