Kate Underwood

Kate Underwood is a personal finance writer who frequently annoys her friends and family with finance recommendations. She graduated from Wheaton College with a teaching degree. She pivoted a few years ago, leaving a longtime teaching career to pursue freelance writing, and has loved every minute of it! She's a mom of two and in her free time enjoys all things related to nature, hiking, and The Office.

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Retirement

Why You Should Get An Annuity: A Short Explanation

Posted on June 8th, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

Not everyone understands how annuities work as a financial tool. But as a piece of your complete retirement strategy, there are plenty of good reasons why you should get an annuity. An annuity offers a lot of great benefits for the annuity holder. Thinking about your long-term financial goals and ho...

Money Tips, Personal Finance

Steps to Take Now to Prepare Your Finances For 2021

Updated on April 6th, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that you can never truly be prepared for every curveball life may throw your way. A global pandemic has taken all of us out of our normal lives and into something completely unexpected. We now know more than ever how important it is to prepare your finances ahe...

Personal Finance

How to Choose Between Index Funds and ETFs

Posted on March 1st, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

When you’re fairly new to investing in the stock market, you’ll need to put some effort into learning some key terminology. Let’s assume you’re a retail investor, not an institutional investor, so you’ll want to determine your best bet for long-term results in your investments. Here are so...

Personal Finance

Pros and Cons of Pension Plans Today

Posted on February 22nd, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

When you hear the word “pension,” you might immediately think of the company jobs that gave employees a living after retirement. Not so long ago, it was pretty common for someone to work their entire adult life at one company, then retire to a comfortable pension. Pension plans still exist, but ...

Money Tips

How COVID-19 May Impact Your Taxes

Posted on February 8th, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

Everyone knows that 2020 was a landmark year in myriad ways. No matter who you are, you have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has devastated many industries, causing a ton of struggles for small businesses in particular. Along with general finances, your tax returns for 2020 may ...

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Financial Reasons to Prioritize Your Health

Posted on January 25th, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

Keeping our priorities straight is a challenge, but it’s essential to prioritize your health. Without a healthy body, everything you’re working for doesn’t mean much. Finances and health are nearly impossible to separate. After all, health care costs money, and making money is a lo...

Personal Finance

Should You Focus on Earning More or Saving More?

Posted on January 22nd, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

It’s long been a question posed in personal finance circles, with plenty of disagreement. What’s more important: growing your income, or saving more money? Earning more or saving more? Some experts will vehemently state that you must focus on earning more, because that’s limitless. Frugality w...

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Best Strategies for Saving Money on a College Degree

Posted on January 19th, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

Everyone wants to get the best education possible, but is saving money on a college degree really possible? Of course it is! As with most purchases, there’s a low end of the price range for a college degree and a high end. Don’t make the mistake of assuming you have to sign your whole life [&hel...

Money Tips, Personal Finance

New 401(k) Rules for 2021

Updated on January 8th, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

A 401(k) is a fabulous tool for savvy retirement savers, and it’s a great idea to get a jump on your retirement contributions early in the new year. With the beginning of 2021 comes a fresh start on a lot of financial things, so be sure you know the 401(k) rules for 2021 in order […]...

Personal Finance

Should You Make Early 401(k) Withdrawals?

Updated on December 22nd, 2020 Published By Kate Underwood

When money is tight, your emergency fund is the first place you should look for help. If you don’t have a robust emergency fund in place, taking some money from your 401(k) early may seem like an attractive option. But should you make early 401(k) withdrawals? A lot of people are stressed about ...

Retirement

Why You Should Get An Annuity: A Short Explanation

Posted on June 8th, 2021 Published By Kate Underwood

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