Whether you owe taxes or receive a refund comes down to how much tax was withheld from your paychecks, how your income changed over the year, and whether you still qualify for the credits and deductions you may have relied on in the past. If too little tax is withheld…
For most of your working career, the focus of your retirement planning is on accumulating savings and investing that money wisely. As you approach retirement, more attention will go to estimating your income after you stop working, and the kind of lifestyle that this will support. The way to do…
Photography by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate The tax deadline will be here before you know it. The good news is that there are a few different options to file your taxes for free in 2026 — and many of them offer guided support to make sure you file your…
Key takeaways Figuring your AGI is a crucial step on the path to calculating your taxable income and, in turn, your tax bill. Your AGI determines your eligibility for a variety of tax deductions and tax credits. (Sometimes, your modified adjusted gross income comes into play — more on that…
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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…
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Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates dipped again this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.18%, down from 6.24% last week and the lowest level since September 2022, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. Current mortgage rates Loan type…
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Tip 3: Learn How to Create a Better ‘To Do’ List When we make resolutions, we tend to resolve to do certain things.…
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These entrepreneurs, traders and investors are making an outsized impact in fintech, crypto and traditional financial services.By Jeff Kauflin, Hank Tucker and Nina…
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Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate Key takeaways AVM stands for automated valuation model, a computer algorithm that uses available data to estimate a home’s value. Different AVMs might provide different estimates for the exact same home, depending on how they’re programmed. A professional home appraisal will typically estimate…
So, how much does a wedding cost? The answer is $30,000 for the ceremony and reception—and bump that number to $40,900 if you add in the engagement ring and the honeymoon.1,2 Get expert money advice to reach your money goals faster! What all exactly does that total include? Honestly, the…
Key takeaways Building credit can be daunting, especially if you’ve had bumps in your credit history. You can use AI to help you understand and spot errors on your credit report, negotiate and repay debt and improve your credit score. Once you have good or excellent credit, you’re more likely…
Vladimir Vladimirov/Getty Images The year 2025 has seen nothing but tailwinds for the emerging cryptocurrency industry. From the passing of the GENIUS Act, to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disbanding its crypto enforcement unit, crypto investors have plenty of reason for renewed confidence. But the rest of the year…
There she is! Walking toward me! What do I say? Want to build a non-anxious life? Learn how in Dr. John Delony’s new book. We’ve all been there—not knowing what to say during a social situation. And in this mindlessly digital age, live, in-person exchanges seem rarer (and harder) than…
Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates fell this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.38 percent, compared to 6.55 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…
The highest court in the land said nope to President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive $430 billion of student loan debt. In a 6-to-3 decision on June 30, the Supreme Court struck down Biden’s student loan debt relief program, which would have forgiven up to $20,000 in student loans per…
MoMo Productions/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways You can check the value of your savings bond through the TreasuryDirect website. Even if you have paper savings bonds, you can check your value online, as long as you have the issue date, bond series and denomination with it. To get…
Everyone has spending limits—even the government. Believe it or not, though the American government has a habit of spending like it’s going out of style, there’s actually a limit to the amount of debt it can take on. This limit is called the debt ceiling. And since 1960, the government…
Applying for a mortgage can feel like a daunting process, one that comes with lots of paperwork and a long list of mortgage terminology that you’ll need to understand. This guide covering the most common mortgage terms can help you sort through it all and navigate the process with confidence. …
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