Graduate Degrees What Earning

If you are one of those people considering earning a master’s degree, then you obviously belong to those camps that are convinced that a master’s degree will soon replace the bachelor’s as a staple degree.  And you may be right: According to the Council of Graduate Schools and the Educational Testing Service, the amount of jobs requiring a master's degree will increase by about 22 percent between 2010 and 2020. The obvious implication of this assertion is very evident: master's degree holders will be needed to fill the growing number of in-demand jobs in coming years(Moton, 2013). Having premised this, I will now present 4 careers where earning a master's degree may be worth the effort.

Career One: Financial Analyst

As a financial analysts you will be helping businesses and people make sound investment decisions as well as in assessing stock performance. In addition, you will also help inexperienced stock investors to  keep their eyes on economic trends, and so on. Hence, while it's true that a bachelor's could be sufficient for entry-level positions in this occupation, most employers often require  a master's degree in finance or master's in business administration (MBA).  Having a masters degree in these areas will be an opportunity to learn much more challenging aspects of finance, such as  figuring out budgets, making investment decisions under uncertainty, and so on. The bottom line: you will need a masters degree if you want to become a senior financial analyst for a big firm.

Median Annual Wage: $75,650 
Average Annual Wage for Workers in the 90th Percentile: $145,580
Average Annual Wage for Workers in the 10th Percentile: $46,300

Career Two: Medical and Health Services Manager

The main work of medical and health services managers is to ensure that the delivery of health care services runs efficiently. These professionals can be found at hospitals and other types of health care facilities. The truth is that you might want to consider earning your master's in health care administration if this career sounds like a good fit for you. Even though a bachelor's degree can get you in the door, earning a master's degree in health care administration, public health, or related majors might be required to advance into positions with more responsibility and higher salaries. The implication of this is that, without a masters degree, it may be tougher to run the show in this profession. That's mainly because earning a master's degree in health administration could help provide a better understanding of complex laws, regulations, and health care issues(Moton, 2013). As a healthcare manager, earning a master’s degree will also help you to understand things like the importance of confidentiality and how to deal with insurance companies.

Median Annual Wage: $86,400**
Average Annual Wage for Workers in the 90th Percentile: $147,890
Average Annual Wage for Workers in the 10th Percentile: $52,730

Career Three: Career Counselor

As a career counselor you will be responsible for  mentoring  others as they make important decisions about their professional lives. Broadly speaking, career counselors typically need masters degrees. A graduate degree is needed for this job because, especially for the starters, a master's degree in school counseling (or a related field) is generally required for you to work as a career counselor in most states. In addition, while getting the master’s degree program in these areas, you will learn how to counsel people and what approach to take. The master's also  gives you the extra skills and research you need on different approaches to counseling(Moton, 2013)

Median Annual Wage: $54,130
Average Annual Wage for Workers in the 90th Percentile: $87,020
Average Annual Wage for Workers in the 10th Percentile: $32,130

Career Four: Public Relations Manager

The essence of public relations is  image. Given that image is everything in this career, your job is making sure the public sees your client or your organization often - and always in a favorable light. If this sound like your dream  career then you may want to consider getting your master's. Here are other reasons why a master’s degree is important for this profession:  A 2011 study presented at the Annual Meeting of the Public Relations Society of America Foundation showed that a master's degree also opened doors to those seeking research-based positions at public relations firms. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor reported  that work experience over several years, combined with a master's degree, could help improve chances of managers advancing into positions as directors in upper-level management(Moton, 2013).

Median Annual Wage: $93,310
Average Annual Wage for Workers in the 90th Percentile: $176,400
Average Annual Wage for Workers in the 10th Percentile: $50,360

References

Moton T.(2013): How a Master's Degree Can Help Your Career. Retrieved February 24, 2013 from http://education.yahoo.net/articles/how_a_masters_degree_can_help_your_career.htm?kid=1NYCW

Getting Your Taxes Done Free of Charge

The 2013 tax season is finally here.  The IRS actually started accepting returns on January 30. According to published evidence,  Americans spend more than $100 billion a year on tax preparation(Ballenger, 2013). However, you may  not know it, but the IRS had noted that as much as 70 percent of Americans are eligible for free professional tax preparation and filing software(Ballenger, 2013).  So my question for you is this: why would you overpay to file if you wouldn’t pass up an easy deduction? The bottom line is that it is best to check out cheaper filing options before you rush to make an expensive appointment with a tax filing company. Here are four ways to get your taxes done for  free. Note that these options depends on your age and income level.

Income Level $51,000 or Less

If you belong to the above income level, then you will need to check out the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, otherwise known as  VITA. With the VITA program, the IRS offer free preparation from trained volunteers, complete with information on tax credits you might qualify for. Most of the VITA include free electronic filing as well. Note that the VITA program is usually offered in schools, malls, community centers, libraries and other thousands of locations across the country. To look up free tax preparation locations under this program, you should search by using ZIP codes or you may call 1-800-906-9887 to find a location near your place of residence(Ballenger, 2013).

Free Tax Preparation for Age Group 60+

Good news: you are eligible for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program if you’re over 60 years old, and have low to mid-income. These preparers provided through the AARP have special knowledge of tax issues related to retirement and pension plans. Note that you don’t have to be an AARP member to qualify. All you need to do is to  use their website and find an AARP Tax Aide near your place of residence. Alternatively, you can  call 1-888-227-7669(Ballenger, 2013).

