Personal Finance

Much about the home-buying process can be confusing. When you add mortgages to the mix, it can become even more challenging. From interest rates to closing costs, it can be tough to keep track of everything it takes to become a homeowner. Unfortunately, being prepared for everything is next to impossible, and sometimes life can...

Securing a mortgage may seem like an unattainable goal for individuals making $20,000 to $30,000 a year; however, the difficulty isn’t necessarily true. While your income does play a role in a lender’s decision-making process, there are many other factors that a lender considers before a mortgage is granted. To help you better understand how...

Buying furniture and decorating your living space can be one of the most expensive parts of having your own place. Whether you are a homeowner or rent an apartment, the costs of furniture can easily add up. Before you realize it, all the items that you’ve added to your checklist have totaled up to $3,000...

Jewelry can be one of the most special purchases of your life. Whether you’re purchasing an engagement ring or looking for a necklace with your birthstone, you’re purchasing an item that will have a special meaning to you and your loved ones. Something that you buy today can be passed down through each generation of...

Starting a business in Ohio offers numerous perks, from simple and manageable state regulations to low corporate and business taxes and widespread community support for local entrepreneurs. Whether you are creating a new business or are an established sole proprietor, forming a limited liability corporation (LLC) in Ohio can be an excellent way to limit...

If you have your heart set on starting a new business in Kentucky but worry about risking your assets and your family’s future, bring yourself a little peace of mind by considering establishing an LLC in Kentucky. Sadly, you could spend hundreds or thousands of dollars setting up such a limited liability corporation. Still, you...

The news of plummeting interest rates has many Ohio individuals and families considering the purchase of a new home or refinancing their current property. This unpredictable and unexpected year has resulted in the lowest interest rates on record in the last 50 years. Will they stay that way? It’s hard to tell.  The worldwide pandemic...

Homeownership is one of the most significant financial choices that many people make. For Kentucky residents, achieving this dream is much easier than for residents in other areas. This is because Kentucky is known for being one of the most affordable states when it comes to house prices. On top of the affordability of homes,...

KENTUCKY – Stephen C. Netherton, of Louisville, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $870,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III, announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.  Netherton pled guilty to charges of engaging in a conspiracy to commit...

KENTUCKY — This week, Dave gives advice on rental property debt. Dear Dave, I have a rental property that I still owe some money on, and I’ve just begun Baby Step 2 of your plan. Should rental property debt be included in the debt snowball? Matt Dear Matt, No, it shouldn’t. Baby Step 2 of...

KENTUCKY – The distressed condition of the national housing market, paired with high unemployment, has created a fertile environment for unscrupulous fraudsters seeking to take advantage of desperate homeowners.  Many homeowners who turn to loan modification or foreclosure “rescue” companies for help ultimately find that they have been scammed. An emerging trend in recent months...

KENTUCKY — In this week’s Dave Says, Davie discusses mortgage expense versus being debt free. Dear Dave, I’m 28, single, and I just became debt-free. In addition, I make $70,000 a year and have the equivalent of six months of expenses set aside for emergencies. Should I save up to pay cash for a house,...

KENTUCKY — This week’s Dave Says Dear Dave, I’ve been trying to save cash to buy a home, but things always seem to come up that eat away at my savings. I have $130,000 set aside plus an emergency fund, and I make $120,000 a year. I’m debt-free and renting right now, but eventually I’d...

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  — A new study by Ramsey Solutions, a leading company in financial education, finds that students who are taught personal finance lessons in the classroom have a better understanding and more confidence when it comes to managing their money. Of high school students who have taken a personal finance course, 94 percent report...

KENTUCKY — Online retailer comment sections and review sites have become very popular over the last half decade. More and more consumers now rely heavily on product and business reviews to inform their decisions and purchases. Some consumers may scan individual product reviews prior to purchasing a big-ticket item, while others may visit review sites...

MADISONVILLE, Ky. — Offering services from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Illinois, Alabama, and Missouri, Leslie Curneal of Enviro Source Restoration addressed the 1 Million Cups Entrepreneur program Wednesday, April 22. With the desire to own a business, Scot and Leslie Curneal started their company in 2009. “Our story starts with Scot having a passion within him...