As defined by FICO (the leading credit rating agency), bad credit is defined as a score of less than 580. Your credit score may range between 300 and 850, and an excellent or good rating is often when the minimum score is 700. If you have a lower credit score, you may have to pay higher interest on loans and may not receive the best financial offers. One of the best and quickest ways to increase your score is to use a credit card. When you avail of the accurate card and use it correctly, you may be able to increase your score in a few months. Here are some of the best credit card companies if you have a lower score: Credit One Bank Visa Credit Card Several card issuers require you to deposit $200 or more when you apply for a card. However, this card from Credit One Bank is an unsecured product and does not require any upfront payments. You receive 1% cashback when you use this card for groceries, fuel, and satellite, cable, and Internet services. Additionally, you get a $300 limit, which increases as you responsibly use the card. Indigo Platinum Mastercard If you have ever applied for bankruptcy, the last thing you want is to apply for a credit card and be rejected as it further hampers your credit score. The Indigo Platinum Mastercard is an excellent option as it provides $0 cash advance fees during the first year. After that, the cash advance fee is applied at a high of 5% of the transaction value of $5. Milestone Gold Mastercard This is an excellent way to check your eligibility with the pre-qualification tool that suggests other options in case your profile does not match the requirements of this credit card. The company issues the card even if you have a previous bankruptcy, and the foreign transaction fee of 1% is among the lowest applicable in the industry.

Generally, the real estate taxes, maintenance, and building insurance expenses are paid by the landlord when the tenant pays the rent. However, in the case of the triple net (NNN) property, the tenant has to pay those too, in addition to the utility boils and the rent. The rent is lower for the NNN properties for sale which has made them a popular option among the investors. Below is a list of the five best NNN properties in Los Angeles. Convenience store Location : Baton Rouge, LA Cost : $2,995,401 Premises : 4,509 SF Renewal options : 4 x 5 years Lease expiration : 1/20/2040 Lease type : Absolute NNN Rental increases : 2% annually If you are thinking about investing in an NNN property in LA, then this convenience store may just be the right option for you. This is an already established store with multiple locations, which makes it a profitable option. It is located in an advantageous position, which offers visibility and traffic. Jiffy Lube and Precision Tune Auto Care Location : Alexandria, LA Cost : $1,285,714 Premises : 5,000 SF Lease expiration : Varies Lease type : NNN Rental increases : Varies If you want to invest in profitable NNN properties for sale, then consider these auto care facilities. You will have zero responsibility as a landlord and all the support you need from Jiffy Lube. The over 30,000 traffic count of vehicles per day, these facilities have excellent visibility. The Alexandria and Metrocenter Malls are located nearby too, which guarantees even more traffic. Exxon Location : Bernice, LA Cost : $1,794,966 Premises : 2,644 SF Renewal options : 4 x 5 years Lease expiration : 1/31/2039 Lease type : Absolute NNN Rental increases : 2% annually This is one of the best NNN properties for sale in LA.

Debt settlement companies provide the service of lowering your existing debts by negotiating with your lender to provide financial relief. There are many such companies that can help you with repaying only a percentage of your loan to settle it permanently. Below is a list of the top 10 debt settlement companies you can compare and choose from. Century Support Services Century Support Services offers debt settlement services to people who have a debt of $10,000 or more. The process can take up to 48 months, but you will have to pay their fees only after your debt is settled. They also offer a free consultation. Pacific Debt, Inc. Pacific Debt Inc. offers debt settlement services for a fee of 15-25% of your settled debt. To avail of their services, you must have a debt of at least $10,000. The process takes up to 48 months, and you pay the fee after the service is completed. CreditAssociates If you have a debt of $10,000 or even more, then CreditAssociates can be one of the top 10 debt settlement companies to help you out of the situation. They can effectively lower your dues and charge you a certain percentage of the settled debt. United Debt Counselors The best thing about United Debt Counselors is that they provide their debt settlement services via their website, which makes the process simpler. They will assign you a local debt counselor who will guide you through the entire process. New Era Debt Solutions When it comes to the top 10 debt settlement companies, this is a name that has to be considered. They have been in this business for more than 20 years and have an impressive record. Freedom Debt Relief Freedom Debt Relief is one of the largest debt settlement companies that help people with $15,000 or more in dues.

