Mind these red flags – or risk losing thousands of dollars worth of your hard-earned savings. Sometimes financial advisors fall well short of the mark. Even worse, you may not realize that an advisor has failed you until it’s too late to recoup lost money or missed opportunities. So if you hope to retire comfortably, it’s crucial that you choose your financial advisor carefully and than keep tabs on them. If you run into any of the following situations at any point, you should seriously consider giving your financial advisor the boot.

1. Your advisor won’t act as a fiduciary and act in your best interest
2. Your advisor won’t talk about compensation
3. Your advisor charges too much
4. Your advisor only uses proprietary products
5. Your advisor has poor communication skills

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Not everything is getting more expensive. As the years roll along, the cost of most things just keeps increasing. The following are examples of things that used to cost money but no longer do.

1. Your credit report
2. Reading the news
3. Banks, movies, and more
4. Music
5. GPS
6. Data storage
7. Classified ads
8. Long-distance phone service
9. Practically anything – if you know where to look

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Whether it’s a $100 million inheritance or a $3,000 tax refund, will you be ready when money suddenly lands in your lap? It’s happened to all of us, at least in our dreams: a lottery win, a big inheritance, a streak of luck at the gaming tables. Manage it properly, and it can improve your quality of life. Mess it up, and it could ruin your life. Here is how to get the most out of unexpected money.

1. Stop
2. Pay off high-interest debt
3. Put some aside for emergencies
4. Grow the rest
5. Seek expert advice
6. Enjoy yourself!

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Insurers can check auto claim histories before setting premiums. Here’s how to learn what they are finding out about your past. You already know about www.freecreditreport.com The following are three more:

1. CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange)
2. Drivers History
3. Insurance Information Exchange

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Avoid these foolish purchases and keep your wallet fat. All too often, it’s easy to overspend. Sometimes, our emotions get the best of us In other cases, we just can’t resist the shiny object calling to us from the store shelf. Here’s a look at some things we routinely spend way too much on, and some painless ways to cut back.

1. Funerals
2. Weddings
3. Diamond rings
4. New cars
5. Food
6. Clothes
7. College
8. Workout gear
9. Cosmetics and razors
10. Pets
11. Eyeglasses
12. Insurance and warranties
13. Credit cards

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Does it feel like your paycheck is gone the moment you get it? Here’s how to break that vicious cycle. Are you stuck in the all-too-common habit of living paycheck to paycheck? You simply can’t get ahead that way. Here is an 8 step roadmap:

1. Know where your money goes
2. Make savings painless
3. Live on less than you earn
4. Get comfortable saying ‘no’ to kids
5. Cut your housing costs
6. Drive a used car
7. Learn to cook
8. Forge an independent spirit – don’t keep up with the lifestyle of others

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These types of loans may cost you more than you realize. Here’s what to watch out for – and some better alternatives. When it comes to wasting money, few things are worse than giving your cash to high-interest lenders, pawnbrokers and loan sharks. At least when you gamble, you get some entertainment. With a high-interest loan, you just shovel money – and lots of it – into someone else’s hands. Here are some of the worst the worst types of loans:

1. Payday loans
2. Auto title loans
3. ‘Buy here, pay here’ car dealerships
4. Credit card cash advances
5. Pawn shops
6. Friends and family
7. Tax refund loans

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These obstacles can steal tens of thousands of dollars – or even more – from your nest egg. If you aren’t saving enough for retirement – and vast majority of us are guilty as charged – a few simple changes might be all you need to get back on course. Following are five small things that might be preventing you from saving enough for retirement.

1. You eat out every day
2. You pay the minimum due on your credit card
3. You fail to plan ahead when shopping
4. You earn too little
5. You fear taking an informed risk

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Here’s the safe and sane path for parents to help teenagers become financially responsible. Teenagers know a lot of things adults don’t – from deftly using social media to finding perfect smartphone apps. But they’re still learning about money even as they are spending it. Understanding and managing credit is important for every teen’s financial future. As adults know to well, what’s in a credit report can influence everything from the mortgage rate you pay to your ability to secure a job. These six steps will help your teens from credit novices to pros:

1.  Talk to your teens about money
2. Get a prepaid card
3. Start a budget
4. Open a checking account
5. Move on to credit cards
6. Set a good example

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It seems logical: Credit card companies will reward you with a higher score if you carry a balance. But is it true? It is a myth!!!

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