Monday, August 27, 2018

Prepare for Retirement with an HSA



Retirement planning isn't something that happens by chance. It requires planning, financial commitment, and a long-term perspective. No matter where you are in your retirement planning process, we have an additional way to save tax-free funds for retirement. Enter the HSA (health savings account).

HSA Overview


By all intents and purposes, HSAs were designed to help individual and families save pre-tax funds for qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses. It creates a clear path to save money and reduce the cost of health services and expenses.


The benefits of an HSA are that they provide triple tax-tax advantages: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free distributions (as long as they are used for qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses). This sounds great for health costs, but how does it connect to retirement?

After the age of 65, you can use your HSA funds for anything, just like A 401(k) or IRA. In fact, an HSA has no mandatory distributions in retirement. You get to decide when and if to use those pre-tax assets or sell investments in your HSA account. You can let your HSA funds grow into your 70s, 80s, and 90s.


Extra Tax-Free Retirement Savings


While the tax advantages of an HSA are clear, maybe the real value is an additional retirement savings account. Combining the savings power of a 401(k), IRA and HSA to create the only triple threat for retirement savings. That means more tax savings and more money for you in retirement.


Plan for Health Costs


Even with all of your detailed retirement planning, you might have missed the massive impact healthcare costs can have on your retirement savings nest-egg. According to a recent Fidelity Report, healthcare costs are expected to exceed $275,000 per couple in retirement. This is on top of Medicare coverage. 






HSAs can cover these expected health costs, so you can use your 401(k) or IRA for the stuff you want. Maybe some world travel?


Don't Wait to Open an HSA


HSA savings opportunities are based on HSA-eligibility. You must have an HSA-eligible health plan to contribute to an HSA. You can, however, use any accumulated HSA funds not matter your health plan. An HSA account is for life.

Your retirement planning might be in full swing, or you might be just getting started. No matter where you are in the retirement planning process, you can open an HSA to accelerate your retirement savings.


Sunday, August 26, 2018

Get Ready For the Walmart Black Friday Sale 2018



With grand Black Friday Sales 2018 approaching in couple of few months, Walmart is coming up with some possible expected discounts that will be offered to its customers in the upcoming once in a year sale which will start on November 23, 2018. Walmart is fully excited for the grand bandwagon where it will offer much more attractions and discounts as compared to the previous year Black Friday Sales.

During the Black Friday week, Walmart will keep on surprising its customers with numerous deals and offers such as early access to Black Friday deals, pre-black Friday, Black Friday online specials and much more to fascinate its customers. Walmart will offer majority of the products at attractive lowest prices and if you are crazy for electronic devices including TVs, Cell Phones, Laptops, Smart Home gadgets to name a few, then this Walmart’s Black Friday Sales is exclusively for you only.

Some popular TV manufactures who will offer their products during the sale period are:

  • Samsung
  • Vizio
  • LG
  • Sony
  • Phillips
  • TCL
  • Hisense

You can buy all range of TVs including Smart TVs, 3D TVs, Curved TVs, QLED TVs and much more at jaw dropping prices, following is a glimpse of offers which can be yours in the Black Friday Sales 2018.

Following are the anticipated discounts on the most preferred TVs that will be offered by the company:


Sceptre 32" Class HD (720P) LED TV


Get into a world full of vibrant colors by buying the X322BV-SR, the HDMI input offers the excepnally supreme mixture of high-definition video and clear audio. Other features include:

  • Display Size” 31.5"
  • Backlight Type: LED
  • Resolution: 720p
  • Effective Refresh Rate: 60Hz
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Viewable Angle (H/V): 178 degrees/178 degrees
  • Number of Colors: 16.7 million


Original Price: $179.99; Expected discounted price: $89.99

Overall ratings: 4.4 out of 5


SAMSUNG 50" Ultra HD Smart LED TV


Enjoy viewing the high dynamic range including the latest HDR10+ content on a stylish and modular TV that can adjust the picture quality as per the moving scene.

