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The Essential Reverse Mortgage Factsheet

WallStats.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:55:09 +0000

At MintLife we strive to make complex financial topics easy-to-understand. Most homeowners are already familiar with the concept of a mortgage. A Reverse Mortgage lets you borrow money against the value of your home without your needing to pay it back until either one of two things happen; either you die or you sell the home. With recent government regulations in place, the Reverse Mortgage is a financial instrument set to explode with the wave of retiring baby boomers. These mortgages not only affect the borrower, but their heirs as well, so it’s important to understand the ins and outs of process and product. The Reverse Mortgage can be a lifesaver for some, but is not for everyone. This factsheet will show you how it works.

Provided by Reverse Mortgage Guide

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Follow the Money: The Best and Worst Places to Work by Average Salary

WallStats.com — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:33:45 +0000

Not happy with your present salary? Wondering what city holds the gold at the end of the rainbow? We’ve done the research for you. Above you will find the lowest, average, and highest incomes by profession in the USA. So before you move to Scranton for that writing job, take a look above.

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Russia vs United States: A Visual Comparison

WallStats.com — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:41:20 +0000

Relations between the former Soviet Union and the United States thawed a long time ago and we no longer live in fear of mutually assured destruction. But Russia remains an economic powerhouse and a major player on the world stage. Russia has a rich cultural history and a sometimes brutal military legacy and for most Americans, it remains the “undiscovered” country. Russia’s economy has been in a state of flux since before the Bolshevik revolution but it is interesting to note how the differences in geography, population, and the role of the military ultimately play into the entire economic relationship. A country with that many Grandmasters can’t be counted out.

In order to help compare and contrast the economic differences, we have simplified the data from the CIA World Factbook and NationMaster.com. For the exact numbers in any category, check here and here.

Reward Points: The Real Deal

WallStats.com — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:06:56 +0000

Reward points programs can turn saving money on the purchases you make seem like a game. But the game you’re playing is more like skee ball than frisbee. Playing for points means you’ll be tempted to buy things you can’t afford just to acquire points. But even worse is the fact that the game is rigged before you even begin. Most people will never acquire enough points to pay for the luxury items they desire. And many reward programs are deliberately deceptive in describing how they work. Not all points are created equal and some are downright worthless. Our guide to reward points programs will teach you the tricks you need to be a points ninja.

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Student Loans by the Numbers

WallStats.com — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:08:54 +0000

While it’s been said you should never underestimate the value of a college education, neither should you underestimate its price. Without proper financial planning, you could be paying off those student loans for the rest of your life. College tuition costs are rising at twice the rate of inflation, in part because colleges are attempting to make up for reduced public funding under the previous administration and passing the costs on to you and your parents. The Obama administration has proposed a massive overhaul of up to $6 billion dollars in federal loans but many fear this will lead to the same kind of death spiral that got us into a financial mess with the housing crisis. The numbers tell the real story.

We’ve partnered with CollegeScholarships.org to bring you this infographic which shows you exactly what that degree may be worth and whether it will make economic sense in the long run.

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India vs the US: A Visual Comparison

WallStats.com — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:11:49 +0000

Since its shift from socialist economic policies in the early Nineties to a free-market economy, India has experienced a massive economic boom and foreign trade is a key part of its economic policy. India is in many ways a nation of paradoxes. It is simultaneously one of the worlds fastest growing economies and the nation with the largest concentration of people living below the poverty line. India’s history, geography, religious and ethnic makeup, and culture are vastly different to the US and yet the two countries maintain a close relationship. Our infographic is designed to provide an at-a-glance view of the most important economic dimensions of the US and India and a few less important but fun ones too. Hence the lack of scale or numbers. In order to help compare and contrast the economic differences, we have simplified the data from the CIA World Factbook and Nationmaster.com . For the exact numbers in any category, check here and here.

For more personal finance visualizations see: WallStats.com

The New Auto Industry Breakdown

WallStats.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:41:43 +0000

It’s been a rocky road for the Big 3 automakers as they’ve struggled for survival and relevance in a down economy. In the biggest auto industry shakeup in 30 years, existing companies have been re-organized, torn apart, or sold off, resulting a complete reshaping of the auto industry landscape. Whether through government handouts or good old American ingenuity and entrepreneurship, GM, Ford, and Chrysler are revitalized and ready to deliver the exciting and environmentally friendly automobiles that consumers crave. But unlike the 70s, when American automotive manufacturers faced a threat from the Far East, today that threat comes not only from that part of the world but from newer more nimble competitors such as Tesla, right here in their own backyard. Our infographic breaks it down.

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Bagging a Bargain

WallStats.com — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:40:45 +0000

Even in the worst of economic downturns, cutting back on the necessities of life is not an option. But American consumers are giving up the organic bananas and microbrews and shopping less at high-end grocers such as Whole Foods and Bristol Farms and more at low-end grocers such as Food Lion and Food 4 Less. Our latest infographic is based on the aggregate data from over 1 million Mint.com users, a representative sampling of US consumers.

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Death & Taxes 2010

WallStats.com — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:54:52 +0000

You know what they say, there are two things in life you can’t avoid: death and taxes. So you’d better make sure you understand both. Death & Taxes 2010, the infographic, will show you exactly how the Obama administration is planning to spend your money. Completely updated and newly released, it contains over 500 programs and departments and almost every program that receives over 200 million dollars annually. The data is straight from the president’s 2010 budget request and will be debated, amended, and approved by Congress to begin the fiscal year. All of the item circles are proportional in size to their spending totals and the percentage change from 2009 is included to spot trends and disproportion.

If you pay taxes, then you have paid for a small part of everything you see here. “Death and Taxes” is essential reading for any responsible citizen or information junkie.

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One Trillion Dollars Visualized

WallStats.com — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:25:06 +0000

It’s official, trillion is the new billion. No longer is government spending talked about in terms of a mere ten digits. With the recent flurry of government spending, we are going to need another …