Key takeaways Americans who grew up with a strong financial education were 1.5 times more likely to successfully negotiate pay raises during their careers compared to those without early exposure to financial education (66 percent vs. 39 percent) Americans who were raised with a strong financial education were more likely…
The American Opportunity Tax Credit is a tax credit worth up to $2,500 each year to help offset qualified education expenses for higher education. The credit is a tax break for the first four years of college for each eligible student, and is meant to cover qualified tuition and expenses.…
Key takeaways MOHELA services federal and private student loans, but is not a lender. Your student loan bills will be from MOHELA and you will make your payments to it if it’s your servicer. You can check who your servicer is by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center, logging…
Key takeaways Sallie Mae offers private student loans and banking. Refinancing a Sallie Mae loan with another lender could result in a lower interest rate and monthly payment. You may want to hold off on refinancing if interest rates are higher or you have a lower credit score. Sallie Mae…
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Technology has transformed some parts of the daunting homebuying process–making it easier to search and compare properties online, to prepare…
The Covid pandemic crushed immigration and demand for Nova Credit’s tech. Then its founder discovered a second line of business.…
A perfect storm is brewing for millions of federal student loan borrowers, who may experience dramatic increases in their monthly…
As the Biden administration exits Washington, President-elect Donald Trump inherits a federal student loan system that looks much different than…
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Key takeaways If you take out an FHA loan, you’re required to pay FHA mortgage insurance premiums (MIP). FHA MIP includes an upfront premium, typically paid at closing, and annual premiums. The cost of the annual premiums depends on the amount of your loan, the…
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Key takeaways Governments often borrow money to cover deficits when taxes and other revenues don’t cover expenses. The national debt is the total…
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F or private financial technology companies, last year was a quiet one for fundraising. Fintechs raised $34 billion in 2024, down from $42…
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Key takeaways The Southwest Companion Pass is attainable by using Southwest credit card welcome bonuses to meet the 135,000-point requirement. Applying for a…
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Key takeaways Debt settlement may help borrowers manage overwhelming debt by negotiating a reduction in the amount of debt owed. You can negotiate directly with creditors or hire a debt settlement company to work with creditors on your behalf. Settling debts will almost require you to have a low credit…
Steven Puetzer/GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate Key takeaways No one card fits every need. Think about what you want from your credit card: cash back, points and miles, rewards, balance transfers or something else. Create a plan to help you use your card of choice wisely. The U.S. credit card market…
Key takeaways Timing your transfers can significantly impact exchange rates and fees. Understanding economic factors helps maximize transfer value. Mid-week transfers often offer better rates and lower fees. Comparing providers and methods can reduce transfer costs. Did you know that the timing of your transfers can significantly impact how much…
JOHANNES EISELE/Contributor/Getty Images The stock market has had quite a run over the past two years, with the S&P 500 returning more than 25 percent in both 2023 and 2024. Other assets, such as cryptocurrencies and gold are also near all-time highs, causing some to worry about a possible market…
Key takeaways Short-term business loans are an option for businesses who need an influx of capital quickly Short-term business loans come with flexible financing options, easy application processes and relaxed eligibility requirements Short-term business loans have downsides, such as smaller loan amounts, shorter repayment terms, frequent payments and higher costs…
Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Getting a speeding ticket in Ohio almost certainly guarantees an insurance rate increase, at least for a bit. While Ohio drivers with a clean driving record pay an average of $1,600 per year for a full coverage insurance policy, that amount jumps to $1,939…
Key takeaways Diversification involves spreading your money across a variety of investments and asset classes. A diversified portfolio helps to reduce risk and may lead to a higher return. Investments that move in opposite directions from one another will add the greatest diversification benefits to your portfolio. Portfolio diversification involves…
Key takeaways Be sure to understand all aspects of your loan agreement, including the loan amount, APR, repayment term, loan cost and fees Budgeting, paying bills on time, and keeping debt to a minimum is key to managing a working capital loan Talking to your lender before missing a payment…
Key takeaways There are two main types of life insurance: term and permanent. Term life insurance is typically more affordable than permanent life insurance because it is only active within a set period. Most permanent life insurance policies have cash value components, where some of your premium is set aside…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Paying off your mortgage early has upsides, including peace of mind, more room in your budget and more flexibility to go after other financial goals. A mortgage payoff also ties up your money in your home. You won’t be able…
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