Listen to the latest episodes of the Money Minute with Robert Palmer.
Money Minute: What Is the Fastest Way to Pay Off Credit Card Debt?
Let’s say, after careful deliberation, that you’re finally ready to make a change regarding your financial well-being. You’re looking at your credit card balances gradually rise month after month, and you know that something eventually has to give. Today is the day. It’s time to pay off credit card debt once and for all.
Like any […]
Money Minute: Should You Make Extra Mortgage Payments Monthly or Yearly?
Becoming a homeowner is one of the most exciting moments in a person’s life. It’s also one of the biggest financial commitments any of us will ever make. Signing your name on a home loan means committing to a monthly mortgage payment for the next 15 to 30 years, so it’s no surprise many homeowners […]
Money Minute: What Is Estate Planning and How Do You Get Started?
Although often overlooked, estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to make sure loved ones are taken care of and your final healthcare and property wishes are handled as you wish. A little extra effort today will give you and your family peace of mind going forward. While the […]
Money Minute: How Can You Reduce Your Income Taxes?
Only two things in life are certain — death and taxes. But, what if you could lighten your financial burden by reducing the amount of taxes you pay?
Strategies to cut down your tax bill work to reduce either your annual taxable income (what you bring in) or your total tax liability (what you owe). […]
Money Minute: How To Determine Net Worth
Before you can understand the state of your personal finances, you need to determine net worth. Without knowing where you stand, it’s difficult to create a strategy to reach your financial goals.
Net worth is a number that represents your total assets minus your total liabilities. Below, let’s define these and other terms, as well as […]
Money Minute: What Are Car Dealership Advertising Costs, and Should You Care?
After years of diligently saving and putting up with your old junker, the day has finally come: you are ready for a new car. And then, right before you sign on the dotted line, you notice thousands of dollars in extra costs that have nothing to do with the vehicle you’re buying. Unfortunately, this is […]
Money Minute: What Is the Most Efficient Way to Borrow Money?
Whether it’s to purchase a new vehicle or finance a home we can grow into, at some point in our lives, most of us will need to borrow money. In fact, borrowing money and carrying a certain degree of debt has become an accepted, and expected, part of our financial life. But, the money-borrowing process […]
Money Minute: Should Married Couples File Taxes Jointly or Separately?
Kissing. Cake. Music. Dancing. Long, romantic honeymoons. Weddings can create some truly wonderful memories, and your own will be a day cherished for the rest of your life. But amid all the hustle and bustle, it is easy to forget that marriage is just as much of a financial decision as an emotional one.
Nothing makes […]
Money Minute: Is It Ever Good to Declare Bankruptcy?
Talking about bankruptcy is tricky business. In times of dire financial need, some view bankruptcy as a relatively easy way of dealing with aggressive creditors. Others view the bankruptcy label with something of a stigma — a scarlet letter symbolizing one’s personal and professional failures. Between such wildly contrasting viewpoints, it can seem almost […]
Money Minute: If Something Happens to You, What Will Happen to Your Family?
Imagining something as dark as your death is never easy, but to ensure the financial future of your family, it’s a thought and conversation you must face. If you are the breadwinner of the household, and the bulk of your family’s livelihood depends on what you provide, that conversation becomes even more important.
No matter your […]