W4 vs W2 vs W9 vs 1099 Tax Forms: What Are the Differences?
W-4, W-2, W-9, and 1099 are all tax forms, but they serve very different purposes. Let's compare. W-4 vs W-2 vs W-9 vs 1099 Summary A W-4 form (officially known as “Form…
The Ups and Downs of Reinventing Your Life At 43 With a Kid
So...Hello! We are Joe and Kristin DiSanto, a former executive producer/business owner and a former film/commercial editor from Los Angeles. Since meeting and marrying in Los Angeles, we spent many…
A Robo Advisor Comparison: Can A.I. Get You to the Promised Land?!
I wanted to create a distilled robo-advisor comparison for you to check out. Mainly because they are cool, but also because they are (potentially) a great step closer to financial…
H&R Block vs TurboTax vs an Accountant: 3 Easy Ways to Do Your Taxes:
H&R Block vs TurboTax vs an accountant: We will be looking at the pros and cons of these tax preparation solutions to determine which fits the bill for your tax…
How Long Does a Home Inspection Take?
Buying a home is one of the largest investments most individuals will make. While no single item can guarantee a completely stress-free home purchase, a home inspection can provide some…
7 Habits of Highly Effective Remote Workers
When the pandemic hit in early 2020, life changed seemingly overnight. Gone were nights out with friends, happy hour after a long day of work, and the new normal left…
Why You Should Add Strategic Tax Diversification to Your Retirement Portfolio
Have you ever considered the possibility that you may earn a higher income after you retire than you have now? It sounds crazy, I know, but it’s not as uncommon…
How to Make Your Money Work for You: 7 Modern Methods for Investing in “The Market”
You work hard for your money - but does your money work hard for you? No one wants to work until they die, right?If you feel like you never have…
The Difference Between Crypto Lending and Crypto Staking
With stocks, investors can earn passive income via dividends. For the longest time, something similar was unavailable in the crypto world. This situation changed when crypto lending and crypto staking…
Real Estate Strategy 101: Learn the Basics, the Lingo, and the Opportunities
Investing in real estate is well-known as one of the most effective ways to increase wealth. It also can have the added benefit of generating passive income, which allows you…
10 Options for Doing Your Taxes…Yourself!
Am I the only one who gets excited about filing taxes? Yeah, maybe I am. OK, I don't get excited about it either. Sorry. Most people only think about doing…
21 Tax Deductions Small Businesses Need to Know
Did you know you can reduce your liability at tax time by using standard business tax deductions? Tax deductions help small business owners reduce the cost of running their enterprise.…
The Financial Planning Process: Your Route to Financial Independence!
The financial planning process is all about "planning" for your retirement far before your arrival there. You need to think of retirement as a destination. I like to call it…
What is the Difference Between Term and Whole Life Insurance?
Are you considering buying life insurance but don't know where to start? Here's a money-saving tip: get it while you're still young(er) and healthy! Now, let's look at the two…
5 Reasons You Should Switch to Gusto for 2023
Well...2022 has (almost) wrapped! And with that comes your 2023 New Year's resolutions. While we all aspire to shape up, lose some LBs, get organized, and generally be better with…
Staying Ahead of Your Taxes as An Independent Contractor
Are you thinking about next year’s taxes? If you’re an independent contractor, you should be. It’s never too early to get your tax documents organized and ready for quarterly filing,…
What is The Infinite Banking Concept? What Are The Pros and Cons?
Infinite banking offers a way for ordinary people to take charge of their finances and grow their wealth. Popularized by R. Nelson Nash in his book "Becoming Your Own Banker," this unique…
The MPI Account: Is This Our Golden Ticket (Or Just A Sketchy Indexed Universal Life Insurance Policy)?
