Most people do not understand the importance of having a savings account until the need for a large sum of liquid cash arises. A savings account will help you save for any such scenarios. It also offers you an interest rate, thereby letting you earn money while you save.Here are the top ten savings accounts you must look into. My Savings Direct My Savings Direct is a division of Emigrant Bank. My Savings Direct offers high-interest savings account with no fees and no minimums. The process of opening the saving account is online. This makes opening an account quick, easy and hassle free. The account does not require a minimum balance and does not charge any service fee. These are the most enticing perks. Ally Bank online It offers an annual percentage yield of 1.05%, no monthly maintenance fee and no requirement of minimum balance. This account can easily be recommended. Moving money between Ally accounts is quick and easy. Transferring money from the accounts managed by other institutions is also hassle-free. The account holders can schedule transfers up to a year in advance. Barclays Bank  The institution offers an annual percentage yield of 1%. The institution also offers the perks like no minimum balance requirement, no monthly maintenance charges, tools to assist savings which helps to set saving goals and calculate the time to fulfill them.

When you opt for a balance transfer credit card, you are able to transfer balance from one or multiple cards to a new company at a lower annual percentage rate (APR). You can be sure that 100% of your payment will be towards the principal during the initial period. You can consolidate all your loans to one card and track your debt efficiently. It allows you to move to a card with better rewards and terms than your current credit card. Here are some of the top balance credit cards that you can choose from: Wells Fargo Reflect Card If your credit score is good or excellent, and your goal is to settle the debt within two years, you can choose the Wells Fargo Reflect card, which offers a 0% introductory APR for 21 months from the account opening. After that, the variable rates are between 15.24% and 27.24 %. You must ensure minimum payments during this period to be eligible for the 0% APR. The card also offers cell phone protection, roadside dispatch, and zero liability protection and gives you access to various deals and offers from Wells Fargo. Bank America Credit Card If your credit is good or excellent, and you can settle your debt within the intro APR period, you can consider this card.

Irrespective of what you earned in your hay day, you need to save for your retirement years. Simply relying on your Social Security benefit isn’t a wise choice; it is imperative that you save enough money for your retirement when you are earning. The golden rule of saving for retirement is that you have to start as early as you can. Apart from this, there are certain practical ways that will help you save money for your twilight years. To ensure that you lead a comfortable life post-retirement, here are certain effective tips that will help you in your endeavor of saving for retirement. Start today Irrespective of whether you adhered to the golden rule, it’s never too late to start saving for retirement. So, here’s what you can dostart today. Ensure that you start saving money for retirement, make sound investments, and understand the power of compound interest. The sooner you invest money, the higher the benefits you obtain from it. Contribute to the 401(k) Most employers provide the traditional 401(k) plan, and if your employer adheres to this practice, it is advisable that you opt for it. The 401(k) plan allows you to contribute your pre-tax money to the plan, and this is indeed a major advantage for you since you are saving for your retirement.

Choosing the right company for homeowner’s insurance requires the same kind of deliberation and caution as that for life insurance. People often believe that homeowner’s insurance policies aren’t vital since they either believe that no catastrophe can strike their houses, or they won’t have to undertake any major repair work. However, this is wishful thinking, and in dire circumstances, a homeowner’s insurance policy is what saves the day by shielding you from the burden of exorbitant repair work bills. So, if you are keen on opting for a homeowner’s insurance policy, there are a plethora of homeowner’s insurance companies that provide policies with amazing benefits. However, there are certain aspects that need to be considered before you choose from the array of homeowner’s insurance companies. Here are some factors to consider while choosing a homeowner’s insurance company. Financial strength You wouldn’t want to buy a homeowner’s insurance policy from an insurance company that isn’t financially sound. So, if you are in a dilemma where you have to choose between two likely contenders, you can compare the financial strength ratings (FSR) of those homeowners insurance companies from the different independent agencies. If the particular homeowner’s insurance company has high ratings, it implies that it has the ability to satisfy large claims.

A good mortgage rate really matters as it means less money to be paid every month and saving thousands of dollars in form of interest. Having said that, it is not easy to get a low mortgage rate as there are various factors that affect the mortgage rate, such as the credit score and from whom you take the loan. Read on to find 3 simple ways to get a great mortgage rate for your next loan. Maintain an excellent credit score Current mortgage rates are priced according to your credit score. Your credit score will determine whether you qualify the loan in the first place. Once you are eligible for the loan, your credit score will further determine how much money the lender is willing to give you, and the interest rate that you will be charged. Your credit score and the current mortgage rates always share an inverse relationship, which means that if you have an excellent score then you will easily get a loan at a lower mortgage rate. On the other hand, a bad credit score will increase your mortgage interest rate. Today, if you have a credit score of around 620, then you will be charged a 5.022% interest, according to the current mortgage rate in the market.

