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Finding the best bank in America to fit your specific needs is crucial for building a solid foundation in your financial life. But with dozens of different banks operating in the U.S., how can you know which one is best suited for you? The answer is to compare each bank on the metrics that matter most: account options, fees and interest rates. Below you’ll find a comprehensive side-by-side analysis of TD Bank vs. Bank of America so you can make a smart, informed decision about where you should consider opening an account. Read More...
Sometimes renting can be just as difficult as homeownership. The most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the average renting household spends 29.9% of their income on rent. Over 10 million renting households spend at least 50% of their income on housing. But those are not the only struggles renters face. The threat of eviction looms for renters struggling to cover costs and many renters, especially in the most expensive cities, are forced into long commutes to find affordable accommodation. This leaves many renters unable to save for a mortgage or for retirement. Read More...
Buying a home is no small decision, but when it comes to building a home, the stakes are even higher. Between finding the right contracting company and figuring out your mortgage payments, building your home can quickly become a daunting task. But a construction loan, essentially a sum of money you get to finance your building costs, can help you manage this large financial undertaking. Whether you’re putting up a house from scratch or renovating, construction loans have quirks that differentiate them from a traditional mortgage. So before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you’re up to date on the basics of construction loans and how they work in practice. Read More...
The average American can expect to live nearly 79 years. That is a full 14 years after the typical retirement age of 65. While many Americans perhaps imagine themselves filling those 14 years of retirement in blissful leisure, many others decide to spend part of it working. If you are the type of retiree who knows they will be spending some time in retirement doing some extra work, you will want to make sure you settle down in a place with plenty of working opportunity for seniors. Read More...
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Editor's Picks
Dec 12, 2017 Gallup polls from 2014 show that the average American has 2.6 credit cards and it isn't hard to see why. Credit cards lessen the need for…
May 15, 2018 The first step towards getting financial help is recognizing that you need it. The second step is figuring out exactly why you need help.…
May 15, 2018 If you’re young and you're looking to purchase a new home to live in, maybe you should consider turning your first home into an investment…
Jun 09, 2017 If you’re looking to buy a home, you will most likely need a mortgage to pay for the home. Most people don't have enough cash on hand to…
Apr 05, 2017 Depending on how proactive you are about investing, you may or may not have heard the term tax-loss harvesting before. If you've only…
Data Articles and Studies
The fight for equal rights for working women remains an uphill battle. That’s one reason why about 3 million people around the world recently participated in women’s marches and thousands took part in demonstrations on International Women’s Day. An analysis from the Center of American Progress estimated that A Day Without a Woman could have cost the U.S. GDP $21 billion if every woman who worked outside the house went on strike. Read More...
Credit card complaints can be difficult to address. Sometimes credit card companies are hard to reach or it’s not clear who you should be complaining to. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, the federal government set up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to help protect consumers. The CFPB government agency helps consumers address complaints they have with banks, credit unions, credit card companies, payday lenders and other financial companies. Read More...
Home is where the heart is, so the saying goes. For homeowners, their home is also where they probably invested a large chunk of their money. In some places homeownership has proved to be a worthwhile investment, as the home values skyrocket. But in other places, depressed home values and high property taxes may have made owning a home less worth it. Read More...
Videos
Patrice Washington says she is an accidental personal finance blogger. Regardless, it’s a role she seems born to play, and one she’s certainly making the most of! Patrice is now much more than a personal finance blogger, she is a personal finance educator, author and advocate. You can see, hear and read Patrice pretty much everywhere from the Steve Harvey TV and radio show to her own books on personal finance. We caught up with Patrice in New Orleans for this edition of SmartAsset Talks. Read More...
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