Credit/Debt/Loans How a Home-Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Can Hurt You If you don't manage your home-equity line of credit prudently, a HELOC can become very expensive and get you into financial trouble.
Credit/Debt/Loans Should You Lease or Buy Your Next Car? Many car shoppers are stymied by the decision to lease or buy. Let's see if we can help you with the decision.
Interesting Safe Deposit Boxes: Store This, Not That A safe deposit box (or safety deposit box) is an individually secured container — usually a metal box — that lives in the vault of a federally insured bank or credit union. Here's what (and what not) to put in it.
Insurance Tips and Ideas for Cutting Car Insurance Costs Car insurance rates are on the rise across the country. The good news is that there are things that you can do to minimize increases and/or reduce the burden on your wallet.
Credit/Debt/Loans Mortgage Interest Rates Buying a home with a mortgage is probably the largest financial transaction you will enter into. Here's what you need to know about mortgage interest rates.
Credit/Debt/Loans Are Credit Karma Scores Real and Accurate? Only you can evaluate whether getting a free credit score is really worth giving up your personal information, especially in an era when hackers are alarmingly successful at getting their hands on that personal data.
Credit/Debt/Loans What Happens If You Don't Pay Your Student Loans? Most student loans are guaranteed by the federal government, and the feds have powers about which debt collectors can only dream. Here's why you should pay your student loans.
Credit/Debt/Loans Credit, Debit and Charge Cards From a financial perspective, debit and charge cards are structured so that they pose little danger to your financial well-being. Learn how to use the right plastic money.
Credit/Debt/Loans Reverse Mortgages When used properly, it can be an effective financial planning solution. If you are approaching or over age 62, you should learn more about reverse mortgages.
Credit/Debt/Loans Freezing Your Credit File Now you can freeze your credit file for free. Learn about this new tool to manage your credit.
Social Security Four Unusual Ways to Boost Social Security Benefits There are little-known strategies available that may help you decide when you or your spouse should apply. Here's how to get more from Social Security.
Medicare What Medicare Covers While Traveling There are only a few instances where Medicare will cover services obtained in a foreign country. Here's what you need to know about Medicare when traveling.
Taxes Property Taxes (And How To Lower Them) Property taxes are a major source of income for the city, county, and state governments, and other entities such as school districts. Knowing more about these taxes may help you to lower yours.
Taxes Qualified Charitable Distributions If you are over the age of 70-1/2, there is a way to reduce your taxable income, and therefore the taxes you pay, by taking advantage of the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA account.
Retirement The Average Retirement Savings By Age A survey of the value of retirement accounts by age group. How do your savings compare to your peer group?
Interesting The Top 5 Financial Mistakes Millennials Make The millennial experience with the 2008 financial crisis may have given them a perspective that can be detrimental to achieving any long-term aspirations they might have. This distorted view may have led many to make any number of mistakes.
Retirement Withdrawal Of Retirement Assets While we tend to focus on the total value of our retirement assets, once we start to use those assets to fund our retirement an optimal distribution strategy can minimize the impact of taxes and save you money.
Estate Planning Letter Of Intent Will While it has no legal standing, and a letter of intent cannot override a will, it can be an invaluable document for your family in any kind of an emergency, not just your passing.
Credit/Debt/Loans HELOC and Second Mortgage Loophole You may still qualify for the Home Equity Line of Credit deduction.
Social Security Guarding Your Social Security Number When and why you need to give your Social Security number to someone, and when you shouldn't.
Interesting Words of Wisdom Courtesy of Joseph Heller Authors Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller were at a party given by a billionaire on Shelter Island. Wisdom ensued: what is really important about wealth.
Credit/Debt/Loans Homebuyer's Guide Whether you're buying for investment or for a place to live, there are things real estate pros know about buying a home. Learn them so that you can buy your next home like a pro.
