If you’re looking to make changes to your portfolio, consider sector funds like mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have historically beaten the market in the past. There’s no guarantee, especially with a volatile market, but if you’re willing to take a chance, it could pay off. Investing in Sector Funds You may hear about investors, traders, or fund managers trying to “beat the market.” This phrase means that they are searching for returns that beat a broad market index, such as the S&P 500....

One balanced approach when interest rates are rising is to stay invested and take advantage of late-stage positive momentum, but you should also prepare for harder times that are lurking around the corner. Take a look at the best stock funds and stock sectors when interest rates go up. Best Stock Funds for Rising Interest Rates If you choose to invest in mutual funds when rates are rising, you have to know which mutual fund categories can work for you....

For example, the Congressional Budget Office is nonpartisan. It analyzes the economic impact of proposed legislation for Congress. It does not allow the political leanings of its staff analysts to influence its reports. Traditionally, the Democratic Party’s platform has included economic policies designed to minimize income and social inequalities, focusing on those policies as the best way to ultimately foster economic growth across all strata of the American economy. Republican economic policies focus on what’s good for businesses and investors....

In his recently published book—”The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions,” Collins outlines how ultra-high net-worth individuals—commonly defined as those with around $30 million or more—rely on armies of accountants, wealth managers, estate planners, foundations, lawyers, political lobbyists, and a baffling array of arcane financial maneuvers to avoid paying taxes, legal penalties, and other obligations. Collins spoke with The Balance about “The Wealth Hoarders,” published in April....

Spruce Up Your Credit Before you apply for a personal loan, review your credit to ensure your credit scores are as high as they should be. Check Your Credit Your credit report provides an excellent opportunity to see what’s in your credit history. Request your reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, which offers reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Decide Whether You Need a Credit Score Your credit reports contain information about your credit history, public records, and more....

Your budget can help you fix many of your financial problems, from overspending to getting out of debt. Here are some ways a budget can help you, even—and especially—when money is tight. A Budget Prioritizes Your Spending A budget can help you prioritize your spending when you do not have enough money to pay all of your bills. It can help you stop running out of money before the end of the month....

Below you will find seven basic cost categories that business owners need to know in order to correctly calculate (or estimate) all the costs of running their business. Fixed and Variable Costs Fixed costs remain the same no matter how much business your small business does. They are sometimes called overhead costs, and often include rent, depreciation of capital investments, management salaries, property taxes, and insurance payments. Whether a factory produces 100 or 1,000 t-shirts, these costs remain the same....

Maintaining separate business and personal finances allows you to be more organized at tax time, and is essential for protecting your personal assets. Using a business credit card for company expenses is one way to create that critical distinction. Keep reading to learn more about the key differences between business and personal credit cards. What’s the Difference Between Business and Personal Credit Cards? Generally Accepted Use Business credit cards are designed to cover expenses related to operating and growing your company....

If you aren’t protected by an employment contract or bargaining agreement, your employer can reduce your salary and your work schedule at any time, with some limitations. What is a Pay Cut? A pay cut is a reduction in an employee’s salary. Pay cuts are often made to reduce layoffs while saving the company money during a difficult economic period. A pay cut may be temporary or permanent, and may or may not come with a reduction in responsibilities....

Emotions and the Transaction Let’s start with the emotional aspects of the transaction. Typically, in any given real estate transaction, it is not the seller who feels wronged during the purchase period. Generally, it is the buyer. The seller is simply hoping the transaction will conclude upon receipt of a huge sum of money deposited into their bank account. The buyer, on the other hand, is suspicious of a rip-off and wonders whether the seller is withholding hidden defects....

How does this happen? You may have negative equity if your home price falls before you pay off a significant portion of your loan. Borrowing against a home with a second mortgage can also add to your total debt, narrowing the gap between what you own and what you owe. If you’re having trouble refinancing because of an underwater mortgage, you have several solutions, including government programs, temporary relief, and options that allow you to sell your home....

Typically, home equity loans are used for home repairs or remodeling projects. However, the funds provided by home equity loans can be used for any purpose. Learn the pros and cons of using a home equity loan to start a business, as well as alternative options for funding your startup. Can You Use a Home Equity Loan To Start a Business? The lump sum of funds provided by a home equity loan can be used for any purpose, including expenses to start a business....

Here’s what you need to know about carrying multiple life insurance policies. Can You Have Multiple Life Insurance Policies? The short answer: It is perfectly legal for any one individual to be covered by multiple life insurance policies. Although you might worry that insurers will think it’s odd, Maryland-based registered life insurance agent J.D. Elliott said that “the underwriters all have different requirements and ‘raising eyebrow’ levels.” In general, buying multiple policies is common enough that it won’t raise most eyebrows....

Car insurance refunds are nice, but how do they work? Knowing how your car insurance billing system works, and any fees that may apply to early policy termination, can help you make decisions, like when to switch your car insurance or when to drop coverage on a vehicle. Car Insurance Refund if You Paid in Full If everyone paid in full on their car insurance, billing would be easier to understand....

A CD is a type of savings account that locks up your money for a period of time and pays a guaranteed interest rate in return. A mutual fund—riskier but generally with a higher rate of return—is a way to put the money in stocks, bonds, or other investments. Let’s compare and contrast the different approaches, and how you can invest in both. What’s the Difference Between CDs and Mutual Funds?...

Find out how a character reference works, what it includes, and how to get one—because you’ll likely need one at some point in your life. What Is a Character Reference? A potential employer, school, landlord, volunteer group, or professional organization may ask you to provide them with a character reference. Rather than speaking to your work experience and skills, as a work reference might, a character reference attests to your character and interpersonal abilities....

At this career level, you will be in a leadership position, responsible for setting and meeting lofty goals and making sure that the people you manage are in a position to support these goals as well. Get more insight into what to expect during an executive level job interview and how to prep for the experience. What the Interviewer Wants to Know Interviewers are looking to get a sense of your leadership style and how it will fit in with company culture....

Each cover letter you write for a communications role should showcase your abilities and experience. It also should be customized—yes, that means writing a new letter for each job application. Here’s what you need to know to write a cover letter that’ll grab the attention of hiring managers. What to Include in Your Cover Letter Start with an attention grabber. Point to leadership roles and advanced skills right at the beginning of the cover letter to catch your reader’s attention from the start....

The business owner must also have information from the income statement: net income (or loss) and depreciation as both are considered cash flows to the firm. Analysis of Comparative Balance Sheets In order to analyze your comparative balance sheets and develop your Statement of Cash Flows, you first consider any increases or decreases in your current asset and current liability accounts between the two years of balance sheet information. Here’s the rule you should always remember when developing your Statement of Cash Flows:...

Compare.com is a relative newcomer to the United States; however, its operations through its sister site, Confused.com, has been providing car insurance comparison rates in Europe for several years. On its website, Compare.com stresses to customers that it only offers quotes from trusted, licensed and reputable partner insurance companies all of whom have been approved by each state’s Department of Insurance. Originally, there were only 24 insurance partner companies but that number has grown to 50....