Key takeaways Stocks can be a great way to build wealth over the long term. You can buy stocks directly or you can buy a mutual fund or ETF that gives you access to many stocks through just one investment. If you’re not comfortable investing on your own, a financial…
Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates moved up again this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.19%, up from 6.15% last week, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. Current mortgage rates Loan type Current 4 weeks ago One year ago 52-week average 52-week low…
Debt settlement companies technically aren’t allowed to charge fees until after lowering a consumer’s debt. But a loophole in the Telemarketing Sales Rule — and a mish-mash of federal and state laws — allows predatory firms the opportunity for exploitation. A growing corner of the $23 billion debt relief industry…
Image: Getty Images; Illustration: Bankrate No movement for home equity rates in the latest week. The $30,000 home equity line and the five-year $30,000 home equity loan were unchanged, holding at 7.18% and 7.84%, respectively, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. As home equity rates remain at their lowest…
Trending
Spotlight This Week
More Articles
Personal Finance
Last year, on the day before Tax Day, my mom was scheduled to fly into Philadelphia International Airport to stay…
The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
With Republicans ending the Grad Plus program, private lenders are eyeing billions in new business, while some students could be…
Featured Articles
As women’s access to education and employment has steadily increased, so has their participation in the economy. However, significant challenges remain that include a wage gap between women and men, along with other barriers women face in growing their wealth. Such challenges can impact women’s…
Dept Managmnt
Paying off Debt on a Fixed Income: Making Sacrifices and Learning Patience Paying off debt on a fixed income requires discipline. Jill emphasizes…
Banking
For fintech startups, the first five years of the decade have been a roller-coaster ride. At the outset, companies were awash in easy…
Credit Cards
All News
To pay off holiday credit card debt fast, you should prioritize high-interest debt using the “Avalanche Method.” In addition, increase your payment frequency to weekly/bi-weekly instead of monthly and immediately apply financial windfalls like tax refunds to your principal. Combining these steps with a strict 2026 budget and professional credit…
Key takeaways Secured auto loans are the most common financing option for borrowers looking to purchase a vehicle. These types of loans tend to offer larger loan amounts and more competitive interest rates compared to unsecured auto loans. In most cases, a secured auto loan is the right move. A…
Key takeaways New car loans had an average interest rate under 7%, while used car loan rates averaged nearly just under 11.50% in the second quarter of 2025. Your credit score plays a significant role in determining your interest rate, but other factors such as the lender, amount borrowed, length…
Key takeaways A personal loan can get you cash within days at a fixed rate and steady payment. Personal loans tend to carry lower, more affordable interest rates than credit cards, if you have good or better credit. Before deciding to get a personal loan, consider potential downsides, such as…
Image: Getty Images; Illustration: Bankrate HELOC rates are feeling the impact of the Federal Reserve’s recent quarter-point rate cut. The $30,000 home equity line of credit fell 18 basis points to 7.63%, its lowest level in almost three years, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the benchmark five-year…
Illustration by Bankrate / Getty Images At a moment when prices are rising everywhere, one major household expense is offering relief ahead of the holidays: gasoline. National retail pump prices recently slipped below $3 per gallon, the lowest level in four years, AAA data shows. Motorists could see gas prices…
Key takeaways Applying for a car loan with good to excellent credit may result in a more competitive interest rate from lenders. Disputing errors on your credit report and paying bills on time are some of the primary tactics that can help you build better credit. If you need quick…
From macroeconomic factors like inflation and job-market uncertainty to sector-specific disruptions, investors face risks big and small. Building a portfolio that has at least some less risky assets in it can be useful to help you ride out market volatility. The trade-off, of course, is that in lowering risk exposure,…
Luis Alvarez/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways There is no minimum credit score required to buy a car, but most lenders have minimum requirements for financing. Most borrowers need a FICO score of at least 661 to get a competitive rate on an auto loan. If you have a…
Higher interest rates played out on stocks, cryptocurrency and commodities over the past few years. But now that the Federal Reserve has been cutting short-term rates, what can investors expect going forward — and how long will the shifting rate environment affect markets? On Dec. 10, the central bank reduced…
Editor's Pick
