The Funds Pros

AsiaVision/Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways An LLC loan is no different than other types of business loans, except they’re aimed at businesses organized as limited liability companies. LLC loans can be used for various short- and long-term costs, including funding startup costs, equipment and inventory purchases, working…

Your 401(k) plays a key role in helping you save for retirement, but life events can affect how much you’re able to contribute. A raise, job change, or unexpected expense might lead you to consider adjusting your contributions. Many employer-sponsored plans allow changes throughout the year, though specific rules and…

For years, many part-time workers were excluded from 401(k) participation, leaving them with fewer ways to save through an employer. As flexible schedules and gig work have become more common, this gap has affected a growing share of the workforce. Recent federal law changes now expand access to employer-sponsored retirement…

At age 70, retirement is no longer a distant goal—it’s your current reality. Whether you’re newly retired or reevaluating your strategy, this is an important time to ensure your savings last. While there is no single best retirement portfolio for a 70-year-old, building a portfolio that suits your needs involves…

The final six months before retirement are some of the most important. During this window, you’ll want to fine-tune your income plan. This means you should assess your tax exposure, make sure your investment mix supports your goals and double-check your paperwork. Even if you’ve been planning for years, the…

Buying a home is an exhilarating and exhausting process, one that tests the wits and resolve of even experienced buyers. And some of the very people you turn to for guidance might not always have your best interests in mind. Some of the industry’s sales tactics can make it unnecessarily…

We all know that inflation has greatly affected our purchasing power in recent years. Prices have risen an average of 22.7 percent since the beginning of 2021 and wages have grown 21.5 percent, according to Bankrate’s 2025 Wage to Inflation Index. This is a major contributor to the low consumer…

Key Takeaways           October is Financial Planning Month: a reminder to take charge of your finances, review debt, and set long-term goals. Multiple debt relief options exist: including debt management plans, debt consolidation, debt settlement, and bankruptcy; each comes with benefits and risks. Nonprofit credit counseling offers safe solutions: organizations like…

Congratulations! Becoming debt-free is a game-changer. Making that last payment on credit cards, student loans or whatever debt burden you carried must have been a huge weight off your shoulders. After having paid off $300,000 of debt, I know that feeling well. But when the celebratory vibes wear off and…

Sometimes, two seemingly incongruous things can be true at the same time. For example, it’s true that U.S. homeowners have amassed an extraordinary amount of home equity these days — roughly $34.5 trillion. And according to ATTOM’s most recent home equity report, more than 47 percent of homeowners are “equity…