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The strong dollar is making a foreign vacation look attractive, but recent terror attacks in Nice, Paris, Brussels, and other parts of the world can make travelers understandably nervous about committing thousands of dollars in tickets, reservations, and deposits to head overseas. If you do end up canceling a planned trip because of safety concerns,
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When most of us think of mobile homes, we don’t think of high-end features, gazebos, and a deck featuring a stunning ocean view. We also don’t think of them being worth $5.3 million. Welcome to Malibu, where upper-end mobile homes can be built out like luxury beachfront homes of traditional construction while offering the same
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Did you ever stare at the inside of your luxurious Bentley automobile and think, “Something’s missing, but I can’t quite put my finger on it?” We haven’t, either. For fun, let’s assume you did manage to buy a Bentley. As long as you’re dreaming, why not make it the Bentley Bentayga SUV? Bentley refers to
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Car insurance rates can vary so much by area that they seem almost random. However, they are very carefully calculated based on the likelihood of paying out a claim and how much that claim is likely to be on average. In addition, auto insurance is regulated at the state level, and with local rules and
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When travelers use credit cards in other countries, they are generally charged a foreign transaction fee. This covers the extra costs of transferring money from a U.S. credit card company to the business in the other country, including the exchange fee. Many different credit card companies are now dropping this fee. According to a 2016
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There have been lots of not-so-nice adjectives directed at the payday loan industry. Add “sinful” to the list, according to a 2016 survey from LifeWay Research sponsored by Faith for Just Lending. The study included 1,000 respondents across thirty states who indicated a Christian religious preference. The majority of the states were chosen based on
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Many businesses make use of credit cards for daily purchases, and some new small business owners even finance their entire business on credit cards in the beginning. A business can make use of various reward points and other perks to save money and build up its credit score, but there are some downsides to using
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Today’s keyword for equities is “volatile.” Great Britain’s vote to leave the European Union (the “Brexit”) is just the most recent example of sharp drops followed by a relatively rapid rally. Investors are often tempted to overreact, fearing that they will lose out if they do not act immediately. For nervous investors, navigating volatile markets
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According to a survey by the Pepperdine Private Capital Access Index, small businesses are planning to expand this year. The survey found that 83% of respondents said they believe their small business will expand in 2016. Many added that they expect their total annual revenue to increase by an average of nine percent over the
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What does it mean when a bond has a negative return? It simply means that a bond is worth less at maturity than its value at purchase. As strange as it may sound, negative nominal (face value) bond yields have occurred in the past. Investors can accept such a rate to maintain a low risk
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There are zillions of investing strategies. Some good, some bad, and some are just…. Everybody knows why they are investing. Correct? Well, let’s invert this and ask ourselves what efficient investing can give us in return. This is where the 4 M’s can drastically improve your net worth if you or whoever manages your money
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Although government bond yields dropped in the past week, lenders have continued to hold mortgage interest rates steady. On Thursday, the 10-year yield on bonds dropped to 1.387 percent, while the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 3.41 percent. The difference of 2.02 percent is higher than it has been since the
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Many Americans assume that their financial advisor is legally obligated to act in the best interest of the consumer and disclose any conflicts of interest. However, that is only true for those who are held to a fiduciary standard, such as Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) or Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs). Brokers and other agents may
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Consumers using their credit card abroad and who then have some kind of financial problem may get help through their card’s travel insurance. While not all credit card companies provide this type of insurance to their consumers, many do. Those who need to use their card’s travel insurance may find that coverage is quite limited,
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Americans who have a down payment of around 20 percent or less may have to get mortgage insurance to qualify for the loan. However, some lenders do not explain what this is, and some borrowers walk away because they don’t believe they should buy mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance provides lenders with a guarantee if the
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You have sustained an injury in a slip and fall accident away from your own property. Who is liable for your medical costs? Are you liable, is the property owner liable, or is there a middle ground? Slip and fall cases are sometimes complex and hard to predict, since they are regulated at the state
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Jumbo mortgages made at the six largest U.S. banks accounted for 24 percent of all mortgages in 2015. That’s an increase from 21 percent in 2014. All of these jumbo mortgages were larger than $417,000. Since 2008, they have become more popular with the larger banks, including Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, Citigroup, PNC
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One of the consequences of the foreclosure crisis is that mortgage companies were told they needed to be more proactive in contacting and helping delinquent borrowers. However, this comes into conflict with another mandate from the administration: reducing the number of calls that consumers receive on their cellphones. With the two mandates in conflict, the
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Mortgage relief scams have become more common as of late, but a number of homeowners are unaware of these fraudulent activities and their consequences. These scams begin when the scammer calls a homeowner and claims they can help the consumer negotiate a loan modification or some other type of foreclosure relief with the homeowner’s mortgage
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Life insurance has grown in complexity over the years and, as a result, life insurance taxation issues have become equally complex. While you should consult with a tax professional to verify the tax status of any life insurance payout you receive, we can give you some general rules and guidelines to consider. Pre-Tax or Post-Tax
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By: Alex Reichmann, Counterfeit Money Expert and CEO of iTestCash.com According to the United States Department of the Treasury, about $70 million in counterfeit notes are being circulated in the U.S. with one out of every 10,000 notes being fake. The thing about counterfeit money is that it is not easy to keep track
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Borrowers may file for bankruptcy when they no longer have the funds to pay their debts. While this may come from taking out too many credit cards and not properly budgeting, it may also occur due to a sudden illness, becoming unemployed, or any other type of unexpected financial situation. When an individual files for
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Private-sector pensions are a vanishing breed. Defined-benefit pension plans are being replaced by defined-contribution plans such as 401(k)s, mainly because pension plans are costly for employers to fund and maintain. As a result, employers are beginning to offer lump-sum payout options to their retirees to replace the traditional lifetime monthly payments of a pension. Once
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