Key takeaways Loss of use reimburses expenses incurred when your home is uninhabitable after a loss. Elective renovations and general maintenance are not covered by loss of use. Pet boarding, parking fees, moving expenses and laundry services are just a few of the expenses loss of use may cover. If…
Illustration by Grant Crowder/Bankrate Key takeaways To find a mortgage lender, first take stock of your finances and decide what type of mortgage you need. You can compare rates and fees by getting a preapproval from at least three mortgage lenders. There are six main types of mortgage providers: direct…
Photography by Getty Images Key takeaways FICO and VantageScore credit scores span from 300 to 850. The higher your score, the more likely you are to secure loans, credit cards and financing options with better terms and lower interest rates. Different factors are considered when calculating your credit score, including…
As a personal finance journalist and a credit counselor, people often ask me for credit card advice. And I’m happy to give it! But I find myself sharing the same set of basic facts because they’re helpful for so many people. And then it dawned on me: Credit cards can…
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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 Both charge cards and credit cards allow you to make purchases that you can pay off at a later date. Credit cards allow users to carry a balance from month to month, but those balances are usually subject to credit limits and interest…
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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 Chase, American Express, Capital One and other issuers allow you to redeem rewards for travel through proprietary travel portals. The best credit card travel portals get stronger value with your rewards and earn boosted rewards on bookings. But your card’s portal may not offer…
Olga Pankova/Getty Images Key takeaways People often invest in bonds for their perceived safety, but it’s still possible to lose money investing in bonds. Bond prices move inversely to interest rates, so when rates rise, bond prices fall. Inflation can also eat into the return that bond investors earn, potentially…
Key takeaways Decreasing term life insurance provides temporary coverage for a specific financial need like an outstanding debt or mortgage. It may cost less than level term life insurance because the death benefit decreases to account for the fact that the debt obligation will likely lessen over time. A decreasing…
Nora Carol Photography/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate U.S. home prices just keep setting new records, although the pace of growth has been slowing. S&P CoreLogic’s latest Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, released July 29, shows annual home-price growth increased in May by 2.3 percent. That’s down from April’s…
A 401(k) can be a great way to save for retirement, but a few wrong decisions can derail your progress. Fortunately, it only takes a little planning to avoid the biggest 401(k) mistakes, and working with a financial advisor can help you supercharge your 401(k), too. Here are some common…
Major life events often come with major financial decisions. A new job is cause for celebration, but how will the switch impact your plans for retirement? Should you make contributions to a traditional 401(k) at your new job or try out the Roth 401(k) option instead? These answers aren’t always…
Key takeaways The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has introduced a wide range of tax cuts and adjustments that small business owners should pay attention to and prepare for. New deductions around pass-through income, tipped and overtime wage and bonus depreciation can allow small business owners and workers to lower…
Oscar Wong/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Speak to any rental car company employee before renting a car, and you’ll surely be asked if you want to purchase extra insurance. But at $15 to $30 a day (typically), buying this additional coverage is like paying $5,000 to $11,000 a year to…
Key takeaways Cash back credit cards make sense when you want to earn simple rewards for each dollar you spend. A points or miles card may be a better option if you travel often and want to earn rewards for travel on your purchases. If neither option is the perfect…
Thirawatana Phaisalratana / Getty Images Key takeaways Even without a job, you can generally get an emergency loan if you can prove a reliable source of income, such as disability benefits or a spouse’s income. Lenders that offer loans without proof of income are probably predatory. If you have a…
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