Practical Money Tricks That Lead to Real Treats Getting out of debt doesn’t happen overnight, but small, consistent actions can help you regain confidence and control. Here are a few tried-and-true strategies: Budget like a pro: Track every dollar for a month to see where your money really goes. Focus…
Key takeaways Credit unions typically offer better rates on savings and lower rates on loans compared to traditional banks. Membership is required and may have specific eligibility requirements based on location, employer or affiliation. Your deposits are federally insured up to $250,000, just like at banks, providing the same level…
Key takeaways A home equity line of credit (HELOC) on an investment property is a loan taken out against a piece of real estate that generates income or a financial return. Lenders will consider both the borrower’s creditworthiness and the property’s financials when evaluating an investment property HELOC application. These…
Key takeaways While your home’s value is determined by many factors, some home improvements could help increase its worth. There are multiple ways to pay for upgrades, including cash-out refinancing, a home equity loan or home improvement loan. If you plan to sell your home, it’s important to determine not…
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The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
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…
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Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways A debt consolidation loan replaces multiple streams of debt with one new loan at a fixed rate and monthly payment. A personal loan for debt consolidation is typically a fast and simple way to consolidate all…
Dept Managmnt
The decision of which debt to start paying off first is a personal one, but starting with high-interest debt is generally considered the…
Banking
Lawrence Golub, billionaire founder and CEO of private credit firm Golub Capital, emphatically dismissed fears that the rapid growth of private credit, specifically…
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Key takeaways Emergency loans can help cover a wide range of unexpected expenses when you don’t have enough savings. There are different types of emergency loans, including installment and revolving options. Personal loans and personal lines of credit offer lower interest rates and more flexibility. Payday and title loans have…
Key takeaways International students can get credit cards, but you’ll likely need an ITIN or someone who’ll let you become an authorized user on their card. A U.S. bank account can help, too. If you’re under 21, you’ll need an adult co-signer or a way to prove you can repay…
Key takeaways Your starting credit score depends on your initial credit activity; there is no standard starting point. You need at least one open account with one to six months of activity reported to receive a FICO score or VantageScore. Building healthy credit habits early on will help you start…
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 claims are paid out on…
A financial advisor can be a wonderful resource for getting your finances in order, offering you expert advice across a range of financial matters. But financial advisors are not all created equal, and those looking for an advisor must understand the potential drawbacks of using one. Key takeaways A financial…
Key takeaways Home insurance may cover tree debris removal in some scenarios, such as after a windstorm or ice storm, but only up to your policy’s coverage limits. Your policy likely won’t pay to remove a dead, rotted, overgrown or potentially damaging tree from your property. Most insurance policies require…
Key takeaways Tax lien investing is a potentially high-yielding — but risky — real estate investment strategy. Investors cover an unpaid property tax bill upfront and are then responsible for collecting from the property’s owner. Tax lien investing is subject to location-specific regulations, and not all states allow private investors…
One of the main factors people consider when deciding whether to hire a financial advisor is cost. But costs can vary significantly from one advisor to the next. Here’s what you need to know about the costs of hiring a financial advisor, and how the different fee structures work. Key…
AleksandarNakic/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Selling a home comes with a lot of paperwork, most of which you’ll gather before listing the property on the market. One important document is the seller net sheet, which will detail your all-in costs and potential profit. Keep records of…
Inverse exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a way for contrarian traders to bet against the expected daily performance of an asset class, such as stocks or bonds. These risky investments, often in the form of inverse short ETFs, can be valuable for seasoned market pros. But they are definitely not for…
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