Checking Accounts are operated mainly for making purchases and for paying bills. Savings accounts on the other hand, help you save money for your future. Though many banks lure you with attractive offers and freebies, you have to be careful not to choose the account merely on the basis of the benefits offered on the joining of the account.
There are different types of checking accounts. Basic, Free, Express, Lifeline, Interest-bearing, etc., are some of them. Different accounts offer different services. Therefore it is very essential that you first understand the service you require through your checking account and then opt for the right one.
For example, a Basic checking account does not offer any interest for your deposit. In other words, by choosing this account, you will avail only the services such as the payment of the bills and some debit card transactions. You may issue a certain number of checks and if you cross the limit, you will be charged an extra fee per check. Also some banks insist that you keep a minimum balance in order to supplant the monthly maintenance charges.
A Free checking account offers the service almost free of cost. There are no criteria such as the minimum balance or the restricted issues of checks. There are no service charges regardless of the number and nature of your transactions. However, you will be charged a reasonable penalty if your check gets bounced.
Interest-bearing accounts offer a very low interest, which is paid monthly. Mostly the banks require a minimum balance to operate the account; the failure of it will result in $10 service fee per month.
Express check accounts are for those who wish to avoid stepping into the banks. The service includes ATM, telephone, PC banking facilities, and unlimited check facilities. Though there is no monthly fee, the customer may often end up paying a huge service charge owing to the extra transactions made through these facilities.
Lifeline account is an economy account offered to low-income groups. The facilities include a certain number of transactions with a monthly fee ranging from zero to $6. The fees, minimum amount, and other terms of this account are normally set by the law, not by the individual banks.
Saving accounts are known for their interest rates, offered in various forms. Saving account is a ‘risk-free’ investment option for those who do not want to get into the adventurous game of mutual funds or shares.
There are different saving options- short term and long term. Certificate of Deposit will be a good option for those who intend for long-term deposits. They offer higher interest rates, but charge penalties for early withdrawals. Compound-interest saving accounts offer more advantages than simple-interest savings accounts. In compound interest savings, the interest accrued in each financial term is added to the previous principal, and the sum of the two will be counted as the principal for the next year. So every year, the amount will accrue exponentially.
Whatever the type of the account is, it is essential that you understand the basics of the services. While choosing a checking account, you may focus on the services that you require whereas for opening a savings account, you may think of the benefits, especially the interest.
By: Bill Riley
Showing posts with label account. Show all posts
Showing posts with label account. Show all posts
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Health Savings Accounts Explained
What is a Health Savings Account?
Increases in the cost for health care and health insurance now impact both employees receiving their health insurance through an employer group plan and the self-employed seeking individual and family health insurance. Whichever group you fall into, you’ve probably noticed the rising costs of health insurance. Deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses have risen to the point that, without careful planning, they can put a serious financial strain on the average American family. In December of 2003, the government took steps to ease the burden on working people when it comes to paying for their health care. The resulting legislation established the Health Savings Account.
A Health Savings Account, or HSA, is an account that allows you to save your pre-tax money for out-of-pocket medical expenses. Unlike a flexible spending account (FSA), any money left over at the end of the year can be saved and used for following years. The money may also grow through investments, just like the funds in an IRA, depending on how and where you establish your account.
Health Savings Accounts are specifically designed for people with high-deductible insurance plans who do not have any other first-dollar medical coverage. Coverage specific to injury, accident, disability, dental, vision and long-term care insurance is permitted, however, without affecting eligibility for an HSA. Exceptions are those eligible for Medicare (over 65) and anyone who can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return. Individuals in these categories will not be able to open a Health Savings Account.
How to Establish a Health Savings Account
Your bank, credit union, and insurance company are a few places that can serve as trustees for your Health Savings Account. Any financial institution that handles IRAs or Archer MSAs may also offer the accounts. Once the account is set up, you and/or your employer may make regular deposits up to your allowed deposit amount. This amount is determined by the size of your annual health insurance deductible.
Once you’ve established the account, you’ll have a great deal of flexibility. You can choose to use the money for all or part of any qualified out-of-pocket medical expense. Qualified expenses range from co-pay and deductible amounts to prescriptions and even over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and cold medicine. Insurance premiums generally are not approved; however, premiums for dental, vision, disability and long-term care may be eligible.
Health Savings Account Funds
The funds in the account belong to you and can be rolled over into some other tax-advantaged accounts such as an IRA if you so choose. You can use the funds for qualified medical expenses until you turn 65. You can also draw on your funds at any time for non-medical expenses; however, you will have to pay income tax on the amount as well as an additional 10% penalty for withdrawing the funds for non-medical purposes. After you reach age 65 you must withdraw the funds or roll them over penalty-free.
