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…
Did you know? According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in the last quarter of 2025, credit card balances increased to $1.28 trillion among Americans? That is $44 billion more than the previous quarter. The challenging economic conditions make it even harder for an average individual to survive…
Key takeaways Buying a second home will effectively double your housing expenses, so consider your overall financial picture carefully first. If you plan to rent out the home to offset some of the cost, be sure to research local regulations and tax implications. If you plan to vacation there, make…
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
Car prices keep soaring — the average price of a new vehicle topped $50,000 for the first time last year, and the share of Americans taking on $1,000 monthly car payments passed 1 in 5, also a record. If you’re considering a new car loan…
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
Key takeaways Low-cost index mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a great way to invest in the market, giving you a diversified fund with low expenses. Index funds are passive funds that track an established index, making changes only when the index itself changes, rather than actively trying to…
bernardbodo/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Saving and investing are both important for building a sound financial foundation, but they’re not the same thing. It’s important to know the differences, and when it’s best to save vs. when it’s best to invest. The biggest difference between saving and investing…
Being midway to retirement means you may still have years of earnings ahead. However, the margin for error is smaller than it was earlier in your career. Choosing investments typically involves balancing continued growth with a growing emphasis on risk management and future income. At this stage, you want to…
At 10 years before retirement, investment priorities often begin to shift. The focus typically moves from maximizing growth to protecting accumulated savings while managing risk and preparing for future income. Portfolios at this stage commonly combine growth-oriented assets with stabilizing investments to help limit volatility and support a smoother transition…
Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate It’s never been easier to get started investing, thanks to an array of online brokers and robo-advisors that offer easy access to financial markets on your phone. The best investing apps for beginners simplify the process of picking stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to…
Imagine turning a single $400,000 investment into a steady monthly paycheck that lasts the rest of your life. For many retirees, that kind of predictable income can feel like a financial safety net in an otherwise uncertain retirement landscape. Annuities provide exactly that, but the amount of income they generate,…
An individual retirement account (IRA) can be a significant estate asset. How the account is handled depends on whether a beneficiary is named, who that beneficiary is and which distribution rules apply at the time of death. These factors affect how and when the account is distributed, how withdrawals are…
Debt relief scams offer to help relieve you of debt, but do not deliver on what they promise. They commonly target those with high debt amounts or poor credit scores. Legitimate debt relief companies are out there to help with debt consolidation and settlement. Here are eight red flags to…
Landing in a higher tax bracket can feel like a penalty for earning more, but it doesn’t have to be inevitable. With the right strategies, you may be able to reduce your taxable income and limit how much of your earnings are exposed to higher tax rates. Smart tax planning…
We’ve all heard that money is a leading cause of friction in relationships, but it’s rarely just about the math. It’s about what that money represents: security, freedom, power, or even fear. How we manage money, create financial goals, and communicate about financial matters can significantly affect the health and…
Editor's Pick
