Matt Ryan Webber

1 month ago | businessandamerica.com | Matt Ryan Webber

When the federal government calculates how much Supplemental Security Income (SSI) you will receive, it considers your living arrangements. Here’s the basic math. If you live in a house or apartment that you own and pay your own food and shelter costs, you will get the full SSI benefit. Buying a home will not cause you to lose your SSI. If you live in a place owned by someone else, you’ll still get the maximum amount as long as you pay your own food and shelter costs.

1 month ago | businessandamerica.com | Matt Ryan Webber

If you’re saving money for the future, certificates of deposit (CDs) and mutual funds are two of the main choices you have to consider. Certificates of deposit offer a guaranteed return and carry virtually no risk. Mutual funds come in a bewildering variety, but all are subject to some extent to the ups and downs of the markets. You could think of them as serving two distinct purposes:CDs are good for building up a fund for a short-term goal, like a down payment on a car.

1 month ago | businessandamerica.com | Matt Ryan Webber

How these two popular investment options compareFact checked by Skylar ClarineReviewed by Katie MillerCDs vs. Stocks: An OverviewCertificates of deposit (CDs) and stocks are pretty much on opposite sides of the investing spectrum. Their levels of risk, their potential returns, and the length of the commitment involved are very different. In brief:CDs are a safe and convenient place to stash some cash that you don't expect to need for a few months.

1 month ago | businessandamerica.com | Matt Ryan Webber

Comparing certificates of deposit with exchange-traded fundsFact checked by Suzanne KvilhaugReviewed by Katie MillerCDs vs. ETFs: An OverviewCertificates of deposit (CDs) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are two popular investment options. Both allow you to save some of that extra cash aside while promising you a modest return. They are considered to be low-risk investment vehicles, which means you won't be making a big gamble with your money, and both are easy to acquire in your portfolio.

Mar 19, 2025 | businessandamerica.com | Matt Ryan Webber

One key advantage of a 401(k) plan is that employers often provide a matching contribution. Employer matches represent a guaranteed return on your retirement investment, and it almost always makes sense to maximize them. If your employer doesn’t offer any match, you may be wondering if you should still participate. The short answer, in most cases, is that it does still make sense to contribute to a 401(k) because it can offer significant tax advantages.