Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate The consequences of a speeding ticket in the Golden State extend far beyond the initial fine. In addition to penalties ranging from $35 to $200, California drivers see their average full coverage car insurance premiums jump by $1,215 per year after a…
Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amerant Bank, America First Credit Union, American Airlines Federal Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Apple Bank, Axos Bank, Banesco USA, Bank of America, Bank of Hope, Bank5 Connect, BankPurely, BankUnited Direct, Barclays Bank, Bask Bank, BMO Alto, BMO Bank, Boeing Employees’ Credit Union, Bread…
Key takeaways You can responsibly use a credit card for large purchases if you pay off the balance before it starts accruing interest. Using a credit card to pay for large but predictable expenses — like groceries, travel and appliances — can help you earn rewards and access additional benefits.…
Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images New technology has changed the way many people get around. Ridesharing has become an incredibly popular transportation option, and that’s especially true in big cities where Uber and Lyft drivers are easy to find. With just your smartphone and a few taps of your finger, you can…
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
Key takeaways Mutual funds can be a great way to invest for long-term goals such as retirement. There are thousands of mutual funds focused on different asset classes, such as stocks and bonds. Index funds are popular because of their low cost and diversification benefits.…
Dept Managmnt
Experience with the Program: How Debt Management Helped a First-Time Renter Katie’s journey shows clearly how debt management helped her regain control over…
Banking
These entrepreneurs, traders and investors are making an outsized impact in fintech, crypto and traditional financial services.By Jeff Kauflin, Hank Tucker and Nina…
Credit Cards
All News
Propaganda I’m not falling for: Prime Day. Amazon’s biannual bonanza is back on Oct. 7-8. Cue: influencer hauls, magazine listicles and even friends inundating us with bargain FOMO. There’s nothing wrong with getting a great price on a purchase you’d make anyway. But at its core, Prime Day is marketing…
Key takeaways Predatory cards are often viewed as a last resort for those with the worst credit scores. These cards are known for sky-high interest rates, lower credit limits and myriad fees. Stronger credit-building options exist, even for those with poor credit. Help is available for those unable to pay…
While some retirement plans allow in-service withdrawals, most discourage early access with penalties, taxes and missed growth potential. Before making a move that could undermine your long-term retirement goals, it helps to know the rules. A financial advisor can help you balance today’s needs with your long-term retirement goals.Can You…
Using a 401(k) loan for home improvement may feel like an easy solution to unexpected expenses. After all, you’re borrowing from yourself. There’s no credit check, and the interest you pay goes back into your retirement account. While the convenience may be appealing, the long-term financial trade-offs deserve your consideration.…
When a parent passes away, one of the biggest financial questions families face is whether their children can receive any of their parent’s pension benefits. Unlike life insurance or retirement accounts, pensions have stricter rules that often limit who can inherit them, and children are rarely at the top of…
Testing Financial Independence – What Have You Got to Lose? Testing financial independence through a “trial run” before committing to a lease helps young adults understand the real cost of living on their own if they’ve never lived without a roommate or outside of the home they grew up in.…
Unlike traditional loans, a 401(k) loan is tied to your employer-sponsored retirement plan. That means your repayment options and timeline may change significantly once you are no longer with the company. If you fail to repay the loan within the specified period, it could be treated as a taxable distribution,…
If you default on a 401(k) loan, the balance is usually treated as a taxable distribution. This may result in income taxes and, if you are under 59½, a 10% early withdrawal penalty. It can also reduce the amount you have available for retirement in the future. A financial advisor…
Planning how and when to withdraw money from your retirement accounts can have a big impact on how much of your savings you actually get to keep. This is especially true with 457(b) plans, which are common for public sector employees. While these accounts offer unique flexibility when compared with…
Medicare premiums are based on taxable income and a sudden increase can raise your costs. So if you are considering a Roth conversion as part of a long-term strategy to lower retirement taxes, this could raise your premiums in the year after the conversion. However, you should also note that…
Editor's Pick







































