Whether you’re purchasing a home or refinancing your current mortgage, your lender may have given you the option of taking out an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). ARMs can be great options, but it’s important to understand how they work before making your decision. ARMs have interest rates that change over the life of the mortgage. [...]
As the cost of college continues to increase, many parents opt to open 529 plans in order to help save for their children’s tuition. These plans, which are operated by a state or educational institution, offer federal and state tax benefits and allow the donor—often a parent—to retain control of the account. When it’s the [...]
When you decide you’re ready to save more money, it’s natural to focus on certain items: refinancing your house, selling a car, or cutting back on going to restaurants. Those are often great ways to get ahead on your savings quite quickly. However, if you want to start slowly, building your savings without feeling the [...]
Black Friday is a tempting time to shop if you love the energy of crowds and the possibility of a great deal. If you have some patience, you may be able to find better prices on many items later in the holiday season, or at another time of year. Here are five items you can [...]
With the holiday season on the horizon, you may see an uptick in the number of requests to donate from charitable organizations. We all like to help out when we can, and the holiday season seems an especially appropriate time for many of us to show our generosity. To help you give back while maintaining [...]
Retirement is often referred to as The Golden Years, and for many of us, it’s an opportunity to do some of the things we’ve always dreamed of doing. However, The Golden Years can also be a time of concern when it comes to ensuring our hard earned retirement savings last. According to an April 2014 [...]
Did you know that in 2013, winter storms were the third-largest cause of catastrophe losses, causing $1.9 billion in insured losses? According to reports from Munich Re, from 1993 to 2012, winter storms resulted in about $28 billion (in 2012 dollars) in insured catastrophe losses, or more than $1 billion a year on average, according [...]
In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on investing and how it can help you build wealth. However, even with all of the new technological tools that make it easier than ever to start investing, many people still believe they need expensive help to get the best returns for their money. If [...]
With open enrollment season upon us, now is your chance to enroll in your health insurance or make a change to your policy for the coming year. If your employer offers only a few health insurance options, then the decision will be relatively straightforward. In many cases, you’ll have options from which to choose, and [...]
Buyers and real estate agents alike have discovered that fall can be a great time for buying a home. Sellers are more willing to negotiate, and the combination of eager sellers and bargain-hungry buyers has created a home buying season that rivals the active spring season. This year’s fall season is shaping up to be [...]
