How to get the best mortgage rates as 30-year fixed nears 1-year low
The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage notched its biggest one-day drop in more than a year on Friday. Although mortgage rates are now at their lowest level since October, the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is still just around 6.29%, according to Mortgage News Daily — a big leap from the under […]
How to maximize the $40,000 limit for 2025
Milan Markovic | E+ | Getty Images President Donald Trump‘s “big beautiful bill” raised the limit on the federal deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT, and there are ways to maximize it for 2025, experts say. If you itemize tax breaks, you can claim the SALT deduction, which includes state and local […]
How beauty expenses affect your finances
Katie Gatti Tassin Courtesy: Katie Gatti Tassin There are many unique hurdles that women face when it comes to money, such as the wage gap and caregiving responsibilities. Yet, there’s another challenge in women’s financial lives that is less-discussed — beauty costs, which can be an “insidious force in women’s financial lives,” said Katie Gatti […]
How to raise money savvy kids in a world of instant gratification
Smiling teen girl holds credit card and searching what to buy online Stockplanets | E+ | Getty Images In the age of instant gratification where Gen Alpha has easy access to instant delivery services like Amazon Prime and Uber Eats, some parents are wondering how to teach the young money-saving skills. Born between 2010 and […]
How to protect financial assets amid immigration raids, deportations
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detain a man after conducting a raid at the Cedar Run apartment complex in Denver, Colorado, U.S., Feb. 5, 2025. Kevin Mohatt | Reuters A spate of federal immigration enforcement raids from Los Angeles to New York has sparked demonstrations and rallies around the country, leading to mass arrests and […]
How to recover financially as school year ends
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc | DigitalVision | Getty Images It’s officially “Maycember,” a term making the rounds on social media to sum up the chaos and high costs of May — which mimic those of December, minus the holiday cheer. Although May is typically a month of endings and new beginnings, inflation and social pressure […]
How to pay college tuition bills with your 529 plan
Largely due to President Donald Trump‘s changing tariff policies, markets have been on a rollercoaster ride since April. Although the S&P 500 has largely rebounded from last month’s lows, some families who have been diligently saving for future college costs may still see their 529 college savings plan balance hasn’t fully recovered. For those with tuition […]
This common issue can lead to a fear of success
I started working in finance as a bank teller when I was 21 years old. Surrounded by ambitious colleagues and wealthy clients, I was inspired to take more control of my money. I learned everything I could, picking up books about financial education, building my credit and focusing on my savings. I did not grow […]
Here’s how to leverage tax-loss harvesting amid tariff volatility
Sean Anthony Eddy | E+ | Getty Images Amid stock market volatility, many investors are seeking portfolio protection. But they could be missing a prime tax planning opportunity, experts say. The strategy, known as tax-loss harvesting, is selling losing assets from a brokerage account to offset other investing gains to lower taxes. Losses are […]
Here’s who qualifies and how to claim it
Coroimage | Moment | Getty Images If you worked remotely in 2024, you may be eyeing the home office deduction. However, qualifying for the tax break may be harder than you expect, experts say. Only 7% of companies allowed fully remote work in 2024, down from 21% in 2023, according to a ZipRecruiter survey that […]