Life insurance enables individuals to cover their family members against financial risks that may arise in the future. So, one must not overlook its purchase. If one can afford it, they could consider picking a policy with a higher coverage. Moreover, there are several errors that one could make when buying a life insurance policy, which could result in limited benefits for their family. Here are five such mistakes to avoid. Focusing only on the premium amount Several buyers pay attention only on the premium amount they are supposed to pay instead of looking into more about the coverage and its terms. Doing so could result in buying a policy that is insufficient for meeting the requirements of the policyholder’s family. So, one must consider factors such as future goals, children’s education fees, and inflation instead of only focusing on the premium. Relying on the employer’s insurance coverage Employers generally offer a basic level of life insurance coverage. So, one must not completely rely on it for protection and should consider getting supplemental life insurance. Moreover, one may be able to secure a reduced premium rate when they opt for the life insurance provider associated with their employer for standard coverage.

Purchasing insurance can be an excellent financial decision. When you buy insurance, you make small payments called premiums to an insurance company so that you and your loved ones are protected during a financial emergency. However, there are a lot of factors to consider when buying an insurance plan. And more often than not, people make mistakes during the process, which cost them a lot more than they would otherwise pay. Opting for low premiums People often opt for a plan with a lower premium because it is easier on the pocket. However, such plans usually provide a smaller claim amount during an emergency. So, try to find a balance between the premiums you pay and how much money you get during a claim. Not trying other insurance providers Staying with the same insurer might make the documentation process easier when renewing the policy or buying a new one. However, it can cost you more in the long haul. The provider may not always offer the best price for a preferred plan. So, if your situation changes—for example, if you get married, buy a car, or move to a new state—compare different insurance companies before choosing one. Not reading the fine print Every insurance plan comes with terms and conditions.

While loans offer quick access to money, repaying them can be challenging. For many, debts feel like an unshakeable monkey on their backs. Additionally, if one fails to repay loan installments per the agreed schedule between them and their lender, the interest and penalties keep spiraling upward. To avoid this and other similarly nasty outcomes, repaying loans quickly and early is incredibly necessary. Here are some ways to achieve quick and easy repayment of loans: Making bi-weekly payments Usually, loan installment schedules are geared toward monthly repayments. However, one can speed up this process and simplify it by making the payments bi-weekly. All one needs to do is submit a half-payment of each weekly installment. This approach has multiple benefits. Firstly, as the payments are carried out more frequently, the interest rates do not accrue and grow with time. Additionally, breaking down the installment amounts make them smaller and easier to pay off. Additionally, by making about 26 half-payments annually, one shortens the life of their loan by a few months or even years. For example, using this approach on a 30-year mortgage can reduce its span to about 26 years. Refinancing personal loans Refinancing is the process where people can change the interest rate or terms of their current mortgage.

A credit score is a measure of one’s creditworthiness, usually presented as a 3-digit number between 300 and 850. If one has a higher score, it makes one a better candidate for loans. However, a bad credit score can make it challenging to obtain loans. Fortunately, some apps available in the market can assist one in improving one’s credit score. Continue reading this article to learn about the best apps to help improve a bad credit score. 3 apps to help improve a bad credit score Credit Karma With an experience that spans more than a decade, Credit Karma is one of the best apps to consider when trying to improve a bad credit score. One may come across various beneficial tools that can trigger changes in the credit score while using this app. This includes access to one’s credit report, tips to increase credit score, and even products that can prove beneficial in saving money. Experian As a credit-building software, Experian gives its customers access to adaptable and straightforward offerings. This comprises access to FICO and Experian credit scores, the Experian Boost feature, credit score change alerts, and credit card recommendations. All of these features are available to users for free, providing them with easy access to all the necessary information.

During the pandemic, the government issued multiple orders that directed certain businesses to shut down or required employees to work from home. Even partial curfews and restricted travel or movement directives directly affected the functioning of a business. That is why the government also introduced the Employee Retention Credit or ERC to eligible businesses impacted by the scale of these orders. The tax credit provides businesses much-needed leverage to survive and recover operations post-pandemic. Who can avail of the credit? Changes in regulations and policies could significantly impact travel, business operations, meetings, and other activities that a company relies on to remain profitable. Employers can apply for employee retention credit regardless of the organization’s size or tax exemption status. This credit incentivizes employers to keep their employees on payroll and receive a tax refund in return for retaining their workforce. The credit amount is 50% of $10,000 in the wages paid to the employee for eligible quarters in 2020. This works out to $5,000 per employee per quarter. For 2021, the credit amount is 70% of the $10,000 in wages paid to the employee for eligible quarters in 2020. This works out to $7,000 per employee per quarter. Businesses can claim tax credits per quarter to offset slow business or losses incurred due to government orders.

