Alerts and News

How to boost 401(k) contributions on autopilot

A 401(k) plan is only as good as the money you contribute to it. That’s why, if your employer offers an auto-escalation plan, you should consider taking full advantage. Here’s what you should know about this savings-boosting tool.

A study found retirees regret not saving more.

According to a new report from Lincoln Financial Group, your golden years might be marred by regret about one thing: saving.

The new study of more than 1,400 retirees found that a vast majority wished they had started their retirement nest egg earlier and had contributed more to it than they did. 

A Primer on Private Mortgage Insurance in the U.S.

Do one thing: Thinking of buying a home in the next few years? Set up a meeting with a lender to get an idea of how much you’ll need to save to qualify for a mortgage. As for additional costs over and above the primary mortgage.

Mortgage insurance – sometimes called Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI for short — may not be what you think it is, or cover what you think it should. So if you are in the market to buy a new home – or maybe in the next few years – it’s good to know how this form of protection could potentially impact your ability to get a loan and how much your monthly loan payments may be.

Make sure your portfolio is allocated correctly with your goals.

Believe it or not, we’re halfway through the year. That means now is a good time to review your investment portfolio. If things are off, you have some time left in the year to get everything headed in the right direction. Here’s what you should know about portfolio reviews.

Why chasing credit card rewards may not be a good idea.

Credit card rewards are great, but only if you use them wisely.

If you’re deep in debt but still chasing points, it’s not an optimal financial move. Yet many Americans are doing just that. Let’s discuss credit card rewards and why they aren’t always the best thing.

Inexpensive ways to boost curb appeal.

For home sellers, spring is the time to get motivated. If you want to get the most bang for your buck and increase your home’s value, start with improving curb appeal. You want buyers to be immediately impressed with your home and make an offer. Here are some cost-effective ways to boost your house’s curb appeal.

Missing a credit card payment isn’t the end of the world. If you’ve missed one payment by a few days, you can often get your credit card provider to waive any fees by citing your history as a good customer and reaching out to them directly. But if you’ve missed multiple payments for long periods of time — think a month or two — your credit will take a hit. Here are some ways to rebuild your credit score, should that ever happen.

Financial abuse is not as well known as other types of abuse, but it is no less devastating. Financial abuse occurs when an abuser gains power by restricting a victim’s access to money. Here’s everything you should know about this issue.

Calculating personal finance ratios is a good way to get an overall picture of your financial health. Here are some ratios that you should track.

Hard inquiries on your credit report can hurt your credit score.

That’s why you must check your reports regularly for inaccuracies. If you find a false inquiry, you must remove it immediately to prevent your score from plummeting for no reason.