Barbara Friedberg's Blog: Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance, page 17

5 Things You Should Know Before Getting a Mortgage in Texas

Take These Steps Before You Buy a Home

So you’re thinking of buying a home in Texas—congratulations! Between Texas mortgage payment calculators, reality agreements, and FICO scores, there is a host of information to process as you make your home ownership dreams a reality. Getting a mortgage in Texas is easy – if you follow these tips!

Buying a house is an exciting and nerve-wracking time, but these 5 tips will take the mystery out of the Texas mortgage process.

1. Know Your Finances Before Y...

How to Turn Freelance Income Into a Robust Passive Income Stream

3+ Ways Freelancers Can Earn Passive Income

Are you a freelancer or solopreneur consultant?

Do you worry that, when you’re not working, you don’t get paid?

Find out how a freelancer can create a passive income stream for the future.

A recent survey by the Freelancers Union found that 53 million Americans are now freelancers. In fact, one in three workers are freelancing.

The difference between many freelancers/solopreneurs and salaried workers is that if you receive a salary and you want to t...

Should I Invest in an Opportunity Zone Fund?

Opportunity Zone Fund Investing – Pros and Cons

There are few things worse than earning a great deal of money in some sort of financial victory—a successful business, a jump in the stock market, or a profitable real estate deal—only to realize that a large chunk of your hard-earned money is going to be taken for capital gains taxes.

Talk about a bummer.

Financially-savvy investors will be on the lookout for ways to save money in taxes after large gains, and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 h...

Is Money the Only Measure of Success?

Financial Management and Success

During this time of year, I tend to reflect upon my accomplishments and goals. I make note of what I did well and what I need to improve going forward. Last year was challenging. I lost my Mom after a six-month illness and struggled with sadness, loss and emptiness due to her passing. One-year later, I still feel her presence in my life every day.

As the new year begins and I’m updating our personal portfolio and other investments that I manage, I wonder, “Is...

8 Fun Ways to Make More Money – In the New Year

8 Fun Ways to Make More Money and Enjoy It, Too!

By contributing columnist,  Alexandra Deluise

With the New Year beginning, and enthusiasm flowing, why not set a goal to make more money this year. The more money you make, save and invest, the sooner you’ll pay off debt and reach your financial goals. 

Making more money doesn’t need to be a drag. While typically people imagine “make more money” being another way of saying “get a second job, work 80 hours a week, and forget about having any fun...

Win Win Negotiation – How I made $500 in Ten Minutes

 “I’d like to add that negotiating is not something to be avoided or feared – it’s an everyday part of life.” ~Leigh Steinberg

Win win negotiation means that both parties leave the negotiation happy. Of course, you want to get what you want, but the best negotiations leave with both parties feeling satisfied. 

Win Win Negotiation in Everyday Life

There is hardly a consumer situation I’ve encountered that wouldn’t benefit from a little negotiation. If you take the opportunity to negotiate-for...

Why and How to Diversify with Real Estate – REITS + Real Estate Crowdfunding

Guest columnist, Joseph Hogue, CFA

Don’t let the headaches of real estate investing keep you from diversifying your portfolio into one of the best long-term assets.

Despite what you might hear on the 3am infomercials, real estate investing is hard work.

Barbara explained in an earlier post about why she gave up being a landlord decades ago because of the constant headaches.

I can relate. I started buying rental property early in my 20s. I had worked as a commercial real estate agent and want...

Savings: Easy As Pie! Basic Savings Strategy

Basic Savings Strategy-Perfect Approach to Build Long-Term Wealth

By staff columnist,  Alexandra Deluise

There are few things I enjoy in this world more than pie. Aside from being really delicious, pie also serves as a great guideline when designing savings plans. After all, who doesn’t want a big piece of financial pie?

My favorite pie is apple, whereas my husband prefers pumpkin. Just as our tastes differ, so might your financial pie differ from the examples I have shown here. These pie cha...

CalSavers – California’s New Auto-IRA Program + Retirement Tips

California’s CalSavers is a Model Roth IRA Retirement Savings Program

By staff columnist,  Alexandra Deluise

One of the most emphasized pieces of wealth-building includes maxing out any and all workplace retirement accounts. In fact, this is one of the common suggestions for people looking to become millionaires. Calsavers can help!

Automated investing can make or break your retirement success. Taking advantage of tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as an IRA or 401(k), is another way that...

The Health Savings Account Guide + the Secret to its Wealth-Building Power

The HSA Can Catapult Your Wealth

Several years ago, I was floored when my health insurance premiums topped $500. Oh, for the good old days. Last year, I paid over $700 per month. Recently, I gingerly opened next year’s health insurance estimate to discover that in 2019, I’ll pay more than $800 per month. And my health insurance plan has a deductible of thousands of dollars. Which means that before the health insurance company pays a reasonable percent of my health care expenses, I shell out t...