An MPI (Maximum Premium Indexing) account combines life insurance and a retirement plan. It's pitched as having the ability to compound your wealth at a higher-than-average rate while protecting your…
How Long Does it Take to Build Credit (or Improve Your Score)
How long does it take to build credit? Well...a while! That's why it's important to start young. But, it's also important to have a plan, and not use the credit…
‘Otherside’ of the Bored Ape Yacht Club Causes Ethereum Crash
On April 30th, 2022, at 9 pm, the massively popular Bored Ape Yacht Club threw a luscious party to introduce their metaverse game, the ‘Otherside’, to reality. The bored Ape…
Turnkey Real Estate Investing: What a First-Timer Should Know Before They Buy
Hey there. So you’re wondering about turnkey real estate investing? Well, a full turnkey property can be an easy entry into real estate investing for a first-timer. But there are…
Legitimizing Your Side Hustle: Is Incorporating Worth It?
A record number of Americans left the traditional nine-to-five workforce this year, and as their side hustles transform into their primary jobs, many are wondering if they should take the…
Get A Business Credit Card That Won’t Affect Your Personal Credit
If you’re a business owner of any type, then you should have a business credit card. It’s a great tool to help with day-to-day operations, manage cash flow, and even…
The 4 Most Popular Bookkeeping Programs for Your Business
QuickBooks vs FreshBooks vs Xero vs Quicken Home & Business If you are just starting a business, or even if you've been in business for a while, you need to…
The Mindset of The Rich vs Poor: How Wealthy People Think Differently
I hate to put things in terms of the rich vs poor, but when it comes to amassing and keeping money, wealthy people do think inherently differently from poor people.…
What is a Personal Loan and How Does it Work?
Do you have expenses that you fail to pay on a regular basis? Or maybe a huge pile of high-interest debt requiring monthly payments that barely even cover the interest…
Personal Capital Review: Pros and Cons in 2022
If you're looking for a tool that will give you Wall Street-like returns (without requiring you to live in New York), consider using Personal Capital. Created in 2009, Personal Capital…
Coinbase vs Gemini vs Crypto.com vs Kucoin: Comparing 4 of the Top Crypto Exchanges
With cryptocurrency investing taking off, you're likely wondering how you can buy and sell certain coins. The platforms you're looking for are called crypto exchanges, and they allow you to…
The Ultimate Guide To Independent Contractor Taxes
Tax season is often the worst time of the year for most people. You have to scramble around trying to figure out stuff like your gross income and tax deductions,…
How to Create an LLC (Limited Liability Company)
So you've grown your business and decided that you want to incorporate it. You've done your analysis on LLC vs sole proprietorship and decided it's a good idea to start…
Square Payroll vs Gusto Payroll vs ADP: Choosing The Best Payroll Software
As a business owner, you need things to run like clockwork to make the most profit possible. Disruptions can throw out your entire operation and cost you countless dollars in…
How to Make Money Without a Job: 16 Epic Ways!
How to Make Money Without a Job was written by yours truly, Joe DiSanto, for Wealth of Geeks. It has been republished here with permission. Are you looking for an…
What Happens If You Stop Paying Credit Cards?
What Happens If You Stop Paying Credit Cards? Well, not-so-great things will happen...that's what! :( Credit cards are great tools to have if you’re able to use them wisely. Unfortunately,…
Big Picture Investing: Why You Need to Get in the Game Now!
If you have been poking around my blog, you’ve probably figured out that my ultimate goal is to help you reach some version of "financial independence" (or even just plain…
How Many Stocks Should I Own (Or Have In My Portfolio)?
"How many stocks should I own?" Whether you're an avid investor or just got into the investing game, this is an important question that you'll likely be asking yourself over…
What is Crowdfunding and How Does it Work?
You don't need to have tons of money to invest in exciting projects nowadays. With that new fangled thing called the internet, almost anyone from anywhere in the world can…
Fundrise vs DiversyFund vs CrowdStreet: The Best Sites for Crowdfunded Real Estate Investing
Real estate investing is an amazing way to build wealth over the long term. There are nearly no other vehicles that allow you to use low-interest leverage for the purchase,…
Acorns vs Robinhood vs Webull vs M1 Finance: Which One is the Best?
