Key takeaways Homeowners insurance policies typically cover septic tank damage but only if the damage is caused by a peril not excluded by the policy. Damage to septic tanks due to poor installation, design or inadequate maintenance is not covered by homeowners insurance, but sudden events such as fires or…
Key takeaways The mortgage interest tax deduction allows you to deduct interest paid on up to $750,000 of eligible mortgage debt on your annual federal tax return, or up to $375,000 if married filing separately. The mortgage interest deduction also applies to the interest on HELOCs or home equity loans,…
Photography by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate If you’ve been watching mortgage rates hover near 7 percent this year, you’re probably feeling frustrated. The dream of homeownership feels more expensive than ever. And for many prospective buyers, purchasing when rates are high means stretching their budget, settling for less house…
Nopphon_1987/Shutterstock Key takeaways A car lien is placed on your car when you borrow money to purchase a vehicle. The lien enables the lender to keep the title until you have paid your loan off. To sell your car, you would need to receive a payoff amount and permission from…
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San Francisco-based Chime, the largest digital bank in America, wants to go public at a price between $24 and $26…
President Trump’s 2026 budget would freeze spending for many services for older adults, deeply cut others, continue his efforts to…
A practice of Elon Musk and Tesla’s board raises questions about the company’s governance and the possible low valuation that…
While there has been much conversation on not buying from companies with poor diversity, little has been said about investing…
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Key takeaways When a merchant accepts credit card payments, it pays an interchange fee charged by the credit card company to process each card transaction. Interchange fees can chip away at a merchant’s bottom line, with small purchases resulting in a loss in…
Dept Managmnt
Key takeaways Bankruptcy will impact your credit for a period of time, limiting your ability to borrow new loans. If you’ve been through…
Banking
For the fifth straight year, Forbes is partnering with market research firm Statista to rate insurance companies in the United States. But we…
Credit Cards
Key takeaways Adding authorized users to your business credit card account can make it easier for you to complete purchases and earn rewards…
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Drs Producoes/Getty Images Many different people refer to themselves as financial advisors, which can make it difficult to tell who is genuinely trying to do what’s best for you and who might be selling products or services that mostly enrich themselves. Finding a fiduciary financial advisor to work with can…
In early 2025, E-Trade launched a series of five no-fee index mutual funds, making it the second major online brokerage to offer no-cost funds, following Fidelity Investments. That’s good news for investors at E-Trade, and the move puts even further pressure on the costs of mutual funds and ETFs, both of…
Credit Sesame explores 10 potentially credit-building lifestyle choices, from payment strategies to account setup tips that can help support your credit health. Your credit score reflects more than just how you borrow. It also responds to how you manage bills, track spending, and make consistent financial decisions. When these actions…
Key takeaways If you’re looking for an entry-level travel card, the Discover it® Miles and Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card are two strong options. Both cards offer a flat 1.5X miles or points on every dollar spent with no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees, plus solid…
Annuities can be a solid tool for generating guaranteed income in retirement, but they’re not for everyone. Despite promises of financial peace of mind, annuities come with some big trade-offs. They’re complex, often expensive and restrict access to your funds. Before you tie up your money potentially for decades, it’s…
Florida drivers with marks on their license may be required to carry SR-22 insurance in order to be legal while behind the wheel. Despite the name, an SR-22 isn’t actually insurance itself, but rather is a certificate that states that you have the appropriate amount of insurance coverage. Your carrier…
Key takeaways A balance transfer credit card can help you pay off your debt faster and save money on interest, but you’ll usually pay a balance transfer fee for the privilege. Balance transfer credit cards offer advantages, including consolidating multiple payments, lowering total interest paid and paying…
For millions of aging adults, finding a practical, reliable way to fund long-term care is one of the biggest challenges of retirement planning. The options aren’t great. Many people assume Medicare will handle it — it won’t. Medicare, which typically starts at age 65, only covers costs at nursing homes…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways If you’ve had no offers, or solely lowball offers, it’s possible that buyers see your house as overpriced. Similarly, if your home has been on the market for longer than the local average, buyers may be seeing better value elsewhere.…
Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate Home equity rates are on an upward course again. In the most recent week, the average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) rose 13 basis points to 8.27 percent, close to the highest level we’ve seen since the beginning of…
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