The holiday shopping season is getting underway, with the pinnacle event, aka Black Friday, just over a week away. Before getting out and tackling the holiday shopping rush, you’ll want to come up with a smart shopping plan that will help you stick to a budget and not go overboard. Holiday Shopping 101 Last year proved to be an especially excellent shopping season for retailers, with 2017 figures supplying them with their best holiday season sales since 2011 for an increase of 4. Read on →

Credit cards can be a useful tool for many people, but only if used correctly. If you are interested in applying for or opening up a new credit card, there are a number of things you should be thinking about first. What to Consider Before Picking a Credit Card If you are interested in applying for a new credit card, there are many things you should consider—six things to be exact. Read on →

Another fall is upon us—the temperatures slowly starting to cool down, leaves changing and pumpkin spice lattes in full force. Instead of just raking up leaves this fall, our team at Richard Banks & Associates, P.C. has some ideas that can help you rake in the savings. Embrace DIY Decorating There’s no need to run out and buy those fall decorations thanks to the DIY movement! Even better, you don’t have to be especially crafty or creative to come up with some excellent DIY fall décor for your home. Read on →

We’re inching further into fall, which means you’ve got just over a month to prepare for “No-Spend November.” Not sure how to plan for this little money-saving challenge? Don’t worry, our team at Richard Banks & Associates has some tips to help get you going! What is “No-Spend November”? It’s really a simple idea: cut out all the extra expenditures that are chewing away at your finances and only allow yourself to spend money on the essential purchases. Read on →

We want the best for our children and that should always extend to their financial well-being. It’s never too early to begin teaching your child about the value of money and our team at Richard Banks & Associates, P.C. highlighted the three of the top financial lessons they need to know below. Living Within a Budget Learning to live within a budget is one of the most important financial lessons you can teach your children. Read on →

Not all bankruptcies are created equal, and for those considering filing, it can seem both overwhelming and confusing. Have no fear, Richard Banks & Associates is here to help you make sense of all the bankruptcy options out there and decide on which one is best for your situation. The rates of those filing for bankruptcy has been declining, but there were still just under 800,000 bankruptcy cases filed in recent years. Read on →

Once reaching your 40s, retirement may seem like less of a far-off dream and more of a looming reality. If you’re worried that the right financial moves are not being made to set up a successful retirement, check out these four helpful tips our team at Richard Banks & Associates, P.C. put together for you. 1. Ramp up the retirement fund. Nearly 30 percent of Generation Xers, aka YOU, have no retirement savings, and 21. Read on →

The summer is breezing by, which means it’s almost time for students to begin packing up and heading off to college. For many students, this can be their first time out from under the wings of mom and dad. Before the mad dash to the dorms begins, be sure the college student in your life learns these valuable money tips our Richard Banks team compiled! 1. Begin building credit. Wallet Hacks writer Jim Wang points out the importance of establishing credit when starting out in college and encourages students to open a credit card if they are 18. Read on →

Have you been trying to come up with ideas to fill these long summer days? If money is tight or you’re looking to build up an emergency savings fund, might our team at Richard Banks & Associates suggest picking up a side hustle? Why the Side Hustle? There’s a good chance you already have a side job, as Bankrate found that nearly four in 10 Americans, or 37 percent, do. Millennials, in particular, have embraced the side hustle life, with more than half of those surveyed reporting that they have a side job. Read on →

Anyone who has ever been hit with unexpected medical issues knows how painful they can be—physically, emotionally and financially. Not only are you facing what are often serious health concerns, but you’re also dealing with the stress of figuring out how to pay the medical bills that have found their way into the mailbox. Our team at Richard Banks & Associates, P.C. knows that trepidation regarding medical bills is a constant worry in many households, so we’ve compiled some tips to help you find financial relief. Read on →