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Client Update Newsletter: September 2023

With interest rates continuing to increase, what could be better than making a purchase with 0% interest? In reality, financing a purchase with a 0% interest rate may be more trouble than it’s worth, as we explain in this month’s newsletter.

Also discover the hidden tax benefits of owning a home, how students and teachers can sharpen their AI toolkit for the upcoming school year, and where you can find a savings account with a great interest rate.

As always, please pass this newsletter to anyone who may find it valuable and call if you have any questions or concerns.

Contents

The Trouble With 0% Financing

Companies want to make it easy to buy their big ticket items, especially at times of economic uncertainty. A popular technique is to offer 0% financing when you buy furniture, electronics and other household items. You can also take matters into your own hands with a credit card that offers 0% APR on purchases, balances transferred to the card, or both.

Why 0 Financing is Often a Terrible Idea imageWhile paying for goods and services with 0% interest may sound appealing, there are risks you'll face that you should be aware of before you take this step.

What's hiding behind 0% financing

Here are some of the potential problems hiding behind these 0% financing offers:

What you can do

Before considering a 0% interest financing offer on your next purchase, do this:


Your Home is a Bundle of Tax Benefits

There are many tax benefits built into home ownership. Here is a review of the most common.

Your house is a great place to control the amount of tax you owe, but only if you know the rules and can apply these rules to your situation. Use this information as a starting point to see if there are ways to leverage your home's tax benefits.


Sharpen Your AI Toolkit for the Upcoming School Year

Artificial intelligence got pushed front and center in America's classrooms with the release of ChatGPT in late 2022. As a new school year gets underway, here are some ideas for both students and teachers to harness the power of AI in the classroom.

AI Tips for Students

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Sharpen Your AI Toolkit for the Upcoming School Year image

AI Tips for Teachers

While most of the information in the news regarding AI is about how to avoid writing your own papers, AI if applied correctly can be used to save time while enhancing the learning experience.


Take a Look at Better Savings Rates

Take Advantage of Todays Better Savings Rates imageA silver lining to continued interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve is being able to earn more interest on cash stashed in your savings accounts. How much interest, exactly, you can earn depends on where you do your banking. Consider these tips to earn as much interest as you can, even if it means opening a new account:

Today's interest rates can be a boon for your finances, but you'll need to put in some work up front to find the best bank for your particular situation. Shop around for a new bank and look for ways to get ahead, either through banking bonuses, great rates or both. The time and effort you spend will be worth it in the end!



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