Unlock Insights

Key takeaways:  You’ve probably heard the sales pitch: We’ll buy your home, no questions asked. For a homeowner who wants to sell but doesn’t want to make repairs, do a deep clean, stage the furniture for a photographer, and have hordes of buyers roaming around during open houses, it may seem too good to be […]

Key takeaways:  What should we expect from the economy in 2024? To tell the truth, no one knows. Most experts believe that the economy will slow down. That would make a lot of sense, since it was on fire in 2023. But economists have been expecting a slowdown in growth for some time. Remember the […]

Key takeaways:  Every January, millions of Americans make resolutions to improve their finances. In fact, according to Fidelity, two-thirds of us will focus on financial resolutions in the new year. Not surprisingly, saving more money is one of the top priorities in Fidelity’s survey.  Making a commitment to save more is wonderful. But to make […]

Key takeaways:  Home improvement projects may be synonymous with spring. But many don’t require you to even go outside. This can be an ideal time to delve into a few of those tasks that will keep your home in tip-top shape and make your life more comfortable. Read on to learn about 11 home improvement […]

‘It’s like we have a new life.’  When Florida residents Lori and her husband made the decision to pay off high-interest credit card debt, the first step they took was to turn to her aunt.  Her aunt had secured a home equity agreement (HEA) with Unlock and referred them – which was all they needed. […]

Key Takeaways:  During November and December, most people anticipate holiday festivities and the fresh start that a new year brings. These months also present the opportunity to ease tax planning – and potentially obtain some tax advantages – well before the April 15 IRS filing date (April 17 for residents of Maine and Massachusetts).  Here […]

Key takeaways  The Federal Reserve delivered a holiday present at its final meeting of 2023, declining to make any moves on interest rates now, but signaling that it expects to cut them as many as three times in 2024.   The central bank raises rates when the economy is overheated, and prices are rising quickly. By […]

Key Takeaways  One in five Americans plan to use a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) loan to purchase holiday gifts, according to a study by Adobe. Those loans are expected to account for $17 billion in online spending – up 17% from last year.  If you’re one of those consumers considering a BNPL plan this holiday […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]