3 mins read

Pros & Cons of Bond Funds

A bond fund–sometimes referred to as an income fund–is a type of investment that uses pooled money from a number of investors to purchase interest-bearing or dividend-producing securities. These investments include government or corporate bonds, bank certificates of deposit, preferred stock and commercial paper, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There are significant advantages and disadvantages to investing in bond funds.

2 mins read

What Is the Best Way to Get out of Debt?

According to the University of Illinois’ Consumer and Family Economics educator Pat Hildebrand, paying the minimum payment for $2,500 of credit card debt with 21 percent interest will cost you nearly $15,000 and take 63 years to pay off. However, with so many debt consolidation loans and debt repair services out there, it can be a real challenge to figure out what the best way to get out of debt may be. This snowball method offers fast results and works on the same principles the debt repair services use, minus the big start-up fees.

4 mins read

10 Ways to Make a Budget

While many financial experts recommend making a budget, the fact is that a budget is not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. Luckily, there are many options for creating a budget, affording you the opportunity to set small goals on the way to making life’s bigger goals. Choose the type of budget that suits your lifestyle, and you have a far greater chance of being successful in following it.