Kevin Johnston

Many employees of privately held companies receive stock options as part of their compensation. This is particularly common with startups. Options give you the right to purchase stock, usually at a discount, for a limited period. But what if you…

Lexington Law is one of the best know credit repair companies in the US, but it’s far from the only one. Many other companies offer similar services, and some get better customer reviews. Check out these Lexington Law alternatives before making a…

LegalZoom provides people with legal expertise when they need it, regardless of who they are or how much money they have. It has leveled the playing field by offering services that are much less expensive than hiring a lawyer. Though LegalZoom is a…

Many companies allow their employees to own stock in the company. They do this to give employees an incentive to perform well and to offer a more attractive pay package without having to put up more cash. Stock options are one popular way for…

The Eurozone debt crisis of 2008 to 2012 still affects the European Union today and had implications for the world economy as well. A closer look at the crisis offers insights into ways to prevent the crisis that is currently looming. What Is the…

Most beginning investors have heard this common advice: just buy an index fund. It’s not necessarily bad advice, especially for beginning investors who don’t feel confident assembling a portfolio. If you’re looking at the investment options in a…

Healthy trees add value to a property. According to Kathleen Wolf of the University of Washington at Seattle, “homes with trees are generally preferred to homes without trees, with the trend across studies being a price increase of about 7%“. So yes,…

If you own a home, you can get a break on your income taxes at both the state and federal level. You can deduct the amount of your property tax on your federal tax return, and the 41 states that have income taxes allow you to deduct property taxes. Think of property taxes and income taxes as two ends of a see-saw -- ...

You may have heard that “we are in a bear market.” It is essential to know what that means and understand the implications for your investments. Should you just hang on? How to invest during a bear market? Are there moves you should be making? What…

The cost of a four-year college continues to skyrocket, leaving many graduates saddled with debt well into their careers. College isn’t the only way to prepare for the job market. Associate degree jobs are worth considering. This degree is a two-year…

Reading Time: 4 minutes Investing in commodities can seem a bit exotic to the average trader. But it is easy to get into it and learn to trade profitably. Commodities can be a good way to invest in something besides stocks, bonds, and real estate.…

Reading Time: 5 minutes An ETF portfolio is easy to understand once you understand the idea of pooling stocks. A single ETF is a group of stocks gathered together in a single investment. For example, the ETF known as SPY contains all the stocks of…

FinMasters content is free. When you purchase through referral links on our site, we earn a commission. Advertiser Disclosure Education can help you build new skills and earn valuable new credentials. Formal education is often very expensive, but…

People who buy investment properties often talk about return on investment (ROI) and cash on cash return (CCR). Some mistakenly use the terms interchangeably. Both figures are important, so you need to know how to calculate them. Then you need to…

The “pan” in pandemic does not have to stand for “panic”. At least not for the wise investor. Extreme situations always provide opportunities for investors. Some perspective will maintain your focus and help you avoid the fear trap. When Everyone is…

Infrastructure exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide exposure to companies that build and maintain major projects and systems such as roads, bridges, waterways, railways, communication networks, and electricity systems. Companies in the infrastructure…

Financial technology, or fintech, is washing over Wall Street. Companies are inventing technological ways to do financial transactions, loans and banking processes that are radically changing the financial services and real estate industries. Fintech…

The technology sector consists of businesses that develop, build, and market consumer electronics, electronic components, and software. Companies in the tech sector may also provide information technology (IT) services such as cloud computing. While…

International banks continue to grow their assets as the world economy expands. If no major economy falters, the expansion may continue. While there is some debate about whether China’s economy is bigger than that of the United States, there is no…

While dividends are customarily paid to investors on a quarterly basis, some equities pay dividends monthly. Those who reinvest monthly dividends can grow their positions more quickly by using the cash to purchase additional shares of…