Sarita Harbour
Business & Personal Finance Writer
I write about business, entrepreneurship, money, credit, mortgages, retirement, and financial planning for American and Canadian audiences. I also read, parent, homeschool, and travel. A lot.
PROJECTS
Investopedia
5 Myths That Could Hurt Your Retirement
Are you basing your retirement plans on myths that make you afraid to save too much – and lead you to believe you won't need that much money anyway? If so, you could be missing opportunities to start putting aside money early when you get the biggest benefit from compound interest and tax-free growth.
While tax-deferred savings plans do place barriers to withdrawing retirement funds, you can get to most of your money in an emergency. What's more, you have more options for tax-deferred savings...
zenefits.com
Surviving Employee Turnover: Lessons From Sports and Military Leaders
Although your company may be working hard to improve staff retention, sometimes employees leave at inopportune times. So how do you keep your business moving forward when continually faced with employee turnover? Time to ask the experts.
Organizations that struggle in the face of constant employee turnover can learn some valuable lessons from the military and professional sports teams– two organizations that have learned to maximize performance in a high turnover environment.
“Every military ...
zenefits.com
Workplace Wellness Programs Linked to Increased Productivity: Here’s Why
Are you looking for ways to help your team members become more productive? If so, it may be time to introduce a workplace wellness program for employees.
While you likely know that workplace wellness programs offer many benefits to organizations and individuals (such as reduced absenteeism and health insurance costs), the impact of these programs on an employee’s productivity may surprise you.
An August 2017 study carried out by the University of California Riverside found that companies offe...
zenefits.com
How to Manage an Increasingly Remote Workforce
With developing technology, and a new emphasis on work-life balance, more workers than ever have joined the remote workforce. Gallup reports that the remote work trend continues to grow for companies across the US. In fact, while 39% of employees worked remotely in 2012, that number had risen to 43% by 2016.
And this isn’t only in the US. In 2017, collaboration platform Polycom conducted a survey of more than 24,000 workers, finding that 62% of the world’s workforce now takes advantages of “f...
sunlife.ca
Tax tips for Canadians Working Abroad
Thinking about taking on a foreign work assignment? Make sure you understand the tax implications before you go.
The prospect of immersing yourself in a new location and culture by living and working abroad can be truly exciting.
But before you head out, don’t forget to check up on your tax status as part of your trip preparations — the tax implications of a temporary foreign work opportunity can be considerable and far-reaching.
Here’s what you need to know to avoid an unnecessary headache a...
hub.staplesadvantage.com
How to Make Office Cleaning a Companywide Habit
As the office manager, you probably bear the brunt of keeping work spaces neat and tidy, which can detract from more pressing tasks on your plate. If everyone did a little more tidying here and there, it would make your life much easier. And let's face it: Sometimes your coworkers could maybe be more mindful of picking up their own messes.
If office cleaning is taking up too much of your workday, use these tips to encourage other team members to do their fair share.
Communicate Cleanliness (E...
staples.com
How to Set Up Volunteer Opportunities for Your Company
Organizing a volunteer opportunity for your employees isn’t merely a nice thing to do — it can create a number of positive benefits for your team. Getting outside the office is often a refreshing change, and working side-by-side to support a worthy cause can be a great bonding experience. What’s more, volunteering allows people a chance to shake off their workplace routine and try to use their skills in a new way.
But not all volunteer opportunities are created equal. You want to use your tim...
extramile.thehartford.com
7 Sneaky Ways to Save on Your Home Remodeling Project
Whether you’re remodeling your home to make it more comfortable for your imminent retirement, or to sell it and downsize, upgrading your home can be expensive. According to the 2017 Houzz & Home Report, homeowners age 55+ spent an average of $73,100 on renovations in 2016.
Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars, finding ways to save money as you update your home means you’ll keep more cash in your pocket. Aside from looking for sales on your renovation supplies, here are seven sneak...
extramile.thehartford.com
11 Tips for Finding a Trustworthy Auto Mechanic
Though many Americans depend on a safe and reliable vehicle to get around, it’s also a big investment. And, while maintaining your vehicle with regular servicing and tune-ups can go a long way to extending its life, finding an auto mechanic you can count on may prove to be a challenge. In fact, a recent survey found that more than 66% of U.S. drivers don’t trust auto repair shops in general.
So how do you identify an experienced, trustworthy mechanic who not only does a good job but also char...
extramile.thehartford.com
7 Habits That Science Says Increase Longevity
As more people live well into their 90s and even surpass their 100th birthdays, scientists and researchers are studying just what they’re doing (and not doing) to live long lives.
Research show that during the 30-year period from 1980 to 2010, the number of centenarians (people age 100 or older) grew by almost 66%, while the most recent U.S. Census report estimates that as of July 2015 there were 76,943 centenarians. The National Institutes of Health, or NIH, reports that people born in the U...
staples.com
5 Small-Business Conferences to Attend in 2018
Attending small-business conferences requires entrepreneurs to take time from their hectic schedules and spend some of their tightly budgeted money — but it’s all worthwhile, if you find the right event and make the most of it. These conferences can provide invaluable networking and educational opportunities, as well as surprising insights and inspiration to take back to your business.
To help consider which conferences may be right for you in 2018, check out this list of five of the biggest ...
sba.thehartford.com
Hiring New Employees for Your Small Business: The Ultimate Guide
Your business is growing beyond belief — or someone has just quit — and you need help! It’s time to hire new employees, but you don’t know where to begin. You may have a general idea of the responsibilities you’d like to pass on, but don’t know how to find and interview a candidate, much less make the financial and legal arrangements required to on-board a new hire.
There’s good news: It isn’t as complicated as you may think — so long as you follow a plan, like this one.
Use this ultimate gui...
gobankingrates.com
Top 8 Hidden Costs of Taking Out an Auto Loan
Unless you won the lottery or have been budgeting diligently for years, chances are you’ll need an auto loan before buying a new car. And although you know the new car price, the down payment amount and what your monthly loan payments should be, the less obvious expenses that accompany a car loan might surprise you. Understanding these eight hidden costs will help you identify and avoid them when taking on a car loan.
The Interest Rate
The interest rate is the biggest factor in answering the ...
Investopedia
Surprising Uses for Trust Funds
It's time to take a closer look at trust funds. You may be surprised to learn they serve a purpose beyond funding the lifestyles of young heirs.
What exactly are trust funds?
Trust funds are legal entities that may hold an assortment of assets including cash, stocks and other investments. These assets provide an income stream to benefit named individuals or organizations (beneficiaries). Trust funds may continue to pay out to beneficiaries long after they've been set up, outliving the origina...
