1. A 401(k) offers three compelling benefits. A 401(k) represents a way to reduce your taxable income since contributions come out of your pay before taxes are withheld; many plans include a matching contribution from your employer; and the money you save benefits from tax-deferred growth, which lets your money compound more quickly than it

Home equity loans allow you to borrow against the value of your home. These loans appeal to borrowers who find that they can borrow relatively large amounts of money, and they’re easier to qualify for than other types of loans (because they are secured by your house). If your home is worth more than you

Don’t ignore your mortgage problem. If you are unable to pay–or haven’t paid–your mortgage, contact your lender or the company that collects your mortgage payment as soon as possible. Mortgage lenders want to work with you to resolve the problem, and you may have more options if you contact them early. Call the phone number

  We live in an express-line society: we want money, goods, and services to be quickly and easily accessible. Conveniences like debit cards and online accounts can seem like the lifelines which make this all possible, but they can also come at a price. You need to protect yourself–and your checking account–by knowing some of

If you need money to meet basic expenses, fund your wedding or take a vacation, you’ve probably considered getting a personal loan – a loan where you don’t put up any collateral, such as your house or your car, that the lender can repossess if you default. Because the lender has no guarantee for the

Many people use online banking to check their account balances or to transfer funds between accounts. But if you’re not using your online bank account to consolidate and pay your bills, you’re missing out on the best part! How Does Online Bill Pay Work? How online bill pay works is pretty simple: You enter a

Start the Countdown It wasn’t that long ago that an account deposit or withdrawal required a visit to your bank to complete the transaction. Banking was inconvenient and time consuming. Today, we have lots of options when it comes to financial transactions. Mobile banking is an increasingly popular way to monitor and manage your money. But

If you are planning on applying for secured loans in the future, no doubt you will want to be sure that you can find the best rates possible. The rates that you get on your loan are very important and getting lower rates can save you a great deal of money over the life of

It happens to everyone. The old clunker gasps its last smokey gasp at the side of the road, and you’re left to face a sickening reality – you need some new wheels. The ads on television all scream in your ear, “New Car! New Car! New Car!” A shiny, clean new car does sound appealing,

If you receive a collection notice concerning an account that is unfamiliar to you, you should not ignore it.  Someone may have stolen your identity and used it to fraudulently obtain credit in your name.  This happened to me in 1998. The scheme generally works as follows. Someone, likely part of a ring, gets ahold