Low-risk investments are useful for protecting your capital and to help balance out higher-risk investments. There are several low-risk investments that offer higher returns than an ordinary savings account. Learn about the best low-risk investments for your money based on different needs.
From the day you start idly glancing through real estate listings to the moment you sign the last piece of closing paperwork, the process of buying a house typically takes months. Much needs to happen during that time: showings, making an offer, completing a loan application, appraisal, and inspection. It’s enough to overwhelm even the most organized
When checking your account balance is as easy as logging into your bank’s mobile app, knowing how to balance a checkbook seems unnecessary. But it’s still an essential skill to ensure you’re not hit with avoidable fees or losses. Learn how to balance your checkbook and resolve any errors that you discover.
It seems like you can’t do anything at a bank without paying a fee. Banks charge fees for overdrawing your account, for using other banks’ ATMs, for making too many transactions, or for making no transactions at all. Learn about these and other common bank fees and how to avoid them.
If you have a deposit account with a bank based in the United States, you very likely benefit from FDIC deposit insurance, which insures deposits held with thousands of U.S.-chartered banks. Learn about FDIC insurance, what it covers, and how it works to protect the money you put in the bank.
Everyone loves free stuff. But freebies aren’t good deeds. Companies do it to boost their bottom line. Many free products have a hidden cost, either directly or indirectly. So be on guard when you see the word “free.” It might end up costing you a lot of money. Find out how to avoid the trap.
All federal credit unions operate under the supervision of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal agency charged with regulating their activities and protecting individual members’ deposits. Learn about the NCUA and its functions to protect consumers.
Debit cards and credit cards are two convenient ways to make payments without having to deal with cash. Although both are similar, some important differences make them suitable for different situations. Learn the difference between credit cards and debit cards and which is best in your situation.
Paper checks are almost extinct. But not quite. It’s still critical to know how to write one. Some people still prefer them because of the paper trail they leave and the fees associated with accepting credit and debit cards. Fortunately, writing a check is simple once you understand how it works.
When you transfer money into a brokerage account, you’ll probably notice the balance goes into a money market fund as a holding space for uninvested cash. But what precisely are money market funds? Learn how they work — and what separates a good money market fund from a bad one.
With trillions of dollars announced in the COVID-19 stimulus, economists have sounded the alarm on rampant future inflation. Prices could spike, and the dollar’s value could collapse. But not all investments get hit evenly by dollar decay. Find out which investments can protect your portfolio.
Nobody likes starting their adult life with crushing student loan debt. Unfortunately, student loans have become a necessary evil. According to the Institute for College Access & Success’ Project on Student Debt, 62% of 2019’s college grads had significant student loan debt upon graduation, with an average of $28,950 in outstanding loans. If you’re forced
