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…
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…
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…
How to Make Your Money Work for You: 7 Modern Methods for Investing in “The Market”
You work hard for your money, but do you know how to make your money work for you? No one wants to work until they die, right? If you feel…
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 your wealth. It also can have the added benefit of generating passive income, which allows you to…
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…
The 5 Critical Components of Real Estate Investing Returns
Real estate investing is a big piece of my financial pie. The way I think about real estate investing in the same way I think about public markets investing...I look…
Solo 401k vs SEP IRA: A Comparing For the Self-Employed
Self-employment can offer an excellent work-life balance, as well as other freedoms and lifestyle benefits! Hahaha...wasn't that funny. Seriously though, self-employment will likely be the cause of you working 80…
Best Ways to Invest Money in 2021
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that investing is reserved for the already rich. Although having more money to play with makes investment simpler and less risky, anyone with…
Make Your Real Estate Business Standout (8 Branding Tips You Need to Follow)
This post was written for Play Louder by a contributing author. Please note that contributing opinions and claims are that of the author. They are not always in strict alignment…
What Is an LLC? And How Is It Different Than a Corporation?
I know a thing or two about the complexities of launching a new business. As the owner of several businesses in the Los Angeles entertainment industry, I know from experience…
DRIP Stock Investing: How to Collect More Stock on Autopilot
Do you want to reinvest your dividends without having to think about it? Then, DRIP investing may be the tool you need. Learn everything on how to reinvest your dividends…
How You Can Become Debt Free (And Even Get a Fresh Financial Start)
This post was written for Play Louder by a contributing author. Please note that contributing opinions and claims are that of the author. They are not always in strict alignment…
Recession-Proof Stocks: 13 Stocks to Buy to Weather the Storm
This post was written by Steve Cummings and originally appeared on Your Money Geek. Steve Cummings is the founder of the personal finance blog The Frugal Expat. Please note that…
9 Unique Ways to Make Extra Money With a Tutoring Side Hustle
Looking for a side hustle to bring in some more cash? Have you considered tutoring? Most people think of tutoring as helping kids with schoolwork. Think again! While tutoring students…
What You Need To Know About a Sinking Fund
We all have something special we'd like to buy for our home or in life. That old couch that has seen better days in your living room begging for a…
Self-Discipline: Follow These 12 Steps to Make it a Habit
Developing self-discipline isn't easy. Procrastination is the enemy of self-discipline. Here's a perfect example: "I'm going to start the keto diet tomorrow because I want to lose 20 lbs for…
Adding 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 Save For a House: 10 Ways To Make Your Biggest Purchase Ever!
Buying a home may be the biggest purchase a person can make. And, with home prices rising, it can also feel intimidating or even impossible, especially for a first-time home.…
How to Make Money With a Blog (Top 3 Strategies!)
When it comes to turning your passion into a money-making business, it can be frustrating and confusing. There are so many options for how to make money with a blog…
Bull Market vs. Bear Market? What You Need to Know
The stock market can seem like a game of chance sometimes — you might wake up one day to find that your investments have grown by 5% overnight, then six…
Want to Know How to Get Rich? Follow These 8 Steps
Do you want to know how to get rich? (Of course you do! Don’t we all?) Though many people think getting “rich” is a daunting uphill climb, the truth is…
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,…
How Long to Keep Tax Returns: 7 Questions to Consider
How long to keep tax returns is one of the most asked questions in personal finance. Did you know the average American spends 13 hours every year preparing federal tax…
How Risk Averse Are You? Here Are the Best Ways to Find Out?
All of the recent hype surrounding Gamestop, cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and meme stocks made me question - is anyone risk-averse anymore? Does anyone value consistent returns over the 50/50…
College Graduates: Build Wealth by Avoiding 11 Common Money Mistakes After Landing Your First Job
Congratulations! You graduated from college and landed your first job! It’s an exciting and scary new chapter all rolled in one. You’ll be making some serious money for the first…
Peter Schiff Net Worth – Everything You Want to Know
What is Peter Schiff's net worth in 2021, and how did he create his luxurious lifestyle? Let's take a look at this controversial figure in the world of finance. Peter…
Timeshare Rentals: Score Epic Travel Deals on 16 Websites You Probably Haven’t Heard Of
Did you know that you can rent condos at timeshare resorts, just like renting vacation homes? How do condo rentals at Hawaii resorts for as low as a $199 week…
How to Become a Millionaire – 16 Dos and Don’ts
It's no longer "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" but how to become a millionaire. You don't have to be a contestant on a game show, win the lottery, or…
How Much Do Real Estate Agents Make and How to Be Successful at It
If you’re considering starting a new career as a real estate agent, you’re probably wondering, “How much do real estate agents make?” However, before you begin ordering business cards, you…
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…
How to Do Taxes on Your Own: Your Complete Guide
If you earn a steady income or even an inconsistent one, you're likely paying taxes or on the hook for them. Employers withhold taxes each pay period from their employees'…
Bitcoin ETF – How to Invest in Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies
It's been a dismal year for the economy. But one bright spot amidst the recession has been the explosion in the value of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Since its low…
25 Tax Memes That’ll Make You Laugh But Also Probably Cry
If you're supposed to be doing your taxes right now I've got some bad news for you: reading a list of tax memes isn't technically doing your taxes. Or anything…
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Student Loans?
