Articles

Investment

What Are Short-Term vs. Long-Term Capital Gains?

December 19, 2023

Short-term vs. long-term Capital gains: Whenever you sell something for more than you paid for it, you generate a profit. Uncle Sam wants a cut

Empower Review: Paid vs. Free Financial Tools

December 19, 2023

Empower (formerly Personal Capital) provides portfolio-building and tax optimization strategies tailored for high-net-worth individuals seeking personalized guidance from financial advisors. The company also offers a

What a Target Date Fund Is and How It Can Help You Save for Retirement

December 14, 2023

When it comes to saving for retirement, one of the biggest hurdles you might face is figuring out what to invest in. Some investors prefer

What Are Dividends and How Do They Work?

December 6, 2023

One of the best ways to build long-term wealth is to invest our money in dividend-paying stocks in the stock market rather than stashing it

What Are Bonds and How Do They Work?

December 2, 2023

Bonds are kind of like the investment world’s version of an IOU. They are a form of debt that a government or a company owes

What Is Value Investing in Stocks?

November 27, 2023

Do you like to check out the clearance rack when you go shopping? Are you always hunting for a good bargain? If that’s you, value

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Mortgage

How Much House Can I Afford?

December 21, 2023

A home is often the largest purchase you will make. And some of us may spend decades in a single home, with multiple generations of

How Long Is a Preapproval for a Mortgage Good For?

December 18, 2023

Buying a home is likely the largest purchase you will ever make and having a mortgage loan is often necessary to make becoming a homeowner

What Is a Mortgage Broker?

December 12, 2023

Taking your first steps into home ownership is an exhilarating, life-changing moment. But to get there, you’ll need a team of experts helping you through

What Do You Need to Know About Mortgages?

November 22, 2023

If you’ve never purchased a home or property, here’s a primer on how the process works. The majority of homebuyers take on a mortgage loan.

What Is Escrow on a Mortgage and How Does It Work?

November 19, 2023

Whether it’s your first time buying a home or you’re putting your current home on the market, there are a lot of unfamiliar terms associated

How to Get a Mortgage: 7 Simple Steps

November 13, 2023

In many ways, applying for a mortgage is like taking the “final exam” of personal finances. You’ll be “graded” on things like your credit score,

Student Debt

The SAVE Plan for Student Loans: How it Works

February 22, 2024

The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) program was launched by the Biden administration in 2023 to help federal student loan borrowers save money on

How to Refinance Student Loans

December 10, 2023

If you're juggling multiple student loans, consider refinancing your student loans to consolidate payments in one place. Explore lower rates online for potential savings. Before

How Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Works

December 7, 2023

You might be able to have your student loans forgiven, which can save your tens of thousands of dollars and help you become debt free.

How Does Student Loan Interest Work?

December 6, 2023

Just like your mortgage, a student loan charges interest on your loan balance. How much you pay in interest depends on your loan type, your

How to Consolidate Student Loans (Federal and Private)

November 30, 2023

Looking to simplify your student loans by consolidating all of your loans into a single monthly payment? You may be able to lower your monthly

How to Apply for a Student Loan (Federal or Private)

November 28, 2023

Student loans can help you cover the costs of college, including tuition, fees, books, room & board, and meal plans. There are several types of

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Savings

How Much Should You Save a Month?

November 21, 2023

You sat down and thought carefully about your financial goals — go you! You now know what you’re working towards and how much you need

Budgeting

Car sales showroom and person holding car key in hands

4 Ways Car Dealers Are Ripping You Off

March 8, 2024

If you’re thinking of buying a car in 2024, try to hold off until July 30. That’s when the Federal Trade Commission’s new CARS rule

Woman in business attire sitting at a table and negotiating with another person.

How to Negotiate Salary According to Business and HR Pros

February 26, 2024

A February 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that 60% of U.S. workers chose not to push for better pay when they were

Best Budgeting Apps in March 2024

February 12, 2024

If the idea of following a budget makes you want to hide under a rock, you’re not alone. Thankfully, following a budget does not have

How to Negotiate Medical Bills, Step-by-Step

December 16, 2023

We all know medical bills can be expensive. You've probably been hit by a mild shock at least once when looking at the total amount

How Should Married Couples Split Finances?

December 5, 2023

Figuring out how married couples should split finances during their marriage can be more complex. Some couples pool everything together in joint accounts to share

How to Read a Pay Stub

November 28, 2023

You probably noticed that your $4,000 paycheck ends up becoming ~$3,000 by the time it hits your bank account. This is because your earnings are

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Retirement

What Are Required Minimum Distributions?

