Dear Abby, You probably won’t earn as much money as a man who does the same work for most of your career. I know this makes you mad. It makes me mad, too. This gender pay gap has been a problem in America for decades. Women earned 61 cents for…
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…
Personal Finance
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…
Featured Articles
When Jessye Kass Karlin asked for a raise, she didn’t just need one person to say “yes.” She needed eight. A director of programs at a women’s shelter in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Karlin was in her mid-twenties, making around $60,000 per year. She sought a $20,000…
Dept Managmnt
Practical Money Tricks That Lead to Real Treats Getting out of debt doesn’t happen overnight, but small, consistent actions can help you regain…
Banking
The fundamental flaws in the way the Federal Reserve operates these days were on full display Wednesday when Jerome Powell talked to the…
Credit Cards
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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…
Here’s something credit card experts know but you might not: it’s getting much tougher for the average person to find a great travel credit card that unlocks luxury experiences without the price tag. Major credit card issuers have steadily made premium credit cards more exclusive in recent years. Before, they…
Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate A sharp pullback in home equity rates, one week after the Fed’s highly anticipated quarter-point rate cut. The $30,000 home equity line of credit tumbled 17 basis points to 7.88 percent, its lowest level in about a year-and-a-half, according to Bankrate’s national survey of…
If you need retirement funds for living expenses now, paying taxes on a Roth conversion may cost more than it saves. But, if you plan to keep the money for growth or pass it on to heirs, a conversion can help you avoid future required minimum distributions (RMDs) and provide…
Key takeaways You can cancel an annuity at no cost during the “free-look” period, but after that point it can be much harder and more costly. Some annuities have limited withdrawal provisions and most will let you cash out your investment, though there are penalties. You could also consider selling…
If it feels like your car is eating more of your paycheck than ever, you’re not imagining it — car ownership costs are rising faster than inflation. Bankrate’s latest Hidden Cost of Car Ownership Study reveals that the average driver now spends $6,894 in hidden expenses per year on their…
How much you can lose by retiring at 62 depends on Social Security, savings growth, and pensions. Starting Social Security at 62 usually cuts monthly benefits by 25% to 30% compared to waiting until full retirement age. Retiring early also means fewer years to save and less time for investments…
Retiring early is possible for many people, but it requires smart planning and reliable income sources. Dividend-paying investments offer one path by providing consistent cash flow while still allowing your portfolio to grow. By reinvesting dividends during your working years and later using them to cover living expenses, you can…
Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates rose this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.39 percent, compared to 6.30 percent the previous week, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. Current mortgage rates Loan type Current 4 weeks ago One year ago 52-week average 52-week…
Key takeaways Fleet fuel cards are specialized credit cards designed for businesses to manage and track their fuel and vehicle maintenance expenses. Different fleet cards offer various benefits, including rewards, fuel discounts and analytics for tracking vehicle movements and expenses. Businesses can choose a card based on fleet size and…
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