Best Mobile Banking Apps 2024

Mobile banking is a necessity for many consumers. What used to be novel is now the norm, with most banks and credit unions offering an app that allows customers to monitor their finances from their mobile devices. In 2019 the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) conducted a survey, How America Banks: Household Use of Banking … Read more

How To Open A Bank Account Online

Gone are the days of being required to visit a local bank branch to open a new account. With the rise of mobile apps, web platforms, and online-only banks, it’s now easier and faster than ever to open a bank account online without leaving home. Here’s a guide to opening an account online, what you’ll … Read more

Best Life Insurance Companies 2024

You have many choices when it comes to life insurance. These range from companies already around when Abraham Lincoln was president to modern day insuretechs built on 21st Century digital technology. Sorting through your options can be a challenge. We’ve reviewed a variety of life insurers to help you make a more informed decision. Best … Read more

What Is a Defined-Benefit Plan?

A defined-benefit plan, commonly known as a traditional pension plan, is a retirement plan funded by an employer that calculates employee benefits based on a formula that takes into account several factors, including age, employee’s salary, and length of employment. Defined-benefit pension plans, which still exist in some public-sector jobs, were common in the private … Read more

What Is a Checking Account?

Checking accounts lie at the center of our financial lives, acting as the primary account where paychecks and other funds come in and where bills and other expenses exit. Like a security checkpoint at an airport, everything passes through no matter where it’s going to or coming from. Because checking accounts are so important, it’s … Read more

How Long Does It Take to Refinance a House?

If you’re like many homeowners, a sizable percentage of your budget goes toward your home loan each month. A mortgage refinance could help make those payments more manageable by lowering your interest rate, changing your loan term, or eliminating mortgage insurance. You could also tap your home equity with a cash-out refinance, which lets you … Read more

What Is an Accredited Investor?

Certain alternative investments—such as hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital—aren’t available to anyone with an investment account. This is because they’re generally not registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If you’d like to invest in these things, you’ll likely need accredited investor status first. However, you can’t just sign up to … Read more

Best Mortgage Lenders for 2024

A home mortgage is one of the biggest loans that most people will ever take out, allowing them to buy a home with a repayment term that can last multiple decades. Because a mortgage (and its terms) will likely follow you for many years to come, it’s important to choose the right lender from the … Read more