Finance

How many people know your annual salary? How comfortable are you discussing your salary openly with colleagues or superiors? Do you share how much is in your savings or retirement accounts with others? Does your partner know your credit card…

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumer reporting agencies can’t report negative information that’s more than 7 years old — or 10 years for bankruptcies. While 7 (maybe 10) years is a long time to have negative information on…

The millennial generation — those currently aged 27 to 42 — is America’s largest,¹ and as they move solidly into their peak earning and spending years, they are quickly asserting their economic power. Millennials faced a tough economic outlook in…

When planning a trip abroad, being able to pay for expenses is bound to be a primary concern. While using a credit card for your purchases can give you the best rate, we know it’s not always possible to pay…

In years past, depositing a check, starting a new bank account, or taking out a loan required a visit to the local bank. But with the digital economy in full force today, many Americans have less and less need to…

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the U.S. at the beginning of 2020, quarantine and social distancing regulations caused consumer behaviors to change dramatically. Many stores and restaurants were required to close down temporarily and only reopen with limited capacity…

As inflation continues to squeeze household budgets¹ and makes paying for basic living expenses challenging, many are turning to credit cards to help cope with increasing expenses. American consumers now owe $986 billion on their credit cards, surpassing the pre-pandemic…

A derogatory mark on your credit report can make getting approved for new credit challenging. From late payments to bankruptcies, derogatory marks may stay on your credit for up to 7 years — or sometimes 10 years for certain types…

Bankruptcy is a process that helps individuals or a business eliminate all (or a portion of) debt. While bankruptcy might give you relief from debt, including credit card debt, you’ll face some pretty severe long-term impacts due to this action….

When you freeze your credit, you restrict access to your credit report by potential creditors and lenders. Unfreezing your credit lifts this restriction and allows access to your credit report again.  There’s a simple process to follow to freeze or…

Data breaches are on the rise, both throughout the U.S. and globally.¹ Anyone and everyone is at risk of falling victim to a data breach or cyber attack, and hackers and cybercriminals come up with new ways to steal sensitive…

You paid off a collection account, but it’s still haunting your credit report. What gives?  It’s a good idea to pay off collection accounts, but the fact is that even paid collection accounts can stay on your credit report for…

Your bags are packed and you’re off on that international vacation you’ve been planning for months. Chances are, the last thing on your mind is how you’ll lose money during your travels by falling victim to dynamic currency conversion. The…

The economy has been a roller coaster for consumers over the last 2.5 years, and the ride isn’t slowing down yet. As COVID-19 and its ripple effects have continued to shape the economy, U.S. households have navigated both prosperity and…

Lower interest rates, better insurance coverage, and access to better credit cards are just a few of the benefits you can experience when establishing a good line of credit. In this post-pandemic world of car shortages, rising interest rates, and…

A savings account is necessary in 2024. In case of unexpected expenses and peace of mind, it’s nice to have a little money set aside. But many Americans struggle to save money every paycheck, and the thought of saving can…

If you’re carrying credit card debt, you’re not alone. In fact, over 50% of all open credit cards have a balance¹ and among cardholders with these unpaid balances, the average amount of outstanding debt was $6,569.² Obviously, the main goal…

Cryptocurrency has rapidly grown into one of the most popular investment options for young people today. In fact, CNBC reports that 83% of millennial millionaires own cryptocurrencies and 53% have at least half of their wealth in crypto.¹ While purchasing…

The way we pay has continued to change throughout the 21st century. With the introduction of online payments and digital wallets, the nature of financial transactions has rapidly shifted. In 2024, it’s almost unheard of for businesses to accept cash-only…

We emphasize earning flexible rewards points to book luxury travel experiences that yield tens of thousands of dollars of value as our “go-to strategy.” But what if you were willing to settle for less, as long as it was cold…

You may have heard of both APR and APY, but not been sure what each means. It’s also easy to understand why someone might confuse the terms APR and APY since both are used to calculate interest and both significantly…