Buying a house can often be an intense, emotional decision. But it's also one of the biggest purchases you will likely ever make, so it's important that you don't make a big mistake when you do. Here are some big mistakes to avoid: Not getting financing up front. Unless you are a cash [...]
While mortgage rates have risen slightly from their recent historic lows, they are still cheap. This may be a great time for you to take out a mortgage, whether it be for a new house or simply to refinance. Regardless of your knowledge and history with mortgages, it is easy to make mistakes. [...]
If you are looking to maximize your Social Security, the best time to start looking at it isn't once you've retired - it's right now. Here are a few steps: Understand how Social Security works. Your Social Security payout is figured by averaging your highest 35 years of work. If you work less [...]
The currency of the college years is good grades. Once you graduate, your credit score often dictates much of your financial path going forward. There are several entities who will look at your credit and potentially make decisions based on your history: Your Employer Insurance Companies Landlords Lenders So if you are just [...]
Changes from the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act mean the standard deduction is worth almost twice what it was before. So you may get more benefit from the standard deduction than from itemizing. To figure out whether you should itemize, you can search "How Much is Standard Deduction" at IRS.gov, or speak with [...]
