Search: Christopher Smith

Author: Christopher Smith

#441 Green Cards: How to Get One

Issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the coveted green card (yes, it is actually green) allows you to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. You must, however, have grounds for eligibility. The most common green-card qualifications come via family, jo... see more

#268 Life Insurance vs. Annuity

At first glance, permanent life insurance policies and annuity contracts have almost polar opposite goals. Life insurance is there to help your family if you die unexpectedly or prematurely. Meanwhile, annuities act as a safety net, usually for those who in their senior years, by providing a guar... see more

#232 Keeping Drug Prices Down When You’re Retired

Many retirees struggle to cover the costs of prescription drugs – and for a valid reason: In just seven years the average annual cost doubled from $5,571 to a whopping $11,341, according to the latest study of price trends for widely used drugs conducted by AARP. Even worse, these prices contin... see more

#192 7 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions

Wasting a tax deduction costs you money, so don't do it by failing to take every write-off you're entitled to. Here are seven tax breaks that are all too easy to overlook:1. Capital loss carryoversIf you had a pre-2015 capital loss from the sale of an investment (getting rid of a bad stock... see more

#152 If Your Company Is Matching 401(k)s, Max It Out!

You've probably heard this from your folks when you were growing up: If you would just do what I tell you to do, I wouldn't have to tell you the same thing over and over.In the world of retirement planning, that's what financial advisors are telling their clients when it comes to their 401... see more

#125 Find The Cheapest Health Insurance Providers

If you've recently lost your health insurance, or have been putting off enrolling in a plan, February 15 may be your last chance of the year to purchase a policy for 2015 through the Affordable Care Act, which is likely to be the least expensive way to buy insurance.The tax penalties for n... see more

#78 6 Ways Retirees Can Save on Prescription Drugs

Health care costs are one the biggest expenses people face in retirement, and they are the cause of many bankruptcies. Consider this: according to Fidelity Investments the average couple will spend $220,000 for health care in retirement, and that doesn't even take into account any unexpected illn... see more

#49 6 Ways To Capture The Cash Value In Life Insurance

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times: Life insurance is a must-have, especially when you have a family that depends on your income. If you die unexpectedly, a life insurance plan will ensure all of your family's financial needs will be covered – from the monthly mortgage to ... see more