Selena Cooper, 25, is a federal worker in South Carolina. After the government shut down on Oct. 1, the office where she works was closed, and her paychecks stopped coming through. It didn’t take long before she found herself with an overdraft balance on her checking account and $4,000 in…
Dougal Waters/Getty Images Key takeaways Preapproval for a Wells Fargo credit card involves a soft credit check to assess eligibility without affecting your credit score. Wells Fargo offers a prequalification tool through its website, but you can also find credit card preapprovals through your online portal, email or mail. To…
A 401(k) loan does not appear on your credit report because it isn’t considered a loan from a third-party lender. When you borrow from your 401(k), you’re borrowing your own money. As such, it isn’t subject to credit checks or reporting requirements. That said, missing payments or defaulting on the…
Leaving the workforce changes many aspects of your 401(k), and once you retire you will have to make a number of important decisions about your retirement nest egg. If you have $1.1 million in a 401(k), you can choose to leave your retirement savings in the account, roll it over…
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The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
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Prapass Pulsub/Getty Images Key takeaways You can check your bank account balance via your bank’s mobile app, online bank website, ATM, over the phone, via your bank statement or through an in-branch visit. Mobile apps check your balance in under 10 seconds and offer real-time…
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Practical Money Tricks That Lead to Real Treats Getting out of debt doesn’t happen overnight, but small, consistent actions can help you regain…
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The fundamental flaws in the way the Federal Reserve operates these days were on full display Wednesday when Jerome Powell talked to the…
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Xinhua News Agency/Contributor/Getty Images Stock market volatility can pop up at any time, potentially causing portfolio losses when you least expect it. Stubbornly high inflation and the impact of newly imposed tariffs could lead to an economic slowdown at some point. Defensive ETFs can help limit risk in your portfolio…
Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock Major student loan servicers have exited their contracts with the United States Department of Education over the past several years. The loans previously with these servicers were transferred to other companies that have maintained contracts with the Department of Education to service repayment. If your student loan was…
Key takeaways Treasury bonds are government securities that pay a fixed interest rate every six months. A Treasury bond’s coupon rate – or interest paid – stays fixed for the life of the bond, but the bond’s price can change if traded on the market. Treasury bonds are considered…
A credit counseling agency is an organization that offers advice and assistance to people who are having trouble managing their debt. When you sign up, a credit counselor will analyze your case and work on your behalf to negotiate with your creditors. You can meet with them in person, online…
Kerkez/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Home improvement loans are personal loans by another name, lent by banks, credit unions and online lenders. Renovation loan requirements typically focus on your credit, debt-to-income ratio and other key financial factors. Before you borrow a home improvement loan, consider the…
Alberto Bogo/Getty Images Fractional shares allow investors to purchase a stock or ETF with almost any amount of money, which means you don’t have to wait until you can afford to buy a full share of a high-priced stock like Costco or Meta to add it to your portfolio. The…
Propaganda I’m not falling for: Prime Day. Amazon’s biannual bonanza is back on Oct. 7-8. Cue: influencer hauls, magazine listicles and even friends inundating us with bargain FOMO. There’s nothing wrong with getting a great price on a purchase you’d make anyway. But at its core, Prime Day is marketing…
Key takeaways Predatory cards are often viewed as a last resort for those with the worst credit scores. These cards are known for sky-high interest rates, lower credit limits and myriad fees. Stronger credit-building options exist, even for those with poor credit. Help is available for those unable to pay…
If you default on a 401(k) loan, the balance is usually treated as a taxable distribution. This may result in income taxes and, if you are under 59½, a 10% early withdrawal penalty. It can also reduce the amount you have available for retirement in the future. A financial advisor…
While some retirement plans allow in-service withdrawals, most discourage early access with penalties, taxes and missed growth potential. Before making a move that could undermine your long-term retirement goals, it helps to know the rules. A financial advisor can help you balance today’s needs with your long-term retirement goals.Can You…
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