Are you looking to up your investing game? Do you want the stock market to make your money work for you? Are you sick and tired of sitting on the…
What Is A Debt Consolidation Loan?
If you've got lots of debt from various sources, a debt consolidation loan could help you organize your finances and set your future straight. "What is a debt consolidation loan?"…
How Does Real Estate Syndication Work?
Real estate syndication is an investment method that allows investors to pool their money and share in potentially massive profits. At some point in your life, you may find it…
The Best Precious Metals ETFs (for 2021)
As the market grows increasingly hot, it's hard not to wonder "when will it come down?" If you're worried about your stock market portfolio is too concentrated, there may be…
Personal Loans For Bad Credit
Many sources assume that you have good or at least neutral credit when looking at loan advice online. As a result, their solutions may not apply to those with bad…
BEST Emerging Markets ETFs (for 2021)
Investing in emerging markets is an awesome way to capitalize on the growing and innovating world. If you believe that the world will get better in the future, then you…
The BEST Small Cap ETFs (For 2021)
Investing is an awesome way to build wealth. You've probably heard the phrase "making your money work for you" and investing in the stock market can help you do exactly…
How To Get Out of Debt Fast: 10+ Tips You Need To Know Now
There are many reasons why people get into debt, but many don't know how to get out of it. This article will show you what you need to do to…
What is An Annuity (and How Annuities Work!)
Imagine getting paid $1000 every month for the rest of your life. You don't need to work for it and you can spend it however you want. Sounds like a…
How Much Does it Cost to Rekey a Lock (And Other Common Real Estate Costs)
If you happen to be a landlord or real estate agent, you know there are little things that always need to be done in order to keep properties in tip-top…
Top Tech ETFs: Quality Funds To Consider (for 2021)
Technology is advancing at a faster rate than ever and there's no better way to profit from it than through top tech ETFs. Technology ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are baskets…
China ETFs: An Overview of 5 Top Offerings (for 2021)
China ETFs (exchange-traded funds) offer investors an easy way to diversify their investment strategy. In March of 2020, tons of short-sellers rushed into the Chinese markets hoping to capitalize on…
Indexed Universal Life Insurance – The Pros, Cons and Must-Know Information!
As it stands today, you might feel like you need an entire college course on life insurance to simply understand all the available options you have to consider. From navigating…
What Is an LLC? And How Is It Different Than a Corporation?
What Is an LLC? And How Is It Different Than a Corporation? was written by me (Joe DiSanto) for Your Money Geek. It has been posted with permission. I know…
8 Ways to Digitize Your Business
Digitization of any business involves the implementation of modern technologies, in daily operations, to enhance business growth. A digital transformation can help boost performance by establishing consistency, redesigning profitable systems,…
Uncover a Good Cap Rate Using My Cap Rate Calculator
You may have an understanding that real estate is a solid investment choice. You may even be at the point where you have started looking! But once you find an…
Investment Vehicles: What Are They and What Are the Risks?
According to the 2019 Schwab Modern Wealth Survey, Americans believe someone to be "wealthy" if they have at least $2.3 million in net worth. Arguably, the best approach to building…
5 Ways to Spot Investment Scams
There is always an element of risk versus reward with an investment. You are never guaranteed to get all your money back. However, some investment opportunities are straight-up scams. Ponzi schemes…
What Is a Self-Directed IRA Real Estate Investment (and Should You Do It)?
Why would you buy real estate in your IRA? The biggest benefit of a self-directed IRA real estate investment is the awesome opportunity for your money to grow...tax-deferred! Be it…
Top 5 Personal Bookkeeping Software Options: Personal Capital vs Mint vs Quicken vs Money Dance vs Countabout
Personal Capital vs Mint vs Quicken vs Money dance vs Countabout are all potential options to help you get a better grip on your personal finances or tidy up your…
What Is a Self-Directed 401k?
Will you have enough money in retirement? The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that only 43% of United States workers participate in a retirement savings plan. This survey was actually specific…
How to Do Your Own Taxes (and Save some Money!)
