For the first time in nine months, the Federal Reserve looks ready to cut interest rates. It might not be the cure to painfully high borrowing costs that many Americans have been waiting for. Policymakers are expected to trim their key borrowing rate by a quarter of a percentage point…
Image by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate Key takeaways Prequalification lets you view your predicted loan rates and approval odds without impacting your credit score. Review each lender’s minimum acceptance criteria and loan terms prior to filling out the application to increase your chances of prequalifying. Prequalify with multiple lenders…
Planning for retirement often comes with questions about when and how you can tap into your savings. One such question many people ask is, “Can I withdraw from my 457 while still employed?” Unlike other retirement accounts, 457 plans (also known as 457(b) plans) have their specific rules and exceptions…
The Show-Me State has a little something for everyone, whether it’s the barbecue scene of Kansas City, the historic charm of St. Louis or the natural beauty of the Ozarks. And unlike many states, Missouri’s housing market still offers a level of affordability that can make homeownership a reality. As…
Trending
Spotlight This Week
More Articles
Personal Finance
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
If a society is going to make intelligent choices in policy, it helps to understand reality, which includes facts and…
New York startup Casap has raised $25 million in new funding to help banks tackle the thorny problem of credit…
Featured Articles
Key takeaways In most cases, homeowners insurance policies do not cover mold damage as it’s often tied to home maintenance. Homeowners insurance policies may provide coverage to remove the mold as part of the mitigation effort to restore your property from a covered peril. Mold…
Dept Managmnt
Key takeaways A divorce decree outlines which spouse is legally responsible for each debt after the divorce is completed. States either have community…
Banking
When it comes to selling coconut water to the health obsessed, New York’s Vita Coco has served up a master class, schooling even…
Credit Cards
All News
In a world of debit cards and auto-drafts, writing a check might feel super outdated. But guess what? Some businesses are old school cool and require a check if you want to buy something. (They might even charge a fee if you pay with anything other than cash or check.)…
I travel a lot. Sometimes for work, and sometimes to sweep my wife off her feet with a not-so-surprise vacation. (Hey, it’s hard to hide a weekend getaway when you do a monthly budget together.) And as much as I love meeting new people and seeing new sights, travel can…
There’s a relatively new kid on the block in the investing world that’s gotten popular over the last few years, and it’s called an exchange-traded fund (ETF). Since you should never invest in anything you don’t understand, let’s walk through a breakdown of ETFs vs. mutual funds, so you can make the…
Cue the silver bells, because shopping for gifts (and coming up with gift ideas) just got a lot easier! Instead of sitting in holiday traffic and burning the gas you paid an arm and a leg for, check out these gift ideas that can make a big impact on everyone…
Did you know Americans spent $886.7 billion on Christmas last year?1 That’s a lot of photo cards, personalized stockings, candy canes, Christmas music, Santa hats and sparkly ornaments. But unless you plan on skipping Christmas this year, you’ll find yourself a part of that $886.7 billion machine too. Good news: You…
Chances are, you’ve thought these five words before: But when things slow down . . . Maybe you’ve even added some more words at the end: But when things slow down . . . I’ll start that ministry . . . take that vacation . . . finish writing that…
Talk of a recession has been in the news lately—there’s no way to miss it. Headlines about falling stock prices and inflation put us all on edge. We get it. But before you climb into your bunker, let’s talk about exactly what a recession is and why it may not…
Looking for a car? Before you set your eyes on a new-to-you ride, you may want to consider whether now is really the best time to buy a car in the first place. The demand for new and used cars has skyrocketed . . . but the supply hasn’t. So,…
Key takeaways Rehabbing a house looks easy on TV, but it can be time-consuming and expensive in real life. Budget carefully, expect the unexpected and know the limits of your skills. Several loan products can help you finance a home purchase and the renovations in one mortgage. When Breanna Reish…
Update as of June 2023: Federal student loan payments will resume October 2023—with interest starting back September 1, 2023. Student loan relief is making headlines once more because—you guessed it—the government extended the pause on student loan payments. Yep. Again. Now, you might be sitting there thinking, Hooray! No student loan payments…
Editor's Pick
