Key takeaways Fidelity and Charles Schwab are industry standard-bearers for low-cost, high-quality, well-rounded brokerage offerings. Both offer a treasure trove of advice and education for newcomers and advanced trading tools for seasoned investors. Minor differences in product offerings will determine which broker best serves your needs. Fidelity is known for…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways Your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is the balance of your mortgage loan divided by the value of the property you’re buying, usually expressed as a percentage. A lower LTV ratio can help you get a lower interest rate on your mortgage. Lenders…
A weeklong Amazon boycott, driven by a viral grassroots movement’s call for an “economic blackout,” ended Friday. But the boycott seemed to have little impact on the price of Amazon (AMZN) stock throughout the week. After the boycott’s launch Friday, March 7, Amazon stock underwent a transient 2.12 percent dip,…
It’s Spring Break season and the weather is only starting to warm up across much of the country, but it’s actually now or never if you want to plan a summer trip. That’s particularly true if you’re hoping to score free travel with a credit card sign-up bonus. It pays…
Trending
Spotlight This Week
More Articles
Personal Finance
While there has been much conversation on not buying from companies with poor diversity, little has been said about investing…
Lifestyle inflation occurs when your expenses increase as you earn more income. It can start subtly—dining at pricier restaurants, upgrading…
Chime, the largest digital bank in America, grew its revenue to $1.7 billion in 2024, an increase of roughly 30%…
Technology has transformed some parts of the daunting homebuying process–making it easier to search and compare properties online, to prepare…
Featured Articles
Monty Rakusen/Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways A business equipment loan is designed specifically for buying equipment and is secured by the equipment itself Equipment loans can’t be used for any other business need Equipment leasing is another option, which could have lower…
Dept Managmnt
Key takeaways Social Security benefits are generally protected from creditors, but exceptions exist for federal debts, child support and legal judgments. The IRS…
Banking
Apple, FedEx and Oracle all got loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. But rules and red tape keep many banks from making…
Credit Cards
Key takeaways Adding authorized users to your business credit card account can make it easier for you to complete purchases and earn rewards…
All News
Key takeaways Usury laws set limits on the amount of interest lenders can charge on loans and are typically set at the state level. There is no federally mandated maximum interest rate for credit cards. For credit cards, the CARD Act offers various protections and provides more…
Flashpop/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways You can get a loan for a vacation home from a private lender. There are no government-backed loans for vacation homes. Qualifying for a vacation home loan is typically harder than qualifying to buy a primary residence, with stricter debt-to-income ratio, credit…
Investors were reminded of how volatile stocks can be in early March as stocks sold off due to concerns about how tariffs would impact the outlook for economic growth and inflation. Previous market darlings such as Tesla and Nvidia saw their shares fall about 50 percent and 30 percent, respectively,…
Key Takeaways APY stands for Annual Percentage Yield, which tells you how much interest you can expect to earn over one year. The APY offers a complete story of an account’s earning potential by using the interest rate and the compounding frequency. APY should be easy to find: The federal…
Key takeaways Equipment loans can be used to purchase large assets that could strain cash reserves Equipment loans are easy to qualify for and are offered through a variety of bank and online lenders. If you fail to pay your equipment loan on time, the lender may seize the equipment…
Should you buy the dip? The phrase “buy the dip” means jumping into the stock market after it’s fallen, hoping to scoop up some bargains while they’re available. It’s a popular rallying cry on social media after the market has plummeted, as traders come out and talk about their moves.…
Key takeaways Extended warranties typically cover significant repairs for systems like heating/air, engine, and brakes. Extended warranties may be helpful to luxury car owners or those who plan to keep their car for many years after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. The cost of an extended car warranty can range from $1,300…
Key takeaways Scams are on the rise globally making it important to do your due diligence when shopping for a personal loan. Promises that loan approval is guaranteed, especially with no credit check, is one of many different red flags to watch out for. Checking that a lender is registered…
Key takeaways Car prices, monthly payments, and insurance costs all rose during 2024. Good credit scores are key to securing good auto loan rates. APRs are decreasing for super prime and prime borrowers but rising for all other borrowers. Consumers should keep an eye on increased overall costs for new…
Key takeaways You can add a child to your car insurance by contacting your agent or adding a driver via an online portal or app. The average cost to add a driver under age 21 to an existing car insurance policy is $2,411 per year. Before adding a teen to…
Editor's Pick
