Self-employed? Don't forget to save for retirement? Owning your own business gives you the opportunity to forge your own path. Along with the freedom to work on your own terms and that includes your financial growth. While growing your business, you need to consider the future that you want in retirement. The drawbacks self-employment is that you have no employer-sponsored retirement plan and you must plot your own course for when saving for retirement. Fortunately, a 401(k) for the self-employed gives individuals four ways to save for the future. The top four providers of 401(k) plans for the self-employed include Fidelity Investments, John Hancock Retirement, Vanguard, and Merrill Edge. Read on to find out how these companies help self-employed individuals prepare for their financial future.

The adaptability of Fidelity Investments 401k plans gives you access to retirement professionals who can help you grow retirement funds. A wide range of investments gives you flexibility and contributions to your fund can be made by phone or mail. The tax benefits of a 401(k) are tax-deferred growth, taxable contributions, and pre-tax employee deferral contributions that will help you grow your business and your wealth for retirement.

Investment options with Fidelity Investments include investment opportunities with mutual funds, stocks, bonds, FDIC-insured CDs and ETF’s. One-on-one guidance is available in person, by phone or online along with research, tools will help you track your investments and make changes when you wish. Fidelity Investment 401(k) plans are only available to individuals who are self-employed or own their own business.

Another advantage of a 401(k) plan for the self-employed is that there are more options than if you are locked into an employer plan. John Hancock offers a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) that is a popular choice for the self-employed. A SEP is simple and has high contribution limits, the opportunity to change your contribution percentage every year and it offers a maximum contribution of $50,000 or 25 percent of your compensation. There is a 10 percent tax penalty that applies to most money that is withdrawn before the age of 59 ½.

The SEP is not the only 401 (k) plan offered by John Hancock Retirement but it gives one of the highest contribution rates available for your personal investments. On the other end of the spectrum is the Traditional IRA that can give you an upfront tax deduction. Although contribution for 2016 is $5,500 if you are under 50 and $6,500 if you are over 50, a traditional IRA can give you an immediate tax advantage. John Hancock offers these two products and more for the self-employed.

Along with other 401(k) providers, Vanguard offers Individual IRA plans, and SEP-IRA and a Simple IRA plan that for the self-employed. Employee contributions of either pre-tax or Roth employee deferrals can contribute up to $18,000, per year, if you are under 50 and up to $24,000 if you are over 50. Contributions for this plan cannot exceed 100 percent of your earning compensation.

Merrill Edge

Individual or solo 401(k) plans allow you to take a tax deduction for contributions that come from your business while reducing your personal taxes. Reducing your tax liability is another advantage of a 401 (k) and there are an array of products that can help you with saving for the future and dealing with today’s tax liabilities. The Merrill Edge Individual 401(k) offers simple and straightforward pricing for the management of your investments, online access to your plan, 24/7, and educational resources to help you become as active in your investments as you are the growth of your business.

The Merrill Edge Individual 401(k) offers the added benefit of access to your money through a 401 (k) loan option, giving you, even more, flexibility with your money. The benefit of flexible contributions based on your cash flow and a contribution limits as high as $53,000. The easy online set-up can take less than 30 minutes so waiting until tomorrow to invest in your future is not necessary. Like most of the top 401(k) providers, the Merrill Edge plan offers help from a specialist who will gladly help you plan your future.

A mortgage is a loan that helps you finance the purchase of a home. When you take out a mortgage, you agree to make monthly payments over a set period of time, usually 15 or 30 years. In exchange, the lender agrees to give you the money you need to buy your home.

Mortgage rates are the rates charged by lenders for a mortgage loan. Mortgage rates can change daily, and theyre affected by many factors, including the type of loan, the length of the loan, the down payment, and your credit score. In general, the higher your credit score, the lower your mortgage rate will be.

Now that weve got that out of the way, lets take a closer look at mortgages and mortgage rates so you can make the best decision for your situation.

There are two main types of mortgages: fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). As you might guess from their names, the interest rate on a fixed-rate mortgage stays the same for the life of the loan. That means your monthly payments will stay the same, too. The most popular type of fixed-rate mortgage is the 30-year mortgage. But you can also get 15-year and 20-year mortgages.

With an ARM, your interest rate changes periodically usually once a year but it can change more frequently than that. The initial interest rate on an ARM is often lower than the interest rate on a fixed-rate mortgage because youre taking on more risk: Theres no guarantee that rates wont go up in the future. The most common type of ARM is a 5/1 ARM: Your interest rate is fixed for five years, and then it adjusts annually after that.

If you dont want to get a traditional mortgage from a bank or credit union, there are other options available to you. For example, if you have friends or family members who are willing to help you finance your home purchase, they could give you whats called a private loan or owner financing. With owner financing, the person selling you the home acts as the bank and agrees to carry the loan themselves. This option can be beneficial because it allows you to avoid going through all of the paperwork and red tape associated with getting a traditional mortgage from a financial institution. However, its important to remember that not everyone who owns a home is qualified or willing to act as a lender, so this option isnt always available.

