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What Benefits Fixed Annuities Can Offer You

January 12th, 2012

When you retire, your main worry is how you will deal with your essential financial needs. This is where annuity schemes come into focus. Seeing the troubles that the retirees face from time to time, the financial experts have led to several ways with the help of which the people get a chance to earn a regular income from those who offer such income options in the financial market. Annuity schemes are offered by the insurance companies and are available in various forms. Fixed annuity is one of the forms of schemes that are offered under the annuity categories. In addition, variable type of annuities is also there for the retirees to opt for.

Not only does an annuity scheme serve those who retire as per the date fixed, but it also helps the ones who take up voluntary retirement due to certain reasons. Investing in fixed annuities promises the individuals to earn a fixed income, at least the principal amount that remains fixed throughout the tenure of availing the benefits of the schemes. Some of the main advantages of the fixed annuities are as follows:

  • Being a tax-deferred income, this scheme serves to be the best for the retirees. The insurance companies provide interest on the amount in the account of the individuals. But the person do not require paying taxes on the sum until they start withdrawing the money from their account. The chance that the individuals get to postpone the withdrawal of money and payment of the taxes makes the fixed annuity deals best for them.
  • The interest rate offered in case of the fixed annuities has been found to be very competitive in current times. It is, in fact, even better than what people expect to receive after investing in a comparable bank CD.
  • The assets of the insurance companies that offer you the annuity deals act as the backup for the value of the fixed annuity that you invest in. It is the Insurance Guarantee Fund that covers up the amount offered under this scheme. The best thing about this scheme is that it guarantees a minimum interest rate, which is not observed in other deals.

Safety, security and guarantee of an independent life make the fixed annuities one of the best for the individuals. However, it is up to the person whether they desire to receive the income for life or for a fixed period of time. Based on what the desire, they can make their choice as per their convenience.

How to Successfully Juggle Multiple Credit Cards

January 11th, 2012

Having one or more cards can have benefits for consumers. For one, they are certainly a convenience when a consumer needs purchasing power. They are also vital to maintaining good credit scores when the card balances are taken care of on a consistent basis. Additionally, many credit cards offer incentive programs that save account holders cash with every purchase. Finally, there are many situations that require credit cards in order to be privy to some services such as car rentals and online purchases. Credit the staple of a person’s financial life these days.

How to Manage Multiple Accounts

Juggling several credit card accounts is not impossible and it must be done effectively to have financial benefits for the card holder. Here are some basic essentials of successful card management of multiple accounts:

Assign Cards

Consumers typically have reliable habits when it comes to shopping. You can benefit most from cards when you allocate a purpose to each card. For instance, the credit card that gives you cash back on all purchases should be used for groceries or gasoline since you likely purchase those products and services most often, giving you the most cash back. Other cards can be dedicated to online purchases, bill payments, or as an emergency backup.

Set Up Payments Automatically

To avoid confusing due dates on multiple cards, it is important to establish on-time and regular payments for each of your creditors. The best way to assure this occurs consistently is to set up automatic payments through your bank so that your credit cards are never paid late or missed. If you do default in any way, you will face serious consequences in higher interest rates and multiple penalties when more than one card payment is missed. Additionally, your credit rating can significantly suffer.

Track Your Spending

Just because you have $4000 in credit spread across multiple card accounts does not mean you have the budget to spend that much. Ideally you never want to spend on credit what you don’t have in cash to back up. It is best to make small purchases on all of your credit cards during the month and pay off the balance in full. This method of utilizing your credit cards will do wonders for helping you maintain ideal credit ratings and high scores.

Never Go Overboard

While having multiple cards can be beneficial to your financial life, it can also be disastrous if used for the wrong reasons. If you continually sign up for new cards, you can do serious damage to your credit reputation. Also, if you sign up for just any card being offered, you can also lower your credit rating. Be very selective in the credit cards you choose and only apply for the cards that make sense for your lifestyle and your financial needs.

Cards can reboot a stale credit history or they can financially ruin you for many years to come. They are a consumer service that should never be taken lightly or used recklessly. If you are in need of your first credit card or want to take advantages of new financial benefits, consider your card selection very careful and never overextend yourself on credit.