A diamond is forever, but the public demand for shiny gems is always in flux. After a boom period value peak in 2011 diamonds have steadily lost their value. De Beers, which controls more than 40% of the rough diamond global supply, profits by selling rough gems to diamond merchants. The value of rough diamonds […]
Retiring early is a dream for many people who want to enjoy their lives without the constraints of a full-time job. If you’re considering early retirement, there are several signs that suggest you may be able to retire sooner than the traditional age of 65. If you’re exhibiting these signs, you may be on track […]
Retirement may be more of a fantasy than a dream for many Americans. Less than 36% of Americans believe that they are prepared for retirement or are on the right track. Here are four ways to save for retirement that is a decade away. IRA catch-up contribution An IRA, or individual retirement account, lets workers […]
The average American car can cost as much as $40,000. Still, many people are eager to get one or a new one. A car is a status symbol to many people, not just a means of transport or work commute. If money was no object, what kind of vehicle would you get? Is $345,000 too […]
Retirement can become an unreachable dream when unmanageable debt becomes a nightmare. More than 61% of elderly Americans owe $31,000 or more in various debts. In 1989, the average retiree owed about $7,500. If you don’t eradicate debt before retiring, then retirement can become a self-defeating effort. Here are three ways to reduce debt years […]
Owning a home is a significant sentimental and emotional investment for a homeowner. But owning a home is not really a significant financial investment — unless you are a shrewd house-flipper in a can’t-lose housing market. After all, a home can be a money pit if you don’t know what you are doing. And being […]
Did you know that twice as many people leave New York City daily than they did a year ago? More than 277 people leave New York City every day, or, an average of 101,105 people annually. This is the highest daily exodus in the country. Just 201 people leave Los Angeles every day. An estimated […]
The labor market is historically very tight, yet many Americans go without raises. Less than 70% of companies offer a 3% pay raise annually, an amount that barely keeps pace with inflation. About 19% of companies don’t offer raises. More than 2.4% of the American workforce quit their jobs in the middle of 2018. Some […]
Getting medical care is expensive in the United States. More than $3.5 trillion was spent on healthcare services in 2017. That averages to $10,700 for every patient. About 71% of all medical expenses are mitigated via private and public health insurance. Yet 10% of that $3.5 trillion estimate is paid directly out-of-pocket by patients without […]
A popular retirement myth that won’t die is the idea that one needs at least $1 million dollars to retire comfortably. The $1 million retirement myth probably got started in the 1980s as a generalized retirement goal to motivate the growing middle class of the era. However, a retirement number is not a one-size-fits-all metric […]