Some other inbuilt features consist of Smart Hub, Contrast Enhancer, Hybrid Log Gamma, Universal Guide, SmartThings App, PurColor, UHD Dimming, High Dynamic Range (HDR) Media Player among others.

Original Price: $599.99; Expected discounted price: $397.99

Overall ratings: 5.0 out of 5


VIZIO 40" Full Array LED Smart HDTV


This latest Full-Array LED has the superior picture quality with convenient smart TV experience.

The inbuilt high-speed Wi-Fi will enable you to view the content in a wink of an eye, instantly connect with numerous apps including Netflix, Xumo, iHeartRadio, Hulu Plus, Spotify, YouTube and much more.

If you are a sports freak then this TV is a must buy for you, D-series includes Clear Action" 240, which mixes strong and powerful image processing with 120Hz effective refresh rate for the better viewership of fast action scenes.

Original Price: $318.00; Discounted price: $229.00

Overall ratings: 4.0 out of 5





Hisense 49" HDR Smart LED TV


You can watch your content in more vibrant and bright colors with four times more pixels (8.3 million) than in the standard high-definition TV.

The inbuilt HDR technology enhances the brightness; the UHD Upscaler brings lower resolution content closer to 4K, and with Motion Rate 120 you can watch fast moving sports, action scenes and 4K gaming in a more lively and entertaining way. The inbuilt dbx-tv digital audio technology will give you the clear and loud sound without irritating your ears.

Original Price: $349.99; Discounted price: $299.00

Overall ratings: 3.6 out of 5

In addition to the above products, there is a never ending list of TVs on Walmart and you can easily pick the one according to its features such as the size of TV, brand, price and much more and can give a modish and sophisticated look to your living room in your homes. Stay connected to Walmart to know more about the grand door buster deals.


Cellphones


Cellphones are the most important electronic device that has made our lives more comfortable and entertaining, now cellphones are used for variety of purposes apart from just making or receiving calls. At Walmart, you can stay closer with the technology as the company has announced its plans to offer significant discounts on cellphones during Black Friday sale.

Some well-known cellphone manufactures who will offer their products during the Black Friday Sale 2018 are:

  • Apple
  • Samsung
  • Motorola
  • BLU
  • Huawei
  • HTC
  • AT & T among others.

Apple iPhone 6


  • Apple iPhone 6 is newest addition in the Apple iPhone family, the stunning 4.7” Retina HD Display allows you to view visual more clearly with amazing graphics.
  • The 8 Megapixel iSight Camera and 1.2 Megapixel FaceTime Camera, features 1080p and 720p video recording, enhanced face detection and sapphire crystal lens cover will allow you to save all your memorable moments with more clarity.
  • Battery will work for up to 24 hours.
  • Original price: $399.00
  • Discounted price: $179.00
  • Overall ratings: 4.0 out of 5

Huawei Mate SE 4G LTE Cell phone


  • The 5.93" fully HD screen offers an outstanding edge-to-edge viewing experience and with a 18:9 aspect ratio, you can view the scenes, watch videos, browse your clicks, or can play your favorite games with more clarity and accuracy.
  • The dual lens camera along with Portrait Mode will allow you u to take pictures of surroundings from different angles in a more lively and colorful way. The phone features a 16 MP and 2 MP dual-lens cameras.
  • The 4 GB RAM will allow you to accomplish the task in a more speedy way even when multiple apps are opened on your phone, and with 64 GB of storage you will never fall short of space to store all your personal and professional content.
  • Original price: $249.99
  • Discounted price: $229.99
  • Overall ratings: 4.5 out of 5

Samsung Galaxy S9 Smartphone


  • With Samsung Galaxy S9 Smartphone in your hand you can flaunt your style among your friends and known ones, if you are self-obsessed about clicking your selfies then this phone is a must buy for you. The phone’s camera captures photos like a pro and click amazing pictures in dark sun, moonlight and in extreme low light as well using its adjustable aperture.
  • This 5.8” smartphone has super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 1440 x 2960 pixels with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Other features include 4 GB RAM, 64 GB internal memory which can be extended up to 400 GB using microSD.
  • Original price: $719.99
  • Discounted price: $619.99
  • Overall ratings: 3.5 out of 5

So keep yourself updated with the offers that will be posted on Walmart’s website on regular basics, you never know what kind of offer the company will introduce for the Black Friday Sales; there is still some time left for the grand event but Walmart has already started preparing for this mega sale so that its customers can prepare their shopping list well in advance and can take the maximum benefit out of it.



