TessMore Finance Blog

We all know that scams and digital fraud are on the rise. But did you know that certain area codes can indicate potential phone scams? Answering calls or calling unknown people from these area codes – even if they called you first – may cost you money and time and even ruin your credit score .  Keep reading to find out which area codes you should avoid and how to stay safe from common phone-related scams. Table of Contents 9 Common Phone Scams to Avoid 1. The One-Ring Scam 2. Student Loan Forgiveness Scam 3. Failed Delivery Attempt Scam 4. Lottery Winner Scam 5. Unpaid Taxes Scam 6. Bank Account Freeze Scam 7. Traffic Pumping Scam 8. The “Save You From Scams” Scam 9. The Send Money Now Scam Potentially Dangerous Area Codes Final Thoughts 9 Common Phone Scams to Avoid Billions of dollars are lost worldwide every year due to financial scams of all kinds. In fact, credit card fraud statistics show just how many good people like yourself are taken advantage of eac

If you’re considering relocating to a different state when you retire, you might want to think about how your income will be taxed in the state you plan to move to. planning to move to. State income taxes can range as high as 13.3% unless you live in a state that doesn’t tax retirement income. There are nine states that impose no income tax at all. If you are a retiree, you can move to any one of those states without concern for the state income tax liability on your retirement income. However, there are many other states that exempt income from specific retirement sources, like Social Security, pensions, military pensions, and distributions from defined contribution retirement plans. Table of Contents 9 States That Don’t Charge Income Tax 13 States That Don’t Tax Defined Contribution Plan Distributions What about Roth IRA distributions? 15 States That Don’t Tax Pension Income 32 States That Don’t Tax Military Pensions 37 States That Don’t Tax Social Security Income (Plus

Near the end of 2023, Mint announced that they were closing up shop by March of 2024. For years, I’d used Mint in my early to mid-twenties to help me manage spending. Budgeting is a key component of responsible money management and Mint made it super easy. Over the years, I focused more on investing and wealth building (but still keeping a budget, just not spending as much time on it) and turned to other tools as I “matured” financially. I was still surprised when I got the email that Mint decided to shut down and migrate folks over to Credit Karma. I’ve long been a fan of Credit Karma because they offered legitimately free credit scores. You can to contend with the advertisements but I was OK with that, companies need to make money so they can continue to offer free products and services. It’s how Mint kept the lights on… until, I suppose, it wasn’t doing well enough. The big question for many users was where would they go? Mint suggested Credit Karma, their sister brand/company,

Roth IRAs are a relatively recent addition to the lineup of tax-sheltered retirement plans, only coming into existence in 1998 . Since then, they’ve become very popular. That’s because Roth IRAs provide unique tax advantages that you can’t get with any other retirement plan. So what is a Roth IRA, and should you include it in your retirement portfolio? We answer those questions and more in this article. Table of Contents What Is a Roth IRA? Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA: Similarities and Differences Roth IRA Tax Considerations Roth IRA Participation Income Limits Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) Who Is Eligible to Open a Roth IRA? Roth IRA Pros & Cons Pros: Cons: Where to Open a Roth IRA Should You Open a Roth IRA? What Is a Roth IRA? A Roth IRA is an Individual Retirement Account that provides unique income tax benefits. Though your annual contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible, the investment earnings accumulated within the plan are tax-deferr

The end of the year can be a hectic time. You have the stress of the holidays, probably quite a bit of travel, plus a mix of revelry and fun… so it’s understandable that the last thing you’d want to think about is your finances. But with the year coming to an end, there’s a huge difference between something happening on December 31st and something happening the very next day. To recap, when you file your taxes next April, it covers everything from January 1st, 2023 through December 31st, 2023. If it happens on January 1st, 2024, that’s not something you’ll have to deal with until April 2025. And given interest rates, getting a deduction earlier or getting income later can mean a big difference taxwise. So, what are the things you need to do before the year ends? Table of Contents 1. Tax Loss Harvesting 2. Accelerate Deductions 3. Donate Appreciated Stock to Charity 3a. Use a Donor Advised Fund 4. Rebalance Your Portfolios 5. Review and Update Beneficiaries & Estate

Emma Chamberlain is a famous Youtuber and social media personality who has over 12 million Youtube subscribers and nearly 16 million Instagram followers. She’s parlayed that into a coffee company, Chamberlain Coffee. A few weeks ago, she went on Colin and Samir , a fantastic Youtube show about creators, and she shared something you might find wild – she hasn’t looked at her bank account in years . I invite you to listen to the part of the interview where she discusses it: It’s important to note that while she doesn’t look at it herself, she has an infrastructure in place. It’s not that she’s willfully ignoring her finances, she has hired people to do it for her. That said, it’s still (and she admits this) insane that she lives this way. As an aside, it’s fascinating that she set this up so that the numbers won’t impact or influence her negatively. But this begs a broader question – how often should you be looking at your finances? Table of Contents How often should y

Whether you’re on a no-spend weekend or simply interested in saving a buck, there are plenty of fun things you can do without spending a dime.  Whether you’re interested in planning a solo activity or spending time with a group, we’ve put together a great list of ideas to keep you busy without hurting your bank account . Table of Contents Ways to Have Fun For Free 1. Have a Picnic in a Park 2. Go for a Hike 3. Attend a Free Outdoor Concert 4. Take Advantage of Free Admission Days 5. Have a Garage Sale 6. Visit a State or National Park 7. Rearrange a Room 8. Clean Up a Park 9. Declutter a Room 10. Visit a New Town 11. Create a Goals Plan 12. Spend Time With Family or Friends 13. Go Through Old Pictures or Videos 14. Visit the Library 15. Try a New Gym 16. Sing Karaoke 17. Plan a Binge TV or Movie Night 18. Play Games 19. Visit the Farmers Market 20. Go For a Bike Ride 21. Camp in the Backyard 22. Plan a Star-Gazing Night  23. Listen to Music 24. Plan a Potl

The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card  are two of today’s most prestigious rewards credit cards. However, both cards have their strengths and weaknesses, so it’s worth your time to research the benefits of each to find the best match. For example, the Amex Platinum is preferred by many frequent flyers because of its generous travel perks. The Amex Gold tends to be a favorite for foodies and those wanting a smaller annual fee. Both cards can help you maximize travel and lifestyle purchases, and our Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum comparison cuts to the chase to help you pick a winner. Card Annual Fee Welcome Offer Featured Benefits Credit Score Needed Platinum Card® from American Express Basic Card: $695 Additional Cards: $175 for up to 3, then $175 each 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 in purchases within your first six months of Card Membership Annual $200 airline fee credit, up to $200 in Uber Cash, Globa