Investing News

When it comes to savings, many of us have questions about the best way to put our money to work for us. This is especially true as interest rates continue to rise, offering new opportunities for long-term growth. To help address some of these questions, we’ve compiled a list of answers featuring expert insights. From
Social Security is a federal benefits program in the United States that was founded in 1935. While the program also includes disability income, it is most commonly associated with monthly retirement benefits paid out until death. The Social Security system is funded through payroll taxes. The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) mandates a 12.4% levy
Savings and loan institutions–also referred to as S&Ls, thrift banks, savings banks, or savings institutions–provide many of the same services to customers as commercial banks, including deposits, loans, mortgages, checks, and debit cards. However, S&Ls place a stronger emphasis on residential mortgages, whereas commercial banks tend to concentrate on working with large businesses and on unsecured
Marriott has launched two new credit cards, albeit with most of the same features, through its partners Chase and American Express. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase offer better rewards rates than the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, enhanced elite status, and a bonus every time
According to the 2021-2022 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey, 70% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to nearly 90.5 million homes. These households spent a total of $123.6 billion in 2021 and $103.6 billion in 2020, spending more every year since 2018. Veterinary care was the second-largest category of
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) own a basket of properties, ranging from malls to movie theaters, apartment buildings to office parks, hotels to hospitals. A REIT may specialize in a certain real estate sector, or it may diversify into a variety of property types. Investing in REITs is appealing for several reasons, especially for income-oriented
Long ago, in the dawn of the Internet age, pirates ruled the digital waves and music-lovers found, to their delight, that anything could be downloaded for free. Sales of recorded music crashed. Every musician was playing the blues. Those days are over, but the road to a business model that works for Internet companies, music
What Is the Glass-Steagall Act? The Glass-Steagall Act, passed in 1933, forced commercial banks to refrain from investment banking activities in order to protect depositors from potential losses caused by bank speculation in stocks. Glass-Steagall was largely repealed in 1999 although some parts of it remain, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which guarantees bank
Student loan forgiveness programs can make repaying education debt on a teacher’s salary easier. There are several programs that offer federal student loan forgiveness just for educators. “Teachers have more loan forgiveness opportunities than almost any other occupation and taking advantage of these easy-to-enroll-in programs can save hard-working teachers hundreds to thousands of dollars,” says
It is rare to hear any long discussion of the stock market without some mention being made of the economic outlook. As of early 2018, it’s safe to say that the economy has recovered to a certain extent from the recession of 2008. What analysts are now wondering about is if the current good fortune
The standard American math curriculum is anything but inspiring. Based on memorization and timed tests, it encourages boredom and anxiety. A lucky few students get the inspiration and motivation required to enjoy and excel in math from a parent or teacher. The rest muddle through, often quitting at the first opportunity. How can we disrupt
When interest rates fall, many homeowners will refinance their mortgage to lock in a lower interest rate, which can reduce a borrower’s monthly payment or allow a homeowner to build equity more quickly. However, one group of homeowners who typically have trouble refinancing are those in negative equity. This means they owe more on their
Information in this article reflects congressional funding as well as guidance from the Small Business Administration following passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021, on Dec. 27, 2020, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law on March 11, 2021. Whether you’re seeking financial help for your small business in response
Retirees looking for dependable income during their golden years can no longer rely on money market funds and certificates of deposit (CDs) since the interest rate is too low to make them a viable primary savings instrument for retirement. Instead, a key to combating increasing costs of living is the smart diversification of funds. Transamerica