.20 Home Renovations That Will Hurt Your Home’s Value

You might love these renovations, but they'll cost you.

By Autumn Rose July 21, 2021

Your home isn't just a source of pride or a place where you can relax after a long day -- it's also an investment in your family's future.

And while it's natural to want to make improvements to increase your home's resale value, some renovations will actually cost you money in the long run. Just because you see something as an improvement doesn't mean a potential buyer will feel the same way. Find out which renovations are ones to avoid.

Lavish Lighting Fixtures

One common home improvement mistake is falling in love with unique or lavish light fixtures, said Alon Barzilay, founder of real estate development company Urban Conversions.

.Top 10 Rules for Money

July 7, 2021 8:30am by Barry Ritholtz

Ten Simple Money Rules for Investing Success

Bad decisions and poor behavior are the primary reasons why many fail to meet their financial goals.

Creating lists1 is a useful way to organize your thoughts: I have created lists of rules for Investing, Valuation, Stock tips, Goldbuggery, even useless financial phrases to avoid. I find these exercises to be valuable ways to figure out what I think. Thinking about money – saving it, spending it, and most of all, how to invest it – is something I have spent decades doing. This has led to recognizing several fundamental truths about capital.

Naturally, I have organized these rules into a list:

.20 Insider Tips To Save Money on Every Part of Your Home

Cut costs on your mortgage, renovations and decorating.

By Gabrielle Olya July 12, 2021 Save Money at Home

The expenses that come with buying, renovating and decorating a home can add up, but fortunately, there are ways to save money every step of the way.

GOBankingRates asked real estate insiders for their best tips on how to save money on every part of your home, and their advice can help cut costs for anyone looking to buy a new home or renovate the one they currently have.

Here's how to save money in every nook and cranny of your house.

.If You’re Still Worried, You Aren’t Wealthy

Posted June 1, 2021 by Ben Carlson

Wealth means different things to different people.

Some people assume wealth is the amount of money you have in the bank or your investment portfolio. Others judge wealth based on the number of material possessions you’re able to buy. Then there are those people who figure only those with a high enough income can be considered rich.

What constitutes a rich life really depends on your relationship with money and what matters most to you in life. There are many ways to become wealthy that don’t involve money. Being content with what you have is a sure sign you’re living a rich life.

.13 Financial Moves to Make After Losing a Spouse

Nothing upends your world like the death of a spouse, leaving you at a loss for what to do next.

by: Janet Kidd Stewart April 29, 2020

Nothing upends your world like the death of a spouse, leaving you at a loss for what to do next. When death comes before you realize your retirement plans, it can be particularly devastating.

Triage Your Tasks

Of the roughly 15 million widows and widowers in the United States, about 2.8 million women and 800,000 men are younger than age 65, according to Census Bureau data. But whether you are of retirement age or not, making the right financial moves early can set you up for greater financial stability later on.

The oft-quoted mantra of telling grieving spouses not to make any financial decisions for a year is misguided at best and disastrous at worst. Many decisions simply can’t be postponed for a year, and others shouldn’t be rushed into. “We advocate a much more nuanced timeline,” says Susan Bradley, founder of the Sudden Money Institute, which trains financial advisers to work with clients in transition.

.The Financial Effects of Losing a Spouse

Rocky Mengle, Tax Editor Fri, July 16, 2021

The death of a spouse is one of the most difficult things imaginable. Besides the emotional toll, surviving spouses typically confront financial issues, which often trigger tax-related questions and consequences. Some of them are fairly straightforward, while others can be tricky. That's why Letha McDowell, president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, advises surviving spouses not to make major financial changes immediately. Instead, she tells them to reassess their finances from a tax perspective.

The loss of income after a spouse dies certainly has tax implications. For instance, if a drop in income means the surviving spouse needs to tap into a retirement account, McDowell points out that "the taxes may be less than initially anticipated because, if you have lower income, you may be in a lower bracket."

.What You Need To Know Before You Invest In Anything

Thomas Kopelman / June 1, 2021

As a financial advisor, I get asked almost daily what I am investing in.

It mostly sounds like this “are you invested in Bitcoin? Ethereum, Apple, Tesla, AMC, etc.” The list could go on forever. I always have a hard time answering this question because what I invest in doesn’t really matter. Just because I invest in certain things does not mean you should and vise versa. The real question is “why do I invest in those things?” The why is so much more important than the what.

And for me, I have a deep why for my investing strategy.

I believe in low cost, diversified investing for most of my portfolio. About 80% of my current portfolio is in low cost index funds that have the exposure I want (the same as our RLS Wealth clients). Some to large cap, some to mid cap, some to small cap, some to international, some to value, and some to growth.

.Are You Rich? How the Wealthy Are Defined

Emma Kerr Tue, July 13, 2021

The vast majority of Americans do not meet commonly held definitions of what it means to be rich in the U.S.

Respondents to Schwab's 2021 Modern Wealth Survey said a net worth of $1.9 million qualifies a person as wealthy. The average net worth of U.S. households, however, is less than half of that.

But wealth is in the eye of the beholder -- a person's location, career, community, background and so many other factors can influence his or her perception of wealth. Those perceptions may be evolving as new generations enter adulthood and redefine success.

.12 Steps to Achieve Financial Freedom

This guide lays out everything you need to finally master your money.

By Maryalene LaPonsie | April 26, 2021

What is financial freedom?

Ask a room of people to define financial freedom, and you’re likely to get a dozen different answers. For some, financial freedom means being able to pay the bills with money left over each month or having a fully funded emergency account. Others may want to retire early and travel extensively.

Regardless of how you define financial freedom, everyone can benefit from taking a comprehensive approach to money management. “It’s important to think about your finances holistically,” says Elisabeth Kozack, co-head of consumer lending at Marcus by Goldman Sachs.