TessMore Finance Blog

Over the years, I’ve seen my fair share of personal finance apps . The ones that are free tend to be fairly useful but loaded with advertisements or other “features” designed to sell you more stuff. Nothing wrong with that, since the tool is free, but they can be cumbersome. The ones that are paid tend to be more powerful and depending on what they specialized in, well worth the money. Today, I want to share with you a paid tool that I found to be both powerful and beautifully designed. It’s called ProjectionLab and it’s exactly what you think it is – a financial planning “simulator” where you can chart your future and consider various scenarios and simulations. I’ve asked the founder, Kyle, to walk us through the tool because it has layers upon layers of features and I only scratched the surface. Best of all, you can play with the “sandbox” without registering or signing up. Just go to ProjectionLab and click on “Try the Sandbox” on the homepage. I’ll let Kyle explain more: He...

Are you looking for a Charles Schwab account bonus? If so, you’re in the right place – we the details on two bonuses that are available from Charles Schwab and the right one for you will depend on your financial situation. If you are looking to open a new account but are NOT transferring in a large sum (over $25,000) from another brokerage or bank, then you’ll want the first offer – the Schwab Starter Kit. If you are looking to move from another brokerage, then the second transfer bonus will be the better fit for you. Table of Contents Charles Schwab $101 Starter Kit Charles Schwab Refer a Friend – up to $1,000 How does this compare? Charles Schwab $101 Starter Kit If you’re looking to get a bonus for opening a Charles Schwab account and have at least $50, then this offer is the one for you. To get this, open an account on the promotional page (linked below) and then fund it with at least $50 within the first 30 days. You will then receive a “Schwab Starter Kit” that ...

If you’re new to investing, you should familiarize yourself with index funds as soon as possible. Index funds are an excellent choice for investors at all experience levels. But they’re especially valuable for beginners since they give you broad exposure to the financial markets without the need to pick and manage individual securities. So what are the best index funds for beginners? In this article, we’ll provide you with a list of top funds, but first, let’s take a closer look at how index funds work and how they can help your portfolio. Table of Contents What Is an Index Fund? Index Funds vs. Actively Managed Funds Index Mutual Funds vs. ETF Index Funds Index Fund Benefits Drawbacks of Index Funds Best Index Mutual Funds Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX) Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VEMAX) Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTABX) Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund (FITLX) Best Index ETFs Vanguard Total S...

A FICO credit score between 650 and 699 is considered “middle of the pack.” Some lenders would say that it represents fair credit, while others use the term, average. But what types of credit cards can you qualify for with a FICO score between 650 and 699? Chances are, it will likely get you some decent credit card offers. And if you shop carefully, you can find credit cards that offer solid bonuses and rewards. Here is a list of cards to consider with a 650-699 FICO score. Table of Contents Best Credit Cards for 650 – 699 FICO scores 1. Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card 2. Capital One Platinum Credit Card 3. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card 4. Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express 5. Discover it Cash Back Card FAQs Final Thoughts Best Credit Cards for 650 – 699 FICO scores 1. Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card Best for: Welcome bonus and cash back rewards with no annual fees The Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card is aimed at consumers who are clos...