Tips for Finding the Right Financial Advisor

Managing your finances is important no matter how old you are. If you don’t have a handle on your finances, you won’t be able to save. It will also be difficult to achieve important financial goals.

Financial planning is critical for retirement savings. You need to make sure you save enough money to fund a comfortable retirement. However, it isn’t easy. You don’t just put money aside. You need to invest and consider various retirement accounts.

For retirement savings, the benefits of having a financial advisor are many. A financial planner can help you build a complete investment strategy for your savings. They can also help you make better decisions as you plan for retirement.

While having a financial advisor can be beneficial, you need to pick the right one. There are many professionals out there who will be eager to win you as a client. You need to take your time to make sure you find someone who will help you achieve your goals.

How do you find the right financial advisor? Read on for a few tips!

Learn About Financial Advisors

The first step is to learn a little about financial advisors and what they do. You should also learn about the different types of financial advisors. Different types of financial advisors offer different services. 

Furthermore, the type of professional you work with may determine the types of products they offer or the strategies they deploy. It can also be relevant to the legal obligations the professional has to their clients.

Even beyond learning about financial advisors, you should try to gain an understanding of the services they provide. Learn a little about financial planning and investment strategies. 

You don’t have to master these subjects, but having basic knowledge will help you understand the services and make it easier to select an advisor.

Understand Your Goals

You need to assess your financial goals before hiring a financial advisor. Consider the amount of money you make annually and what you want to do before you retire. 

Think about the age at which you plan to stop working. You will also need to consider your retirement plans. If your retirement plans are modest, you might not need as much money. 

With that said, you still need to realize that you are probably saving to fund over a decade of your life.

Build a List of Names

With a basic understanding of financial advisor services and an outline of your goals, you can start building a list of professionals to work with. Searching financial advisor websites can be a good place to start. 

Check out their websites and see the types of services they provide. Look to see how much experience they have and the type of team they have backing them up.

You should also consider the financial services from your bank. Most banks have financial planning services and products for retirement savings. 

You could also ask friends or family members if they have anyone they could recommend. Just don’t settle for the first name you find. You will need to consider several professionals to find a good fit for you.

Narrow it Down

Now that you have a list, it is time to start narrowing it down to the ones that are the best fit for your financial goals. Start by considering the services you need. 

Eliminate any that don’t have services you find vital to your financial plans. From there, you can start looking into backgrounds. You could use a tool like BrokerCheck for more information. 

It can tell you about who they have worked for, their experience, and if they have had any complaints.

Arrange Meetings

With your list narrowed down, you can now arrange in-person meetings with the remaining candidates. You need to call their offices and schedule a meeting. 

It will give you a chance to learn more about the individual and see how comfortable you feel working with them. It can also be a chance to ask more questions about them as a professional and the services they provide.

You can start with the obvious questions about the services they provide. You should also ask about their investment strategy and how they can help you reach your goals. 

You should also ask them about how they get paid. The fee structures can tell you a lot about a financial advisor and the ways they may handle your money. You should also ask about how accessible your money will be once it is invested.

Hiring the right financial advisor can make a big difference. It is not a decision you want to rush into. Take your time, consider many candidates, and be careful as you vet them. 

With the tips in this post, you should be able to find a financial advisor to help you reach your retirement goals.

Reasons to Start Thinking About Estate Planning While You're Young

Whether young or old, estate planning is an important part of life. It can be intimidating and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. 

Estate planning is all about protecting your assets, taking care of your debts, and making sure your wishes are carried out after you pass away. 

If you are a young adult, here are a few reasons why it’s never too early to start thinking about estate planning.

Estate Planning Can Help Protect Your Assets and Loved Ones

If something happens to you unexpectedly—whether it’s an illness or injury—having an estate plan in place will help ensure that your assets and loved ones are taken care of. 

Without one, your family members may struggle to access your accounts or pay off any outstanding debts if something happens to you without warning. 

An estate plan can also protect the future ownership of any business or investments that you have.

It Can Help You Make Smart Financial Decisions Now

Thinking ahead and being proactive when it comes to estate planning can help make sure that the financial decisions you make now are sound ones for the future. 

For instance, if you know that some of your money will go toward taxes when you pass away, then this should factor into how much money you save now for retirement or other long-term goals. 

Having an estate plan in place can also help minimize stress for your family members down the line by providing clear instructions regarding how they should handle things like healthcare decisions or funeral arrangements on your behalf.

It's Easier Than You Think

Creating an estate plan doesn't have to be complicated or expensive, and as a young adult, now is the best time to start putting one in place since there are likely fewer assets involved than there would be later on in life. 

A good place to start is by creating a last will and testament (also known as a “will"), which is used to designate who gets what after death. 

Depending on where you live, there may even be online tools available that make creating a will easy and affordable (or even free) with step-by-step instructions and guidance from an estate planning attorney along the way.

