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 Fannie Mae, officially the Federal National Mortgage Association, is a government-sponsored enterprise that helps maintain liquidity in the mortgage market. It does not offer mortgages directly to consumers; rather, it sponsors various loan programs that can be obtained through approved lenders. Since its establishment in 1938, Fannie Mae…
Roth IRAs can be appealing because they allow tax-free withdrawals and have no required minimum distributions (RMDs). For younger savers, paying taxes now for tax-free growth later can be a smart move. But, if you are near retirement, this strategy can be more complicated. Balances are typically larger, the time…
Like a bar that wants to close at 2 a.m., the Education Department is urging student loan borrowers to switch from SAVE — the most generous of the income-driven repayment plans for federal student loans. Yes, ending SAVE’s interest-free forbearance is tantamount to last call. Except in this case, borrowers…
Rick Gershon/Getty Images Key takeaways The Southwest Companion Pass lets you designate a companion who can fly with you for free (minus taxes and fees) on any Southwest flight you book with cash or points for up to two years. You can score a Companion Pass by earning 135,000 qualifying…
Key takeaways Full coverage car insurance coverage typically refers to a policy that includes state-mandated coverage types, plus comprehensive and collision insurance. Your state will not require you to have comprehensive auto insurance coverage, but your lender may. Comprehensive auto insurance is add-on coverage that provides financial protection for your…
Key takeaways The Citi Double Cash® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited® both offer cash back without an annual fee. Chase Freedom Unlimited offers boosted rewards in a number of categories, while the Citi Double Cash earns a flat rate on all purchases. Both cards are great for earning rewards on…
Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate Very mixed movements on the home equity financing scene in the latest week. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) skyrocketed 80 basis points to 8.90 percent, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders — though the increase reflects…
The safe withdrawal rate (SWR) method is a spending strategy that allows retirees to draw down their portfolios during retirement while minimizing the risk of running out of money. While the method isn’t perfect, the safe withdrawal rate gives retirees a guideline for their spending. Maintaining a portfolio based on…
Image by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate Key takeaways SBA lenders aren’t required to take collateral for most SBA loans under $50,000. SBA lenders will use their existing loan collateral policies to determine how much collateral you need to put up. The SBA requires a personal guarantee for any owners…
Nitat Termmee/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways A financial advisor evaluates the financial needs of their clients and helps them make informed investment decisions to build wealth. A financial planner creates comprehensive financial plans for their clients by considering factors such as savings, retirement and estate planning.…
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