Saturday, August 25, 2018

Managing Finances As We Age: Tips To Save Money, Reduce Financial Stress, and Save Time



Our financial goals certainly change as we age as many who are over 50 are considering when they will be able to retire comfortably. Saving money over the course of the year could not be more important as a monthly savings over a decade can amount to quite a lot. 

A proactive approach to managing your finances can help reduce stress, save more money, and even save time. The following are tips to do all of these things as we progress in age.

Move Investments To Less Volatile Options


As we age we are not going to have the same amount of expendable income due to retirement as well as our working years dwindling. For these reasons it is important to take a more conservative approach to investing as a big loss can delay retirement or postpone it indefinitely. 


Plenty of people move into investing in mutual funds or bonds during this time as there is sure return on many of these. Do not compromise your future looking for a big payday later in life as you need to ensure your future on more than a hunch.

Order Groceries For Delivery Online


Ordering groceries online can save you money in a variety of ways. There are deals only available online and it is much easier to stick to a budget when ordering groceries online. Gone are the days of something catching your eye in a display that is not on the list that you have written down. 




The online option even allows a customer to repeat an order they have previously put in. This helps a household never run out of commonly used items like milk or eggs. Get your groceries delivered by mercato.com to save the time of a commute as well as the most convenient delivery available.

Try An Online Trading Platform


The days of having a broker that will charge you outrageous amounts to purchase stock are over. There are plenty of online trading options that can be done effectively from a mobile device. 

The extra income that you have can be transferred to one of these platforms or apps so you can start purchasing stocks, bonds, or mutual funds as soon as you are paid. The flexibility to sell and purchase stock without worrying about a bulky fee can allow an investor to make the most out of their investments.

Utilize Online Banking


Online banking can help save time instead of constantly having to balance a checkbook. Noting what money was spent can still help as banks as well as credit cards make mistakes. Online banking allows the user to see if there have been fraudulent charges to an account within a day of it happening. 


Transferring money from account to account if a child is in college can be seamless instead of having to be done at the physical bank. No more guessing games when it comes to your finances as you will be able to login and view your finances in a matter of seconds.

Start ACTUALLY Following a Budget


Regardless of age it is never too late to start following a budget even if you have not had one in decades. The first step is gathering all of your expenses and sorting them. You might find that you are overpaying for a service or subscription that is no longer used but someone just forgot to cancel. 


Make a realistic budget then stick to it for find yourself with a few extra thousand dollars at the end of the year without impacting your quality of life overall.

As you can see there are plenty of adjustments to make with our finances as we age. Take the time to try some of the above tips to see if they can make your financial health better.


Friday, August 24, 2018

5 Factors To Help You Know How Much Health Insurance Is Ideal!



Health insurance has become an integral part of financial planning. With the rising medical expenses and inflation rate, health-care costs have increased. It is needless to say that if you are not buying a health insurance plan, you are taking a big risk.

The importance of buying a health insurance cannot be overemphasized. Buying a health insurance plan is the basic requirement. But it is important that you have the right amount of coverage as per your needs.


The first question that comes to your mind while buying a health insurance plan is the amount of coverage you would need. So is there any ‘right amount’ of coverage that you should buy?

There is no fix formula to compute the optimum coverage that is ideal for you. Yet there are some factors that can help you in making your decision regarding the amount of health insurance coverage.


