When you borrow money, you agree to pay it back with interest. The lender usually sets the interest. On loan documents, it’s often expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR). If you’re about to get a credit card, take out a loan, or otherwise borrow …
Category: Financial Wellness
Many people think that the more you have in a savings account, the better. But that’s not necessarily true. It’s important to keep enough in your account to cover unexpected expenses, but having too much means you might be missing out on higher returns…
If you’re shopping around for loans, you might notice that some have a “fixed rate” and others have a “variable rate.” A variable-rate loan may start with a lower rate than a fixed-rate loan, which can make it a more appealing option. When money’…
Borrowing money can feel simple right up until the fine print starts throwing terms at you, such as “APR,” “loan term,” “principal” and “interest.” Suddenly, what seemed straightforward starts feeling like a pop quiz you didn’t study for. Let’s l…
A credit card statement can feel pretty harmless until you notice the fine print. One number, usually tucked off to the side, changes everything: the APR (annual percentage rate). The APR, affects how quickly a balance grows, how long it takes to pay o…
Sometimes, unexpected expenses show up at the worst possible time. In situations like this, many people start looking into how to do a cash advance on a credit card as a quick way to access money. While it can provide fast cash, it’s important to…
Nobody plans to fall behind on payments. But life happens, and when it does, unexpected expenses or emergencies can make it difficult to keep up with bills. When a lender begins collection efforts, understanding how debt recovery works gives you the kn…
If you’ve ever wondered why your tax bill looks different each year, you’re not alone. Every year, many Americans go through tax season feeling the same sense of uncertainty about what they owe. And that’s usually because the Internal Revenue Service (…
If you’re wondering what happens to your 401(k )when you leave a job, the short version is that the money usually stays put until you decide what to do with it. The harder part is figuring out which choice protects the most of what you already saved. T…
Car loans are secured debt. Almost every auto loan you get from a dealer, bank, credit union, or online lender is secured by the vehicle itself. What Secured vs. Unsecured Actually Means Secured debt is backed by an asset, called collateral, that…