December 17, 2023

When you’re ready to retire you might want to hold off on immediately withdrawing money from your account. After all, you should let it grow

How Much You Need to Retire: The Ultimate Guide

November 11, 2023

How much do I need to retire? It’s one of the most important questions to answer in your financial life. The answer to this question

What Is a Traditional IRA and How Does It Work?

November 9, 2023

Retirement savings accounts are one of the best ways to save for retirement. The easiest way to get started is by investing in a company-sponsored

What Is a 401(k)? Comparing Roth vs. Traditional Plans

October 30, 2023

Retirement planning can be complicated. You’ve probably heard of a 401(k) plan — but do you know about all of its benefits? And what type

What Is a Roth IRA?

October 27, 2023

A Roth IRA is a type of retirement account that can help you grow your money while reducing the taxes you’ll pay later in life.

How to Save for Retirement

October 17, 2023

We can all agree that saving for retirement is important. But it’s hard to know where to get started. If you are just starting to

Insurance

A fluffy cat's paw with blue medical bandage

Embrace Pet Insurance Review: Comprehensive Dog and Cat Coverage

March 22, 2024

If you’re a dog or cat owner, you know what a financial commitment having a pet can be — especially if your furry friend gets sick

Best Pet Insurance in March 2024

March 4, 2024

Pet insurance policies function similarly to a human’s health insurance plan, only they’re designed for dogs, cats, and other domestic animals. The best pet insurance

Side view portrait of a serious woman comparing documents.

Policygenius Review: Will It Really Save You Time and Money?

February 16, 2024

It’s a good idea to protect both your assets and your loved ones with insurance as your life evolves — after all, you never know

Man stroking an old, loyal Labrador retriever on an autumn sunny day.

Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

February 14, 2024

As a loving pet owner, you want to ensure your pet remains happy and healthy. But unfortunately, no matter how wonderfully you take care of

What Is an HSA and How Does It Work?

December 7, 2023

A Health Savings Account, or HSA, is an amazing tool that offers a host of benefits — and they’re not all related to healthcare. Getting

What Is Disability Insurance and Is It Worth Buying?

December 5, 2023

When you're young, it's easy to assume you’ll always have good health. However, it’s only when you get sick that you realize you're not invincible.

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Debt

How Does Debt Consolidation Work and Is It Right for You?

November 1, 2023

Between credit cards, auto loans, personal loans, and other debts, you might be juggling multiple payments to multiple lenders. It can become difficult to keep

What Is a Debt Snowball?

October 22, 2023

If you live in the tropics and have never known the joy of a good winter romp, the meaning of the personal finance metaphor “debt

How to Do a Balance Transfer the Smart Way

October 21, 2023

The right balance transfer promotion can help you consolidate multiple balances into one, which simplifies your financial to-do list. More importantly, it can save you

How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

October 8, 2023

Struggling with credit card debt? You’re not alone. Americans are now more than $1 trillion in credit card debt. Combined with record-high interest rates, digging

Banking

Discover Cashback Debit Review: Earn Cashback Without a Credit Card

March 18, 2024

If you don’t carry a large balance in your checking account and want to earn cashback rewards on your purchases without using a credit card,

Best Checking Accounts in March 2024

February 29, 2024

A good checking account should offer no account fees, access to ATMs everywhere you need them, and super-simple mobile banking so you can manage your

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts in March 2024

February 20, 2024

A savings account is the perfect place to keep your money safe and easily accessible. But the problem with traditional savings accounts is they offer

What Is Plaid and Is it Safe to Use?

December 13, 2023

Unless you still pay for things with paper checks and physical cash, you’ve probably had to connect your bank accounts with a digital financial service

Credit Card vs. Debit Card: Which Is Better?

November 16, 2023

Next time you buy something you’ll probably pull a plastic card out of your wallet instead of a wad of cash. Depending on your preference,

How Many Bank Accounts Should I Have?

November 14, 2023

Conventional wisdom holds that you should have at least two bank accounts — one for checking and one for savings. However, some consumers might be

Side Hustle

How to Start an Etsy Shop: Tips for Beginners

December 20, 2023

Starting an Etsy shop? If you've been thinking about making extra income or transitioning from a 9-to-5 job, you're not alone! Etsy, a popular online

How to Start an LLC: Costs, Benefits and Specific Steps

December 11, 2023

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) are gaining traction, especially on social media, with a notable surge in growth. Explore how to start an LLC, with Delaware

How to Become a Freelancer: Side Hustle Pro Tips

November 26, 2023

An estimated 39% of the U.S. workforce currently freelances in some way, shape, or form, according to freelancing platform Upwork. The 100 million American workers