Christina Zelow Lundquist/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways A cash-out refinance replaces your current mortgage with a new, bigger one. The borrower receives the difference between the two balances in cash. The terms of your refinanced mortgage might differ from your original loan, including a new interest…
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…
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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 The NCUA (National Credit Union Administration) insures credit union deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category. NCUA insurance provides the same protection as FDIC insurance at banks. Both are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.…
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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 You can calculate discretionary income using a simple formula, and that allows you to prepare for payment changes as situations and finances change. Discretionary income is the amount of income you have leftover after paying for necessities. Your discretionary income is used to calculate your payments on an…
When I finished graduate school, I had $72,000 in student loans weighing me down. But less than a year after graduation, I’d paid it all off, thanks to the debt snowball method and some hefty determination. It was aggressive and at times downright exhausting, but I’ve stayed debt-free for years…
Real estate is still one of the most reliable ways to build wealth in America. It’s also a popular choice among investors, with 24 percent reporting that real estate was their preferred long-term investment, according to a 2025 Bankrate survey. But in recent years, a wave of real estate investing…
Key Takeaways Debt Settlement Drawbacks: Often leads to high fees, unfinished results, and credit score damage leaving consumers still stuck in debt. Advantages of a Debt Management Plan (DMP): A Debt Management Plan with ACCC reduces interest rates, consolidates payments, and provides a clear path to debt freedom. Empowering Personalized…
Key takeaways Claiming Social Security at 62 cuts your monthly check by up to 30 percent, while waiting until 70 boosts it by as much as 32 percent above your full retirement benefit. For anyone born in 1960 or later, the full retirement age is 67. Earlier generations have slightly…
Key takeaways 7(a) and 504 loans remain a popular funding tool for businesses across industry, revenue and size categories The SBA weekly lending report provides valuable information on loan funding based on specific demographic data The majority of 7(a) loans for working capital are under $50,000, while the majority of…
Key takeaways Annuities provide steady income and can complement Social Security and pensions in retirement. Each annuity type has trade-offs, so it’s important to understand the pros and cons of fixed, variable and indexed annuities before choosing. Customization adds costs. Riders like death benefits or long-term care coverage can make…
Crypto charts and all the data that they offer may be confusing and complex at first glance, especially for new investors. But they present information in a systematic way to help traders get an overview of how a cryptocurrency has performed over a specific period of time. So crypto charts…
Drazen Zigic / Shutterstock While on duty, members of the military are protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), a federal law designed to provide financial and legal protections to active-duty military members, reservists and members of the National Guard. They also get some of the best credit card…
shapecharge/Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate You’ve carefully planned for retirement and secured a steady stream of income with an annuity. But then life throws a curveball at you. Maybe your dream vacation home goes on the market, an unexpected medical emergency or you need to help a child with…
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