In a regular mortgage, you pay the lender over a period to eventually own the home. In a reverse mortgage, the lender pays you as an advance towards the equity of your home. The amount is tax-free and you do not have to repay it as long as you live in the home. Here are the basic reverse mortgage eligibility criteria: Age To qualify for this type of mortgage, you need to be 62 years or older. Under the new regulations that relax norms for a non-borrowing spouse, you may still qualify for the loan even if your spouse is less than 62 years old. Balance home equity Another major requirement to qualify for a reverse mortgage is that you should have a significant equity balance in the home. You must have at least 50% home equity while applying for the loan. Self-occupied The third reverse mortgage eligibility criterion is that the home should be self-occupied. Moreover, it should be your primary residence. Investment properties are not eligible for reverse mortgage loans. Counseling When you apply for a reverse mortgage loan, you need to undergo a counseling session from a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved agency. During the session, you will be given all information related to such loans and will also help you understand if a reverse mortgage is appropriate to your requirements or not. In addition to the aforementioned eligibility criteria, the home on which you want to avail for the loan must also adhere to certain qualification norms as listed below: Such loans are available for all kinds of self-occupied homes, such as FHA-approved condominiums, two-to-four unit multi-family properties, single-family homes, and townhouses. The home must be in good condition with both the interiors and exteriors in working order. Additionally, it should be well-maintained with no termite problems, working garage doors, and sound electrical outlets.

Retirement is one of the most important periods of life. After retirement, you can enjoy a happy, financially secure life with your family. However, that will require you to have a large enough bank balance that can guarantee financial stability for both you and your loved ones. You need to know the options for the best retirement investments so that you can effectively build the fund you need. Mutual funds A mutual fund is one of the best investment options you have for retirement fund building. Mutual funds are investment portfolios that include bonds, stocks, and other investment instruments. These funds are managed by experienced and professional managers who invest your money on your behalf and help you get the best possible returns. A great thing about mutual funds is that they offer the flexibility of choosing how much risk you are willing to take. You can build your investment portfolio depending on what kind of growth you want to see and your risk tenacity. You should know that the growth of your mutual fund investment depends a lot on the market situation. However, it is outweighed by the many benefits of mutual funds such as asset allocation, tax benefits, the option to transfer ownership, and low commissions. Bonds If you are looking for the best retirement investments, then you should consider bonds as a choice. Bonds are types of loans that you give to corporations or government entities. In return, they pay you interest on the amount lent by you. The rate of interest is agreed upon during the time of investment and it remains the same throughout the investment tenure. The best part about a bond is that unlike equity or mutual funds, you will be aware of how much return you can expect. Certain government bonds come with tax benefits too.

During the current uncertainty, choosing high dividend exchange-traded funds (ETFs) seems prudent. Several ETFs with high exposure to energy and real estate are floundering due to the novel coronavirus. Here is a list of five high-dividend ETF funds that may be a good investment option during this pandemic: Legg Mason Low Volatility High Dividend ETF (LVHD) This dividend ETF provides two excellent features, higher payout and lower volatility. Although LVHD will generate negative returns in the current year, its performance is still better than the S&P 500. This fund tracks the QS Low Volatility High Dividend Index and allocates almost 25% of the weight in energy and real estate. However, no single investment exceeds 2.8%, which reduces the risk to some extent. The LVHD yield stands at 3.36% with an expense ratio of 0.27%. VictoryShares US Large Cap High Dividend Volatility Weighted ETF (CDL) This fund is over five years old with more than $207 million in assets under management (AUM). CDL targets the Nasdaq US Large Cap High Dividend 100 Volatility Index. This fund does not adhere to stringent methodology and offers some versatility. This may result in yield-driven strategies that rely on a smaller number of investments. Another feature of this fund is that it has no exposure to the real estate sector but has a 22.84% exposure to financial services. The yield on VictorShares is 3.23% and the expense ratio is 0.35%. Xtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF (HDEF) During the current rough times, international equities are not providing high returns to investors. However, the 4.77% yield on HDEF makes it attractive to many. The fund’s energy exposure is low at 4.65%. Moreover, the integrated oil companies held by this fund are focusing on reducing expenses rather than lowering the dividends. HDEF has a 24.64% exposure in the UK, which may keep the returns steady during the current crisis.