Free Tax Preparation and Filling for Income Level $57,000 or Less

You are not out of luck either if you’re too young or made too much money in 2012.  Don’t forget that you can use IRS Free File tax software if you make $57,000 or less. By answering  a few basic questions using this software,  the site will help you pick one of several free tax preparation options. Note that, while some of these sites will help you prepare and file free, a number of them do charge some fees(between $10 and $40 ) for filing a state return, amending your federal return, or pulling up a previous year’s return.

Universal Free Online Filing For Everyone

Two main components make up the IRS free file system. The first one is  the preparation help which  is only for those with gross incomes at or below $57,000. The second one is the  online filing part which  is free for everyone. So if you’re ready to fill out your own forms, use the IRS’s Free File Fillable Forms instead of mailing in a pen-and-paper version. Note that, if you get stumped while using the Fillable Forms, you can always get free help from the IRS by visiting a local office or calling them at 1-800-829-1040(Ballenger, 2013).  Another option is to visit the IRS website www.IRS.gov. This website  have every tax publication  online and a searchable FAQ. Even though this website may not be the  simplest thing to navigate, but you can beat the price.

Reference

Ballenger B.(2013): 4 Ways To Get Your Taxes Done Free. Money Talks News. Retrieved February 10, 2013 from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/4-ways-taxes-done-free-121226892.html

4 Hot Careers That Need No Graduate Degree

Let’s face it – some people may not afford the cost of graduate education. The good news: some careers with high pay potentials may not require a masters degree or a doctorate degree. Given that there are plenty of lucrative gigs that require only a bachelor's - and still others where an associate's degree will suffice - you may not need  to spend years and years on postgraduate education just to get those high-paying jobs. So it may surprise you that while graduate education may be the gold standard for reaching the pinnacle of your professional career in terms of fat salaries, it is not always  the only path toward your dream position with respect to getting a high paying job. Here are four hot jobs that do not require graduate degrees.

Computer Programmer

The pay is relatively strong just starting out if you're a skilled programmer. Computer programmers write code (in, for example, C++ or Java) to create software programs, according to the Department of Labor. They also might update and debug programs (like games and your favorite apps) that have already been created(Barrie, 2013). According to the U.S. Department of Labor, most employers are willing to hire computer programmers who have bachelor’s degree, or even associate degree. Below is U.S. Department of Labor Salary Estimates on the income of programmers:

Programmers’ Annual Income

Computer Programmer	Income($)
Median Salary	$72,630
Top ten percent	$115,610
Bottom ten percent	$41,710

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Registered Nurse

The main duties of a registered nurse is to provide and coordinate patient care, help patients learn about their conditions, and offer advice. They also  record patients' medical histories, administer medicine, and perform diagnostic tests. The tests  could be anything from taking blood pressure to testing for strep throat. There are typically two paths to get into nursing - but neither of them require an advanced degree. An associate's degree in nursing or a diploma from an approved nursing program could help you pursue a career as a registered nurse. In addition,

in all states (and the District of Columbia), registered nurses must have a nursing license, which can be obtained by attending an approved nursing program being offered by a community college and passing the National Council Licensure Examination(Barrie, 2013).

The bottom line: nurses do make a great starting salary. Here is U.S. Department of Labor Salary

Registered Nurse Annual Income

Registered Nurse	Amount ($)
Median Salary	65,950
Top ten percent	96,630
Bottom ten percent

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Personal Financial Advisor

If you do not want to go to graduate school, but you have a knack for finance, then you will be relieved to know that preparing to pursue a potentially high-paying career as personal financial advisor may be less involved than you think . Broadly speaking, the main education that a personal financial advisor typically needs is a bachelors degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, mathematics, or law. And the pay is good too. You, however, need to understand that while personal financial advisors typically have the potential to make good money, like anything, it does not come without hard work. Their main job is to  counsel people on how they can reach their financial goals and plan for retirement.  On any given day, they might help with investments, taxes, and insurance decisions(Barrie, 2013). Here is the US Department of Labor estimates of the salaries of Personal Financial Advisor.

U.S. Department of Labor Salary Estimates:

Personal Financial Advisor Annual Income

Personal Financial Advisor	Income ($)
Median Salary	$66,580
Top ten percent	$111,880
Bottom ten percent	$32,810

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Accountant and Auditor

Accountant or auditor could be a good career fit for you if you have a mind for math and distaste for graduate school. Most accountants and auditors need a bachelor's degree in accounting or a business-related field hence  you may not  need an advanced degree to thrive in these careers. Accountants and auditors put together financial records and check to make sure they are accurate. They also calculate taxes - so their mathematically impaired clients don't have to - and help people file their tax returns each April. In addition, they prepare payrolls for their organizations(Barrie, 2013). It is thus not surprising why employers are  always hiring accountants and auditors. The good news:  the pay is pretty high right off the bat. Here is U.S. Department of Labor estimates:

Accountants/Auditors Annual Income($)

Accountants/Auditors	Income ($)
Median Salary	$62,850
Top ten percent	$109,870
Bottom ten percent	$39,640

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

References

Barrie L.(2013): Five High-Pay Careers, No Grad School Required. Retrieved February 4, 2013 from http://education.yahoo.net/articles/great_careers_no_grad_school.htm;jsessionid=2F064E86CE562C98485D81952E612F33?kid=1NUJD