The Penny Hoarder |
- Stash App Review 2021
- Try the 4-Gift Rule to Keep Your Holiday Spending in Check
- How to Get Infrastructure Jobs Even Before Big Bill is a Reality
- Dear Penny: Can My Husband Stop His Brother From Stealing His Inheritance?
| Posted: 29 Nov 2021 12:45 PM PST Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners. If you needed extra money, like, yesterday, you've come to the right spot. Our team has compiled a list of creative ways you can fatten your bank account this month. Certainly, there's something here that fits your needs. Without further delay, here are five ways to pocket up to $2,808: 1. Let This App Pay You up to $83 When You Win Solitaire GamesEarnings: $83 Lots of us already play Solitaire on our phones for fun or just to pass the time. Want to see if you can win money at it? There's a free iPhone app called Solitaire Cash that lets you play for real money. You could get paid up to $83 per win. You might be thinking: There's got to be a catch. This is definitely one of those spammy apps, right? Wrong. There really isn't a catch. Sure, you can pay to play in some higher-stakes tournaments, but there's no pressure. And, in fact, there aren't even any annoying ads. With each game, you'll battle it out against at least five other players. Everyone gets the same deck, so winning is totally a matter of skill. The top three players who solve the deck fastest can win real money — anywhere from $1 to $83. Over on the App Store, it has over a million downloads and more than 15,000 ratings, averaging 4.7 stars (out of 5).To get started, just download the free app and start playing your first game immediately. 2. Watch Movie PreviewsEarnings: $225  If we told you that you could get paid to watch videos on your computer, you'd probably laugh. It's too good to be true, right? But we're serious. A website called InboxDollars will pay you to watch short video clips online. One minute you might watch someone bake brownies and the next you might get the latest updates on Kardashian drama. All you have to do is choose which videos you want to watch and answer a few quick questions about them afterward. No, InboxDollars won't replace your full-time job, but it's something easy you can do while you're already on the couch tonight wasting time on your phone. Unlike other sites, InboxDollars pays you in cash — no points or gift cards. It's already paid its users more than $56 million. It takes about one minute to sign up, and you'll immediately get a $5 bonus to get you started. 3. Cancel Your Car InsuranceEarnings: $700 When was the last time you compared car insurance rates? Chances are you're seriously overpaying with your current policy. If it's been more than six months since your last car insurance quote, you should look again. And if you look through a digital marketplace called SmartFinancial, you could be getting rates as low as $22 a month — and saving yourself more than $700 a year. It takes one minute to get quotes from multiple insurers, so you can see all the best rates side-by-side. Yep — in just one minute you could save yourself $715 this year. That's some major cash back in your pocket. So if you haven't checked car insurance rates in a while, see how much you can save with a new policy. 4. See if You Can Get Free Money From This CompanyEarnings: $1,800 Here's the deal: If you're not using Aspiration's debit card, you're missing out on extra cash. And who doesn't want extra cash right now? Yep. A debit card called Aspiration gives you up to a 10% back every time you swipe. Need to buy groceries? Extra cash. Need to fill up the tank? Bam. Even more extra cash. You were going to buy these things anyway — why not get this extra money in the process? Let's say you use this card to spend $1,500 a month on groceries, gasoline and other essentials — that could mean putting up to an extra $1,800 in your pocket this year! Enter your email address here, and link your bank account to see how much extra cash you can get with your free Aspiration account. And don't worry. Your money is FDIC insured and under a military-grade encryption. That's nerd talk for "this is totally safe." 5. Get $83 Every Time You Win This Free Cell Phone GameEarnings: $83+ Lots of us already play games on our phones for fun or just to pass the time. Want to see if you can win money at it? There's a free iPhone app called Bubble Cash that lets you play for real money. You could get paid up to $83 per win. You might be thinking: There's got to be a catch. Wrong. There really isn't. Sure, you can pay to play in some higher-stakes tournaments, but there's no pressure. And, in fact, there aren't even any annoying ads. The game is based on a classic bubble-shooter format, and you'll battle it out against other players within your skill level to see who can clear the board fastest. Everyone gets the same layout, so winning is totally a matter of skill. The top three players who clear their board fastest can win real money — anywhere from $1 to $83. Over on the App Store, it has more than a million downloads and more than 12,500 ratings, averaging 4.6 stars (out of 5). To get started, just download the free app and start playing your first game immediately. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 29 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners. Micro-Investing apps aim to make investing more inclusive, easier to understand and less intimidating. The Stash app is a popular choice for new investors because it lets you begin investing with just $5. Stash can create a diversified investment portfolio for you based on your financial goals and risk tolerance, offering a user-friendly way to kickstart your investment journey. Or you can pick from more than 3,000 individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as well as bonds if you want a more hands-on approach. Trying to decide if Stash is right for you? To help you make the best choice, we've reviewed the app ourselves. What Is Stash?Stash Financial Inc. is a New York City-based financial services company that lets you incrementally put small sums of money into an investment portfolio. That's a tactic known as micro investing. Former Wall Street pros Brandon Krieg and Ed Robinson founded Stash in 2015 with the goal of helping everyday people create a more secure financial future. The company operates both a website and a mobile app. Stash offers retirement, banking, individual brokerage and custodial accounts with a monthly flat-fee subscription model. It also offers personal finance education and an automated investing option. Stash has become one of the most popular micro-investing apps in the United States with over 6 million users in 2021, according to the company's website. Stash was last valued at $1.4 billion in 2021. How Does Stash Work?In this Stash review, we'll discuss the different investment accounts the app offers, pros and cons, pricing and more. But first, let's explain how to open your account with Stash. How to Sign UpYou can easily sign up with Stash by visiting the website or downloading the app. Stash doesn't require customers to deposit a minimum amount of money to open an account, but you'll need at least $5 to start investing. Once your account is up and running, you can invest smaller increments (like 5 cents or less). Pro Tip Sign up for Stash through The Penny Hoarder and we'll give you $5 to get started! You'll need to provide some personal information during the sign-up process, including your legal name and birth date (you must be at least 18 years old to use Stash). You also must provide your Social Security number to prove you're a legal U.S. citizen. Next, you'll be asked to answer a few questions to help Stash gauge your risk tolerance: conservative, moderate or aggressive. Once that's done, you can take a moment to get familiar with the app.  How Much Does Stash Cost?Stash offers three subscription plans that charge monthly fees. There are no trading fees or commission fees. Stash Beginner: $1 per monthThe Stash Beginner plan costs $1 per month and gives you access to a personal portfolio investment account, a Stash bank account and a debit card. You can pick your own individual stocks and ETFs, but the automated portfolio option isn't available with Stash Beginner. Stash Growth: $3 per monthIf you want access to a retirement investment account, or the Smart Portfolio automated investing feature, you'll pay a $3 monthly fee. Stash+: $9 per monthStash+ costs $9 per month, and gives you access to two custodial investment accounts for children. Stash+ members get a fancy metal debit card and earn double Stock-Back® rewards, a program that lets you earn pieces of stock when you shop. You can also opt in to $10,000 worth of life insurance offered by Avibra. Stash's flat monthly fee is unlike many other robo-advisors and online brokers, which charge a management fee as a percentage of your portfolio balance. For example, Betterment and Wealthfront charge a 0.25% annual management fee for their basic portfolios. So, if you had $1,000 in your Betterment investment account, you'd pay just $2.50 a year in management fees. This can make Stash's monthly fees a drawback for users with low account balances. Still, at $1 a month, Stash Beginner is a fairly affordable taxable brokerage account, considering you also get access to a bank account and a Stash debit card. This entry-level option is cheaper than Acorns, Stash's biggest competitor. The fixed-cost $1 model also becomes more affordable if you invest a significant amount of money as your portfolio value goes up but your fees don't. However, the price of Stash Growth is a little hard to swallow. Paying $36 a year to access an IRA and an automated portfolio is expensive compared to other online brokers. And paying more than $100 a year for Stash+ just to get two custodial investment accounts and $10,000 of life insurance is honestly a bad deal for the average investor. Want to shop around? Here's our round-up of the best micro-investing apps. How Stash Invests Your MoneyStash gives you a few ways to start investing. One is a hands-on, DIY experience while the other takes a more automated approach. Stash previously only allowed users to purchase their own individual investments without guidance. That changed in March 2021, when the company rolled out Smart Portfolio, its automated, robo-investment feature.
