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.

Should You Help Your Partner Pay Off Student Loans? Find out whether it is a good idea to help your partner, spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc. pay off his or her student loan debt. Consider the pros and cons of this financial decision and how it could affect your relationship. Learn about other options that you have to help your partner manage student loan payments without putting your own finances in danger. 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 Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter How I Merged Finances with My Fiancé In 2016, I moved into a new apartment with my now fiancé. Moving in with a... 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 When you have multiple creditors it can make your debt seem insurmountable, but there are a variety of strategies that can help. Is It Smarter to Pay Off a Student Loan or Auto Loan First? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Is It Smarter to Pay Off a Student Loan or Auto Loan First? When you have extra money in your budget, you might want to make extra payments on... 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...