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.

The Best Robo Advisors for Automated Investments of 2024 Find out which robo-advisory services were the best of the year based on account fees, investment options, portfolio design, and other features. The Best Brokerages for Investing in 2024 Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter The Best Brokerages for Investing in 2024 Your brokerage account is a recommended place to keep money you want to invest in... 10 Best Ways to Use Your Tax Refund in 2024 Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter 10 Best Ways to Use Your Tax Refund in 2024 It’s tax season, which means millions of Americans will be filing their taxes and... When Do Credit Scores Get Updated? Learn about how your credit lines are reported to credit bureaus on a regular basis and find out when your credit scores are refreshed and updated. Should You Pay Off Student Loans Early to Save on Interest Charges? Find out whether is a smart idea to pay off all your student loans early in the hopes that you'll end up paying much less in interest charges. Should You Pay Off Student Loans or Invest in Stocks? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Should You Pay Off Student Loans or Invest in Stocks? If you’re fresh out of college and working a full-time job, you might be... Should You Pay Off Your Student Loan in Lump Sum? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Should You Pay Off Your Student Loan in Lump Sum? Student loan debt can be a looming financial burden that many college graduates... Should Your Pay Off Student Loans or Buy a Car? Find out whether you should use extra funds to buy a new car or to pay of existing student loan debt. Credit Card Closed? 6 Things You Need to Do Now Learn what to do after finding out that your credit card account is being closed involuntarily--so you can protect yourself financially. Should You Contribute the Maximum to Your 401(k)? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Should You Contribute the Maximum to Your 401(k)? Almost everybody hopes to retire one day. The problem is that you need a lot of...