An airline credit card is a co-branded travel rewards card that is jointly offered by an airline and a card issuer network. This card allows users to earn frequent flier miles to win travel benefits on their purchases. They also offer benefits such as sign-on bonuses, priority boarding, free checked baggage, access to airport lounges, elite status, and more. Currently, these are the six best airline credit cards one can avail of: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card The Capital Card is one of the most premium travel credit cards with a fairly low annual fee of $395. The card offers up to a 10x reward rate on flights, hotels, and rental cars, making it a crowd favorite. United Club℠ Infinite Card Users can earn up to 4 miles per dollar spent on on United®. The card comes at an annual cost of $525 but offers several perks, such as up to 80,000 bonus miles (conditions apply), free first and second-checked bags, Premier Access travel services, and more. Chase Freedom Flex℠ For those looking for a card with no annual fee, the Chase Freedom Flex is ideal. It offers a quarterly cashback reward rate of up to 5% on rotating categories, to a combined maximum of $1500.

Before investing in precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, or palladium, individuals should have an idea about their different types and diversify their portfolios to mitigate risk. People should understand market drivers, like economic indicators and geopolitical events, and adopt a long-term perspective. Be cautious of scams, consider tax implications, and assess the liquidity of the chosen metal. Before investing in precious metals, make sure you keep in mind the important aspects listed below. Understand the Types of Precious Metals Investors should start by understanding the different types of precious metals available for investment. Gold and silver are the popular choices, but platinum and palladium also play significant roles in the precious metals market. Each metal has unique properties and uses, which can influence its value and market dynamics. Diversification is Key Diversifying a precious metals portfolio is a fundamental strategy. Investing solely in one type of metal can expose an investor to higher risks. Diversification helps spread risk and optimize the potential for returns. Storage and Security Investors seeking physical ownership must consider secure storage options. Common choices include safe deposit boxes, private vaults, or secure home safes. Security measures play a crucial role in protecting these valuable assets.

Gold has long been a symbol of wealth and a store of value, making it a popular choice for investors who would like to diversify their portfolios. However, the path to successful gold buying and investment is riddled with pitfalls that can derail even the most well-intentioned individuals. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when venturing into the world of gold investment and some tips on how to avoid them. Not researching the market before investing The gold investment market is expansive and multifaceted. Simply holding physical gold in the form of coins or bars is just the tip of the iceberg. There exists a plethora of investment options, including Gold ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), gold futures contracts, gold mining stocks, and gold mutual funds, among others. The value of these assets fluctuates not only based on broader market dynamics but also on company-specific factors. So, it is important to research them beforehand to navigate this market effectively. Not checking if the gold is authentic Ensuring the gold’s authenticity is paramount because counterfeit or impure gold can lead to significant financial losses. To avoid this pitfall, investors should consider several measures. Conducting simple authenticity tests, such as using a magnet (since gold is not magnetic) or checking for proper hallmarks, can be informative.

Credit cards are great for transactions, as they can help build credit and help one get many benefits through the credit card company. However, many are unaware of their benefits and end up making some mistakes while using their cards. Here are some of the credit card habits one should avoid to help keep any extra costs at bay and steer clear of credit card debt and massive interest rates: 1. Making minimum payments This is something many consumers do. As soon as the credit card bill comes, they tend to ignore the full payment request and instead just pay the minimum amount due. While this is acceptable to credit card companies, it harms the consumer’s credit score, and it also adds a huge interest rate to the bill in the next cycle. It can take years to pay off credit card debt if the bill is not paid in full to the company. 2. Neglecting bill statements Always check the billing statement thoroughly. It is advised to go through the payments mentioned to make sure they are legitimate payments made by the consumer. If there is a discrepancy, report it immediately. Any fraudulent activity can be traced through these statements.

The holiday season is right here, and it’s a great time for giving. Giving doesn’t just have to be limited to gift exchanges; it can also include donations to those who are less fortunate. Not only do these donations make a positive impact on the lives of others, but many of them are also eligible for tax deductions. To help people maximize their donations and receive the full tax benefits, this article lists five tax-deductible charity gifts to consider. Cash Cash donations are the most popular types of tax-deductible charitable donations. Donors can make these payments through cash, credit, or debit cards. If the donations are made to a qualifying organization, they can deduct them on Schedule A. However, one needs to file them as itemized deductions, and they are typically limited to a percentage of the annual gross income. Stocks and bonds Several non-profit organizations accept stocks and bonds as donations. Since these are tax-deductible and do not tack on capital gains taxes, they tend to result in higher donations. In most cases, they are immediately liquidated to improve cash flow within the charitable organization. However, it is important to note that these tax deductions may look different for everyone based on the organization donated to and one’s adjusted gross income.

While debts are often inevitable to fulfill certain essential requirements, being in debt can be rather harrowing, especially when there are multiple debts to repay. Recent statistical data suggests that 77% of households nationwide are in some form of debt. On the bright side, systematically approaching the debt repayment process can help one become debt-free. So, here are some common mistakes to avoid while trying to get out of debt quickly: Repaying only the minimum amount one owes While repaying the minimum amount one owes makes sense when one cannot afford to repay more, it is important to start paying out more than this minimum sum eventually to become debt-free. An effective strategy to increase the debt repayment amount is to list all of one’s expenses and cut down on the unnecessary ones. One may then prepare a plan on the amount one can easily afford to repay for every installment. Not strategizing what debts to pay off first Having a definite plan on which debts to prioritize can help in gaining more clarity and avoid last-minute hassles before the final repayment date. One effective way to repay debts quickly is the snowball method. It involves paying off the smallest debt first and then moving to the larger ones in a sequential manner.