Pensions and 403(b) plans represent two distinct ways to save for retirement, each with its own structure and advantages. A pension provides a predictable income stream in retirement, usually funded and managed by an employer. A 403(b), on the other hand, relies on employee contributions and investment growth, giving individuals…
When you think about estate planning, wills, trusts and life insurance usually top the list. But annuities deserve a spot in the conversation, too. Beyond providing reliable income in retirement, annuities can ensure your spouse keeps receiving steady checks, transfer wealth to heirs and help sidestep probate. Still, annuities come…
By your 60s, most of your retirement foundation is already in place. While you may still have a few years to save, building significant new wealth is less likely unless you continue working during retirement. This stage typically shifts focus to taxes, withdrawals, Social Security and budgeting. To help you…
Getty Images / Win McNamee / Staff Key takeaways The Federal Reserve’s September rate cut is likely the beginning of lower yields on CDs and other deposit accounts. Locking in a CD now can secure today’s higher rates, which are still outpacing inflation. Don’t rush to put money into a…
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Life throws curveballs. And often those curveballs mean you’re spending your hard-earned savings or you’re borrowing money instead. It can feel like a catch-22: Creating savings should help you avoid costly borrowing, but spending it equals losing it and going back to square one. So…
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Key takeaways A divorce decree outlines which spouse is legally responsible for each debt after the divorce is completed. States either have community…
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When it comes to selling coconut water to the health obsessed, New York’s Vita Coco has served up a master class, schooling even…
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Key takeaways Refinancing your mortgage could make sense for several reasons: lowering your interest rate, taking cash out of your equity or switching to a fixed-rate loan. For most borrowers, the ideal time to refinance is when market rates have fallen below the rate on their current loan. If you…
Key takeaways In 2025, the federal income tax rates for each of the seven U.S. tax brackets are the same as they were in 2024: 10 percent, 12 percent, 22 percent, 24 percent, 32 percent, 35 percent and 37 percent. Congress is debating the “big, beautiful” tax bill that would…
In a short period of time, cryptocurrency has gone from a small, alternative investment to one worth trillions of dollars collectively. Coinbase is a crypto exchange where you can buy popular coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana. Not every coin is supported on Coinbase, but there are more than 240…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate The average savings account rate is a benchmark for the overall interest-rate environment, but it’s not a rate you should settle for. Rather, aim for an annual percentage yield (APY) many times the national average, such as those offered by high-yield savings…
Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Money market funds are an investing and savings vehicle that holds short-term debt securities, such as CDs, U.S. Treasury bills and commercial paper. Generally, money market funds are considered safe investments, but they have short maturities, aren’t FDIC-insured and fees can erode…
Martinns/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate A money market account is a type of savings deposit account that tends to offer check-writing privileges and a debit card for ATM access to your savings. Typically, savings accounts usually don’t let you write checks from the account, making money market accounts a unique…
Key takeaways An expense ratio is the cost of owning a fund on an annual basis and measured as a percent of your investments within the fund. High expense ratios can eat into your returns. You can find lower expense ratios by investing in passively managed index funds. When it…
Morsa Images/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate A certificate of deposit (CD) is a time deposit account in which your money accrues interest at a fixed yield for a set period of time, or term. CD terms typically range from as short as a few months to as long…
If you’ve ever filed a home or auto insurance claim, your insurance company may have provided you with a mechanic or contractor that they recommend for the work. In most cases, you don’t have to use this vendor, so why is your carrier recommending them at all? In this case,…
Investing in real estate can be an attractive way to put your money to work for you — but what if you don’t have enough money to buy property outright? One way to start investing in real estate without the need for a large chunk of capital is to buy…
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