With 2024 winding down, that means it’s time to think about resolutions for the coming year. As the year has seen an easing of inflation, the aftermath of increased costs has left a lasting impact on our savings and financial wellbeing. Almost half of Americans (47 percent) said in a…
Key takeaways Closing on a house is a complex process that takes several weeks and involves many steps for you and your lender. On closing day, you’ll sign a stack of documents, pay closing costs and receive the keys to your house. Several issues can delay closing, including a low…
Key takeaways Stocks and options are two very different ways that you can invest. With stocks, you take an ownership stake in the company. An option is a side bet among traders over what the price of a stock will be at a certain time. There are pros and cons…
Credit Sesame discusses expectations for interest rate cuts in 2025 and the effect on the stock market. The Federal Reserve delivered one of the most unpopular rate cuts in recent history at the December 18 meeting, the last in 2024. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced a 0.25% rate…
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TomoCredit, a five-year-old San Francisco startup that claims it boosts consumers’ credit scores, is facing a growing number of problems,…
This founder built his brand on a simple idea: Forget about changing the world. Get rich doing mundane and even…
The 2024 presidential election has ended, and Donald Trump is poised to retake the White House, with big implications for…
Voters in Washington State have decided to keep the state’s first-in-the-nation public long term care insurance program. On Tuesday, they…
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ImagePixel/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways Renting your home on Airbnb may not be covered by your homeowners insurance if it is considered a business activity. Airbnb offers a free insurance plan called AirCover, but it may not cover all potential damages or…
Dept Managmnt
Key takeaways A lien serves as an official notice that you owe a creditor for unpaid property. If you do not pay, the…
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With interest rates easing and inflation cooling, small businesses are getting a much-needed break. A change to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) refinancing…
Credit Cards
Key takeaways Actively using a credit card responsibly can help improve your credit score over time. Using your credit card like a debit…
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Maskot/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways The best time to buy a car is typically at the end of the year, during holidays or at the beginning of the week. Mondays are often the best day to buy a car as salespeople are more focused on potential…
If you’re looking to buy a home, the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cuts might help lower mortgage rates. However, Fed cuts also impact savings account rates, which could make it harder to grow funds for a down payment, closing costs and other homebuying expenses. Yet, you shouldn’t base your down…
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are among the newer entrants to the world of Bitcoin trading, joining Bitcoin futures ETFs, which have been trading since 2021. While both funds let traders wager on the price of Bitcoin cryptocurrency, they’re tremendously different in how they do so — and this difference…
Every business owner can benefit from knowing how to write a business plan, including those in the early stages of launching a business. A well-crafted business plan communicates the business’s strategy for growth to key leaders and investors. It’s also an important step to getting a business loan since many…
Halfpoint Images/Getty Images Many people strive to achieve $1 million in savings before they reach retirement, but the reality is that most Americans struggle to meet that savings threshold. Average retirement account balances for those aged 55-64 averaged about $208,000 at the end of 2022 in plans administered by Vanguard,…
Key takeaways Popular SBA 7(a) lenders include Newtek Small Business Finance, Live Oak Bank,, The Huntington National Bank and Readycap Lending SBA 504 lenders have provided over $6 billion in funding to small businesses SBA 7(a) and 504 lenders approved more than 76,000 small business loans combined SBA loans are…
Key takeaways If you’re struggling to make car payments, you can talk to your lender about a car loan modification plan that could reduce payments, lower interest rates or shift your payment deadlines around. A car loan modification could be easier to obtain if you have provable hardship like a…
Warren Buffett is among the greatest investors of all time. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, has returned around 20 percent annually since Buffett took over in the 1960s, trouncing the S&P 500’s annual return over that time period. In 2024, Buffett has sold shares in some longtime holdings, such as Apple…
Key takeaways Most residential homebuyers and sellers work with a real estate agent who represents them in the transaction. Some agents specialize in representing either buyers or sellers, and dual agents may represent both parties in the same transaction. Real estate agents are typically compensated on a commission basis,…
Key takeaways There are many ways to get free financial advice from a variety of sources. It may be possible to see a financial advisor for free or at a reduced cost. When dealing with more complex financial planning issues, such as estate planning or starting a business, it may…
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