Key takeaways A collision deductible waiver (CDW) is an optional endorsement that covers your deductible if you’re hit by an uninsured driver and must use your collision coverage instead of their liability insurance to file a claim. CDWs may not cover certain types of situations, such as hit-and-runs, partial-fault accidents…
You may be well into your career by age 35 but still years away from retirement, making it a common checkpoint for assessing your 401(k) progress. According to Fidelity, the average 401(k) balance for people in their mid-to-late thirties was $73,200 at the end of 20241. But averages don’t tell…
Nitat Termmee/Getty Images Key takeaways Whole life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance policy designed to provide coverage for the entirety of your life — technically to a maximum age of 95 to 121 — as long as you pay the premiums. The cost of whole life insurance…
Key takeaways Items that are difficult or impossible to replace, such as important documents and family heirlooms, are ideal for safe deposit boxes. It is not advisable to store items that may be needed quickly or in an emergency in a safe deposit box. Safe deposit boxes are not insured…
Spotlight This Week
More ArticlesPersonal Finance
Many people in economics, finance, business, and regular consumer life have been waiting for the forecast inflation, the tariff shock,…
San Francisco-based Chime, the largest digital bank in America, wants to go public at a price between $24 and $26…
The Trump administration is clamping down on federal student loan defaults; at the same time, Republican lawmakers in Congress just…
A practice of Elon Musk and Tesla’s board raises questions about the company’s governance and the possible low valuation that…
Featured Articles
Key takeaways Payday loans are a form of predatory lending with exorbitant interest rates and short repayment periods, making them a risky option for emergency cash. There are safer alternatives to payday loans, such as taking out a personal loan, using an advance or opening…
Dept Managmnt
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate When you’re working hard to build financial security, deciding to spend thousands of dollars on a…
Banking
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK JPMorgan Chase notified fintech data aggregators that, starting later this year, it plans to charge for access…
Credit Cards

All News
Key takeaways The typical minimum amount to open a jumbo CD is $100,000, although some jumbos require a minimum of $95,000, even less. Although many jumbo CDs offer competitive APYs, there are many standard CDs that earn higher yields than jumbos, so it’s important to compare rates. Depositing a large…
With the economy on many Americans’ minds, you may have questions about two hot topics and how they’re related — tariffs and credit card debt. Recently, President Donald Trump announced tariffs ranging from 10 to 41 percent on imports from dozens of countries, the latest in a flurry of tariff…
Key takeaways The best time to refinance is when your credit score or overall financial situation has improved. Generally, you should aim to either lower your interest rate or your monthly payment — preferably both. Avoid refinancing when auto loan rates are high or if you won’t be able to…
Key takeaways Borrowing is only available on permanent life insurance policies, such as whole or universal life, not on term policies. Borrowing from your life insurance policy requires no credit checks or approvals, making it simple and hassle-free. If not paid off, interest will accumulate over time, and any unpaid…
I found it funny — and a bit scary — when I noticed Halloween decorations on the shelves beside the back-to-school section of the local grocery store last week. The ghosts and goblins smiled mockingly at me, reminding me of the days when I experienced the horror of another school…
Option trading can deliver tremendous profits, but the flip side of those gains is the potential for tremendous losses, since option trading is a zero-sum game. Those who are just getting started with options need to be particularly careful, because option strategies can be complex. Options offer what often looks like…
Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images Key takeaways The best high-yield savings account rate today is 4.35% APY. The highest rates are more than seven times greater than the national average savings account rate. The Federal Reserve has held its benchmark rate steady so far in 2025. As a result, high-yield savings account…
Whether you are in the market for buying or selling a car, or you’re just curious about how much your vehicle is worth, it’s helpful to understand how to calculate car value. It may take a little research to find an accurate price, but there are multiple online resources that…
Key takeaways Overheated pandemic housing markets are cooling fast, particularly across the Sun Belt, according to Bankrate’s 2025 Housing Heat Index. Four of the five coldest housing markets this year are in Florida, including Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton and Naples-Marco Island. The five hottest housing markets in…
Key Takeaways The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases, making it one of the best flat-rate cards available. This card also features an easy-to-earn welcome bonus, a cellphone protection benefit and introductory APR offers on both purchases and qualifying balance transfers. You’ll also…
Editor's Pick
