Understanding the FIRE Movement

There is a lot of chatter about the FIRE movement lately – Financial Independence / Retire Early – and you’re probably wondering whether it’s right for you and your family. The real answer – as any competent financial advisor will tell you – is that it depends. Let’s examine the benefits and drawbacks.

A Look at the World’s Largest Companies

Every year, Fortune unveils its rankings of the world’s 500 largest companies – the Fortune Global 500. And the list always creates buzz. Who made the list this year? Who’s at the top? And the “I’ve never heard of that company, what do they do?” Let’s explore the list.

We were featured in today's studentloanhero.com article -- 5 Smart Money Moves to Make Today With Your New Raise

1. SET ASIDE EXTRA MONEY IN YOUR EMERGENCY FUND

“I would focus more on the emergency fund if your income is very sporadic or if you’re expecting a life transition coming up,” said Eric Maldonado, a certified financial planner and owner of Aquila Wealth. For example, if you’re expecting a baby, starting a business, or planning to move, it’s a good idea to have a robust safety net.

#AquilaWealth Newsletter -- After defeat, Japan's World Cup team leaves behind a spotlessly clean locker room and a 'thank you' note 

I read these three great articles this week, and I think you’ll like them too.

1. Shimmers: The New Credit Card Skimmers
https://www.moneytips.com/shimmers-the-new-credit-card-skimmers
I like this article because Aquila Wealth Advisors was featured in it. ;)

The best way to avoid credit card "shimmers," which is criminals taking your credit card info when using the chip insert to pay, is to use a touch-free payment option like ApplePay on your phone or the "tap" feature on your card, when paying in person.

Moneytips.com article feature

https://www.moneytips.com/shimmers-the-new-credit-card-skimmers

 “Aquila Wealth Advisors Owner and Financial Planner Eric Maldonado, CFP®, MBA, CKA®, reassures consumers that the sky is not falling. Maldonado says we shouldn't let fear drive consumer actions, but stresses that timely reporting of suspicious card activity is key to resolving potential identity theft issues. "A new card can always be issued by the credit card company, but this can be a bummer because (all payees) linked to the card will need to be updated," acknowledges Maldonado.”

#AquilaNewsletter -- 3 Personal Finance Tips, June 13th, 2018

Here are 3 personal finance tips I hope you find useful in your reading this week:

1. "The Best High-Interest Savings Accounts Online for 2018"
I'm often asked: "Where should I put my savings?"
It depends on the time frame for which you need the money, but for "intermediate-term" savings, a good place to look is online savings accounts like Ally Bank's Online Savings Account. It's currently boasting an annual interest rate of 1.6% and no account fees.