It may seem terrifying at first, but you can learn how to do your own taxes. Let's take a look at what forms you'll need to fill out, tax credits…
Is Turnkey Real Estate Investing Worth Your Money? A “No-Gimmes” Accounting of 8 Properties in 3 US Markets
Are you interested in turnkey real estate investing, but not sure if it will actually make you money? In an effort to answer that question, I'm going to give you…
Emergency Fund: How Much is Enough?
How much is enough for an emergency fund, you ask? Well, that's a highly debated topic. The answer is (as always), it DEPENDS. Before I get into how much is…
How to Pay Less Taxes: 7 Basic Tax Planning Strategies
To hear some folks tell it, low taxes are basically the Holy Grail of personal finance. Those folks just might be right! Over the course of several years, a few…
How to Make Money With Bitcoin (and Other Cryptocurrency)
Wondering how to make money with bitcoin? Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard of this lucrative, emerging sector of the financial marketplace. Cryptocurrency, specifically…
What Are Stocks? And How To Invest in the S&P 500
Are you a new investor who is looking for ways to build wealth? More than 50 percent of households in the United States invest in some form in the stock market. …
Is Doing A Blog Worth It? My Experience (So Far)
So, you're wondering, "Is doing a blog worth it?" Well, like with most of life’s big questions, the answer is: "it depends"! Sorry, I know, you really wanted me to…
What is a Dividend and Why Would You Invest in Dividend Stocks?
Dividends can be a very valuable part of your investment portfolio. They can reduce your overall portfolio risk, increase your profits, and offer tax advantages. But what are dividends? And…
60k a Year Is How Much an Hour? (And How Do I Budget for That Salary?)
60k a year is how much an hour? And how do you budget for a 60k salary? Let's find out. If you're a high school teacher, public relations specialist, zoologist,…
How to Incorporate Yourself to Save Money (and Protect Your Assets)
So you are a freelancer or independent contractor and you want to know how to incorporate yourself. Smart. My feeling is that if you are self-employed in this way, you're…
What is Asset Protection Planning (and How Do You Achieve It)?
What do we mean when we say "Asset Protection Planning"? To answer that, we first need to understand to what “assets” we are actually referring. Over the course of your…
The Critical Tools I Use for My Blogging Business
If you have decided to join the ranks and become a "blogger," you're most certainly in need of some helpful blogging tools. I want to share my best resources with…
Meet the Money Transfer Companies Disrupting the US Funds Transfer Industry
The USA might be the greatest economy in the world today. However, making international money transfers from this country is a challenge. There are many options you can use, so…
The 1031 Exchange Timeline (and All The Other Rules!)
A 1031 exchange timeline is worth investigating and enduring the hassle of abiding by. Here's why... When you sell an investment property at a profit, you typically have to pay…
Live and Flips: Scotland Street
Scotland was our 15th real estate purchase, and also our 3rd residence. As I always say, I consider ownership of your residence a real estate investment like any other. However,…
Adobe vs Avid vs BlackMagic vs Mac: Which Media Creation Platform Is Best?
Adobe vs Avid vs BlackMagic vs Mac ...which one is best? With the abundance of websites and social media these days, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. Videos…
The Financial Independence Mindset is Critical
Many people have heard this term "financially independent," but they’re not totally sure what it means—or if they know what it means, they don’t know how to achieve it. Financial…
7 Awesome Stock Photo, Image Editing, and Graphics Creation Options
Do you ever look at a marketing poster or banner and wonder how it was made? You'd think it took an entire team of designers, photographers, and editors hours and…
Rehabs and Rentals: Robmar Road
Robmar was property number 14! I did a 1031 exchange from the Graham property into this one. I had been looking at the Tampa, FL area for a while, both…
Personal Itemized Budget Categories & How You Wrangle Them with My Budget Template
Do you want to maximize your income and invest your savings in order to increase your net worth and maybe even retire early? Well then, it all starts with a…
Tips on Managing Remote Teams for Small Businesses
Recent world events have led to a surge in remote working, and the need for managing remote teams. But even so, that upward trend was in place long before the…
Early Financial Independence: Living Your Life in 4 Acts (Not Just the 3 You’ve Been Told About)!