These days, a lot of people are leaving their jobs in the pursuit of setting up their own business. While a good idea is often the key to a successful business, the most important thing for you to start a business is the availability of funds. That is where business loans come into the picture. As soon as you launch a business, you will need funds to meet day-to-day expenses. Thus, securing a guaranteed business loan before you embark upon your journey as an entrepreneur, is very important. How to apply for a business loan? Since applying for business loans has become a common practice now, many lenders give you applications through both offline and online mediums. You also have the option to apply for loans with multiple vendors at one go. The lender needs to verify and establish whether you are in a position to pay off the loan in the future. You have to provide him with documents containing your prospective business plan, proof of monthly and annual revenue, business tax ID number, information related to tax returns, business bank statements, the ID issued by the government to you signifying business ownership. Benefits of applying for a business loan Bank does not interfere with your business While the bank analyses your financial health and wants to be sure about you paying off the loan, it does not dictate how you should run your business. If you are funded by an investor or a bunch of them, you will have to accept every direction or command issued by them. The bank does not participate in any activity undertaken by you as a part of your business. They do not question any of the decisions taken by you with regards to your business. They only expect you to pay off the loan along with the accumulated interest.

An increasing number of investors are opting for automated investing tools, commonly known as robo-advisors. These automated tools put the management of your portfolio in an autopilot mode. Here are five benefits of such automated investing platforms: Affordable Before robo-advisors, you needed to pay hefty fees to an investment advisor to assist and manage your portfolio. Several of the best automated investing platforms, such as Betterment, Wealthfront, and Charles Schwab Corp’s Intelligent Portfolios offer zero to 0.25% management fees, making it an affordable option. Profitable investment models Most of these automated investing advisors use the best practices of investment theories, which strive to deliver the highest returns at the lowest risks. Moreover, it eliminates human intervention that may result in biases leading to errors. Meeting various investment goals Different kinds of robo-advisors cater to the varied needs of investors. You may choose from advisors that are sector- or industry-focused to robo-advisors that offer an affordable and diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Several automated investing platforms may offer tax-loss harvesting and claim rebalancing. Low minimum balances You may not have a large amount of investible surplus. Some of the best automated investing platforms offer services, even when you maintain a low minimum balance. Advisors such as Betterment, Wise Banyan, and Folio Investing have no limitations on minimum balance. Simple and convenient Most of the robo-advisors are very simple with easy user-interface and straightforward processes. Additionally, these platforms provide you with the convenience of investing from any time from any location as these are web-based. Moreover, you do not have to spend hours researching different investment options, which makes investing less cumbersome. Having understood the advantages of robo-advisors, let us now examine who will benefit from using such platforms. Young investors or beginners Making accurate investment decisions is a tough job and requires detailed analysis and research.

Financial discipline is an important trait to acquire. You have come to the right place for people looking for a registered investment advisor, but do not know where to look. Here, we have collated a list of the best investment advisors who are established entities and, hence, quite trusted and reputed. Check out our list of best investment advisors to get the right organization to manage your finances: Morgan Stanley Some of the highlights of investing with Morgan Stanley is getting full value with a personalized portfolio. Your financial advisor can help you curate the right investment strategy that suits you the best. Apart from this, you would also get comprehensive communication, ensuring that you know what’s in line. The best part is the fees of this particular program is based on the number of assets in the account. We highly recommend you consider them for top-quality investment opportunities. Bank of America Bank of America has a corporate Global Wealth and Investment Management division. One of the main reasons why Bank of America ranks so high is because it acquired Merrill Lynch post the 2008 financial crisis. This division primarily focuses on two types of clients: people who have more than USD 250,000 (approximately) in assets that can be potentially invested and high-net-worth individuals. Bank of America is quite a trusted name; hence, you definitely can consider them as an investment option. Wells Fargo Wells Fargo boasts 15,000 wealth managers and prides itself on having over 1,400 branches. The total revenue earned by this company in the year 2018 was around USD 86.4 billion. This entity is one of the best investment advisors in the market and can surely help you expand your portfolio. Plus, they have an excellent record of the market; hence, we suggest you consider them strongly.