No matter how old (or young) we are, we all need an estate plan in place so our families don’t have extra stress during an already difficult time when we pass away—but for younger adults especially, having one in place can provide peace of mind now knowing that their decisions today will benefit them tomorrow. 

The key is getting started sooner rather than later so everything stays organized and up-to-date as life progresses. With online tools available and plenty of resources at our fingertips, preparing our estates doesn’t have to be overwhelming; it can be quite simple! 

So take the first steps today towards creating a secure financial future for yourself and those around you with an effective estate plan tailored specifically for YOU!

4 Ways to Finance Your New Vehicle

You might be interested in purchasing a vehicle, and you might not have the money to pay for the car in cash. If this is the case, you shouldn't worry, since there are various financing options that might work for paying for your car purchase.

If you're wondering about the different ways that you can finance your vehicle, you may want to consider the following options.

Apply for a Loan through Your Bank

First of all, if there is a bank that you already regularly work with for your financial needs, you might want to check into your options with them first. Your bank might offer car loans. 

If you are able to secure one of these car loans, you might find it's easier for you to get approved than if you were to go through a different bank that you don't already have an established financial relationship with. 

Plus, you might feel better about taking out a car loan from a financial institution that you already trust.

Get a Loan from a Finance Company

Not only can you potentially get a car loan from a big bank, but you can also check into finance companies. There are various finance companies that grant car loans, and some of them are even willing to work with people who have less than perfect credit, so this could be a good option for you.

Opt for Dealer Financing

Some car dealerships actually offer their own financing. Basically, this means that you make payments directly to the dealership each month instead of to a bank. Check into dealerships like On-Trac Auto Sales to find out if dealer financing might be a good option for you.

Pay with a Credit Card

When you think about swiping your credit card, you might think about using it to pay for things like new clothes or electronics or to pay your day-to-day expenses. 

However, believe it or not, many dealerships do accept credit cards. This means that you might actually have the option to pay for your car purchase with a credit card. 

This can be a good option if you have a credit card that has a high enough limit to cover the purchase. However, you should make sure that you are mindful of things like interest rates and minimum payments on your credit card after making this big of a purchase.

As you can see, there are a few different ways that you can finance your vehicle. You might find that one of these options will work well for you and will allow you to purchase the car that you want, even if you don't have cash on hand to pay for your purchase outright.

5 Tips for Tax Season if You Aren't Sure What to Do

If you are like a lot of people, you might dread tax season. This might be particularly true if you don't know much about filing or paying taxes.

It's normal to be nervous and to feel a sense of dread when it's time to do your taxes, especially if you aren't knowledgeable on the subject. But no need to worry, as these tips for tax season can help you out a lot if you don't know what to do.

Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

First of all, do not wait until the last minute to start making plans to do your taxes. If you file your taxes late, you could be charged a penalty for doing so. 

Even if you don't end up filing late, you could end up feeling rushed or could be more prone to making mistakes if you wait until the last minute to file your taxes, too. 

Therefore, you should start thinking about what you need to do and how you are going to file and pay your taxes well in advance, if at all possible.

Gather as Much Documentation as Possible

Be aware that you are probably going to need quite a bit of documentation when you file your taxes. You'll need the social security number for each person you are filing on your taxes, including any dependents. 

You'll need proof of income and expenses and other documentation. Bringing along everything you need when you go get help with filing your taxes can help you avoid delays and issues. Keep sensitive documentation handy, such as W-4s, I-9s, and any charitable donations you’ve made. 

Try to keep track of any IRAs and medical funding, such as HSAs, and keep tabs on any new changes to your family, such as a new baby or a change of dependents.

Know When to Hire a Tax Lawyer

Not everyone has to hire a lawyer during tax season, but in some cases, it does pay to seek legal representation. You might need to hire a tax attorney if your tax situation is particularly complicated or if you have ever found yourself working with the IRS, for example. 

If you do think you need to hire a lawyer, make sure they have plenty of experience in helping people with taxes and that they have a good reputation.

Don't Try to Do Your Taxes On Your Own

It can be tempting to try to do your taxes on your own, especially since you might have seen advertisements for do-it-yourself tax software programs or since you might know people who claim that they do their own taxes and that it isn't difficult for them to do. 

However, you should not try to do your taxes on your own. Instead, you should hire a professional tax preparer to help you, even if you aren't going to be hiring a lawyer.

Be Truthful

Lastly, always be truthful when filling out your tax return. This can help you avoid getting audited, and it can help you avoid penalties and even legal issues with the IRS.

It's normal to not know what to do during tax season. However, these tips should guide you, even if you know little to nothing about filing your taxes, so you can go forward with a good bit of knowledge and peace of mind.

What is a Currency Swap?

