Holiday spending came in at the high end of projected ranges for 2025 despite numerous economic challenges. According to Mastercard, U.S. retail sales (excluding automotive) increased 3.9% year-over-year from Nov. 1 through Dec. 21, 2025. CNBC and the National Retail Federation published a similar increase, reporting holiday sales grew 4.1%…
Maca and Naca/GettyImages The average tax refund tends to be just over $3,000, but that number might climb to north of $4,000 in 2026, thanks to the massive tax bill that became law in 2025. That law included a higher standard deduction amount, more generous tax brackets and other changes…
ljubaphoto/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways The interest rate on a mortgage indicates how much interest you’ll pay for the amount you borrow. The annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate plus additional fees and any points. When comparing loan offers, it’s best to compare APRs to…
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…
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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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You’ve heard of home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and home equity loans, which let you borrow against the value of your home, getting ready cash for renovations, debt consolidation or anything else. But jumping through the income-qualification hoops that characterize much home-based financing may…
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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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OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANKBankers wants to discuss AI strategy. They’re excited about chatbots, machine learning models, generative AI tools, and AI…
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Key takeaways Leasing a car requires less money upfront and has lower payments, but there are typically mileage restrictions and additional costs. Buying can mean more expensive monthly payments and long-term maintenance costs, but you have greater control over its use and lower costs in the long run. With leasing,…
Key takeaways A money order is similar to a check, except the money for it is taken out of your account at the time of purchase instead of when the recipient cashes it. You’ll have a difficult time finding a merchant willing to accept cards for money order purchases. If…
Key takeaways Preapproval will help you get the best rate available and give you leverage to negotiate at the dealership. Consider the overall cost of an auto loan in addition to the monthly payment — and don’t clue the dealership salesperson in on your budget too early. Shop around with…
Key takeaways According to a new Realtor.com report, more than a quarter of U.S. homes, worth $12.7 trillion, face extreme hurricane, flood or wildfire risks, with many properties underinsured or lacking coverage. Rising home insurance costs and insurer withdrawals from high-risk areas are leaving many homeowners with unaffordable premiums, high…
David Papazian/Getty Images Friday’s tepid jobs report means mortgage rates might finally be poised to fall. The U.S. economy created few jobs in August, the Labor Department reported, news that could set the stage for both a rate cut by the Federal Reserve and a downturn in mortgage rates. “Mortgage…
This page was originally published in late 2024 and reflects the author’s financial decisions during that time. The offers mentioned may not currently be available. Key takeaways Cruises can be easy to budget and plan since most of the costs involved are fixed, meaning you know what you’re paying upfront.…
Flamingo Images/ Shutterstock Key takeaways Promotional CDs often have higher rates than standard CDs. Promotional CDs may come in irregular term lengths, such as 21 months instead of the standard 24 months. Financial institutions commonly offer promotional CDs as a way of attracting new customers. Promotional certificates of deposit (CDs)…
Key takeaways Stocks can be categorized in many ways, including common, preferred, growth, value, dividend and foreign, as well as by market cap and sector. Stocks don’t neatly fall into one type. Every stock has a market cap, a sector and other characteristics that can define it and shift over…
Glen Wagstaff, an attorney based in Utah, opened an international consulting firm a couple of years ago. His first client was an ice cream company in Brazil. Wagstaff and his team helped them get FDA approval. “They were the first ice cream company in the history of Brazil to get…
Annuities are often purchased to help secure a reliable stream of income in retirement. Life insurance companies are the primary provider of annuities. Each company on our list offers a variety of annuity products, each with unique features and benefits. With so many options out there, the challenge lies in…
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