5 Ways to Diversify Your Fixed Income Portfolio
March 14, 2013
Historically, investors have spent incredible amounts of time doing research to diversify their equity portfolios. Figuring out just how much should be allocated to emerging markets and small cap can be a never-ending exhausting process. The problem is after all of the time devoted to equities, the standard practice for many investors is to just […]
Comparison of Hilton HHonors Credit Cards
March 12, 2013
With over 3,750 properties, Hilton is one of the largest hotel chains in the world, and Hilton hotels comprise no less than 10 different brands including DoubleTree, Hampton Inn, Embassy Suites, and the Waldorf-Astoria. Like most hotel chains, guests can use a co-branded credit card to earn points toward free night stays. In particular, Hilton […]
Citi Simplicity vs. Clear from American Express
March 11, 2013
There are some people who look for credit cards with the best rewards or the lowest interest rates. But then there are those who just want the card with the lowest fee and the most simple terms and conditions. In fact, President Obama actually met with credit card executives back in 2009 and asked if […]
4 Investment Alternatives to Equities
February 27, 2013
In general, many investors are reactionary. They tend to pull out of investments after the bottom has dropped out of them, or buy into something that has already had a pretty good run. These last six months are perfect example. Pre-election, many investors felt skittish and moved to cash with part or all of their […]
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Green
February 22, 2013
Does it make good sense to have a credit card with a high annual fee? For many people, it can. If the card offers rewards and benefits that far outweigh its annual fee, than it is a good strategy to hold such a card. Both Chase and American Express offer cards aimed at travelers with […]
The IRA vs 401(k): Which is Right for You?
February 19, 2013
Every day adults are realizing more and more that they need to take control of their own retirement savings. Regardless of political affiliation, most can agree that the sand is running out of the social security system hourglass, and many of us will never see a dime for our efforts. Those of us that will, […]
American Express Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred
February 13, 2013
If you look at all the cash back reward cards, you will find there are three distinct types. Some offer a fixed rate on all purchases, usually around 1-2%. Others combine a fixed rate on most purchases with increased rates of cash back that apply to selected categories merchants that change each quarter. Recently, I […]
Mint Review: A Free Online Budgeting Program You Might Like
February 11, 2013
One of the most popular personal finance applications out there is Mint.com. Not too long ago, Mint was bought by Intuit, the same company that puts out Quicken. And I’m going to be honest. One of the reasons I was disappointed with the latest version of Quicken (other than the fact that the new version […]
Chase Freedom vs. Citi Dividend vs. Discover it
January 18, 2013
For someone who is looking to maximize their credit card rewards, the word “bonus” can leap right off the screen. Just about any decent reward card will earn 1% cash back, but it is the opportunity to earn a 5x bonus that can really attract your attention. Chase, Citi, and Discover are three of the […]
10 Ways to Cut Your Restaurant Bill Big Time
January 11, 2013
A common piece of money saving advice is to cut back on eating out. My wife and I eat much more in than out but like to hit the restaurants on Friday or Saturday nights. Below are some ways that we keep our food bill to a reasonable size. 1. Split the bill. We have […]