Where Your Money GoesStash lets you buy stocks and ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, which bundle numerous stocks or bonds into a single fund. Stash invests your money using fractional shares, which are tiny pieces of stocks or ETFs. Fractional shares let you start investing in more expensive stocks — such as Apple, Tesla or Amazon — even if you don't have enough cash to buy an entire share at first. Fractional share investing starts at 1 cent and is available for every investment account on the Stash platform. Round-ups are another way to micro-invest with Stash. After linking a credit or debit card, Stash will round your purchases to the nearest dollar and invest the difference. It's an easy and painless way to invest without thinking about it. Stash also gives you the option to automatically reinvest dividends back into your portfolio, keeping your money working at all times. You can enable this feature on any Stash investing, retirement or custodial account. How to Research and Select Your InvestmentsThe "Invest" button on the app's bottom toolbar lets you explore your investment options. You can look up specific stocks or ETFs in the search box, or if you want some guidance, Stash can offer suggested investments for you. Tap "Get Recommendations" to get feedback on how to better diversify your portfolio and manage your risk. Another option is to search different company categories, such as energy, finance, media and technology. Stash renames many of the ETFs with descriptive, fun titles that make it easy for new investors to understand what's inside. For example, the Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund (VWO) is titled "Up & Coming" while the SPDR Health Care Select Sector (XLV) is titled "Doctor, Doctor!" You can read a brief overview of any investment, peep the risk level, and if you're looking at an ETF, see a list of its top company holdings. You can tap over to the performance section for a visual representation of the asset's past performance. Once you choose your investments, select "Add to Portfolio." You'll be prompted to select how much you want to invest — whether with a one-time purchase or a scheduled, recurring investment. As time goes by, you can check in on your investments by visiting your portfolio's home page. Your Stash investment page breaks down your portfolio's total value and total return. The app also provides Stash Coach, a game where you earn points and level up after completing investment and personal finance challenges. It will help you with guidance and recommendations, too. You can find this feature when you tap "Home." More Stash FeaturesInvest, Stash's personal taxable brokerage account, is the company's flagship feature. However, the Stash app has expanded its services over time, giving you additional ways to build your financial foundation. Stash Review: Services and Features
Auto-StashAll Stash subscribers get access to two automated saving and investing tools called Auto-Stash. This can help set your finances to autopilot, so you don't have to actively deposit money into your account. You can enable or turn off Auto Stash at any time. Auto Stash includes:
Auto-Stash used to include a feature called Smart-Stash, which automatically transferred small amounts from your checking account to the app. It was phased out in 2021 and is no longer available. IRAsStash Retire is the app's individual retirement account (IRA) option. Through Stash, you can open a traditional or Roth IRA to save for retirement in a tax advantaged account. You can fund your Stash Retire account the same ways you fund a Stash Invest account. However, Stash doesn't offer automated management for IRAs, so you'll need to pick your own investments. Custodial AccountsStash lets you open custodial accounts for minors, whether you're their parent or not. A custodial account is essentially a brokerage account for kids, with some investing and tax benefits. These investment portfolios are technically known as Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) accounts. Different states typically allow one or the other, so Stash will pick the type of account that meets your state's requirements. You can fund custodial brokerage accounts the same ways you fund a personal Stash Invest account. When the child reaches the age of majority (this varies by state, but it's usually 18 or 21), they get control of the account, and can continue to invest or withdraw the money. The $9 per month Stash+ subscription lets you open up two custodial accounts for minors. It's more expensive than Acorns, which gives you access to multiple custodial accounts for $5 a month.  Stash Banking Account and Debit CardAll Stash subscribers can open a bank account through the company's partner, Green Dot Bank. The FDIC-insured digital bank account has no overdraft fees, minimum balance or monthly maintenance fees. You also get mobile check deposits, bill pay and check writing services with your Stash debit account. Stash bank accounts come with a Visa debit card linked to your account. You'll also get access to over 19,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide with your Stash debit card. Stock-Back® RewardsStash lets you earn stock investments while you shop. When you use your Stash Visa debit card, you'll earn Stock-Back® rewards, which are small pieces of stocks related to your purchase. For example, if you shop at Walmart, you'll earn a piece of Walmart's stock. When you buy from a company that doesn't have publicly traded stock — like your local hardware store — the Stash Stock-Back® program will invest a certain percentage into a stock or ETF of your choice. You'll earn 0.125% stock on everyday purchases, and up to 5% with certain merchants. Stash+ account users earn 2x stock. You'll receive the Stock-Back® debit card when you open and fund a Stash cash management account, which is available to all paid subscribers. How to Withdraw Money and Close Your Stash AccountTo take money out of your Stash investment account, you may have to sell some of your stocks or ETFs. To sell investments in the app:
You can set investments to sell anytime, and Stash will execute your sell order when the market is open. The amount you get from the sale depends on the value of your asset during that selling window. After that, Stash will release your money into your cash balance. Keep in mind — and this is really important — selling stocks isn't like withdrawing money from the bank. if you sell when a stock is worth less than when you bought it, you'll lose money. There's also tax consequences, especially if you sell an asset you've owned less than one year. And if you withdraw money from your Stash retirement account — especially a traditional IRA — you'll get slammed with a 10% penalty from the IRS if you're under the age of 59.5. In general, it's best to hold stocks over the long term. Pro Tip Curious about the best time to sell a stock? Here are 3 good reasons and 3 not so good reasons to sell. Follow these directions to properly close your account. If you have a question the Stash FAQ page can't answer, you can contact the company's support team via phone or email Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. Their customer support phone number is 800-205-5164 and their email address is support@stash.com. Email support is also available on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pros and ConsEvery investment app has its pros and cons. Here are some of the advantages and drawbacks of Stash. Pros
Cons
You've heard of Acorns. You've heard of Stash. Here's how they stack up. Frequently Asked QuestionsIs Stash Legitimate?Yes, Stash is legitimate, and no, it's not a scam. The app is all about security, too. It has 256-bit encryption (that's what a lot of banks use), and you can set up fingerprint or facial recognition access. When you open an account, you'll create a four-digit security code, which you'll be required to enter each time you open the app. You can set up thumbprint access, too. Can You Make Money With Stash?Yes. You'll earn money as your investments gain value over time. Customers with a Stash Visa debit card can also earn 0.125% stock on everyday purchases and up to 5% in stock at certain retailers. Finally, Stash also offers referral bonuses to users who get their friends and family to sign up for the app. Does Stash Steal Your Money?Stash doesn't "steal" your money, but if you have the Auto-Stash feature turned on, the app will automatically round-up purchases made with a linked debit card and/or make scheduled recurring transfers. But that money goes into your portfolio — so it's still yours. You can adjust your Auto-Stash settings or turn them off completely at any time. Can I Trust Stash With My SSN?Yes, you can trust Stash with your Social Security number. As a financial institution, Stash is required by law to obtain, verify and record this information. The company also needs your SSN to prepare an annual tax reporting form for you. Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder. The Penny Hoarder is a paid Affiliate/ partner of Stash. Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. *Offer is subject to Promotion Terms and Conditions To be eligible to participate in this Promotion and receive the bonus, you must successfully open an individual brokerage account in good standing, link a funding account to your Invest account AND deposit $5.00 into your Invest account. Bank Account Services provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Account opening of the bank account is subject to Green Dot Bank approval. Investment products and services provided by Stash Investments LLC, not Green Dot Bank, and are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value. Stock-Back® rewards is not sponsored or endorsed by Green Dot Bank, Green Dot Corporation, Visa U.S.A. or any of their respective affiliates, and none of the forgoing has any responsibility to fulfill any stock rewards earned through this program. For additional disclosures, click here. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Try the 4-Gift Rule to Keep Your Holiday Spending in Check Posted: 29 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PST Those of us who have fond memories of opening stacks of presents under the tree on Christmas morning want to re-create that same magical feeling for our kids when the holidays roll around. We want their eyes to grow wide when they see what's waiting for them to unwrap. We want their hearts to burst with joy when they find they got just what they wanted. What we don't need, of course, is for our eyes to grow wide when checking our credit card statements and our hearts to sink with disappointment when realizing it'll take months to pay down all the holiday debt. Fortunately, the solution to keeping the kids happy without going overboard with your spending comes down to an easy gift-giving strategy called the four-gift rule. What Is the Four-Gift Rule?The four-gift rule is super simple. It even rhymes, so it's easy to remember. You focus your holiday spending on just four things for each child:
