TessMore Finance Blog

Have you heard of Toyota IncomeDriver Notes ? I was told about these notes by a reader, Rich, and I found that concept fascinating. I just got an email today from Toyota offering “Income Driver Notes”. 3.25% variable rate investment with as low as $500 deposit. With the rising interest rate environment, even places like Toyota financing are getting in on the gig. Maybe this is a topic for a new newsletter? Want me to forward the note to you? You know how when you buy a car, the dealership tries to get you to use their financing? The rates are not going to be better than your local credit union or even a commercial bank. But they push it because the commissions are higher. Do you know where the financing arm of the manufacturer gets the money? A variety of places but one of the sources is investors – folks like you and me. Table of Contents What are IncomeDriver Notes? What Are You Investing In? What Other Auto Financing Companies Offer This? Are IncomeDriver Notes a Good I

C hecking should be free. Don’t you agree? I say don’t pay a monthly fee for a checking account unless you absolutely have to. After all, you’re loaning them your money. All they’re giving you is a debit card, some checks, and a few monthly transactions with a teller. If you want free checking – even free business checking – with no strings attached, you should begin by looking at the best online business checking accounts. You might find free checking at major brick-and-mortar banks as well. However, you’ll typically have to meet certain requirements related to things like account balance, debit card activity, or direct deposits. Important notes about this page: All of these banks are FDIC-insured and all work with U.S. based businesses. Where possible, we’ve tried these business checking accounts for our own businesses. For instance, I’ve been a NorthOne user for several months. We review a variety of inputs (fees, features, history, intergrations, minimums, to name a few)

W hile we mostly cater to business owner here, we realize you might want to have a business checking account where you bank personally. Therefore, we’re listing our favorite personal checking accounts, free and almost free, below… Axos Bank Rewards Checking Formerly known as Bank of Internet USA, Axos Bank has taken online banking to new levels since 2018. Between their high yield rewards and smart banking technology, Axos is a great option for people interested in online banking. They were named among the Best Online Banks of 2020 by GoBankingRates. Axos Bank Rewards Checking accounts have a low minimum of $50 to open an account. With no monthly minimum balance to keep, anyone can open an account and start earning rewards. Account-holders can earn rewards by meeting some criteria: Receive monthly direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more Use your Axos Debit Card for at least 10 transactions of $3 or more each per month Use your Axos Debit Card for 5 or more monthly transaction

If you have spent time looking for a new bank or are sifting through Swagbucks offers to earn bonus points, you have undoubtedly seen multiple ads for online checking and savings accounts.  Many of these options are from “neobanks,” which offer banking services that can be cheaper and more innovative than a traditional bank. But what is a neobank, and what can it do for you? In this article, I’ll answer those questions and share the benefits of neobanks and how they differ from traditional banks like Wells Fargo or Bank of America . Table of Contents What Is a Neobank? Who Can Join a Neobank? How Do Neobanks Make Money?      How Neobanks Work Differences Between Neobanks and Online Banks Most Neobanks are Young Limited Premium Services and Customer Service Many are Mobile-Only Neobank Pros and Cons Pros Cons Best Neobanks in the US Chime Cleo Current Lili SaveBetter Varo The Bottom Line on Neobanks What Is a Neobank? A neobank is not an actual ban

On December 23, 2022, the House joined the Senate in passing a $1.7 trillion federal spending bill that President Biden will soon sign into law. A vast and sweeping spending package (as you'd expect with any omnibus appropriations bill), it includes everything from $45 billion of emergency assistance for Ukraine to a ban on TikTok on government devices. Of particular interest to future retirees though, will be the Secure Act 2.0 . Modeled on an earlier bill of the same name that was passed in 2019, this long-awaited legislation aims to significantly improve retirement savings rules, making it easier for Americans to set enough money aside for their golden years. But does it go far enough? Despite tremendous bipartisan support for the Secure Act 2.0, some critics have pointed out potential limitations that may hinder its impact. Today, we dissect the issue, offering a comprehensive overview of what the act encompasses and how future retirees will benefit from it. What is the Se

A re you looking for a bank account for your small business? There are plenty of options out there but NorthOne’s account might be the best choice for you. In this review, I’ll share my personal experience with NorthOne, including their strengths and weaknesses so you can make an informed decision about whether or not to open up an account. In short, NorthOne offers a number of advantages, including its simple fee structure and its implementation of the Profit First “envelopes” system. However, they lack business savings and their mobile deposit feature can be clunky and finicky, making it difficult to deposit checks. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at NorthOne so you can decide if this company is right for your small business. Overview of NorthOne and the Small Business Deposit Account NorthOne is a financial technology startup that focuses on making banking easier for small business owners. NorthOne was founded in 2017 by Eytan Bensoussan and Justin Adler and launched