Few decisions are as significant as buying a home. It’s a milestone that many aspire to achieve, but the path to homeownership can be paved with financial challenges, particularly for those still grappling with student loans. Here are the factors you should consider when deciding to buy a home while managing student debt:Pros of buying a home...
Carrying a card for everyday purchases can make life much more convenient, but the question you have to ask before opening your wallet is which card you should use. Credit cards and debit cards will both allow you to pay for the things you need, but each offers unique functions that separate one from the other. What is a debit card? ...
Topics: Financial Education
Insurance should be a helping hand when you are facing a loss or crisis. Unfortunately, not all insurance policies, insurance companies, or insurance representatives are created equally. Many can be outright illegitimate or illegal. Nefarious providers and false claims can spike your premiums, so it’s important to be aware of insurance fraud. Here...
Topics: Financial Education
In this world, where concerns over racism, sexism, ageism, etc. are prominent, it is not considered politically correct to discuss the vulnerability of the elderly. However, instead of feeling ashamed of our vulnerabilities, we should focus on protecting them by understanding what they are. Older people are often targeted by scams for several...
Topics: Financial Education
When you and your family are the victims of a natural disaster, one of the last things on your mind is taxes. But depending on your situation, you may be able to get relief in the form of a filing extension or early access to your return:How do you know if you qualify for relief?According to the IRS, an affected taxpayer can be an individual,...
Topics: Financial Education
For many people, an automated teller machine is still their preferred method of depositing checks and cash as well as withdrawing money. If you plan to use an ATM — whether near your home or in another town you’re visiting — make sure to follow this advice so you lessen the chance of becoming an ATM crime victim:Choose the best locationWhere an...
Topics: Personal Banking, Financial Education
Young adults are particularly vulnerable to employment scams and student loan repayment scams. If not actively seeking employment, it might seem obvious to us that someone is attempting to scam us. However, at some point, many of us have experienced unemployment and financial strain, or are drowning in student loans or other types of debt. We can...
Topics: Financial Education, Lifestyle
As you plan your retirement finances, be sure to take health care costs into account. Even though Medicare will cover a large chunk of your expenses, it’s likely you’ll still need to pay premiums and deductibles, vision and dental, long-term care, and more. In fact, according to Fidelity’s 2023 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, the average couple...
Topics: Retirement, Financial Education
There’s so much that can be done with greater ease online, and that includes managing your money. Online banking is a feature offered by nearly every type of financial institution, and it offers a great deal of convenience and flexibility. By learning how to leverage online banking — and how to keep yourself safe in the process — you can take...
Topics: Personal Banking, Financial Education
What are Social Media Scams? In social media scams, scammers use social engineering to bait victims into sharing personal or financial information, clicking on links, or downloading harmful software or applications.
Topics: Financial Education, Lifestyle