Key takeaways Decisions made by the Federal Reserve to increase the benchmark rate do not directly impact auto loans but rather the cost for banks to lend. The higher the Fed sets rates, the higher auto loan rates will likely be. The Fed made its third and last rate cut…
Key takeaways The Federal Reserve doesn’t directly set auto loan rates — but it does affect the cost for lenders to borrow money. The Federal funds rate was cut for a third and final time in 2025 and was not changed in the first meeting of 2026, so it currently…
The holiday season is a time filled with joy, celebration, and, often, a lot of expenses. As the festivities wind down, many find themselves facing the reality of depleted bank accounts, credit card debt, and the daunting task of rebuilding their financial safety nets. An emergency fund serves as a…
Money is an uncomfortable topic for many, yet it’s an important ongoing conversation to have in a relationship. Financial secrets undermine trust. And for many, it may even feel like betrayal. More than 2 in 5 U.S. adults (43%) believe keeping financial secrets is at least as bad as physical…
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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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Key takeaways Your credit card APR can go up if the prime rate changes, you paid your credit card bill late, your intro APR offer ended or your credit score dropped. If your APR increases, you can work on paying down your balance or transfer…
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2. Coaching and Tutoring Take stock of your areas of expertise – maybe you speak a second language or solving math equations comes…
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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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Key takeaways A backup offer is an offer that’s submitted even though the seller has already accepted an offer from another buyer. Accepting a backup offer as a seller means you have a fall-back in case the buyer in first position falls through. Making a backup offer as a buyer…
Real estate in general — and buying or selling a home in particular — is rife with jargon and slang that’s probably unfamiliar to many. Here’s a glossary of some of the most common terms, with their real estate definitions. General real estate definitions Closing costs: Homebuyers and sellers both…
Key takeaways Homeowners insurance policies typically include coverage for personal property like jewelry, but the limits are usually quite low. You may be able to increase your personal property coverage limit or add scheduled personal property coverage if needed. A scheduled personal property endorsement or a standalone jewelry insurance policy…
Key takeaways If you die earlier than expected as a life-only annuity policyholder, you could risk failing to recoup your premium payments to the insurance company. You can mitigate this risk by adding things like death or survivor benefits to your annuity at the start of the contract. Make sure…
Key Insights Interest rates directly affect borrowing, saving, and investing decisions. Higher rates make loans more expensive but reward savers. Mortgage payments, credit card debt, and access to credit can shift quickly. Staying informed and adjusting your strategy helps protect your financial health. American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) can guide…
The S&P 500 index has long been one of the most effective wealth-building tools for everyday investors, compounding steadily over the past decade. While it hadn’t enjoyed the jaw-dropping performance of a single breakout stock like Nvidia (NVDA), the index has delivered steady growth — making it one of the simplest…
On Sept. 17, 2025, the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee is likely to lower its benchmark interest rate, the federal funds rate, by 25 basis points (a quarter of a percentage point). Assuming that happens, it will be the first change to the federal funds rate in 2025. Inflation…
If you’ve ever stood in the checkout line at a brick-and-mortar retailer and been offered a discount on your purchase by applying for a credit card, the cashier was trying to sell you on a retail card. One version of retail credit cards are store credit cards, which are only…
While the average credit card interest rate has dropped slightly and experts muse about Fed rate cuts this fall, there’s one metric we can count on — astronomical retail card interest rates. The 2025 Bankrate Retail Cards Study reveals the average retail card APR remains above 30 percent, which is…
Almost one year ago, the U.S. economy looked like it was teetering on the edge of a recession. Hiring was faltering, unemployment was rising and annual revisions to employment tallies showed that the job market was in worse condition than previously estimated. Realizing the economy wasn’t as strong as they…
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