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Fortunately, it’s free to see what’s in your credit reports. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that U.S. consumers be entitled to a free credit report each year. In the past, it was harder to get that information for free. You had to purchase reports or qualify based on certain activities based on the credit report (such as being denied for a loan based on your score). Some states required that residents periodically be entitled to a free report, but federal law makes it official nationwide....

There are many reasons to withdraw from consideration for a position. You might realize that the job is not a good fit in terms of your skills, interests, lifestyle, or income expectations. In addition, you may have been offered another position that is more attractive, or possibly you have suddenly been promoted by your current employer. Sometimes intervening life or health changes make a job transition less appealing after you have begun the application process....

Often, the best way to make a counteroffer is through a formal letter. Crafting a counteroffer letter is a simple process that can help you get the job you want for the compensation package you deserve. What is a Counteroffer? A counteroffer is a proposal made by a job applicant to an employer in response to an unsatisfactory job offer. Job applicants can submit a counteroffer to an employer in a few ways:...

When delivering your elevator pitch, the goal is to be short and snappy to entice your would-be prospect to want to know more about your business. The length can vary, but you typically want to be able to present your elevator pitch comfortably without rushing in 30 seconds or less.  How to Write an Elevator Pitch The elevator pitch goes beyond sharing what it is you do. Instead, the goal is to intrigue your lead so that they want to know more....

Asking for a raise is not only difficult, it can be dangerous if you say the wrong thing. A well-phrased request, on the other hand, can help you get the increase you would like. Your letter can help support your argument while keeping you from tripping over your words in person. A letter is also a record documenting the request should it be denied now but reconsidered in the future....

However, this statement is one of the most vital items you can produce for your brand. A strong vision statement creates a concrete foundation for your company’s growth, motivates everyone connected to the business, and provides direction to make smart decisions for long-term success. Continue reading for a step-by-step guide on how to write a strong vision statement. Why Your Business Needs a Vision Statement A vision statement is a key motivator behind your business’s success, according to brand strategist and motivational speaker Rich Keller....

He believes that because of the gifts I receive I technically earn more than he does, and that I should contribute at least half to our expenses. I think he may be right about me earning more if I include my savings, but I’m trying to figure out how we could fairly split rent and expenses when 50% of rent in our area is 50% of my monthly earnings, never mind groceries and utilities!...

Many traditional jobs are going away in favor of new, technologically-driven jobs. Some of those jobs require highly specialized skills, such as computer programming. Others merely help an office run better, such as email management. What Are Computer Skills? The name itself may seem obvious, but the truth is that most people are too overwhelmed by the vastness of technology to know what an employer might mean when the job description simply says “computer skills....

But that’s the truth. And that’s how Claire Wasserman, author and founder of Ladies Get Paid, kicked off the 2021 Finance Festival, a series of virtual events designed to empower women to take control of their wealth and future. The events run from April 14-28 and are hosted by Ladies Get Paid and trading platform/social network combo Public. “I want you to get really mad—get really friggin’ mad,” Wasserman said before listing a series of statistics about gender and racial wealth gaps....

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), perhaps the most widely referenced measure of inflation, jumped another 0.9% between September and October and is now 6.2% higher than a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday. Not only was the acceleration sharp—the year-over-year inflation rate rose from an already-high 5.4% in September—but price increases were widespread across most major categories of purchases. Economists had been anticipating a monthly bump of 0....

Inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) accelerated from 4.2% in April and hasn’t risen this much on a year-over-year basis since August 2008, according to data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The so-called core inflation rate—which excludes food and energy prices because they tend to be more volatile—rose to 3.8% from 3% in April, and hasn’t been as high since 1992. The sharp rise in current inflation is partly due to the fact that the pandemic triggered an economic crash last spring, making the baseline for comparison unusually low....

This question can come up in interviews for jobs at all levels, from entry-level to executive. Many jobs have times when the work piles up, and your answer will help the interviewer determine if you are a good match for the position. What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know This is an example of a behavioral interview question, asked by an interviewer who is trying to predict how you would handle an issue based upon your behavior in the past....

In the nation of South Africa, the gold Krugerrand is legal tender but, like all bullion coins, the value of the underlying metal far exceeds the face value if used as currency, so this is largely symbolic. This feature allowed the citizens of many countries to own gold Krugerrand coins because they permitted ownership of the foreign currency. The ability to own foreign currency was a roundabout way to acquire gold....

As the name suggests, you’re guaranteed an extension when you file Form 7004, but only if you properly estimate your tax due, file by the appropriate deadline, and complete the form correctly. What Is Form 7004? Form 7004 covers a wide variety of returns, and it grants an additional six months to file. It doesn’t extend payment deadlines, however, and the IRS must receive it on or before the original tax deadline, which is March 15 for some businesses....

The account owner can do what they please with the money held in the account during their lifetime. Then, at the time of death, the designated beneficiaries can withdraw the funds remaining in the account without the need for probate. While POD accounts have certain advantages, it’s important to know all of the issues that could arise from the use of this estate-planning tool. Claiming the Account Ownership of a POD account transfers somewhat automatically to the living beneficiary when the account owner dies....

Over the weekend the tax preparer said its work with the IRS and other federal officials had paid off and the IRS will “start processing stimulus payments when their systems come back online.” While this may not be until Feb. 1, at least it’s “weeks earlier” than if they had to file their tax returns first, the company said Sunday. The IRS and tax preparers are scrambling after the agency inadvertently sent some stimulus payments to invalid or closed bank accounts, including temporary bank accounts that tax preparers established for customers when their 2019 tax returns were filed....

Depending on your major—and the role at hand—this may not feel like a very relevant question. But your response can help give interviewers a bit of information and insight about you. Plus, in some cases, you may be able to build a connection between your education and the job at hand. What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know An employer might ask this for a number of reasons. This question allows them to get a sense of what you are passionate about....

Here’s a quick look at the most significant economic indicators of the day and what they tell us. Jobless Claims The number of people initiating claims for unemployment benefits fell by 17,000 to 232,000 last week, putting things back on course after an unexpected increase the previous week, seasonally adjusted data from the Department of Labor showed. The latest figures for continuing claims also showed the omicron wave of COVID-19 receding....

Here’s a quick look at the most significant economic indicators of the day and what they tell us. Initial Jobless Claims 287,000 people initiated claims for unemployment insurance last week, the most for any week since October and 55,000 more than the week before, according to the Department of Labor. While the number of claims in a week topped 6 million at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, it finally reached more typical pre-pandemic levels late last year, dropping as low as 188,000....

Julius’s career includes various corporate finance roles ranging from senior financial analyst to financial controller in the logistics and real estate development sectors, in addition to leading the finance function of several non-profit organizations. Within the realm of logistics, Julius has experience in supply chain finance management for regional and international third-party logistics (3PL) companies. Additionally, for over 3 years, Julius acted as a fractional Chief Financial Officer for an Indianapolis based real estate development firm with a multi-million dollar portfolio....