You're probably living your life in "3 Acts"---so were we. (This may sound a bit esoteric right now, but just bear with me.) When we finally realized that life was…
Commercial Development: Teale Street
If you just perused the B&A photos, you can see what a massive transformation project we undertook. This was my second commercial development project, the funds for which came from…
The Benefits of a Financial Advisor for Your Investing Future
Want to jump into the world of investing, but don't have the time to learn all there is to know? Well then, you might appreciate the benefits of a financial…
Blogging Courses, Services and “Gurus” I’ve Enlisted in My Online Income Journey
You literally can lose your mind when you start doing research about blogging (and consequently blogging courses). For one, it can be discouraging. You quickly realize you are very late…
Renting vs Owning: Why You Need to Own the Real Estate You Live in (of Which You Will Be the World’s Best Renter!)
Are you pondering the very often debated topic of renting vs owning a home? Well apparently so are a lot of people these days. I don't know about you, but…
Commercial Development: Westgate Ave
Westgate was my first of two commercial property deals. Both projects were purchased and renovated to house the businesses I had started with my partners. BEFORE & AFTER PROPERTY NARRATIVE…
Live and Flips: Hillcrest Street
Hillcrest is the second residence that my wife and I bought. Our first one, 5th Ave, we owned for 10 years. We bought 5th Ave prior to the 2008 bust,…
Annual S Corporation Filing Requirements for all 50 States
If you currently are a freelancer, sole proprietor or independent contractor you very likely could see some great tax benefits by switching to an INC or LLC that files its…
The 4 Best LLC Formation and Incorporation Services
IncFile vs Legalzoom vs BizFilings vs Zen Business To choose the right LLC formation and incorporation service for you, you need to cut through the clutter of info out there.…
Rehabs and Rentals: Newberry Drive
Newberry was our fourth real estate purchase, inclusive of our first residence and first commercial building. Our first three purchases were before the financial crisis...in the easy lending days. BEFORE…
Rehabs and Rentals: Belmont Ave
PROPERTY NARRATIVE We bought this property from a "Semi-Turkey" provider. That basically means that they flip the house to the investor, often with a tenant, but then recommend you to…
Rehabs and Rentals: 91st Terrace
PROPERTY NARRATIVE This property was just a total BEEATCH since inception. I would seriously like to walk up to this house and BEEATCH slap it big time. (I really just…
Rehabs and Rentals: Yale Ave
PROPERTY NARRATIVE COMING SOON (I still own this property)
You Need to Do Your Personal Bookkeeping (Like a Business)…and You Hate It…Now What?!?
There just isn't any way around it. No matter how you earn, invest, slice, dice and spend your money, one financial fundamental will hold true: you have to do personal…
Rehabs and Rentals: Scottsdale Ave
PROPERTY NARRATIVE COMING SOON PROPERTY FINANCIALS (I still own this property, but this is about where the numbers would be if I sold it Dec19)
Rehabs and Rentals: Cavern Drive
PROPERTY NARRATIVE COMING SOON! PROPERTY FINANCIALS (I still own this property, but this is about where the numbers would be if I sold it Dec19)
Rehabs and Rentals: Graham Street
BEFORE & AFTER PROPERTY NARRATIVE COMING SOON PROPERTY FINANCIALS (This property has been sold)
Rehabs and Rentals: 92nd Street
PROPERTY NARRATIVE COMING SOON PROPERTY FINANCIALS (This property has been sold)
Land Deals: Belize Lot #8211
Our 5th purchase was beautiful raw land real estate in Belize. We actually ended up visiting Belize after Kristin and I started seriously thinking about early retirement in 2012-2013. Back…
Rehabs and Rentals: Rawhide Drive
PROPERTY NARRATIVE COMING SOON PROPERTY FINANCIALS (This property has been sold)