Alene Laney is an award-winning personal finance and real estate journalist based in the Southwest. She has written for a number of online and print outlets, including Insider, The Balance, Realtor.com, Smarter Travel, The San Juan Record and others.
Alene Laney grew up in a small town and moved to the city as an adult. She doesn't regret moving back to the country to raise her kids.
I've started 529 accounts for all my kids and taught them how to budget. I'm also encouraging them to go to trade school instead of college.
Haven't received your tax refund? Learn how to track it, common delay reasons, and steps to resolve issues.
Learn what a chargeback is, why it's issued, how it impacts merchants and customers, and what steps are involved in the process.
Learn everything you need to know about 401(k) rollovers, including tax implications, benefits, and the step-by-step process of the rollover.
Learn about vesting schedules, how they impact your retirement savings, and how to leverage employer contributions.
Learn how chargebacks work, when to file one, and the impact they have on both consumers and merchants alike.
Unlock vesting secrets in your retirement plan. Learn about vesting schedules, how they impact your retirement savings, and how to leverage employer contributions for a secure finanical future.
Any business with employees must have an EIN for tax purposes, which is obtainable free from the IRS. Learn how to get an employer identification number.
The IRS issues most refunds within about 21 days. Learn how to check the status of your refund and reasons why your IRS tax refund may be delayed.
Here's how home equity loans work: You borrow against the equity in your home and make monthly payments with interest. Discover if a home equity loan is right for you.
Knowing how to roll over a 401(k) isn't that complicated, but it's important you do it correctly. Learn the rules and how to avoid the pitfalls.
Creating a vacation budget means you have a solid plan for making your vacation dreams happen. Here's how to do it.
Budget for home maintenance costs by setting aside a percentage of your home value or a fixed amount per square foot.
IRS Free File, VITA, TCE, and free versions of tax software are all ways you can prepare and file your taxes at no cost.
You should update the information in your W-4 whenever your financial situation changes, not just when you change jobs.
Profit-sharing plans are tax-advantaged retirement plans administered at the discretion of the employer to boost employee retirement accounts.
The KYC rule requires US financial institutions to verify customers and continually monitor transactions to mitigate money laundering and terrorist activity.
There's no one-size-fits-all way to finance a home improvement project. Here are options that will work in most circumstances.
Flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts are two different ways of allocating pre-tax dollars for health-care expenses.