Factors affecting the amount of health insurance coverage


Financial Abilities: The first and foremost factor in calculating your health insurance coverage is your ability to pay. Premium is directly proportional to the amount of coverage. Before buying a policy, you must check your financial ability to pay the premium for the coverage. 

It is not necessary that you always need to buy a policy with a large coverage. If you cannot pay a high premium, you can go for a small coverage. You can increase the coverage in future if your pocket allows you.

Age: Age is an important factor in deciding the amount of coverage you need. If you are taking a policy at an early age, you can take a small coverage and then increase it in the coming years. 





Alternatively, you can take a large coverage initially as the premium payable is less for young people due to lesser chances of pre-existing diseases. A middle-aged or old aged person generally needs to purchase a higher coverage as the chances of diseases are more and so the premium payable is also high.

Hereditary Diseases: If your family has a trend of hereditary diseases, the probability of it being passed on to the future generation is high. In such a case, you should buy a health insurance that provides a wider coverage while you are young.

Percentage of Income: Your income plays a key role in your decision of buying a health insurance plan. Your health insurance coverage should be at least 50 percent of your annual income. It is practical for you to buy a health insurance coverage which ranges from 50 to 100 percent of your total annual income.

Type of Hospitals: There are different categories or types of hospital. Different insurance plans charge a different amount for different categories of hospitals. Your decision regarding the amount of health insurance coverage is also determined by the category or type of hospital you would prefer for your treatment. 

There are the factors that can increase the value of your coverage without any additional cost. With features like riders and top-ups in your plan, you can always have the additional benefit without any increased premium.

Read Also: 5 Elements to Look for in Best Health Insurance Plans


The Bottom Line


There is no set formula or rule for calculating the amount of health insurance coverage you need. Different people have different needs. The amount of coverage depends on your financial ability and requirement.

So you should analyze all the above-discussed factors from your point of view and choose an optimum coverage that is ideal for you.

Author BIO: Sidharth Kapoor is a well-known financial insurance advisor with the abilities to keep a track and predict the market trends with the utmost accuracy.He has done PGDBM in finance. He has worked on different financial sectors dealing with the entire range of Insurance like health Insurance,life insurance,personal accident insurance and also contribute as a writer at everythingoninsurance blog more. He is also an expert in writing many finance related articles and blogs.


Thursday, August 23, 2018

The Average Wedding Costs $33K: How to Keep to a Budget of $5K or Less



The average wedding cost $33,000. This is a lot of money. If your family is not overflowing with money at the seams, this is a poor investment. $33,000 is enough to put a down payment on an amazing home, start an investment fund for your family or fund the services of a night nurse when you have your first child together. 

Instead of putting this money into one day that flies by so quickly, keep the budget low and put the money elsewhere. Consider these tips to help you keep a budget of $5,000 or less on your wedding day.

Use Inexpensive Decorations


Flowers are one of the most expensive line items within a wedding budget. Cut the price down dramatically by making different choices for bouquets, centerpieces and the other decor. Instead of renting tablecloths for $30 apiece, purchase $12 tablecloths at a discount store. 


Use a steamer to freshly press them. No one will know the difference. Use mirrors from the dollar store, and set an arrangement of inexpensive candles on each mirror. Add vases with floating candles, sequined ribbons and water to create stunning centerpieces. 

For the bouquets, use inexpensive silk flowers. No one will know the difference. Once you’re finished with all of the items, you can resell them on a discount wedding website and make money.

Find a Modest Dress


There are many people who focus on making sure they have the latest designer dress for their wedding day. While the dress can be a showstopper, it’s more about the woman in the dress. You don’t need to have an expensive designer dress to look amazing. 





In fact, if you focus on creating a themed look that’s pristine and polished, a simple modest white dress will look absolutely stunning. Plus, it just might be a much more affordable option. Focus on accessories and hair styling. This will help you to pull off the look effortlessly.

Find a Venue That Allows Your Own Catering


Food is also a major expense at a wedding. If you can find a caterer that’s willing to provide meals at an affordable rate, you’re already in great shape. 