If you're one of the many millions of graduates saddled with debt, it's understandable that you have some anxiety about paying off your loans. You may even start to wonder…
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…
Top 9 Tax Return Service Reco’s
Am I the only one who gets excited about filing taxes? Yah, maybe I am. A lot has changed this year, but filing your taxes can be easy to navigate…
Should You Plan on Working Past Retirement?
Working past retirement may sound contradictory. I mean, it isn't really retirement if you have to work, is it? But there are actually some pretty solid reasons to work during…
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! You can…
W4 vs W2 vs W9 vs 1099 Tax Forms: What Are the Differences?
While the W4 vs W2 vs W9 vs 1099 are all tax forms, they serve very different purposes. Here's a broad strokes comparison of the multiple forms. The W9 vs…
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…
7 Ways To Save Money On A Wedding Without Regrets
This is a guest post written for playlouder.com by Audrey Willows. Please note that guest post opinions are of their author. They are not always in strict alignment with our…
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…
Choosing Payroll Software: Square Payroll vs Gusto Payroll vs ADP
Payroll is a pain. According to survey data, payroll takes small business owners an excess of 5 hours per pay period. Fortunately, if you choose the right payroll solution, 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…
Webull vs Robinhood vs M1: Which One is the Best?
Are you looking for ways to up your investing? Do you want to get into the stock market game to make your money work for you? If so, then you've…
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 You (or Your Business) Can Benefit from a Financial Coach
There are a lot of things that can lead to a business's downfall. Failing to market products and services effectively is a major factor. Jumping into an over-saturated market can…
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. …
The Best Hosting Companies Right Now!
This post was written in collaboration with Chris Wagner, Head of Content at HostingPill. With more than 9 years of Industry experience, he regularly writes about hosting, web servers, and…
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…
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…
Evening Part Time Jobs Online (That Can Pay Pretty Well!)
If you have been thinking about doing some evening part time jobs online to make extra income on the side, you're not alone. A Bankrate survey shows that nearly half…
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 Beneficial is the Gross Income Multiplier?
The gross income multiplier (GIM) is a fast and easy way to estimate the value of an income producing property. It should only be used as a first very basic…
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…
Jobs That Pay 100 an Hour (or More) and Can Be Done Remotely?
There are not many careers with jobs that pay 100 an hour or more and can be worked remotely. Not too long ago, no job could have! Luckily, times have…
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…
What is the Difference Between Term and Whole Life Insurance?
Are you thinking about 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 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…
8 Proven & Practical Ways to Catch-Up With Your Retirement Savings Contributions
This is a guest post written for playlouder.com by Rick Pendykoski, the owner of Self Directed Retirement Plans LLC, a retirement planning firm based in Goodyear, AZ. Rick has over…
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…
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…
Best Business Checking Accounts Comparison
As a business owner, entrepreneur, or a prospective startup, one of the first things you should set up is a business bank account for your finances. You need a business…
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…
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…
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…
The Current Leading Outsourcing Platforms That Will Improve Your Workflow
These days, it's becoming much easier to hire and work with an employee or contractor virtually. Outsourcing platforms take the stress out of finding a virtual assistant or employee. But…
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.…
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…
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 fully turnkey property can be an easy entry into real estate investing for a first-timer. Turnkey real estate…
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…
3 Ways to Do Your Taxes: H&R Block vs TurboTax vs an Accountant
In this guide on H&R Block vs TurboTax vs an accountant, we are going to be looking at the pros and cons of each of these tax preparation solutions so that…
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…
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 Biz Filings vs Zen Business When it comes to choosing from all the online LLC formation and incorporation services available, you need to cut through the…
How We are Staying for Free on our Summer Vacation with a Vacation Home Swap
If you're willing to be a little flexible on your travel dates, and potentially even your location, you can most likely stay for FREE on every vacation you take. Yes!…
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…
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.…
How Co-Working Spaces Can Help Keep Your Business & Personal Life Separate
This post was written for playlouder by Jacob Klein. Jacob is a freelance writer and blog contributor based out of New York. His work primarily concerns business, finance, and startup…
Why Emergency Funds Should Be a High Priority
This is a guest post written for playlouder.com by Aileen Colon. Please note that guest post opinions are of their author. They are not always in strict alignment with my…
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…
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,…
7 Best Places to Find Free Uncopyrighted Music for Your Videos
Anyone who’s ever made a video knows that finding good free music for videos is one of the hardest parts of the job. Here’s all the info you need to…
A Robo Advisor Comparison: Can A.I. Get You to the Promised Land?!
So I wanted to put together a distilled robo advisor comparison for you to check out. Largely because they are cool, but also because they are (potentially) a great step…
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…
How Our (Semi-ish) Early Retirement Aspirations Grew from a Spark to a FI/RE
Way back in 2012, a younger Joe and I were hanging out and talking about our eventual retirement (as all young people do) and possibly even an early retirement. We…