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. 29 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Do you have significant home equity, but find yourself struggling to pay bills? Tapping your home equity through a home equity agreement (HEA) could help.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]