You buy one gift per category — that's it. This strategy sets clear boundaries on what types of gifts to get and caps how much you buy. It's a great family tradition to adopt if you want to reduce the financial stress of the holiday season. These tips for using the four-gift rule will help you stay within your holiday budget and avoid post-Christmas shopping regrets. Something They WantThis is where you can make kids' wishes come true. Go ahead and get the gift they circled in that catalog or saw on a TV commercial. It will be your shiny present with a bow on top, so make it count. Just make sure to set a spending limit for this gift — whatever works best for your budget. Using coupons and shopping sales can really help you score a gift from this category without spending hundreds of dollars. Something They NeedYou can get creative with this category and find something that you and your kids both agree they need. This is a no-brainer if your kids play sports and their gear is getting a little worn. Maybe your children are shoe fanatics and would really appreciate a new pair. Or perhaps your little one loves playing dress-up and could use a nice jewelry box to store their many accessories. See, there's more to this category than just socks and underwear. Something to WearBut really though — socks and underwear. Do it. Or go for something a little more exciting, like headphones, hats or headbands. If you were under your budget on your shiny "want" gift, maybe you could package up an entire outfit. Your kids may not have included any clothing items on their wish lists, so think hard about what would be exciting for them to get — like a shirt with their favorite cartoon character on it or a personalized piece of jewelry. Something to ReadThis one is quite easy if you save it for last and see what's left in your budget. It can be as simple as a paperback, or as grand as an e-reader. Pro Tip Trim your holiday spending budget by finding free books for your kiddos. This article shares 14 ways to get free kids books. Trim your holiday spending budget by finding free books for your kiddos. This article shares 14 ways to get free kids books. This gift category is a way to sneak in learning opportunities for your kids, but you can make it fun too. Even if your children aren't major bookworms, they might love a book based on their favorite TV show or a new movie that's coming out. Graphic novels and comics count as books too! Bonus: One Gift From SantaIf you've got room in your budget, don't forget about jolly old St. Nick! You can opt for one Santa gift for the whole family — like a game — or get each kid one present from Santa that you know they'll love. Look for small trinkets at the dollar store or somewhere similar to fill up the kids' stockings. By following the four-gift rule and sticking to one present from Santa, the meaning of giving goes a little further instead of letting Santa get all the credit. Without being overwhelmed with a plethora of presents, the kids will be able to really focus their attention on the gifts they receive. The magic of Christmas will remain intact — without the extra financial stress. Meghan McAtasney is a freelance writer. Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How to Get Infrastructure Jobs Even Before Big Bill is a Reality Posted: 29 Nov 2021 05:00 AM PST The U.S. government has pledged to spend $1 trillion to upgrade the infrastructure of the country, which will translate to 1 million jobs. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act aims to repair or replace roads and bridges, expand broadband coverage and improve transportation and water safety. That is the promise of a lot of work. The reality is that trucking, construction, warehousing, energy and transportation jobs are available NOW, and contractors are having trouble fill them. No college degree is needed. In some cases, workers need to acquire certification, which can be done at community colleges. In other cases, there is no certification or education needed, just a willingness to learn on the job and a few weeks to get trained. For example, a full-time truck driver averages more than $70,000 a year and it takes just two weeks to get a license to drive a big rig. Depending on the level of difficulty in performing the infrastructure job, you are likely to make at least $30,000 annually. In the cases of cross-country trucking, project management or engineering, you can earn six figures based on your experience. Infrastructure Jobs Open NowThis article will look at jobs in trucking, construction, transportation and energy that pay well and do not require a college degree. They often do involve training and apprenticeship, but those are paid positions as well. Let's begin with the most storied of infrastructure jobs: being a truck driver.  How to Be a Truck DriverAccording to Business Insider, there is a shortage of 80,000 truck drivers in the United States, and that was before the Infrastructure and Jobs Act was passed. Trucking jobs are not just cross-country assignments. There are trucks that are loaded and unloaded in local deliveries; those cross-country trucks do not stop at every warehouse along the way. The average salary for a full-time trucker is over $73,000, according to Indeed. If the trucker owns his own truck (known as an owner-operator), the average annual salary approaches $300,000. Some trucking jobs are hourly instead of salaried, but hourly drivers are also paid extra depending on how many miles they drive. Getting a Commercial Drivers' License (CDL) takes about two weeks. Drivers can get training for delivery jobs often by driving for a couple of weeks with another trucker. You can be making money as a trucker in about one month. You will need to go to a school to get a CDL license, because part of your training requires you to get behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler. The fee for a CDL license class varies between $3,000 and $10,000. Your state's motor vehicles division website can lead you to classes in your state and the fees you can anticipate. In addition, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has details on how to obtain a CDL license. Your preferred job board is loaded with trucking jobs. Decide whether you want to be local or cross-country and hit the road! Jobs in WarehousingAll of those trucks that deliver goods drop off their packages at warehouses, which then distribute the goods with other trucks delivering to other warehouses. Someone