A home insurance policy or homeowners insurance pays for any loss or damage to property or personal possessions. Some policies even cover personal injuries and liabilities that arise out of unforeseen circumstances. Having a home insurance policy is beneficial as it helps you pay for repairs, a replacement that may stretch your finances. Here we shall explore the best ways to obtain maximum coverage and explore tips that help you choose the best policy at the cheapest rates. Coverage options Your home insurance policy must cover any loss or theft, destruction or damage, and even personal liability associated with all possessions. And this coverage is divided into policies that provide actual cash value, replacement cost, or guaranteed replacement cost. Actual cash value pays the exact value of how much an item or possession is worth today (after depreciation) Replacement cost provides cover to restore the original value of your home or possession included in the policy. There is no depreciation or deduction considered. A guaranteed replacement cost covers expenses that may even exceed the insurance policy value. A typical ceiling limit of 20% to 25% is reserved for such policies over the insured value. Choosing a primary home insurance policy will be possible only after you decide the extent of coverage necessary. The next step is to compare quotes online. Tips to find the best home insurance policy in 2021 Compare quotes Insurance companies will have different formulas for calculating premiums and deductibles. These amounts do vary and make a huge difference in the final value of the policy. Compare 3 or 4 insurance providers to find the cheapest rates. Make the most of discounts Insurance companies offer attractive discounts as part of their scheme to sell more policies. For example, the insurance provider may heavily discount the premium payable if you sign multiple policies with the same company.

Precious metals have long been a popular investment choice. Metals like gold and silver retain their value even when the stock market plunges. So if you’re looking to add these metals to your investment portfolio, now is a good time. However, as a beginner investor, you’ll likely be overwhelmed by the numerous buying options available today. Read this brief article to find out how and from where you can buy gold and silver easily. Types of physical bullion Before getting your hands on precious metals, it’s vital to know that they come in different shapes, sizes, and styles. The most common forms of physical bullion include coins, rounds, and bars. Coins are considered the most valuable as they are both manufactured and backed by the government. Although rounds look like coins, they are minted by private minting companies, and their value is entirely based on precious metal content. Bars, on the other hand, are rectangular ingots produced by private mints. The best places to buy gold and silver A local coin shop and an online dealer are the two most common places to buy gold and silver coins, rounds, or bars. The most significant advantage of getting precious metals from a local dealer is that you can physically see the product and purchase it right away. With a local dealer, pricing is based on the actual price of the metal at the date of purchase. However, the common problem is that they have limited product choices. If you want to choose from a wider selection, an online dealer is a perfect option. It is also where you can buy gold and silver at lower prices than a local dealer. However, since you need to pay upfront when shopping online, you must ensure that the dealer is reliable and will give you a genuine product.

The US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) offers a valuable option of an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) for veterans and related members. This enables individuals who already have VA loans to reduce their debts and avail a lower rate of interest. It shortens the loan term and helps transform an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) into a fixed-rate mortgage (FRM). The main advantage of an IRRRL is that borrowers do not need a new Certificate of Eligibility or a minimum income. Those who have VA loans are nearly qualified for refinancing. Read on to know top lenders offering the lowest VA IRRRL rates currently: Veterans United Home Loans This lender was honored for closing the highest number of VA loans right from 2016 to 2020. Their no-down-payment programs and the one designed for first-time homebuyers receive the most credit for being the best in terms of customer service. Presently, the company offers six 30-year VA programs, including a Streamline IRRRL, a VA Cash-Out, and Jumbo loans with low VA IRRRL rates ranging from 2.750% for a 30-Year Fixed and 2.990% for the 30-Year VA Cash-Out Jumbo program. The rates may vary depending on the borrower’s credit score and market conditions. USAA USAA is known for its VA jumbo home loans that allow borrowers to get up to $3 million without charging any money for VA funding fees. They also offer additional benefits on insurance, banking and have member discounts. The online process of VA loans is very systematic. Borrowers can easily calculate their mortgage by filling up basic details (loan term, house price, down payment, etc.) and also get pre-approved loans. However, the final document cannot be processed online. Presently, the VA IRRRL rate is as low as 2.875%, and the VA Jumbo IRRRL rate is about 3.500%. Navy Federal Credit Union The main benefit here is that borrowers are not required to pay a down payment or purchase private mortgage insurance.