Barbara Friedberg's Blog: Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance, page 5

Would You Invest in a Municipal Bond Portfolio (100%)?

Investing in muni or municipal bonds gives you an excellent opportunity to earn tax-free income through the interest you receive from the issuer. State and local governments issue debt securities to raise funds for their daily obligations and public projects such as schools and highway construction. Moreover, muni bonds act like a loan where the holder is a creditor.

Like their treasury and corporate counterparts, muni bonds also have a significant share in the securities market. They’re rela...

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Or Invest In The Stock Market?

“A reader asked, “Am I better off making extra payments on my mortgage at 2.9% or investing the money in the stock market?”

You may have had a big win in the stock or crypto market, netting you some extra capital. Or your living expenses have recently dropped, improving your financial position. Naturally, you want to put that extra cash to work for you. So, you might be thinking, “Which is better, paying off your mortgage or investing.”

While many homeowners may consider paying off their...

Too Scared To Retire?

Reprinted with permission: SavingAdvice by Jennifer Derrick

Plan for Retirement and Overcome Retirement Fears

Retirement is a scary concept at its heart. It’s tough to imagine giving up work that you may have enjoyed and which may have defined your identity for thirty-plus years. Switching from saving money to withdrawing it is frightening, as well. Beyond giving up work and a paycheck, there are several more common fears (often wielded as scare tactics in the media), that keep people ...

Quicken vs. Empower (Personal Capital) Review: Which Is the Best Money Management Tool?

The one thing that nearly every successful person does is properly manage their finances. To help you make the best financial management software choice, read this Quicken vs. Empower (formerly Personal Capital) review. You’ll get an in depth look at the features of the free Empower Dashboard and the paid Quicken program, along with pros and cons of both.

I’ve used Quicken for decades and Empower for 8+ years. When I was introduced to Empower, I quickly, linked up my accounts and was impresse...

13 Signs it May Be Time to Sell Your Mutual Fund

Should I Sell My Mutual Fund?

By Guest Contributor, Arielle O’Shea

Recently, the stock and bond markets have taken a tumble. This extreme price volatility reminds us that investing in the financial markets requires patience and a long time horizon. But, does this market volatility mean you need to sell your mutual fund? 

The seesaw prices underline experts’ advice to long-term investors: Keep to your plan and stomach the troughs. Smart investing is like a long sea voyage, not a quick sh...

Should I Buy Bonds Now?

The advantages of bonds include a steady cash flow and a reliable source of income. Government entities and corporations raise money to fund projects and recurring obligations. When you buy bonds, you become a lender to the issuer and earn interest in return.

Although the bond market hasn’t been attractive for quite some time, as interest rates rise, the bond benefits increase. Even so, like all long term investments, there is always some risk of bond price volatility.

However, bonds remai...

10 Best Tech Side Hustles

Do you like all things technology?

Are you seeking ideas for IT side jobs?

Are you looking for a tech side hustle to make some extra cash?

Whether you have a full time tech job or not, you can monetize your skills with a side hustle or part time gig. From coding side hustles to web development or computer support, there is a tech side hustle for you.

This article looks at the top side hustles that appeal to your nerdy side and help you earn more money.

This article may contai...

7 Important Things To Know Before Investing In Gold

Investing in gold, has been going on for millennia. Even though modern investment options such as NFTs, crypto, etc. are very compelling options to get rich, these new investments are uncertain and lack a history of value.

Let’s take Bitcoin for example. The price of 1 BTC has ranged between $47,000 and $16,000 during the prior year.

Even though these investment methods might make you rich quickly, they also have the potential to drop you below ground level in a jiffy.

This article ...

Actionable Investing Tips – Best Strategies For Long Term Investing

Investment Tips for Beginners

If you want to learn the best tips for investing in stocks and funds, it’s key to learn a bit before you begin. Despite the glitzy Robinhood, Webull and investment app commercials, long term investing isn’t a game.

This article may contain affiliate links which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you sign up or buy through the affiliate link.

Tips for Investing In Stocks from Derek Sall, from Life and My Finances 

During...

How Often Should I Check My Investments?

The increased use of investment apps has raised investors’ urge to know how they’re fairing in the stock market. While monitoring is crucial to an investment, it can sometimes lead to frustration. How? It can be distressing when you watch your portfolio balance take a downturn.  The immediate move would be to withdraw your funds from the market as a damage control measure. 

Sadly, this emotional investing can cause more harm than good. It deters you from making long-term investments that can ...