Overview

• A currency swap, also known as a cross-currency swap, involves the exchange of interest—and sometimes of principal—in one currency for the same in another currency. The interest payments are exchanged at fixed dates. Interest rates can be fixed or floating.
• The two parties agree in advance whether or not they will exchange the principal amounts of the two currencies at the beginning of the transaction. Some currency swaps are for notional principal amounts, and the principal amounts are not actually exchanged between the parties. If there is an exchange of principal at the start of the deal, the exchange will be reversed when the contract reaches maturity.
• It is common for the contract to specify that interest rate payments will be calculated quarterly and exchanged semi-annually.
• Interest payments are normally not netted since they are in different currencies.
• In the United States (and many other countries) the law does not require currency swaps to be shown on a company´s balance sheet.
• Even though a Currency Swap is considered a foreign exchange transaction, it is not the same thing as a Foreign Exchange Swap (also known as forex swap or FX swap).

Fixed to fixed, floating to floating, or fixed to floating

There are three variations on the exchange of interest rates:

• Fixed-rate to fixed rate
• Fixed-rate to floating rate
• Floating rate to floating rate (this type of swap is also known as a basis swap)

Examples

Company A is initially obligated to pay a fixed interest rate on a loan denominated in euros. By using a currency swap, Company A can swap that to a rate in United States dollars, and the exchange rate can be either fixed or floating.

Why?

Early on, currency swaps developed as a way of circumventing exchange controls imposed by governments. Today, they are utilized for other reasons and have become important financial instruments for banks, investors and multinational corporations.

A company can, for instance, use a currency swap to hedge a long-term investment and change their interest rate exposure. Another reason behind the existence of the currency swap is that a company which is based in one country and is doing business in another can use a currency swap to get more favourable interest rate terms and conditions for a loan denominated in the local currency than the rates offered by the local banks.

And even though they started out as a way to circumvent national law, governments today use currency swaps as well. One notable example is from October 2018, when the governments of India and Japan signed a bilateral currency swap agreement worth 75 billion USD to stabilise India's forex and capital markets.

Pricing

Traditionally, the pricing in currency swap contracts has been expressed as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus or minus a certain number of points.

After a number of scandals, the validity of LIBOR as a benchmark has come into question, and the use of LIBOR in currency swaps is being phased out in favour of other benchmarks, especially the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).

The US Federal Reserve and the UK financial authorities have announced that LIBOR will not be used in this context after June 30, 2023.

Implied exchange rate

The ratio between the two principal amounts creates an implied exchange rate.

Example: This swap involves 10 million euros and 11 million U.S. dollars. The implied EUR/USD exchange rate is, therefore, 1.10.

When the contract reaches its maturity, the two principal amounts will be exchanged. Because of this, there is an exchange rate risk involved in the currency swap, as the market exchange rate for EUR/USD might not be 1.10 on the maturity date.

5 Tips to Remember When Starting Up Your Own Investment

If you're thinking of starting up your own investment, you may come across some challenges along the way. Some of them are going to be difficulties that are inherent in starting any kind of business, but others may come as a surprise.

To help you out on your journey and make sure you don't get lost on the way, we've put together 5 tips you should remember when starting up an investment.

1. Plan on Your Financial Roadmap

Planning for your finances is key to making sure your investment runs as expected. Start by considering your financial goals, including how much you're going to need to invest and how long you expect it to take you to reach them. 

For those who want to invest in startups, you should identify your sources of financing in advance. You don't want to be in the situation of not being able to get out of the financial hole that you just dug yourself into.

2. Know the Business Inside and Out

The other key thing you should remember when starting your investment is to know the business inside out. Take your time and do thorough research to have a good grasp of everything you could possibly be investing in. Make sure you familiarize yourself with how the business works, potential challenges, and risks.

3. Be Willing to Learn

As an investor, it’s important to know the volatility of the investment. Even if you did your research at the beginning, you also need to be open to learning throughout the process. 

New opportunities, ideas, and changes can come up when you least expect them. So, if you are flexible and receptive to learning, you will beat the odds. Otherwise, if you don't learn along, the market conditions may prove you wrong and cause you losses.

4. Know Your Friends and Enemies

Finally, you should know that not everybody will want to see your business succeed. Of course, you will want a strong support system composed of trustable friends. 

But you should also be aware of false friends who will pretend to be on your side only to stab you in the back. Therefore, keep your guard up and beware of people who don't really want to see you succeed.

5. Identify Your Market Strategy

For any kind of business, marketing is an essential tool for success. Marketing makes your customers aware of your products and services and helps them make purchasing decisions. That said, you must identify the best marketing strategy to reach your target audience.

Final Thoughts

Starting your own investment is a milestone toward financial freedom. While owning an investment comes with certain risks, it’s important that you first learn the ropes. The above-mentioned tips will help you make sure that you don't get lost during your investment.