Shopping for your dream house? There are many considerations when looking at real estate, like property taxes, school district, the appeal of the neighborhood—and, of course, the bottom line. Don’t overlook the financial implications of homeowners insurance as part of your overall investment. Use this guide to help think through all the costs associated with … Read more

If you rent a house or apartment and experience a fire or other disaster, your landlord’s insurance will only cover the costs of repairing the building. To financially protect yourself you will need to buy renters or tenants insurance. Renters insurance protections Like homeowners insurance, renters insurance includes three key types of financial protection:  Coverage for … Read more

Saving money feels good. And shopping around when you’re looking for insurance coverage is a great way to do it. However, simply reducing your coverage or dropping important coverages altogether is like diet without exercise—focused only on numbers, not on results. Don’t risk ending up dangerously underinsured and on the hook for much bigger bills … Read more

A Tax Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) is a loan made by a lender that is based on an anticipated federal income tax refund. Tax refund loans are offered starting in January through the end of the tax season in April. Taxpayers are generally charged fees and interest to obtain a tax refund loan. The full … Read more

There Are Two Different Types of Loans Secured loans and unsecured loans. Understanding the differences between the two is an important step in achieving financial literacy, and can have a long-term effect on your financial health. Basically, a secured loan requires borrowers to offer collateral, while an unsecured loan does not. This difference affects your interest rate, … Read more