Articles by Kevin Mercadante

Kevin Mercadante is a former mortgage loan officer and blogger behind Out of Your Rut. He is an expert in mortgages, career strategies and retirement planning. Education: B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Montclair State University.

Variable Life Insurance: Is It the Right Type of Life Insurance for You? Learn how variable life insurance works for people who want the cash value of their policy to encompass investment returns. Universal Life Insurance: Pros vs. Cons to Consider Photo of Kevin Mercadante Kevin Mercadante Universal Life Insurance: Pros vs. Cons to Consider The two most basic types of life insurance policies are term and whole... How to Reduce Your Liability After Your Rental Car Accident? Photo of Kevin Mercadante Kevin Mercadante How to Reduce Your Liability After Your Rental Car Accident? The time to contemplate the ramifications of getting into an accident with a car... The Best Ways to Insure Expensive Jewelry and Valuable Items Find out about the different ways that you can insure expensive jewelry and other valuable items just in case they are lost, stolen or damaged. Roth IRA Conversion Ladder: Get More Tax-Free Income in Retirement Learn how to create a Roth IRA conversion ladder to consolidate funds in other retirement accounts for the purpose of an early retirement. Are You Too Old to Open and Contribute to a Roth IRA? Photo of Kevin Mercadante Kevin Mercadante Are You Too Old to Open and Contribute to a Roth IRA? Do you want to know a secret? The Roth IRA is the only tax-sheltered retirement... Diminished Value Claim: How to File for Money Back Photo of Kevin Mercadante Kevin Mercadante Diminished Value Claim: How to File for Money Back A diminished value claim might take the prize for being the least understood... SIPC Insurance: What Assets are Protected? Learn what investment assets are protected by SIPC insurance, including the process to file a claim. Compare it to FDIC insurance for bank deposits. Preferred Stocks: Should You Invest in Them? Learn how preferred stocks work, especially when it comes to dividends and stock price changes, and compare them to common stock and bonds. Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs): How Do They Work? Photo of Kevin Mercadante Kevin Mercadante Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs): How Do They Work? If you prefer to invest in individual stocks, and you have or want to have a...