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[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

[ad_1] Aston Martin is joining the ranks of listed automakers with an IPO that values the British company at more than $5 billion. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Ukraine police detain man who took hostage in Kyiv bank [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] A larger, WHO-led team of Chinese and international experts is planned next, to study the origins of the virus in the city of Wuhan, although the timing and composition of that is not yet clear. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] When choosing a good overall rewards card, you have to consider the entire package of goodies before making a final decision. Do you prefer a no fee card or are you willing to pay for perks? Are you more interested in spending bonuses, VIP lounge access, cash-back rewards or no blackout periods when booking travel? Whatever your criteria, there’s a card on this list to ensure you reap rewards as you spend. The best rewards credit cards in Canada 2020 Card Rewards Annual fee American Express Cobalt (get more details)* 5 pts/$1 on groceries & dining 2 pts/$1 on travel, gas & transit 1 pt/$1 on everything else $120 Scotiabank Gold American Express (get more details) 5 pts/$1 on groceries, dining & entertainment 3 pts/$1 on gas, transit & streaming services 1 pt/$1 on everything else No FX fees $120 Tangerine Money-Back (get more details)* 2% cash back in up to 3 spending categories 0.5% on everything else $0 Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite (get more details) 4% cash back on groceries & recurring bills 2% on gas & daily transit 1% on everything else $120 AMEX SimplyCash Preferred (get more details)* 2% cash back on everything $99 TD First Class Visa Infinite (get more details)* 9 pts/$1 on travel (via ExpediaForTD) 3 pts/$1 on everything else $120 BMO World Elite (get more details)* 3 pts/$1 on travel, dining, and entertainment 2 pts/$1 on everything else Airport lounge access $150 PC Financial World Elite (get more details)* 45 pts/$1 at Shoppers Drug Mart 30 pts/$1 at PC affiliate stores 30 pts/$1 on everything else $10 Rogers World Elite (get more details) 3% on purchases in U.S. currency (0.5% after FX fees) 1.5% on everything else $0 Best rewards credit cards for everyday spending American Express Cobalt* With a slightly different, but equally impressive earn rate and welcome bonus as the Scotiabank Gold, the American Express Cobalt shares the top spot in our everyday spending rewards card category. Cobalt Cardholders earn 5 Points per $1 spent on eligible food delivery, groceries and restaurants; 2 Points per $1 spent on gas and transit buys (including taxis, public transit and eligible flight tickets); and 1 Point per dollar on all other purchases. Did you catch that in the transit category? Flight tickets are included, making this a seriously attractive card for travellers. Additionally, this Amex will get you started with up to 30,000 Points—worth $300 in travel—in your first year. Rewards Points are super flexible, and can be used towards travel (including on taxes and fees and without blackout periods or airlines restrictions), merchandise and gift cards, or a cash credit on your card. The American Express Cobalt offers tonnes of travel perks like an insurance package that includes emergency medical, lost or stolen baggage, flight or baggage delay and car rental theft and damage coverage. Plus, cardholders can access the Fixed Points program, which allows them to get the most value out of their Points for round-trip flights. Annual fee: $120 (charged at a rate of $10 per month) Welcome offer: Up to 30,000 Points in the first year (provided cardholders hit a minimum spend of $500 for each of their first 12 monthly statements) Earn rate: 5 Points for every $1 spent on eligible food delivery, groceries and restaurants; 2 Points per $1 spent on gas and transit buys—including taxis, public transit and eligible flight tickets; 1 Point per dollar on all other purchases. Income requirement: None specified Additional perks: A solid insurance package that includes emergency medical, lost or stolen baggage, flight or baggage delay, hotel or motel burglary and car rental theft and damage coverage; advance access to Front of the Line by American Express Invites as well as advance screenings to movies Get more details about the AMEX Cobalt Card* Scotiabank Gold American Express An exceptional earn rate and welcome bonus paired with useful perks like no foreign transaction fees and included travel insurance make the Scotiabank Gold American Express one of our top two picks for best rewards card for everyday spending. With this card, members get five Points for every dollar spent in the groceries, entertainment and dining categories, and 3 Points per dollar on gas, public transit and eligible streaming services. These categories are attractively broad, but rest assured that any other purchases earn at 1 Point per dollar. And, for new members, there’s a welcome bonus to get you started: You can earn up to 20,000 Points in your first year. Scotia Rewards are extremely flexible and can be redeemed for a variety of travel rewards as well as merchandise or a credit against your statement. Book travel through the Scotia Rewards Travel portal at a rate of 100 Points for $1 in travel. (If you use a different site, then you’ll have to apply your Points to get a statement credit instead of redeeming at the time of purchase). The Scotiabank Gold American Express also has very tempting perks like the foreign transaction fee waiver, which will save you 2.5% on purchases in another currency (in-person or online), and an included package of travel insurance that is worth the $120 annual fee all on its own.  Annual fee: $120 Welcome offer: Up to 20,000 Scotia Rewards Points after a $1,000 spend in the first 3 months  Earn rate: 5 Points for every $1 spent on groceries, dining and entertainment; 3 Points per dollar on gas, public transit and eligible streaming services; and 1 Point on everything else Income requirement: $12,000 Additional perks: No foreign transaction fees; insurance, including travel emergency medical and travel accident, trip cancellation or interruption, and rental car collision or damage coverage; Priority Pass Lounge access discount Best no fee cash back card Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card* Just because you want to earn cash back rewards doesn’t mean you need to pay a hefty annual fee—and that’s where the no fee Tangerine Cash Back Credit Card comes in. With this Mastercard, there’s an automatic 2% back in two spending categories of