Articles by Lance Cothern

Lance is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of Virginia and he covers money management, budgeting, financial products, and more. He is also the founder of Money Manifesto, a personal finance blog, where he writes about his family's relationship with money. Education: B.B.A. in Accounting from James Madison University.

5 Signs You Need a New Checking Account Find out how your checking account could be hurting your finances and what you should look for in the best checking account for you. How to Protect Against Wage Garnishments, Bank Levies Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern How to Protect Against Wage Garnishments, Bank Levies When you have creditors coming after you to repay the debt you owe, life can be... How to Help Manage the Finances of Aging Parents Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern How to Help Manage the Finances of Aging Parents Getting old is a fact of life. Unfortunately, people may start to lose their... What Happens If You Need an Early Withdrawal from a 529 Plan? Learn about the penalties and taxes that may apply to early withdrawals (aka. unqualified withdrawals) from a 529 saving plan that was for education costs. Why You Should Pay Attention to the Expense Ratio on Mutual Funds and ETFs Learn all about expense ratios and the impact on the returns of your investments. Find out what fees are included in the costs. Do You Need a CPA or CFP for Financial Advice? Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern Do You Need a CPA or CFP for Financial Advice? Figuring out how to manage your finances can be difficult for even the simplest... How to Check Your Business Credit Score Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern How to Check Your Business Credit Score When you apply for a loan as an individual, the lender checks your personal credit... 5 Ways to Get Tax-Free Income in Retirement Find out how you can get tax-free income in retirement to ensure that more money stays in your pocket during the later years of your life. Can Credit Card Reward Points Be Transferred Upon Death? Find out whether you can have your accumulated credit card rewards points transferred as part of your estate planning process. How to Choose Your Life Insurance Beneficiary Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern How to Choose Your Life Insurance Beneficiary You probably bought a life insurance policy to protect your family...