Congratulations! You have just been handed your first little bundle of joy in the hospital and have embarked on the long journey of parenthood. It is a trip full of joyful experiences that make the corresponding aggravations worthwhile, and it comes with many benefits — some of which are tax-related. You can look forward to
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You want to be an energy saver, and are interested in going green as much as possible through new energy efficient appliances, home modifications, and perhaps even building a brand new energy-efficient home. Every level of the U.S. government also wants you to be an energy saver, and is willing to back it up with
D-E-B-T has become a new four-letter word for many Americans who are struggling to pay off massive amounts of consumer debt in the form of credit cards, car loans and other types of consumer credit. The amount of aggregate consumer debt in the U.S. now tops $11 trillion (yes, trillion with a “t”), according to
According to a survey from AutoMD.com, 64 percent of
American drivers are riding in cars with more than 100,000 miles on the clock.
The reason so many odometers are rolling into triple digits is simple – saving
money. According to 81 percent of the drivers surveyed, the ideal lifespan of a
car is ten years
Getting out of debt can be challenging, especially if you have little experience in managing your finances and need support. Using a counseling agency can be a great way to get debt relief. The agency can possibly negotiate reduced interest rates for you to pay back all your unsecured debt. You then make a single
When checkout clerks ask, “Paper or plastic?” they are referring to the type of bags desired, but they could be asking about your preferred method of payment. In today’s digital society, cash purchases are increasingly rare, but that does not mean it is always preferable to “Charge it.” Many studies have proven that people who
Donald Trump ran a successful Presidential campaign based in part on being unconventional and shaking up the status quo. Those are not properties valued on Wall Street, where predictability and stability are preferred.
While stocks overall have responded positively to Trump’s stated policies, individual stocks have suffered from one of his greatest sources of unpredictability
“I could have done better.” With respect to mortgage lenders, approximately one-fifth of homebuyers felt this way last year, according to the 2016 J.D. Power US Primary Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study.
The study found that 21% of all homebuyers and 27% of first-time homebuyers regretted their choice of mortgage lender. Discontent fell into two general
A report issued by the Pew Charitable Trusts in July 2015, stated that 80 percent of consumers in the U.S. have some type of debt. With auto loans and student loans both topping $1 trillion and credit card holders dealing with an average of more than $7,500 in debt, many are looking for ways to
The housing market has shown signs of strength recently, but momentum remains elusive. Will this be the year that housing breaks out? Expert opinions vary, but most see a moderating market that will continue to pose a challenge for new homebuyers.
Mortgage rates – Most estimates for mortgage rates suggest the post-election trend of sharply
Change is the word for 2017 in many respects. While the incoming Trump administration promises many changes related to taxes, there are already changes written into law that will affect your returns for the 2017 tax year (returns that you file in April 2018), and a few others affecting your 2016 taxes that take effect
You have agreed to terms with the seller for your new home, and are now preparing to enter the closing phase. Unfortunately, closing on a house is considerably more complicated than buying a new appliance, or even a car.
The closing process typically takes 30-45 days and requires several preliminary steps before the actual closing
Do you prefer not to do business with banks, even when it comes to your credit card accounts? Your local credit union may be able to help with a credit card that fits your needs perfectly.
Credit union credit cards operate in the same way as those provided by banks. Since credit unions are not-for-profit
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) may be the best resource for low-income Americans that you have never heard of. They are matching savings accounts that are targeted to promote savings in lower-income families and help them to achieve a savings goal that might otherwise be beyond their reach. Typical goals are buying a home, starting a
If you are purchasing or selling a home, a mortgage broker may suggest that you get a CLUE. That’s not an insult; rather, it’s a reference to a report from the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, otherwise known as CLUE.
What is the CLUE Insurance Report? The CLUE report is in essence a comprehensive insurance claims
It makes sense that if you have a car accident, your insurance premium could go up. What doesn’t make sense is that if you don’t have an accident, you could also end up paying more, for no reason at all.
The explanation behind such price hikes is that more and more insurance companies are adopting
When picking retirement funds, it’s easy to get confused by the different options available. For many households, saving for the next month is difficult enough, let alone thinking further into the future. To enjoy a happy and financially stable retirement, however, it’s crucial to make the right investments.
Most Americans use a combination of bonds
With U.S. mortgage rates increasing, homeowners with variable loans will be the most affected at first. The rises will have a ripple effect across the sector, however, because experts expect more increases from the Federal Reserve.
News from the mortgage sector is that average rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage have now reached 4.38 percent
According to the US Travel Insurance Association (USTIA), 17% of Americans reported that their travel plans were adversely impacted by storms and natural disasters, medical problems, or carrier-related issues. Of that group, only 22% had travel insurance to help them deal with the costs and aggravations of an impacted trip.
If you are debating whether
You have found the love of your life, but he or she is dealing with significant debt. The debt issue should be part of the overall financial discussion that every couple has – the smart ones, before they marry; the less-prepared ones as they fight about money that has already been spent.
Finances are a
Figures show that six million Americans are behind on their auto loan payments by at least 90 days. This delinquency is causing concerns for lenders. Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank say that late payment levels are now at their highest since 2010, and pressure may increase for borrowers to prove their financial circumstances.
The
The end of a year is a time to assess what happened over the past 12 months and look forward to the promise of new opportunities. That is true with most aspects of life, and your financial portfolio should be no exception. Give your holdings a year-end review and consider these strategies as you do
It may be the holiday season, but personal finance is something Americans need to take seriously throughout the year. Keeping everything in check can be challenging, but you can improve your chance of success by using financial technology, or “fintech”, including gadgets and software that make managing your finances easier.
The first aspect of personal
The end of the year is full of activities. Family, school, and work obligations can keep you running constantly, without the time to consider other important things – such as whether you have used all of the health care and dental plan benefits covered by your insurance.
Are insurance concerns not high on your holiday
It is time for year-end reviews. Is your insurance coverage included on the review list? If not, it should be. Use this insurance checklist as a starting point to review your policies and address any gaps in your coverage, as well as potential cost savings.
Homeowner’s Insurance Change in Value – If your house has
Many people might believe that to get a good credit score, they need a checking account. For households conducting most of their financial transactions with money orders and prepaid cards, it might seem essential. But financial expert Jeff Richardson says that having a checking account isn’t necessary.
Talking about the myth, Richardson said, “It’s probably
529 plans are one of the best options available to save for your child’s college education. Named after a section of the tax code, 529 plans are state-operated savings plans that provide tax benefits as long as the money is used for qualified educational purposes.
State 529 plans operate in a similar fashion to 401(k)
Fall is here, which means that it is time for the annual running of the workplace benefits gantlet. In all the rush to pick healthcare plans and sort out this HMO from that HSA, do not let your FSA get lost in the alphabet soup of offerings. That is a Flexible Spending Account, and it
You may have never heard of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), but if you are one of the dwindling number of future retirees who are covered by a defined benefit program instead of a defined contribution program, you should take the time to know a little more about the final protector of your retirement
Recent research shows that as banks step back from offering risky loans, non-banking lenders have stepped in to fill the breach. Though banks once ruled the mortgage sector in the U.S, they now have less than a 50 percent share.
According to the latest figures, the amount of mortgage dollars offered by traditional banking institutions
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