How you use your HSA is up to you. You may view it as a way to save in the short term to pay for your out-of-pocket medical expenses year to year, or you may decide that you’d rather use the account to accumulate funds toward the medical expenses you’ll incur in your retirement before age 65. Either way, the HSA is a new resource that may make the cost of health insurance less burdensome.
By: Brad Stroh
Increases in the cost for health care and health insurance now impact both employees receiving their health insurance through an employer group plan and the self-employed seeking individual and family health insurance. Whichever group you fall into, you’ve probably noticed the rising costs of health insurance. Deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses have risen to the point that, without careful planning, they can put a serious financial strain on the average American family. In December of 2003, the government took steps to ease the burden on working people when it comes to paying for their health care. The resulting legislation established the Health Savings Account.
A Health Savings Account, or HSA, is an account that allows you to save your pre-tax money for out-of-pocket medical expenses. Unlike a flexible spending account (FSA), any money left over at the end of the year can be saved and used for following years. The money may also grow through investments, just like the funds in an IRA, depending on how and where you establish your account.
Health Savings Accounts are specifically designed for people with high-deductible insurance plans who do not have any other first-dollar medical coverage. Coverage specific to injury, accident, disability, dental, vision and long-term care insurance is permitted, however, without affecting eligibility for an HSA. Exceptions are those eligible for Medicare (over 65) and anyone who can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return. Individuals in these categories will not be able to open a Health Savings Account.
How to Establish a Health Savings Account
Your bank, credit union, and insurance company are a few places that can serve as trustees for your Health Savings Account. Any financial institution that handles IRAs or Archer MSAs may also offer the accounts. Once the account is set up, you and/or your employer may make regular deposits up to your allowed deposit amount. This amount is determined by the size of your annual health insurance deductible.
Once you’ve established the account, you’ll have a great deal of flexibility. You can choose to use the money for all or part of any qualified out-of-pocket medical expense. Qualified expenses range from co-pay and deductible amounts to prescriptions and even over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and cold medicine. Insurance premiums generally are not approved; however, premiums for dental, vision, disability and long-term care may be eligible.
Health Savings Account Funds
The funds in the account belong to you and can be rolled over into some other tax-advantaged accounts such as an IRA if you so choose. You can use the funds for qualified medical expenses until you turn 65. You can also draw on your funds at any time for non-medical expenses; however, you will have to pay income tax on the amount as well as an additional 10% penalty for withdrawing the funds for non-medical purposes. After you reach age 65 you must withdraw the funds or roll them over penalty-free.
How you use your HSA is up to you. You may view it as a way to save in the short term to pay for your out-of-pocket medical expenses year to year, or you may decide that you’d rather use the account to accumulate funds toward the medical expenses you’ll incur in your retirement before age 65. Either way, the HSA is a new resource that may make the cost of health insurance less burdensome.
By: Brad Stroh
How To Compare Bank Accounts And Savings Accounts
When you are putting your hard earned cash into a bank account, you need to know that you are going to get the best deal you can. For that reason you need to very carefully compare bank accounts and compare savings accounts on offer. Basically, there are two kinds of bank accounts for managing money on an everyday basis: a basic account and a current account. There is also a savings account for managing money on a long-term basis.
If you are worried that you may not be able to effectively control your spending, then when you compare bank accounts, a basic bank account may be the best choice for you. A basic account will still let you draw money for your personal use, and pay any bills that may arise. However, with a basic account you will be unable to spend more money than is in your account. In other words, you will be unable to put yourself in debt.
Many people like the restriction of the basic account. It imposes a discipline on them that, for whatever reason, they feel unable to impose on themselves. With a basic bank account you will get a cash card. This card can be used to withdraw money up to an agreed limit from any bank cash machine.
Some basic bank accounts will also offer a debit card. This will allow you to also pay for items without having to use cash, and in some cases you can also use a debit card online. But like the cash card, the debit card won't put you in debt. Bear in mind also that with a basic bank account you will not receive a chequebook, and you will not get an overdraft facility, even if you ask for one.
The other type of bank account that lets you manage day to day thing, such as drawing money or paying bills, is the current account. With a current account you need to be more watchful of what you are doing as it is possible to overspend. A current account requires more disciplined money management.
However, this is the most popular type of bank account with millions of people worldwide operating one quite successfully. They may overspend occasionally, but they have confidence in themselves that they can manage their money sufficiently well and not encounter any long-term difficulties.