Mortgages and mortgage rates can seem like confusing topics, but they dont have to be. Now that you know some of basics about mortgages and mortgage rates, you can start shopping for a home with confidence. Remember: If you have any questions along the way, dont hesitate to ask your real estate agent or lender for help. Theyre there to guide you through every step of the process so you can find your dream home in no time.

With the symbol of "T" on the New York Stock Exchange, AT&T, or "ATT," is a company with a storied history. You might know it as a cell phone service carrier, but its history began with the invention of telephone and the Bell Telephone Company. The company cut its local service in 1984, but it continued with long distance, research and development and manufacturing.

The story of ATT begins in 1876, when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. His company was the Bell Telephone Company, founded with his partners, Thomas Watson and Gardiner Greene Hubbard. Bell Telephone then became the American Bell Telephone Company by 1881. A subsidiary of this company was American Telephone and Telegraph Company, which acquired the assets of its parent company and became AT&T. An interesting fact is that in the 1920s, the company created Sound Motion Pictures technology.

Warner Brothers first used the ATT sound technology in the 1926 Hollywood movie, Don Juan. The technology was able to synchronize the sound to the movement of the actors' lips. It was the beginning of the modern day movie.

Because it held a monopoly through most of the 20th Century, the company earned the nickname, "Ma Bell." However, by 1982, regulators had broken up the company. It had to divest local subsidiaries. Its long distance service continued when local service was halted.

It is a fact that AT&T had an increase in its mobile subscribers and connections by almost 58 million in four years. This was between 2017 and 2021. The total number of subscribers became 191.65 million. AT&T wireless subscribers reached 182.56 million in 2020. With this event, the company became the largest shareholder in the market of wireless subscriptions.

The company has seen much advancement, and it recently had 5G roaming in more than 35 countries. This includes Japan, Italy, Bulgaria, China, Canada, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Finland, Sweden and more.

In 2021, AT&T had corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas and had 202,600 employees. Employee numbers include all states and more than 60 countries throughout the world. Recent investments include the latest technology, such as drones and connected cars.

ATT ranked 8th in the Forbes 2021 Just 100 for companies that are leading the new era of responsible capitalism. AT&T received superior marks for how the company treats its customers. Particular attention was given to those who need help during an emergency, earning praise. Communication between first responders was enhanced after 911 with the advent of AT&Ts FirstNet wireless network. After hurricanes or wildfires, ATT&T sends drones to boost cell service for those who have lost their connections.

The growth of "ATT," AT&T, has seen many exciting changes since its days as the Bell Telephone Company. It is now one of the leaders of responsible capitalism.

Save money on ink cartridges and toner! Whether for business or for pleasure, printers and ink cartridges have become essential. It's easy to think of just running to the store for another ink cartridge, but those costs add up fast. Instead, consider taking advantage of low prices, sales, and free shipping offered by an online retailer. Three places to find the latest sales on printer ink cartridges include Office Depot, InkCartridges.com, and InkJetSuperstore.com. Read on to find out more about the latest sales on ink cartridges offered by these online retailers.

Office Depot is known for their deep discounts and low prices on office equipment and accessories such as printers and ink cartridges. One of the benefits of shopping with Office Depot is their large selection and knowledgeable staff. Shoppers who need help with finding the right type of ink cartridge would benefit from dealing with a store associate who can help them find what they need in person. Rather shop online? TThis retailer is also known for flexible return policies and their frequent sales on items, including printers and ink. Right now there's a sale on Canon ink cartridges and toner for 15 percent off the purchase of two Canon printer ink cartridges or toners. Shoppers can also score $20 off the purchase of Canon ink with a compatible printer. Shoppers can multiply their savings at Office Depot by signing up for their email list and saving 15 percent off their purchases. Plus, Office Depot offers free store pickup and free shipping on all ink and toner, no minimum purchase required. 

InkCartridges.com specializes in discount ink cartridges from popular and reliable companies, including Canon, HP, and Konica-Minolta. They give a 10 percent discount on the majority of bulk purchases (three or more) and easily fill large quantity purchases for government, corporate, or school use. Right now, this retailer is having a Back to School sale of 12 percent off ink and toner plus free shipping. Shoppers can also save by signing up for the email list to get 10 percent off along with free shipping. InkCartrdges.com accepta major debit and credit cards, PayPal, and Amazon Payments, as well as alternative payment methods like money orders, personal checks, and cash through PaidByCash. Customer support includes talking with a live customer representative. FAQs are available online for such problems as receiving a cartridge with a low ink reading. 

InkJetSuperstore.com specializes in low prices on ink cartridges and toners for a wide range of printers, as well as photocopiers and fax machines. They provide high quality ink cartridges that are manufactured under the ISO 9000 Quality standards and provide a one-year money back guarantee to stand behind their products. This online retailer offers the lowest prices - up to 70 percent off - printer ink cartridges, as well as free shipping on orders of $50 and over. To save even more, customers can enroll in their Rewards program, where customers earn points with every purchase that can be used toward future purchases. Every dollar spent is a point earned! InkJetSuperstore.com also egularly posts and emails coupon codes that shoppers can use immediately; right now, shoppers can get 15 percent off with the code "EXTRADISC." Shopping on the website is easy, too - by brand or specific printer - and customer service is top-notch.