Illustration by Bankrate / Getty Images While the gender wage gap has narrowed over time, Census Bureau data shows it remains pervasive across the country. In every state, and even in the nation’s capital, women still earn less than men on average.  Some states fare worse than others, including Louisiana,…

Illustration by Bankrate / Photo by Getty The gender pay gap isn’t closing anytime soon, especially for women of color. Black and Hispanic women earn the least compared with men, and a Bankrate analysis of the latest income data from the Census shows it could take generations for their pay…

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…

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In the heart of every community, first responders stand as pillars of strength, protection, and safety. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other emergency personnel dedicate their lives to protecting the public, often putting their own safety at risk. Yet many of these everyday heroes face…

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Ivan Pantic/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Online-only mortgage applications can be convenient, but they might not be the best fit if you have complicated finances. While online mortgage lenders are generally safe, do your due diligence and protect your personal information when applying online. The closing…

If there’s one thing everyone agrees on, it’s that housing is unaffordable. Case in point: the National Association of Home Builders said in March that 60% of U.S. households can’t afford a $300,000 home at a time when the median price is now well above $400,000. For most families, the…

fizkes/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Coming up with a down payment on a home — especially if it’s your first — can feel impossible. But you don’t have to do it by yourself: There are many first-time homebuyer grants that can help. These programs are offered by banks and…

Gold hit an all-time high this week, reaching $3,819 per ounce — and, for the first time in half a century, topping its 1980 peak in inflation-adjusted terms.The yellow metal is now up 45% this year, making it by far the best-performing asset class of 2025, outpacing Wall Street’s crown…

As September marks National Preparedness Month, it’s a timely reminder to reassess not only our emergency kits and plans but also the state of our finances. In the face of unpredictable events, financial stability can be as crucial as having the right supplies on hand. Unexpected events like job loss,…

Wasan Tita/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways A down payment is the portion of a home’s purchase price the buyer isn’t financing with a mortgage. The amount is paid upfront at closing. Depending on the buyer’s finances and the type of loan, down payments typically range from 3…

For the first half of my 20s, I thought about money in the same way you might think about grocery shopping or laundry — a chore, but not requiring more brain space than necessary to get food on the shelves or clean clothes in the closet. As long as there…

Key takeaways Both the Chase Freedom Rise® and the Discover it® Student Chrome are strong starter credit cards that can help students build credit while earning cash back. The Chase Freedom Rise®, while offering flat-rate rewards, provides long-term benefits such as broader redemption options and potential pathways to premium Chase…

Key takeaways The SIPC is a federally mandated, private nonprofit organization that helps protect securities and cash in brokerage accounts against the risk of the brokerage becoming insolvent. The SIPC protects specific types of securities, such as stocks, bonds (including Treasurys), money market mutual funds and CDs. The SIPC and…

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