has to load and unload those trucks, and that could be you. Amazon, FedEx, UPS — these companies need warehousing employees immediately. If there is a distribution center near you (and with Amazon, that's likely the case), apply today. Another idea for warehousing jobs is any company that delivers products, such as hardware stores and construction companies. All of their products and materials are housed in warehouses, and all of those warehouses need people to move those materials from trucks and onto trucks. A material handler (that is what you would be called) can make up to $31,000 annually, and if you are full time, you have benefits available to you. The other positive aspect of warehousing jobs is that there is available upper mobility. You can be lifting crates one day and could find yourself in line for an inventory control job or warehouse manager. According to ZipRecruiter, an inventory control manager can make up to $70,000 a year, and a warehouse manager can make $60,000 annually. Not into heavy lifting? Warehouses also hire clerks, who process orders and keep track of incoming and outgoing materials and products. We tallied nearly 1 million open jobs in anticipation of the 2021 holidays. However, many of the jobs are year-round, including warehouse positions with Amazon. Employment in Construction FieldThere is going to be a lot of building being done, and there are thousands of construction jobs listed on job websites. There will be more as the government money gets handed out. One of the big needs is for heavy-equipment operators, including people who can operate cranes, earth movers, bulldozers, dump trucks, and more. There is the infrastructure work that will need to be done on buildings. This would include welders, pipe-fitters, plumbers and iron workers, among other titles.  You can find vocational training at community colleges and also private facilities. In general, community college programs will be less expensive. Associated Training Services in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is one of hundreds of private schools across the country providing training and certification in heavy equipment operation. ATS programs cost between $1,000 and $8,000 and they have housing facilities. How eager are they to train folks and get them into the field? Anyone who starts a program before Dec. 31, 2021, can apply for free housing. Variety of JobsConstruction jobs fall under three general categories; upper management, middle management and construction workers. Upper management jobs are concerned with planning and costs, middle management handles the day-to-day operations of a job, and construction workers handle the actual physical labor. There are two types of construction workers: those who are trained or certified in one area of expertise, and those who perform general labor. There are steps to take before you decide which type of construction job you want to apply for.
Like warehouses, construction companies need office employees as well. With all of the new work that is likely to come in, construction firms are going to need office workers who can help keep track of jobs, scheduling and materials. A search for "construction office" will get you a job that includes in-office work rather than on-site work.  Jobs in Public TransportationThe role of transportation in the infrastructure bill relates almost entirely to public transportation. The intention is to invest in public transportation in terms of the safety, reliability and modernization of subways and busses, as well as a massive investment in passenger rail service. While transportation services offer many entry-level jobs for recent college grads, they also offer jobs to those without a college degree. Often, these jobs involve repairing tracks (in the case of rail transport) or maintaining ports or stations. The median salary for a signal track repairer is $70,000. These are "learn-on-the-job" positions. If your resume suggests that you are good with your hands, and enjoy outdoor work, you are a good candidate. More information about job prospects in the railway field. Union Pacific railroad is looking for workers with a couple of years of welding experience to join its team of track laborers. It's tough, sweaty work that pays $28 an hour plus benefits. UP has a handy graphic that shows the types of jobs that tracker laborers can move on to, including field manager and track inspector. UP's openings page shows the breadth of jobs available. Other Jobs in TransportationTransportation services also require security and policing personnel. These are people who make sure travelers are civil toward each other, and look out for suspicious or dangerous situations in stations or at stops. These jobs do not require a college degree, and have a median annual wage of $74,000. For a job seeker, you need to visit the websites of your local public transit companies and look under the "jobs'' tab. Many of the jobs you will find will relate to topics above, such as drivers and construction. But public transit companies are also looking for transportation planning assistance, which can include mapping and scheduling. As indicated by the featured jobs on transittalent.com, public transportation companies are already in search for managers. In order for public transit to be safe and accessible, there is a great need for skilled managers, and the people who work for the management department. While these jobs may require a college degree, they are growth positions that may allow you to improve your employment situation faster than your current workplace. Work in the Energy FieldOne way the new infrastructure bill is unique to previous infrastructure expenditures is the amount of money that is going to be directed to energy conservation, transmission and safety. There are initiatives aimed at clean drinking water and the infrastructure for handling waste water, renewable energy and clean energy resources, converting gas-operated systems into electrical systems, and the need for 21st century electric and electronic grid so that our electrical power is safe from terrorist efforts. The push for "green'' energy sources requires thousands of hands to install new equipment. Two areas expected to grow:
Ziprecruiter estimates the average energy infrastructure job pays $122,000 annually, which you can work your way up to with some experience. The most popular energy infrastructure job listings on Ziprecruiter include management, technology, project handling, and engineering. If you have a background in any of those areas, a job search for "energy infrastructure" can lead you to a desired position. But until then, know that there are lots of jobs available now. And it only takes a matter of weeks to get your truck driver's license. Kent McDill is a veteran journalist who has specialized in personal finance topics since 2013. He is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dear Penny: Can My Husband Stop His Brother From Stealing His Inheritance? Posted: 28 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PST Dear Penny, My husband's brother took their mother to his accountant to make sure her mutual funds, stocks and banking accounts were being taken care of and that nobody would be able to extort money from her. She is wealthy. The will stated everything was to be split equally, half and half. She has two homes. My husband's brother has taken one of the homes and lets his mother-in-law reside there rent-free. Now my husband has discovered that his brother is 100% beneficiary to certain IRAs and insurance claims. Both my husband and his brother were adopted. They don't see eye to eye. Their mother said my husband's brother would never not give my husband his half of his inheritance. They have avoided each other, as we didn't hold family gatherings due to COVID-19. Is my husband's brother able to keep him from his half of their inheritance? His brother has made himself the executor of the will and power of attorney, or something. I feel they should have gone together to the CPA. My husband won't listen to me. Am I in the wrong? -C. Dear C., I'm not sure what you're asking of your husband, or why you think you might be in the wrong. But I can't imagine why your mother-in-law would leave everything to one sibling if she wanted both of her children to split things 50/50. And if your husband is counting on his brother's goodwill to get an inheritance, he's in for a rude awakening. I'm also a bit confused about what role the accountant played in this situation. Typically, you'd need an attorney to draft legally binding documents, like a will or a trust. But your mother-in-law isn't required to split everything down the middle. In fact, she doesn't have to leave your husband anything at all. It certainly sounds like your brother-in-law is being sketchy here. But sometimes parents have good reasons for leaving one sibling a greater share of their estate. For example, if one child cared for them in their later years or one sibling has greater needs than the others, a parent may choose not to distribute things evenly.
It's possible to contest a will during the probate process after someone dies, but this is an uphill battle. Usually, you'd have to prove that the person lacked the mental capacity to make or change their will, or that they signed the will because of fraud or undue influence. You can also argue that the will wasn't properly signed or witnessed in some cases. I should note that some of the assets you mentioned, like IRAs and life insurance policies, pass through beneficiary designation rather than probate. That means whoever is listed as the beneficiary receives them regardless of what the person's will states. But disputing a will is a long and expensive process. Most people who mount a challenge will lose. A better option would be for your husband to talk directly with his mother and brother about his concerns. That means your husband will have to re-establish communication with his brother. They don't have to become best friends, but they will need to be cordial. Sometimes parents avoid discussing estate planning with their children when they know the siblings' relationship is strained. I think your husband is most likely to be successful if he doesn't approach the conversation from a position of entitlement. This isn't about making sure he gets his half. The discussion should be about making sure they understand their mother's wishes. Then, your husband can suggest that his mother meet with an experienced attorney to make sure her estate plan is structured in the best way for ensuring that those wishes are carried out. I'm sure an estate planning attorney would tell your husband's mother the pitfalls of leaving everything to one sibling in hopes that they'll split the inheritance with the other. The attorney may also suggest appointing a more neutral party as the executor of the will. But that will be between your mother-in-law and her attorney. It's important to understand that any attorney's ethical obligation in this situation is to your mother-in-law. Their job isn't to make sure your husband or his brother get the inheritance they think they deserve. Your husband can try to foster a discussion. He can try to make it as transparent as possible to avoid disputes with his brother. But ultimately, these aren't your husband's decisions. This is your mother-in-law's money, not his. You and your husband will need to live with whatever choices she makes. Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Send your tricky money questions to AskPenny@thepennyhoarder.com or chat with her in The Penny Hoarder Community. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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