This page was originally published in early 2022 and still contains relevant reader quotes from that time. The rest of the article has since been updated. Key takeaways Hotels can charge you for damages done during your stay, which are usually found while inspecting your room after you check out.…
Key takeaways Do your research to decide which financial professional — a therapist, advisor or credit counselor — can best help you. It’s hard work to eliminate debt, so commit fully to the process. No matter which you choose, realizing you need help is the first step. Credit card debt…
Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images It can be tough to find a travel credit card if your credit score has seen better days, as many of the best travel rewards credit cards require a FICO score of 670 or higher. While options may be limited, you can still earn rewards toward travel…
Social Security provides benefits not only to retired workers but also to spouses who have not contributed to the program. Spouses are one of the many beneficiaries of Social Security, and even ex-spouses can claim a payout from the program in some circumstances. When you apply for Social Security, you…
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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…
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Key takeaways Building credit can be daunting, especially if you’ve had bumps in your credit history. You can use AI to help you understand and spot errors on your credit report, negotiate and repay debt and improve your credit score. Once you have good or…
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When I finished graduate school, I had $72,000 in student loans weighing me down. But less than a year after graduation, I’d paid…
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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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Photography by Getty Images Key takeaways The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card may not be the strongest option for travel enthusiasts, but it benefits existing Bank of America customers in the Preferred Rewards program. The card has a $95 annual fee and offers unlimited 2X rewards on travel…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate About 200 days into the Trump Administration, leadership at both the White House and the Department of Education have attempted to reshape higher education, including how we repay the debt borrowed for it. And only once did they have to rely on student loan-related…
Morsa Images/Getty Images Robo-advisors are a great option for investors who are looking to automate the investment management process at a cost below that of traditional financial advisors. Fortunately, there are robo-advisors that offer the best of both worlds, including some that offer access to certified financial planners (CFPs). Here’s…
South_agency/Getty Images One of the most common and best pieces of investment advice is to invest in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund. These funds allow investors to participate in the long-term growth of the economy by purchasing a diversified basket of stocks at a low cost. But recently some…
If you’re looking to invest in the ongoing rise of semiconductors, then buying a semiconductor exchange-traded fund (ETF) is an easy way to get started without the work of analyzing individual companies. With a semiconductor ETF, you can buy a cross-section of the industry and not have to pick the…
The Trump “baby 401(k)s” have gotten a lot of press, especially with all the hullabaloo about giving children a nest egg of their own. It’s a fine idea in theory, but the restrictions and caveats make Trump accounts more inflexible than they should be. Even if you don’t qualify for…
Key takeaways Chase Offers provides certain Chase cardholders with opportunities to earn cash back at select merchants. Offers are personalized to both individual customers and each Chase card in your wallet. Any cash back earned through Chase Offers comes on top of the rewards you normally earn for using your…
Key takeaways A fixed annuity offers the security of predictable income but generally does not adjust for inflation, which could erode your purchasing power over time. Benefits include tax-deferred growth and insurance-like features such as death benefits. However, fixed annuities can be complex and carry high fees. Fixed annuities may…
Key takeaways If you miss a mortgage payment, most lenders offer a 15-day grace period, during which you can pay without penalty. Typically, lenders don’t start the foreclosure process until you’ve missed four mortgage payments in a row or are 120 days late on payments. If you’re having trouble paying…
Traditionally, when a homeowner hired a real estate agent to handle the sale of their property, they agreed to pay that agent, as well as their eventual buyer’s agent, a commission. This fee typically amounted to between 5 and 6 percent of the home’s selling price, split more or less…
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