SoFi Blog

Donating to a good cause can be one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences when it comes to personal finances. But, how do you know your money is actually going to help? While the goal of charitable giving is to do good, choosing a charity can be daunting.

As is always the case when money is involved, you want to apply some strategic thinking, in this case, to ensure that your donation is going to a cause and organization that feel right for you.

There are so many worthy charities in need of funding that chwoosing just one can be a difficult task. We’ve compiled some tips to make the charity evaluation process a little easier and help you feel confident about your decision. And don’t forget to talk to a tax professional about how to deduct charitable contributions.

Are We Still Living in the Shadow of October?

Wishful thinking. Sure, it feels good when you’re doing it, but does it ever really pan out? Not for this guy.

As I sat down to pen the October Monthly Market Recap, I daydreamed—overly optimistically, of course—that there’d be a pretty quick turnaround in the market. And while things have looked up in spots, it’s not the stuff daydreams are made of.

In a nutshell, after a turbulent October, investors just didn’t get much of a break in November. And anyone hoping for a relaxing end to the year may be disappointed. The market’s on edge—good news is met with reservation and bad news is sensationalized. There are plenty of risks facing the market and until further clarity is gained, the market could be in for a bumpy ride.

The holidays are a time for families to get together and share joy and thankfulness. But they’re also a time for mom or dad to probe their adult children about all kinds of “fun” topics like who they’re dating, when those grandkids will be on the way, when they’re going back to school for that master’s degree, and—you guessed it—how they’re dealing with money.

We wanted to learn more about the conversations parents have with their adult children around money, so we surveyed 1,003 parents in the United States—ages 36 to 65—during the month of November, and found some surprising results.

If you’re a woman who would rather do almost anything than ask for a raise at work, know that you are far from alone. In a survey* of SoFi members, women responded that they are twice as likely than men to stay at their job indefinitely, rather than have an uncomfortable money conversation with their boss.

This is a big problem, since not negotiating can cost you dearly over the course of your career, both in terms of earning potential and self esteem.

As a negotiation and career coach, I’ve worked with many women—and men—who found asking for more to be an overwhelming task. Many women in particular have shared with me that they suspected they were underpaid but didn’t know how to confirm, and even if they did, how would they convey this to their manager?

Since we know this is a hot topic for our members, we’ve partnered with Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe and author of Know Your Value, for a fireside chat to ask her to share her best salary negotiation tips for women.

Monthly expenses add up quickly; including rent or a mortgage payment, car payments, student loan payments, and more. You routinely pay these bills each month, and then, almost as an afterthought, you try to figure out what’s left over to save for a rainy day or invest for financial growth. The concept of paying yourself first shakes up that routine.

When you pay yourself first, your top priority is to put a predetermined amount of money into personal savings and investment accounts. Depending on your expenses and income, the amount you save will vary.

When you focus on investing in your own financial wellbeing first, it helps to ensure your discretionary spending doesn’t cut into your financial growth. When you make paying yourself first a priority, it often makes sense to set up automatic transfers from your paycheck to your savings or investment account. If you’re ready to make yourself and your financial future a priority, these tips and strategies could help.