Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images Key takeaways Short-term loans provide financing with a brief repayment period and often require collateral to obtain. These loans are generally capped at $2,000 and are often used by borrowers who are strapped for cash or who have a low credit score. Loan funds are…
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…
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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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Would you be upset if you found out your partner had a credit card you didn’t know about? On the flip side, have you ever fudged the numbers with your spouse about a recent shopping spree? Romantic relationships can come with mixed feelings about money.…
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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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Illustration by Bankrate. Private companies are having a moment, with some firms, such as SpaceX and OpenAI, boasting valuations in the hundreds of billions of dollars and Wall Street pushing to include private assets in retirement accounts. In the old days, companies would go public through an initial public offering,…
Alistair Berg / Getty Images Key takeaways Managing cash flow well helps your business cover expenses and grow. Poor cash flow leads to missed payments, rising debt and potential business failure. Forecasting cash flow can help you anticipate financial needs and avoid shortfalls. You can improve cash flow by speeding…
Image by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate Key takeaways When it comes to Social Security, the standard advice you might hear suggests that you won’t get a second chance to decide when to start taking your benefits. But in at least two circumstances, you can get a chance at a…
The Standard & Poor’s 500 — probably the most popular measure of the stock market’s performance — is sitting right near all-time highs. The S&P 500 index is also perched at one of the highest valuations of all time, indicating that investors are paying a high price for potential future earnings.…
Azri Suratmin/Getty Images Key takeaways If you have full coverage car insurance, which generally includes comprehensive and collision coverage, your scratches and dents are likely covered. Because comprehensive and collision coverage both come with deductibles, it may not always be worth it to file a claim to cover minor damage.…
Image by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate Key takeaways Maker and taker fees are what crypto exchanges charge users for providing or removing liquidity from the market. Makers add liquidity to the market and typically pay lower fees, while takers remove liquidity and often pay higher fees. Understanding how these…
It started with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. When the Fed refused to cut interest rates, President Donald Trump openly discussed whether he should remove the chief central banker. When it looked unlikely that he could fire Powell based on policy disagreements, Trump latched onto the Fed’s $2.5 billion headquarters…
This month, many students—including my own kids—are heading back to school. Most of them have a cell phone (or wearable device) on at all times. While it’s a great way for students to keep track of their busy schedules (and check in with Mom and Dad), it also makes them…
Photography by Getty Images Key takeaways Both the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card* and The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offer cash back on eligible purchases, no annual fee and an intro APR offer on purchases. The Bank of America Business Advantage Customized…
In 2000, internet darling Cisco was the world’s most valuable company. Today it’s worth half as much. AI juggernauts like Nvidia and Palantir are driving the tech-bloated S&P 500 today. Buyer beware. Atthe end of the 1990s, there was one narrative on every stock broker’s lips. The so-called world wide…
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