Articles by Thomas (TJ) Porter

TJ Porter has in-depth experience in reviewing financial products such as savings accounts, credit cards, and brokerages, writing how-tos, and answering financial questions. He has also contributed to publications and companies such as Investment Zen and Echo Fox. He aims to provide actionable advice that can help readers better their financial lives. Education: B.S. in Business Administration, Concentration in Information Systems from Northeastern University.

Variable Interest Rate vs. Fixed-Rate Student Loans Learn the difference between variable rates and fixed rates when it comes to the interest rates for your student loans. Find out how each type of rate affects the amount of interest charges that are incurred on a monthly basis. See if variable or fixed student loan rates are better for you. Should You Help Your Partner Pay Off Student Loans? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Should You Help Your Partner Pay Off Student Loans? With so many people graduating college with immense student debt, there’s a good... Why Robo-Advisory Services May Not be Worth the Investment Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Why Robo-Advisory Services May Not be Worth the Investment One of the biggest recent developments in the world of finance and investing is... How I Merged Finances with My Fiancé Find out what it takes to merge your finances with your fiance in order to foster a money relationship that is responsible, transparent, and respectful. How Your Credit Score is Affected When Rate-Shopping for New Loans Learn how the practice of rate-shopping affects your credit score when you're trying to find the lower interest rate for a new loan. Find out what rules applied particularly for FICO scores, which consider the fact that borrowers need multiple hard inquiries to check loan rates. 4 Best Strategies on How to Pay Off Debt Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter 4 Best Strategies on How to Pay Off Debt Debt is something that most people will face at some point in their... Have You Switched Jobs? What You Should Do With Your Old 401(k)s Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Have You Switched Jobs? What You Should Do With Your Old 401(k)s 401(k)s are one of the most common retirement plans in the United States. Many... How to Convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA Use this step-by-step process to convert a traditional IRA to an Roth IRA. Find out when it makes sense for you to switch the type of individual retirement account. Learn how this change will affect your tax situation, including what you should be aware of to avoid any kinds of penalties. Receiving a Life Insurance Payout? How to Handle Money Properly Learn how to handle a life insurance payout, including taxes and final expenses of loved ones, to ensure that the windfall is used wisely. Should You Use Online Cash Back Shopping Websites? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Should You Use Online Cash Back Shopping Websites? Even when you're spending, you want to save as much as possible, especially if...