When you are purchasing a house, you are always on the hunt for the lowest mortgage rate. If you are keeping a track of the current mortgage rates, then you might have noticed that the rates never stay the same. So, how do you get the lowest possible mortgage rate? Many people have a misconception that the credit score is the only factor that determines the current mortgage rates in the market. The truth is that there are several other factors that decide the mortgage rate, on the basis of which the lender will give you the loan. Read on to find out three such major factors that affect the current mortgage rates in the market: Cash reserves For those who are unaware of the term, cash reserves represent liquid money saved that is readily available to the individual. Typically, lenders demand that house buyers have a cash reserve that lasts for at least two months. It means that after you seal the deal and buy your new house, you should at least have enough money to pay for the new mortgage payment for at least two months. The mortgage payment includes the principal amount, interest, taxes, and the insurance amount.

Until as late as a decade ago, there were no apps, let alone good apps, for money management and personal finance. Today, the scenario couldn’t be more different—gone are the days when you had to wait for the bank account or a credit card statement to arrive by mail or visit the bank to perform basic fund transfers. Today, people are more in control when it comes to money access. However, that also means that spending has become a little more reckless. It is never too late to begin correcting one’s financial health and technology plays a great part in it today. Armed with smartphones in our hands, we have the means to manage money in better ways now with today’s great crop of personal finance software and personal finance apps. Listed below are some of the best ones: Quicken Quicken is a giant when it comes to personal finance software, apps, and tools—the personal finance software was launched way back in the year 1983. Unlike most other Internet-based apps, Quicken is an offline personal finance software which you install on your PC or laptop. With a price of $74.99 annually, the well-aged tool now has a brand-new 2018 promising edition which features free Quicken bill pay option, 5GB of secure online backup and expanded custom reporting.

When it comes to travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card is one of the more popular ones. There are other cards at par too that you can choose to get excellent travel rewards if dining and travel form a huge part of your credit card purchases. Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card There’s no Annual Fee for the first year, then the charge is $95. You can earn 20,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months. Earn 2x points when you use the card for travel or dining. For all other purchases, earn 1 point per dollar. You can transfer the points at 1:1 rate to many airline and hotel loyalty programs. Book your travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and get a 20% discount Discover It Miles At no Annual Fee, this card gives you 1.5x miles for every dollar spent. The card will also reimburse for $30 of your in-flight wi-fi purchases each year. At the end of the first year, Discover It Miles will match every mile you’ve earned. Bankamericard Travel Rewards Credit Card This card charges no Annual Fee and no foreign transaction fee. For every dollar spent, you get 1.5 points.

We shouldn’t let the uncertainties of life overpower us. This might seem like a clich, but it’s a good principle to follow in the matter of finances. The lack of a proper financial plan can lead to serious problems in our lives. It’s really important that you plan right, as far as money is concerned. Medical emergencies and unexpected accidents require immediate monetary help, and you should have enough funds to bail you out of such situations. A few baby steps are all you need for a perfect financial plan and a relaxed future. The earlier the better. Keep the following pointers in mind for a financially secure future. Plan Right Maintain a record of all the financial expenses that you make. Keep a record of the money you’re saving every month as well. Is that amount enough for securing your and your family’s future? If the answer is no, try and save more. Reduce your expenses or look for additional income options. Spend Right A little bit of luxury is understandable. However, don’t overdo it. Have a saving goal in mind and make sure to reach it every month. Splurging a huge amount under peer pressure is something that you need to put an end to, unless you have already done it.

Business is no child’s play, especially when it comes to the buying and selling of shares. Things can get very tricky if you open an online brokerage account with the wrong firm. Instead of minting money here, your investments will be at risk. So, the sensible thing to do here is to think hard and make a wise choice about opening an online brokerage account with the right firm. In case you are willing to try your hand at earning by selling and buying shares, you can easily open an online brokerage account. Before you take the final step, here are some things to consider before you open an online brokerage account. The first step is to choose the kind of brokerage account you think is suitable for yourself. If you are interested in saving some money for your future concerns, then a traditional brokerage account will be suitable for you. In case you wish to open an online brokerage account for saving money for your retirement, then an IRA will be the sensible choice. Once you have decided which account to open, then the 2 nd step will have you compare the cost and incentives that the different online brokerage firms have to offer.

In recent times, TurboTax has become a popular tax preparation software that assists people to go through the process of preparing taxes smoothly. If you want to make use of the various features and services provided by TurboTax, you can choose from among the different versions of TurboTax. Each of these has features that make it easier to get through the process of filing tax returns without any hassles. Here are 5 popular versions of TurboTax: TurboTax Free Edition: This free version of TurboTax guarantees easy tax preparation and printing and e-filing process with 100% accurate calculations. This version of TurboTax is suitable for filing simple tax returns. You can start your tax preparation process by taking a photo of your W-2 form with a phone or personal device and then upload it. TurboTax Deluxe: This TurboTax version lets you start your tax preparation process for free. You have to pay while filing your returns. Along with easy preparation, printing, and e-filing, TurboTax Deluxe checks for approximately 350+ tax deductions and credits and helps you maximize mortgage and property tax deductions. TurboTax Deluxe has an ‘ItsDeductible’ feature that can convert charitable donations to big donations. TurboTax Deluxe is priced at around $39.99, which you have to pay once you decide to file the returns.