​We’re often asked about the best place to put emergency or reserve savings money. While brick & mortar banks provide a certain level of convenience and access, the earned interest rate is often lower than online savings accounts. We thought we’d give you a snapshot review of different options.

We’re just over one month into the tax return filing season for the 2018 tax year, and many taxpayers are surprised to learn about the new restrictions on deducting home mortgage interest for home equity loans and lines of credit.

​There comes a time when your dependent kids begin working, either while they’re still at home or off to college. We have a nice trick to help you avoid having to file a tax return for most of them.

We want to make sure you're aware of the changes in key financial data for the 2019 tax year.

Happy New Year...we hope your 2019 is off to a great start! Below you'll find important info to assist you in prepping for your 2018 tax year filing...

While the holiday season is wonderful, it can also be a time of financial overindulgence. Below is a list of quick tips to help you budget holiday spending and avoid financial stress later.....

It's that time of year when annual loan limit changes come out. Once again, Fannie Mae has increased loan limits for regular conventional and high-balance conventional loans. This can greatly benefit those acquiring financing near these limits.....

The 2018 tax year isn't quite as "exciting" as the end of 2017. Tax reform is now in full swing with less  last-minute moves necessary to precede all the changes. But there are still some year-end moves for you to consider.....

There are four common moves folks consider with their 401k after leaving a job.....

On October 9, mortgage interest rates hit their highest levels in over seven years! See below for more detailed info on rates.....

RSU Stock is a tremendous benefit to receive from your employer. But without proper accounting, that benefit can take a major hit.....

A health savings account (HSA) is a medical savings account that allows for the payment of qualified medical expenses on a pre-tax basis (meaning taxable income for the IRS is reduced by the amount of the deposits; each state has its own rules...CA doesn't conform to Federal law on this)​.....

Not saving for home maintenance expenses is one of the biggest reasons homeowners end up in credit card debt. Read below to learn more about how you can avoid having this happen to you.....

According to IRS Data Books, the IRS audits less than .5% of all tax returns. While that figure is relatively low, an IRS audit is everybody's worst nightmare! Below is a list of ways to decrease your odds of being audited.....

It's possible to receive Social Security income while still working. However, it's important to understand the impact this setup could have on your Social Security benefit.....

We're offering a HUGE benefit for those of you looking to acquire a purchase and/or refinance a loan...no trick "strings" attached!

A major hiccup in the IRS' plan to "simplify" tax filing is that many states have yet to conform to the IRS changes (and several, including California, have indicated they won't be). Read below to see how these "two sets of rules" affect you.....

Social Security will pay retirement income benefits as early as age 62. However, benefits can be reduced quite a bit if you choose to take your income at this first opportunity. So when should you take Social Security?

You can have "perfect" credit habits, and still have marginal credit scores. There are a lot of myths surrounding credit scoring. Below, we clarify one of the most common misunderstandings, and detail how it can crush your home loan terms.....

Cryptocurrency is still a newer phenomenon in the income tax world. We've found most cryptocurrency holders aren't fully aware of the tax handling of these investments.....

​​In short, unless you previously filed your own taxes using the old 1040-EZ or 1040-A form, the new IRS "postcard-sized" version of the 1040 tax return form likely won't impact you. The form is indeed smaller, but filing is no simpler, as we discuss below.....

​The fact that a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) shares many similarities to a credit card immediately communicates the dangers. However, there are also great benefits, as we discuss below.​....

The IRS sends millions of notices to taxpayers every year. If one shows up in your mailbox, don't panic! We're providing you with specific info below to help you deal with the IRS, should you receive a letter.....

​First, a credit card denial letter from Nordstrom appeared in the mail. Denial? For what? Chad never applied for a credit card with Nordstrom. Then came Chad's new Best Buy credit card. But he hadn't set foot in a Best Buy store or visited a Best Buy website in a decade...so how did he have a new credit card? For years, Chad has given advice on how to protect yourself from identity theft. But now he has actual experience with it. Below are some things he learned.....

While some homebuyers have a substantial down payment for their home purchase due to proceeds from an existing home sale, not all are able to put down as much money. It can be difficult to save a large amount of money. In addition, some folks prefer to not invest in a heavy down payment for leveraging, or other reasons. So what options are available for down payments?