Welcome to the end of the week and another edition of Happy Hour! Just sit back, relax, and enjoy your end of the week roundup of all things interesting in the land of money.
Illinois Downgrade
Illinois, my home state, is finally giving California a run for its money. I’ve always known Illinois to be a competitive state. It seems, the legislators are finally getting serious about having the lowest bond rating in the nation. We’re second only to California. Which better watch it’s back.
Compounding this success, the downgrade now forces Illinois to pay a higher interest rate on newly issued bonds. So the state will have to borrow more money to make its interest payments. Which should be enough to push us to a tie with California soon. So how did the legislators do it? They followed a brilliantly crafted gridlock strategy.
Instead of taking action, the legislators chose to raise their arms, extend their index finger, and point it at other legislators, who in turn decided to mimic the same action and point back. Seems its early practice for when they can raise their hands and proclaim Illinois is #1! Continue Reading…
Learning how to invest isn’t complicated. It starts with a common sense guide to good financial habits. If you follow these steps, you’ll not only learn how to invest in your 20s, you’ll build the groundwork for successful investing habits over your lifetime. These rules apply whether you’re 25 or 75 and will lead you to save, invest, and grow your wealth.
When you leave your job, do you really want to leave your retirement savings behind? It’s probably not the best idea. So why not bring it with you. There are several 401k rollover options available that allow you to take your retirement savings so you have better control of that money.
Paying the lowest taxes possible should be a national pastime. It’s all about working the tax code in our favor. Everyone has the opportunity to do it. You just need to know where your income falls in the