5 Key Signs Your Finances Are in Trouble

Crystal Mayer   Tue, August 8, 2023

If you feel like there is never enough money in your bank account, you are not alone. According to a survey conducted by the LendingClub Corporation and PYMNTS.com, 64% of adults in America reported living paycheck to paycheck in March 2022. Millions of people are unable to get ahead or put money aside for savings, meaning that they may be struggling financially.

When you are in the middle of it, however, it can be challenging to determine just how dire your financial situation is. You may have become numb to the fact that you routinely pay bills late or are swimming in overdraft fees. Many people simply have no other choice, given that wages have not kept pace with the high cost of living in most areas. But recognizing that your bank account is not healthy is half the battle, so here are five key signs your finances are in trouble.

How Much is it Costing Your Business to Accept Paper Checks?

Mar 17, 2023 by Zazil Martinez

Paper checks are one of the most costly ways to collect payments. Still, many businesses think getting paid by check is the most affordable method. In 2021, 91% of organizations across the U.S. continued to receive checks, even though they understand the associated costs and risks.  Of course, there are also many indirect costs to check processing, such as labor and processing fees. The bill can quickly eat into your bottom line — and that's before potential errors.

It's no wonder businesses have been shifting from paper checks to digital alternatives that offer more convenience, data, control, and automation. The 2020 pandemic only accelerated the shift as consumers demanded contactless payments.

Bank Failures: How to Keep Your Money Safe

BY PRIYA KAPOOR • APR 6, 2023

SVB's collapse didn't just affect American depositors, but also many Indian start-ups. Hundreds of Indian startups with millions of dollars in their accounts found themselves stuck.

SVB's failure was the second largest in US history and the largest since the financial crisis of 2008

On March 11, 2023, the US President Joe Biden was seen reassuring Americans that their money in banks is safe and the American banking system is strong. This was following the news of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank. The banks were shut down by the US regulator. Before being closed, SVB Bank was the 16th largest lender. It had $209 billion in total assets, while Signature Bank had $110 billion as of December 2022.

7 Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires

By Grant Cardone

Learn how to generate multimillion-dollar wealth -- and enjoy the journey on your way to the top. First, understand that you no longer want to be just a millionaire. You want to become a multimillionaire. While you may think a million dollars will give you financial security, it will not. Given the volatility in economies, governments and financial markets around the world, it's no longer safe to assume a million dollars will provide you and your family with true security.

In fact, a Fidelity Investments' study of millionaires last year found that 42 percent of them don't feel wealthy and they would need $7.5 million of investable assets to start feeling rich.

The 7 Commandments of Common Sense in the Modern World

Hilary Tetenbaum   Mon, August 7, 2023

Common sense is a commodity. In some years, it seems to be in shorter supply than at other times. The current decade has already had its shortages and surpluses of it. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to maximize your personal account balance of the intangible asset.

Those who strive to become homeowners instead of lifelong renters already display a penchant for having a ready supply of common sense. Other examples appear among those who work to establish a solid credit score, protect personal information online, and get health advice from reliable sources. Review the following ways you can let commonsense actions and decisions make life much more rewarding and enjoyable.

The Five Biggest Things That Confuse Americans About Retirement

Retirement: What people say about their readiness

Kerry Hannon   Sun, August 6, 2023

Americans think they'll need to save $1.8 million for a comfortable retirement, according to a new survey. But for many of them, that’s just a shot-in-the-dark guess.  Many have no idea how much they should save or how to invest whatever money they sock away. They’re baffled by many other essential facets of retirement planning, the survey released this week from Charles Schwab showed.

That’s a real problem because what Americans save is supposed to become a major source of income in retirement, and, if they're clueless on the basics, many may under-save and face a shortfall in their old age.

Nobody Told Me

Jonathan Clements  |  February 8, 2020

I HAVE DEVOTED my entire adult life to learning about money. That might sound like cruel-and-unusual punishment, but I’ve mostly enjoyed it. For more than three decades, I’ve spent my days perusing the business pages, reading finance books, scanning academic studies and talking to countless folks about their finances. Yet, despite this intense financial education, it took me a decade or more to learn many of life’s most important money lessons and, indeed, some key insights have only come to me in recent years. Here are 10 things I wish I’d been told in my 20s—or told more loudly, so I actually listened:

15 Most Important Assets That Will Increase Your Net Worth

Jennifer Taylor  Fri, August 4, 2023

Your net worth is more than just the balance in your bank account. It's a measure of your financial health.  To get the answer to "What is my net worth?" subtract your total liabilities from your total assets. If you're trying to figure out which assets are the most valuable or will otherwise give your net worth a boost, here's a rundown of 15 critical assets. Learn how you can start making lucrative investments toward your future.