The U.S. public safety net can be a catch-22: These services act as a lifeline for people with disabilities, but it bars people from meaningfully saving, investing and building personal wealth. Money stashed in a retirement account or brokerage account counts against the small, strict asset limits imposed by certain…
Key Takeaways Focus on essential needs like food, housing, and utilities while reducing unnecessary purchases. Establish a structured budget to prioritize needs vs wants and stick to it. Consider community resources and government assistance that provide help with food, housing, and utilities. Investigate professional credit counseling from a non-profit agency…
Sarah-Jane Joel/Getty Images Key takeaways A deed of trust is a legal agreement used in real estate transactions in which a third party — the trustee — holds the title to the property until the borrower repays the mortgage. A mortgage is a similar agreement, but it doesn’t involve a…
Dependent life insurance is a type of life insurance you may not have encountered, but which could be good to investigate. Life insurance is designed to provide financial resources in the event that the insured person — often the policyholder — dies while the policy is in force. Dependent life…
Trending
Spotlight This Week
More Articles
Personal Finance
Many people in economics, finance, business, and regular consumer life have been waiting for the forecast inflation, the tariff shock,…
San Francisco-based Chime, the largest digital bank in America, wants to go public at a price between $24 and $26…
The Trump administration is clamping down on federal student loan defaults; at the same time, Republican lawmakers in Congress just…
A practice of Elon Musk and Tesla’s board raises questions about the company’s governance and the possible low valuation that…
Featured Articles
Five years ago, Taylor Gothard, 41, and his spouse found themselves staring at $100,000 in credit card debt spread out over 17 maxed-out credit cards. When it comes to debt like this, they’re not alone. Nearly 40 percent of cardholders have maxed out a credit…
Dept Managmnt
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate When you’re working hard to build financial security, deciding to spend thousands of dollars on a…
Banking
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK JPMorgan Chase notified fintech data aggregators that, starting later this year, it plans to charge for access…
Credit Cards
All News
Credit union credit cards can offer lower interest rates and unique benefits compared to cards from larger banks. Many of them still include rewards cards, and if you’re in the stages of building credit you can find some decent secured cards. We’ve compiled a list of the credit union cards…
Key takeaways If you’re living with a disability, you can list your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) as income on your mortgage applications. This makes it easier to meet a lender’s income requirements and qualify for a mortgage — even if you aren’t receiving employment…
Key takeaways When you agree to purchase a home, one of the first steps you’ll likely need to check off the list is putting earnest money in escrow — a signal to the seller that you’re committed to getting the deal done. A third party will control the escrow account,…
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…
If you earn income from rental properties, royalties, partnerships, S corporations, estates or trusts, you’ll likely need to submit Schedule E with your tax return. This supplemental federal income tax form, officially titled “Supplemental Income and Loss,” is where you report income beyond your regular wages or salary. Because of…
Social Security is a key source of income for many retirees. With that in mind, it’s useful to know what the average Social Security check may be at age 63 so you can better plan for retirement. It’s also important to understand that while you can begin collecting Social Security…
Key takeaways Homestead exemptions offer exceptions to financial claims on your primary residence. Homeowners filing for bankruptcy may be able to use a homestead exemption to shield the home’s equity from creditors. Similarly, homestead tax exemptions can help reduce the amount of property taxes owed on the home. As the…
Key takeaways You can deduct traditional IRA CD contributions from your taxes if your income falls within certain limits. For 2025, a single person with a workplace retirement plan can deduct contributions if they earn between $79,000-$89,000. IRA CDs offer guaranteed returns plus tax benefits, but they often won’t…
Cross-border tax planning between Canada and the U.S. will require you to manage income, assets and residency to avoid double taxation and meet rules in both countries. Key differences in retirement accounts, capital gains and estate taxes can create issues without careful planning. Tax treaties help, but dual filers and…
Editor's Pick