Once you jump over that hurdle, you’ll need to find a venue that’s okay with you bringing in your own food. Once you combine those two expenses, you’ll be able to save a lot of money in the long run.

Find Discount Alternatives for Various Services


Next, you’ll want to find ways to get various services at discounted rates. Oftentimes, professionals increase the prices once they know it’s a wedding. If you’re hiring a DJ, don’t necessarily tell them up front that it’s for a wedding. 


Alternatively, you may also want to consider the music lovers in your family. Ask them if they’re willing to be in charge of music at your wedding either as a wedding gift to you or for an affordable price. This same sentiment applies to the day-of coordinator and the master or mistress of ceremonies.

Once you combine all of these expenses together, you’ll see that you won’t need to spend $33,000 on your wedding. With some strategic planning, creativity and negotiating, you can keep your wedding expenses within a budget of $5,000.



Monday, August 20, 2018

Fulfil Your Dream of Travelling the World without Worrying Anymore











Travelling is a dream for some and business for others. Whatever be the case, travelling overseas is always expensive. Saving beforehand for travel expenses may help sometimes, but not always. There can be many reasons for your abroad trip plan:
  • Seeing Switzerland was your childhood dream. 
  • Your children live in a foreign country, and you visit them every once in a while. 
  • You have a vital month-long business meeting where you have to take your employees. 
Whatever the purpose is, it can be anything but economical. Financial institutions offer Loan against Property to manage your travel expenses efficiently. You can easily avail Loan against Property for travel from them and make your dream tour come true. The Loan Against Property Interest Rates are quite lower in comparison to other loans , thus a better option for repayment.

What is a Loan Against Property?


Loan against property is what its name suggests. A financial institution gives you a loan against a property registered in your name which they keep as a mortgage or security. Hence, these are secured loans. 





Such credits have high loan-to-value. It is the ratio of the credit amount to the actual value of the mortgaged property. It is usually higher in comparison to other secured loans.

Loan Against Property Eligibility:


In case you draw salaries, the age bar is 33 to 58. For self-employed individuals, the age bar is 25 to 70 years.

Loan Against Property Documents:

Loan against property documents required are minimal:

  • Salary slip
  • Statements of your bank account for the previous 3-6 months
  • KYC documents 
  • Address proof
  • IT returns
  • Property documents

Loan Against Property Tenure:

Financial institutions offer you loan against property with repayment periods of 2 to 20 years. That is a huge window to repay your credit amounts conveniently. However, there are also options for part-prepayments of the loan against property for travel. You can also opt for foreclosure of your credit account.

Additional Read: Choosing the Perfect Loan Against Property to Tackle your Financial Problems

Loan Against Property Interest Rates:

The interest rates for loan against property India are less compared to other forms of secured loans owing to their longer tenures. EMI amounts for such loans are comparatively lower.

Other Loan Against Property Features:

Financial institutions provide the following features with loan against property -

1. Easy Balance Transfer
Using easy balance transfer facility, a customer can transfer the remaining loan against property for travel amount to another lender who provides with low rate of interest. The current lender may charge a minimal fee for providing this facility.

2. Top Up

Customers can avail a loan top up with their existing loan in case they need additional financing.

Loan Against Property and CIBIL score:

Your CIBIL score will also improve if you pay the EMIs on time. A high CIBIL score helps you in many ways. While a high credit score is not mandatory for availing a loan against property, it will largely help you in getting unsecured loans and credit cards in the future.

However, not repaying your due credits in time will negatively affect your CIBIL score. Keep in mind the things to avoid while availing a loan against property.

Apart from all these benefits, availing Loan against Property has more added benefits. The application procedure is the easiest among all other financial institutions. Also, the end use of such loans is not restricted. You can finance your child’s education or meet your parents’ health requirements.

So, avail a loan against property for travel today and surprise your dear ones with a dream vacation in The Bahamas, Egypt, Japan, or any other.




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