Search: Michael Taylor

Author: Michael Taylor

#398 What Affects Your Credit Score

When it comes to credit scores, FICO is the gold standard. Around 90% of consumer lenders around the country use the FICO credit scoring system to calculate how risky it would be to lend to you.Drawing on data from your credit reports from the three major consumer credit bureaus – Experi... see more

#178 Should You Let a Family Member Manage Your 401(k)?

You should not let a family member manage your 401(k) plan. In addition to the personal drama that such a decision invites, the chance of the best possible steward of your retirement nest egg residing in your own family is slim. Retirement investing is not play money; it dictates your ability to ... see more

#101 Three Steps Elon Musk Took To Become Successful

Having broken new ground in numerous industries, Elon Musk has justified his popular reputation as the real Iron Man. In light of his extraordinary biography, it is tempting to conclude that there is little for the average person to learn from Musk's experiences. Yet if we look beneath the surfac... see more

#100 Turn Business Travel Into a Vacation With Airbnb

Short business trips are an expectation in many industries and are typically relatively comfortable. However, long business trips? Not so much. Dealing with dirty laundry, sleeping away from the comforts of home and even dining out can get old quickly(especially when your dining partners are clie... see more

#56 Top Money Management Apps For 2015

There are two types of people when it comes to money: those who spend and those who save. The savers have a natural aversion to spending money: they must think, analyze, and weigh the pros and cons before making a purchase. The spenders, on the other hand, tend to be more liberal with their money... see more

#30 When Do I Stop Paying Social Security Tax?

"In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes," as Ben Franklin wrote – and among the taxes imposed on your paycheck, nothing is as inflexible as those that go towards the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), colloquially known as Social Security. Whether sal... see more

#22 8 Secrets of Budget Living for Students in Paris

Paris is known for being an expensive city, and it's true that prices here can be among the highest in the world. Fortunately – at least for Americans wanting to study abroad in Paris – the dollar is strong these days, with the euro clocking in at $1.10 in July 2015, compared to $1.35, or eve... see more