Do you know your tax bracket? Even if you do, are you clear on what it means for the taxes you’ll pay. Real quick: Your tax rate is the percentage of income you pay in taxes, but it isn’t the same for all the money you earn. Different portions of…

With retirees facing a double whammy of inflation and tariffs driving up the cost of everything, many are looking for ways to stretch their dollars. One way to do this for those with health savings accounts is to tap your HSA to help pay your Medicare premiums. There seems to…

Gold (GC=F) futures opened at $3,990.10 per ounce on Friday, up 1.1% from Thursday’s close of $3,946.30. Friday’s opening price is 1.5% below gold’s all-time high price of $4,049.20, achieved Wednesday. Gold’s slight pullback follows confirmation of a ceasefire and hostage release in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The…

Precious metals are in high demand. Although gold has historically been the headlining investment metal, silver, platinum, and palladium are quickly becoming popular portfolio diversifiers. Here’s what you need to know about investing in these precious metals, organized into three easy, action-oriented steps. Learn more: How to start investing: A…

People say about investing, “Buy low, sell high.” Seems simple enough. But the bigger question is, “When?” And that’s what complicates things: the difficulty of timing the market, the impossible task of knowing exactly when to buy low or sell high. Fortunately, the dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy offers a solution.…

See which banks are currently paying the highest CD rates. If you’re looking for a secure place to store your savings, a certificate of deposit (CD) may be a great choice. These accounts often provide higher interest rates than traditional checking and savings accounts. However, CD rates can vary widely.…

The current average HELOC rate is 7.75%, according to the analytics company Curinos. This is the lowest rate on home equity lines of credit so far in 2025. The highest average rate was 8.06% in January. HELOC rates have been steadily decreasing, so it could be a good time to…

Mortgage rates have ticked down this week. According to Freddie Mac, the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has decreased by four basis points to 6.30%, putting it at 41 basis points below the 52-week average. The 15-year rate is down by two basis points to 5.53%, and it’s 35…

Find out if now is the right time to put your money in a savings account. The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate three times in late 2024 and recently announced its first rate cut of 2025. As a result, deposit interest rates are falling from their historic highs.…

You may want to refinance when mortgage rates drop or you have a significant amount of home equity. However, before starting the process, it is essential to understand the pros and cons. Refinancing your mortgage means trading in your original home loan with a new one. And while this process…