With a current account at a bank you will get a cheque book. You will also get a debit card and a bank guarantee card, which will make your presented cheques acceptable. You will also be able to set up direct debits and standing orders, and you will be able to use the BACS (Bankers' automated clearing service) system to accept money from other sources, such as wages from an employer. In addition to all this, you will be able to set up a bank overdraft, with the bank's prior approval, of course.
The other type of bank account is the savings account. As its name suggests, this is an account that is used to invest savings. A wide range of savings accounts is available from most banks. When you compare savings accounts you should keep in mind the many different types including, but of course, not limited to:
• Internet savings accounts - these can often offer better interest rates as they have lower administration and set up costs, which means that what they save in overheads can be passed on to you.
• Instant access savings accounts - these have some of the benefits of a current account, allowing instant access to your account with being penalized for it.
• Notice savings accounts - with this kind of account you need to give an agreed period of notice in order to withdraw money.
• Fixed rate savings bonds - these offer a guaranteed fixed rate of interest for the time period that your money is invested.
• ISA accounts - these allow a limited investment each year with tax-free interest, and they come in two types, mini and maxi.
• TESSA only ISA accounts - this is a Tax Exempt Special Savings Account, meaning that the interest is tax free, but the investment has to be for five years.
• Child savings accounts - special savings accounts for children, which are often separated as children under 12 and children between 13 and 17.
All bank accounts will accrue interest. In fact, it's difficult to compare bank accounts, or compare savings accounts without taking interest rates into the equation. The amount of interest gained will depend on the rate offered and the amount invested. Generally speaking, a savings account will accrue more interest than either a basic account or a current account.
By: Money Only
If you are worried that you may not be able to effectively control your spending, then when you compare bank accounts, a basic bank account may be the best choice for you. A basic account will still let you draw money for your personal use, and pay any bills that may arise. However, with a basic account you will be unable to spend more money than is in your account. In other words, you will be unable to put yourself in debt.
Many people like the restriction of the basic account. It imposes a discipline on them that, for whatever reason, they feel unable to impose on themselves. With a basic bank account you will get a cash card. This card can be used to withdraw money up to an agreed limit from any bank cash machine.
Some basic bank accounts will also offer a debit card. This will allow you to also pay for items without having to use cash, and in some cases you can also use a debit card online. But like the cash card, the debit card won't put you in debt. Bear in mind also that with a basic bank account you will not receive a chequebook, and you will not get an overdraft facility, even if you ask for one.
The other type of bank account that lets you manage day to day thing, such as drawing money or paying bills, is the current account. With a current account you need to be more watchful of what you are doing as it is possible to overspend. A current account requires more disciplined money management.
However, this is the most popular type of bank account with millions of people worldwide operating one quite successfully. They may overspend occasionally, but they have confidence in themselves that they can manage their money sufficiently well and not encounter any long-term difficulties.
With a current account at a bank you will get a cheque book. You will also get a debit card and a bank guarantee card, which will make your presented cheques acceptable. You will also be able to set up direct debits and standing orders, and you will be able to use the BACS (Bankers' automated clearing service) system to accept money from other sources, such as wages from an employer. In addition to all this, you will be able to set up a bank overdraft, with the bank's prior approval, of course.
The other type of bank account is the savings account. As its name suggests, this is an account that is used to invest savings. A wide range of savings accounts is available from most banks. When you compare savings accounts you should keep in mind the many different types including, but of course, not limited to:
• Internet savings accounts - these can often offer better interest rates as they have lower administration and set up costs, which means that what they save in overheads can be passed on to you.
• Instant access savings accounts - these have some of the benefits of a current account, allowing instant access to your account with being penalized for it.
• Notice savings accounts - with this kind of account you need to give an agreed period of notice in order to withdraw money.
• Fixed rate savings bonds - these offer a guaranteed fixed rate of interest for the time period that your money is invested.
• ISA accounts - these allow a limited investment each year with tax-free interest, and they come in two types, mini and maxi.
• TESSA only ISA accounts - this is a Tax Exempt Special Savings Account, meaning that the interest is tax free, but the investment has to be for five years.
• Child savings accounts - special savings accounts for children, which are often separated as children under 12 and children between 13 and 17.
All bank accounts will accrue interest. In fact, it's difficult to compare bank accounts, or compare savings accounts without taking interest rates into the equation. The amount of interest gained will depend on the rate offered and the amount invested. Generally speaking, a savings account will accrue more interest than either a basic account or a current account.
By: Money Only
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