TessMore Finance Blog

Amortization is the method of reducing the value of an intangible asset like a bond. Therefore, the value of an amortized bond will be adjusted against its amortized interest at a given point. The fair market value of a bond is the price investors are willing to pay for a bond at any time. It is theoretically the present value of the future cash flows arising from the bond. With their key differences, let us discuss the amortization cost and fair value of a bond. What is the Fair Value of a Bond? The fair value of a bond is equal to the sum of the present value of its future interest payments and its book value at maturity. The book value or face value of a bond remains fixed. The interest payments on a bond can change as the market interest rates change. Most bonds are issued with a fixed interest rate. However, investors expect an adjusted bond yield when the market interest rate changes. It can be achieved by either adjusting the bond’s market price (premium or discount) or a...

Hello, friends. Just a quick note to let you all know that my life, at last, seems to be settling. A full two months after the death of my mother, the fog has lifted and I find that I'm motivated to pursue productive pursuits once more. I spent much of the past several weeks doing some serious soul-searching. It's clear to me (and to Kim) that above all else, I need to make 2023 the year of me . 2023 — The Year of Me More than a decade ago, I got into the habit of theming my years and months. It was fun! It was also fruitful. Whenever I decided to devote a span of time to one thing, I had great results, whether it was with fitness or writing or dating. This habit of theming lasted for a couple of years, then fell by the wayside. Well, I've spent too long putting myself second. Or third. Or ninth. Starting yesterday, my aim is to put myself first for the next year (or more). This is tough for me. It seems selfish. It seems wrong. But the truth is I've been allowing ...

Stocks are an important part of any investment portfolio . Compared to other investments, they offer a relatively high average rate of return. In fact, from 1928 – 2021, the S&P 500 averaged returns at a rate nearly double that of bonds and nearly triple that of real estate ( 11.94 percent, 6.21 percent, and 4.4 percent, respectively ). While buying stocks may seem confusing if you’ve never done it before, it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to buy stocks in five simple steps. Table of Contents Open an Account To Buy Stocks Decide How Much To Invest Research Stocks To Buy Place Your Order Track and Manage Your Portfolio 1. Open an Account To Buy Stocks When buying stocks, you will almost always need a brokerage accoun t. A brokerage account is similar to a bank account — it’s a place where you allow a financial institution to manage your money on your behalf. The big difference is that brokerage accounts don’t just hold your money, they invest it on your behalf to help you...

So, you’re at college and want (or need) a job. Maybe the money you saved last summer’s dwindling, there’s a trip you want to go on or books you need to buy. Whatever the case, you’re faced with a dilemma! With classes to attend, assignments to complete, extracurricular activities to enjoy, and a social calendar that’s bursting at the seams, the traditional 9-to-5 isn’t going to cut it. Thankfully, the job market’s full of flexible roles that offer untypical hours, require minimal qualifications and pay reasonable wages to boot. Want to find out about the best ones available? Let us help. Keep reading to discover 10 of the best jobs for college students. Table of Contents 1. Virtual Assistant 2. Bartender 3. Nanny 4. Dog Walker 5. Barista 6. Waiting Tables 7. Care Work 8. Sales Associate 9. Tutor 10. Receptionist Conclusion 1. Virtual Assistant A virtual assistant (VA) is like a personal assistant but for the digital age. It’s also one of the most popular remote w...

ETFs have become one of the all-time most popular investment vehicles. Consider the explosive growth of this category of investment funds. With just over $100 billion sitting in ETFs in 2002, they held more than $7 trillion as of 2021 . But what is an ETF, why are they so popular, and how are they different from mutual funds? We take a close look at everything ETF-related. Table of Contents What Is an ETF? ETF Pros and Cons ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: What’s the Difference? Key Features of ETFs Key Features of Mutual Funds   Different Types of ETFs ETF Examples What Is an ETF? Final Thoughts What Is an ETF? Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are investment funds comprising large numbers of underlying securities. Each represents a portfolio that can invest in stocks, bonds, real estate, commodities, currencies, and other asset classes. Most ETFs are considered index funds because they track an underlying investment index. For example, an ETF may track the S&P 500 – the...

Attendees at the same professional conference have different take aways depending on their lifestyle, job responsibilities, subject matter knowledge/skill set, and other personal characteristics. We all filter new information through these lenses. When information comes at a “teachable moment,” interest in, and attention to, a presentation dramatically increases. Below are my ten key take-aways from the 2022 AFCPE Symposium: AFC Certification Milestone The AFCPE accredited financial counselor (AFC®) certification began in 1992 and celebrated its 30 th  anniversary. There are 3,000 AFCs and 1,600 candidates and the AFC® (along with the CFP®) is one of only 10  accredited professional designations in a personal finance space with about 200 certification acronyms. A job analysis is every five years to make sure the AFC® is in synch with the work of real life financial practitioners. Financial Atomic Habits Self-improvement is like compound interest…it grows over time. N...

California is one of the most populous states and has the largest economy in the United States with a gross state product (GSP) of $3.37 trillion in 2021. If California were an independent country, it would be the 5th largest economic power behind only the United States, China, Japan and Germany! It may come as no surprise that California has been issuing financial assistance in the form of stimulus checks for the last year or so – one of the benefits of a large economy is a large budget. Thus far, the stimulus checks have been known as Golden State Stimulus and Golden State Stimulus II checks and they will be joined along with a Middle Class Tax Refund that started going out in November 2022. Table of Contents What is the Middle Class Tax Refund? Who is eligible for the Middle Class Tax Refund? How much is the Middle Class Tax Refund? How Will I Get Paid the MCTR? How to Contact California about the MCTR Golden State Stimulus Checks Golden State Stimulus (GSS I) Gol...

With several recent Powerball jackpots exceeding $1 billion, many people are purchasing lottery tickets for a chance at the fortune of a lifetime. But where can you buy a Powerball ticket? Several merchants near you may sell tickets, including gas stations and grocery stores. So instead of wasting a trip to a non-participating retailer, we’ll show you where to buy Powerball tickets before the next big draw. Table of Contents What Is Powerball? How to Play Powerball Power Play Who Can Buy Powerball Tickets? Which States Don’t Have Powerball? Where to Buy Powerball Tickets in Your State Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island Sout...