Obtaining A USDA Mortgage Loan In A Rural Area

There are other mortgage options available besides FHA loans, VA loans, and conventional mortgages. Prospective home purchasers in a rural location or an outlying suburban area may find that a property they are considering is eligible for a mortgage loan guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Despite the name of the government agency, USDA home loans are not restricted to individuals engaged in agricultural pursuits. The loan program is intended to provide mortgage funding for all potential buyers of homes in rural areas. [Read More]

Investing For Retirement In A Target-Date Mutual Fund IRA

Individual age is a major factor in planning for retirement. The optimal mixture of investments for a person nearing retirement is different from that of a younger worker. Individuals planning for retirement can maintain a more suitable allocation of assets by investing in a target-date mutual fund IRA. A younger person has many years to focus on the growth of assets, even if there are market fluctuations along the way. An older individual has less time to recover from market downturns and is usually more focused on the preservation of assets. [Read More]

3 Reasons Why It Is Important To Visit With A Financial Guidance Counselor

Getting married is a huge change, and one big aspect of that change is your finances. You go from simply being in charge of your income, spending habits, and bills, to trying to mesh together these things for two people. Since you and your spouse are likely somewhat different when it comes to money, it is very important that the two of you are on the same page as much as possible. [Read More]

3 Investment Vehicles For Financial Planning

For many people, financial planning involves setting up investment vehicles to help accumulate wealth for retirement. Popular options for retirement include a 401K, which will be set up by your employer or an IRA (Individual Retirement Arrangement), which you will have to set up yourself. Additionally, a simple brokerage account can be a valuable tool to add to your investment portfolio, but does not offer any specific retirement benefits. In this article we will discuss the differences between these three accounts and the pros/cons of each. [Read More]