Real estate commissions have survived the rise of the Internet and decades of attacks from disruption-minded discounters. Now, finally, they might be coming down. A federal lawsuit has forced changes to the way consumers negotiate and pay real estate agents. In October 2023, a federal jury in Missouri found that…
Key takeaways Nine states in the U.S. have no income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Moving to a state with no income tax may seem financially beneficial, but other factors such as cost of living, local taxes and job opportunities should also…
Key takeaways Gas rewards programs are a free, easy way to earn rewards at gas stations you use regularly. The rewards you get and how you can use them vary from program to program, so it’s important to pick the one that works for you. Look for programs that allow…
Key takeaways An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the IRS for individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security Number. Many lenders and credit card issuers accept an ITIN in place of an SSN for credit card applications. It’s important to consider…
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Millions of student loan borrowers face an uncertain future as a second Trump administration prepares to return to Washington. But…
The 2024 presidential election has ended, and Donald Trump is poised to retake the White House, with big implications for…
Donald Trump’s return to the White House combined with Republican control of the Senate, and perhaps the House, will place…
Undergrads and recent grads—young, healthy, and debt burdened—are being offered five figures to donate their eggs to other women undergoing…
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When companies find themselves needing to cut costs, many choose to reduce payroll expenses by offering an early retirement package, also known as a voluntary separation or severance package. Companies typically offer these packages to senior management or employees who have been working for the…
Dept Managmnt
Key takeaways Declaring bankruptcy doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll lose your car. If you’re declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you could keep your vehicle if…
Banking
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal agency championed by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren in 2011 to protect consumers against predatory financial…
Credit Cards
Key takeaways The Southwest Companion Pass is attainable by using Southwest credit card welcome bonuses to meet the 135,000-point requirement. Applying for a…
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There’s a new No. 1 atop the list of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders. United Wholesale Mortgage pushed past Rocket Mortgage, the champ and the biggest player in the field by a wide margin for the past six years, to claim the top spot in loan origination volume. Elsewhere on…
Credit Sesame highlights challenges with the average retirement plan and shares tips for improvement. With low unemployment and a soaring stock market, you might expect that Americans are getting themselves in good shape for retirement. Two recent surveys suggest that this is not the case. A study of current workers…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways Lenders calculate how much interest you’ll pay with each payment in two main ways: simple or on an amortization schedule. Short-term loans often have simple interest. Larger loans, like mortgages, personal loans and most auto loans, have an amortization schedule. The…
When is Tax Day 2024 and 2025? The deadline to file tax returns this year — reporting income earned in 2023 — was April 15, 2024. Taxpayers who filed an extension had until Oct. 15, 2024, to file their returns. If you weren’t able to meet those deadlines, then now…
When applying for life insurance, a medical exam — including a blood test — is often part of the process. Blood tests allow insurers to get a clear picture of your health and assess any potential risks. While many applicants go through this exam, it’s possible to skip it under…
I have a painfully simple credit card strategy that creates around $300 in extra Amazon dollars each year. The extra money goes toward my holiday gift giving budget to help dampen the financial impact of the holiday season. Here’s the strategy: I use my Amazon Prime Visa card for every…
New Bankrate data shows that 61 percent of holiday shoppers are likely to choose Small Business Saturday for holiday shopping. That number is slightly higher than the number of shoppers likely to shop on Black Friday (56 percent). That’s big news when you consider that Small Business Saturday has only…
Key takeaways It’s tempting to tap home equity for holiday expenses, since home values are up and home equity loans/credit lines are less expensive than credit cards and personal loans. However, home equity loan and HELOC interest rates, while lower than other debt, are still relatively high. They also use…
Cyber Monday has taken the crown for Thanksgiving weekend’s most popular shopping day, outpacing Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, according to a new Bankrate survey. Fifty-nine percent of Americans in new Bankrate survey are likely to shopp on that day. As well, 53 percent of Americans are likely to…
If you’re looking to make cash back on your purchases, you might be amazed at the number of categories that qualify for putting money back into your pocket. By using the right cash-back app, you could receive money back from grocery shopping, buying gas and dining out. It’s not just everyday…
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