Gold prices have already hit several record highs of over $2,900 per ounce so far in 2025. But investors have long looked to gold for many reasons, including its ability to maintain a store of value in a portfolio that is otherwise swayed by market fluctuations. Knowing what some of…
Key takeaways The number of people making minimum payments on their credit cards reached a record high in Q4 2024. Growing debt can feel overwhelming, but help is available. Working with a debt management company can make payments more manageable. Cardholders continue to struggle when it comes to their credit…
Key takeaways The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a straightforward rewards structure, numerous redemption options and a strong welcome bonus for new cardholders. This card also includes access to Shop Through Chase, which allows you to earn bonus rewards at participating retailers. This card pairs well with other Chase…
The stock of the company now known as Strategy (MSTR) — formerly MicroStrategy — spent virtually all of 2024 soaring. The reason: It’s a way to play Bitcoin. The company bought bitcoins, bought more, issued stock and debt to buy even more, and in 2025 issued preferred stock to buy…
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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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When it comes to long-term capital gains taxes, many taxpayers assume there are just two rates – 15 and 20 percent. However, the IRS has another mostly forgotten rate that allows you to pay nothing on your investment wins. Yes, there’s a 0 percent tax…
Dept Managmnt
Debt settlement is when you negotiate with creditors to reduce the amount you owe in exchange for a lump sum payment. It might…
Banking
F or private financial technology companies, last year was a quiet one for fundraising. Fintechs raised $34 billion in 2024, down from $42…
Credit Cards
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 Credit card default can occur after six consecutive months of missed payments. Defaulting on a credit card can have significant consequences for your credit score and financial future. There are options for handling credit card default, such as negotiating with creditors and seeking help from a…
Americans have struggled to build their savings over the past year. Only about a third (30 percent) of U.S. adults had more emergency savings in 2024 than they did a year before, while 32 percent had less savings compared to a year before, according to Bankrate’s Emergency Savings Report. To…
Key takeaways If you don’t have a bank account and need to cash a check, you’ll likely wind up paying some hefty fees for the service. Cashing a check without a bank account carries some bigger risks – namely walking around with a wad of cash that can be lost…
Key takeaways Direct deposit transfers money electronically from your company’s payroll account into employees’ bank accounts. This method is less costly, more convenient, faster and safer than processing checks. Setting up direct deposit is a simple process of choosing a provider, gathering employee information, setting up payroll software and…
Image by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate Municipal bonds appeal to investors because their interest payments are exempt from federal income taxes and, in many cases, state taxes as well. But there are instances where taxes come into play for municipal bond investors and figuring it out can sometimes get…
Credit: Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate When you work with an online mortgage lender, the entire application process often happens without any face-to-face interaction. Online mortgage companies don’t have branch locations; instead, they operate exclusively online. To assemble our list of the best online lenders, we’ve reviewed…
If you’ve been watching reruns of HGTV’s “Income Property” and wondering if it’s time to buy an investment property and become a landlord, you’re not alone. Between a jump in inflation and the mood of millennials to rent instead of own, buying rental property has been on an uptick in…
MoMo Productions/Getty Images Key takeaways Covered call strategies give investors the opportunity to generate income from their portfolio. A covered call is a strategy where an investor sells call options on a stock that they own. Covered call funds are investment vehicles that generate income for fundholders using a covered…
Amid the fast-moving shifts of the second Trump administration, there’s a quieter change brewing that could make it harder or more costly for some to buy a home. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-sponsored enterprises that underpin the U.S. mortgage market, have been under federal conservatorship since 2008.…
Planning an international trip brings plenty of excitement — and plenty of questions about handling money abroad. Travelers often discover too late that exchanging currency at the airport means paying premium fees, sometimes losing 10 percent or more of their money to poor exchange rates and service charges. Smart travelers…
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