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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Key takeaways Who you inherit a 401(k) from dictates what you can do with it. Knowing the rules for an inherited 401(k) can help you avoid taxes and penalties. If the 10-year rule applies, keep up with the dates to ensure you get the maximum value. If a loved one…
When it comes to selling coconut water to the health obsessed, New York’s Vita Coco has served up a master class, schooling even giant rivals like Coke and Pepsi. Its next test will be withstanding Trump’s tariff shocks. What do you do when 96% of your revenue comes from coconut…
Three years ago, Facebook parent company Meta agreed to pay a whopping $725 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing it of making users’ data available without their consent (Meta denied wrongdoing). Payments were finally scheduled to start hitting consumers’ wallets this month, but court filings from last week…
Key takeaways You can use home equity to buy another house if you have a big enough ownership stake in your residence and meet other eligibility requirements. The most common ways to tap your equity are via a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). Purchasing property…
The conversations that happen when you gather a group of business leaders often reveal truths about the challenges and opportunities we face right now. At a series of recent CEO breakfasts along New York’s East End of Long Island the themes were clear: Talent and technology are fundamentally changing the…
Some schools are back in session, but many families are still getting prepared for another back-to-school season — and the expenses that come with it. From tuition to backpacks and computers, parents may be looking for ways to save. Families plan to spend an average of $858 on school supplies,…
Tapping into your retirement savings early may seem like a risky idea, but there are many reasons why you may have to take money from your 401(k) before retirement. These accounts are meant to support you in your later years, yet unexpected financial challenges can force your hand at using…
With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars, so there is no tax deduction when you put money in. The benefit comes later because your investments grow tax-free and qualified withdrawals in retirement are also tax-free. This differs from traditional IRAs, which give you a tax break upfront but require…
Photography by Getty Images Key takeaways When comparing the Discover it® Secured Credit Card vs. Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, the best option comes down to whether you have a limited budget and need to establish a line of credit or have more cash to spare for a security…
Moving away from home, making new friends and getting to class on time are some of the big changes college students face after high school. With all that this new group of adults is facing, it’s a wonder that there’s time for anything else, let alone investing. But surprisingly, college…
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