Many permanent life insurance policies offer the unique benefit of building cash value in an interest-earning account. This could give you and your loved ones financial flexibility in the present while helping provide a greater lump sum for your beneficiaries. How does cash value life insurance work? Permanent life insurance is designed to build cash value by placing a small … Read more
It might seem unnecessary, especially if you’re young and healthy. Still, getting coverage early could help protect your future — and may be simpler and more affordable than you’d expect. In fact, getting life insurance at a young age could include benefits like lower rates, flexible options and comfort knowing there’s some cushion for anything in the future. If you’ve … Read more
It’s the perfect time to put fresh eyes on your finances. Ever checked your account balance and thought, Where did all my money go? You’re not alone. A well-structured budget doesn’t have to be about cutting back – it’s about gaining control, reducing stress, and working toward what matters, whether that’s paying down debt, saving for retirement, or (finally) taking … Read more
According to a recent WalletHub survey, nearly 3 in 4 people say their financial situation impacts their mental well-being, and 69% of Americans feel insecure about their finances. It is no wonder so many of us are tired of traditional “new year, new budget” advice. Financial wellness does not have to mean strict spreadsheets. It is about taking small, actionable steps to feel more in control. Do This: Review your spending patterns Not That: Start with a strict budget Take a week to observe how you … Read more
Update your system and delete any malware. The first thing you should do if your account gets hacked is to run an end-to-end antivirus scan. This means skipping the “quick scan” setting in favor of a deep scan to identify and eliminate not only all forms of malware (including Trojans and spyware to keyloggers that could be tracking your keystrokes … Read more
As you pull into that gas station, beware of credit card skimming and shimming scams at the gas pump. Skimmers are illegal credit card readers attached to payment terminals. These card readers grab data off a credit or debit card’s magnetic stripe when you swipe your card without your knowledge. Criminals sell the stolen data or use it to make … Read more
Paying off multiple credit cards is no small task, and can be rather daunting, for most people. The “debt snowball” is one method to tackle repayment that focuses on eliminating the smallest credit card balances first and as quickly as possible. Here’s how it works: Attack the smallest credit card debt by paying its entire balance or as much as … Read more
The loss of money, personal information, and perseverance of digital fraudsters continues, with online purchase scams being the riskiest. Add these five precautionary New Year’s resolutions to your list, to help stay safe when navigating the web or communicating online. I resolve to be cautious with email. Be wary of unsolicited emails from a person or a company. Remember, scammers … Read more
Getting an income tax refund can be both exciting and stressful, as you’ll have to decide what to do with it. Should you save it? Squander it? Your refund could make you feel rich and inspire you to splurge on unnecessary things. Instead, consider one of these nine savvy steps to turbocharge your financial security. Start an emergency fund. Even … Read more
We all know how easy it is to blow money on a big purchase. Buy an expensive home or car, and you soon might regret it. But it’s also easy to lose gobs of money a little at a time. That’s true whether you live paycheck to paycheck or you have money to burn. Here are some budget busters that … Read more
