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…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways Lenders calculate how much interest you’ll pay with each payment in two main ways: simple or on an amortization schedule. Short-term loans often have simple interest. Larger loans, like mortgages, personal loans and most auto loans, have an amortization schedule. The…
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…
Personal Finance
New York startup Casap has raised $25 million in new funding to help banks tackle the thorny problem of credit…
Many people in economics, finance, business, and regular consumer life have been waiting for the forecast inflation, the tariff shock,…
President Trump’s 2026 budget would freeze spending for many services for older adults, deeply cut others, continue his efforts to…
The Trump administration is clamping down on federal student loan defaults; at the same time, Republican lawmakers in Congress just…
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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…
Dept Managmnt
Key takeaways It may be difficult to obtain a new loan after you enter a debt management plan, especially if you have recently…
Banking
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK In 2022, President Biden signed an executive order directing the government to develop a framework for digital…
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Investing in mutual funds is one of the easiest ways to diversify your portfolio without having to determine which individual stocks and bonds to buy or sell. However, it’s important to understand that certain mutual funds come with what’s called a sales load. When creating a portfolio, understanding the difference…
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images Key takeaways If you’ve had banking issues in the past, such as having an unpaid negative balance on your account or have a history of writing bad checks, you may not get approved for a checking account at a new institution. Similar to a credit report, you…
SDI Productions/Getty Images Key takeaways A VA certificate of eligibility (COE) is evidence that you meet the service requirements for a VA loan. Having a COE does not guarantee loan approval. You’ll also need to meet credit and debt-to-income guidelines, which vary by lender. COEs can be obtained by active-duty…
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/Contributor/Getty Images The world’s largest stock exchanges offer thousands of stocks for investors to trade with trillions of dollars in listed stocks. The ranks of the biggest exchanges include those in the United States, Europe, China, Japan and India, with an exchange needing a market cap of at…
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images Key takeaways The Bank of America travel rewards program allows cardholders to redeem points for statement credits to cover travel-related purchases, making for a simple, flexible travel rewards option. Bank of America travel rewards cards have various benefits and perks, but may not be the best option…
Key takeaways There are a lot of money tasks you can handle on your own. But not everyone is comfortable navigating the more complex, technical or anxiety-inducing areas of financial planning. A financial advisor can offer personalized guidance and actionable strategies to help you achieve your goals. The best time…
“Insurance carriers are, for the most part, for-profit companies,” I declare to my risk management and insurance students. “They are allowed to make a profit. Does this shock you?” Most students are surprised — especially after seeing headlines about insurance companies earning billions while raising policyholders’ premiums to record highs.…
Key takeaways Business loans require significant documentation about your business formation, financial statements and possibly a business plan Both personal and business finances are reviewed Lenders typically take a few days to weeks to process your information, depending on the lender and type of loan Every business loan requires you…
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act interest paid on certain car loans would become tax-deductible. If you purchased a personal-use vehicle after December 31, 2024, and financed it with a qualified loan, you may be able to deduct up to $10,000 in interest per year through 2028, even if…
Key takeaways Crowdfunding for your small business allows you to fundraise money through individual investors interested in your project You can use different types of crowdfunding, including donation, reward, debt and equity crowdfunding Depending on the platform, you may or may not have to pay back the funds, or you…