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Want to Invest In Real Estate? Here’s Why a Home Equity Agreement May Be the Best Way to Finance It

Key takeaways:  The real estate market is facing multiple challenges right now, not least of which is high mortgage rates. But one thing is certain: people will always need a roof over their head, whether they buy, rent or crash on someone’s couch.  So if you think this is the right time for you to […]
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Stay Safe This Holiday Season: Advice on Avoiding Scams 

Key takeaways  ‘Tis the season… for scamming?  You might think the bad guys would want a little peace and quiet around the holiday season, but that’s not the case. As consumers open their pocketbooks in the weeks ahead, they may be even more at risk than usual. As the FBI’s Los Angeles Bureau wrote in […]

High-yield Savings Accounts Offer High Rewards 

Key takeaways:  Interest rates are higher on all kinds of loans, from mortgages to auto loans… but on the plus side, higher rates also mean you can earn a bit more for your savings. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about why high-yield savings accounts are something you should be thinking […]

How to Make the Most of Black Friday

It’s a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition: stuffing ourselves with turkey on Thursday and shopping until we drop on Friday.  Black Friday – which lands on Nov. 24 this year – is the busiest shopping day of the year and marks the official start of the holiday shopping season.  Black Friday is known as a day of […]

Medicare Basics: The What, When and How You Need to Know 

If you or a family member have a 65th birthday on the horizon, there may be thoughts of working less (or not at all), taking bucket-list trips, pursuing a favorite hobby…and Medicare.  Medicare is the federal health insurance program in place for people 65 or older, as well as some younger people with disabilities, and […]

Ways to Save on Your Thanksgiving Meal 

Thanksgiving might kick off the holiday season, but it can also be the start of a season of overspending. Yet hosting the holiday meal doesn’t have to be hard on the wallet. Here are eight ideas to help you host a delicious, enjoyable dinner that celebrates family and friends with some smart spending.  With careful […]

Interest Rates Are Staying Where They Are For Now. That’s Good News and Bad News.

Key Takeaways: The Federal Reserve concluded its November meeting with yet another wait-and-see stance on interest rates. The good news: rates aren’t going up. The bad news: they’re already pretty darn high. This was the second meeting in a row in which the central bank decided to stay on hold, after over a year of […]

What To Do If You’re House-Rich But Cash-Poor 

Key takeaways:  It may seem like an odd problem to have: if you’re one of the many Americans who are “house-rich,” you have a home or a property that’s worth a lot, at least on paper. But it’s usually coupled with “and cash-poor,” which suggests you don’t have a lot of money coming in to […]

Home Improvements to Support Aging in Place 

Pandemic or not, staying home is the new “in” thing – at least for seniors. According to an AARP Home and Community Preferences survey, about 75% of people over age 50 want to stay in their homes or communities for as long as possible.  Aging in place requires having a home that can accommodate potential […]

Do You Have an FSA? Here’s What You Need to Know About Using Your Funds 

Key takeaways:  Thinking about the end of year may not be on the top of your mind. But if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to help pay for healthcare costs, now is the time to think about using your funds.  How FSAs work  If you have a healthcare plan through an employer, you […]

How to Protect Your Identity Online 

Key takeaways  Staying safe online has never been harder — or more critical. Just when we get used to doing things one way, it seems, a new threat pops up. The good news is that there are a few solid steps you can take easily and inexpensively that will minimize nearly all the threats out […]

It’s Open-Enrollment Season: How to Make the Best Choices for Your Health Insurance Coverage

Open enrollment – the period when many Americans sign up for healthcare coverage or change an existing healthcare plan – begins soon.  As inflation persists, and new surges of COVID-19 highlight the need for adequate and health insurance, many consumers are seeking more affordable insurance options, or coverage with more or different benefits. The open-enrollment […]

Home Sweet Home: 8 Tips for Hiring a Contractor

Key takeaways: In today’s real estate market, more homeowners are turning to remodeling, addition, and/or repair work in lieu of selling and purchasing a new house. Add in the tight labor market, and finding and hiring a contractor can be fraught with frustration, confusion and even scams.  Whether you are planning an addition, getting new […]
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