The average household with revolving credit card debt had a balance of $21,083 as of March 2024. With the average credit card annual percentage rate sitting at 27.65%, it represents an expensive way to fund spending.

With international stock markets comprising about 40 percent of the world's capitalization as of 2023, a broad range of investment opportunities exist outside the borders of the U.S.

In the world of personal finance, it’s not just about how much you earn; it’s about how you manage what you have. Whether you’re fresh out of college, eyeing retirement, or somewhere in between, developing strong financial habits is critical for long-term success.

While the vast majority of insurance companies use credit-based insurance scores to help determine the price of insurance, it is banned in the states of Massachusetts, Michigan, Hawaii, and California. Some states only allow it as a factor for property insurance like auto and homeowners insurance. Other states allow it to be used with any type of insurance.1

From email accounts to bank accounts, online shopping to online stock trading, you have many passwords to create and remember. Life would be easier if they were all the same. Or if they all came to mind quickly—like your child’s name or birthday. But just as those are simple for you to remember, they’re fairly simple for a scammer to figure out and use to drain your savings or steal your identity.

Some of the biggest challenges many face when it comes to education are financial. Luckily, a 529 college saving plan can help.

In the past, retirement has been portrayed as an ending, a grand exit from your years in the workplace. But the rules are shifting.

Buying a home is the single-largest financial commitment most people ever make. And sorting through mortgages involves a lot of critical choices.

Whether retirement is right around the corner or decades away, being strategic about investing and saving for that time can help set you up for a comfortable lifestyle once you stop working.

It doesn’t take a degree in finance to see that the cost of college continues to rise. In its 2023 report, the College Board showed that in-state tuition and fees at private non-profit four-year institutions increased by 5% in inflation-adjusted dollars between the 2013-14 and 2023-24 school years.

Thirty-nine percent of Americans do not own any stocks or stock-related investments, according to a recent Gallup poll.¹ Individuals may cite different reasons for not investing, but with important long-term financial goals, such as retirement, in the balance, the reasons may not be good enough.

Who among us wants to pay the IRS more taxes than we have to? While few may raise their hands, Americans regularly overpay because they fail to take tax deductions for which they are eligible.

How can you get closer to achieving your financial goals? According to a recent report from Boston research firm Cerulli Associates, the number of Americans willing to pay for financial advice has increased from 38 percent in 2009 to 63 percent in 2022.

Bring this list of talking points to your annual meeting with your financial advisor to ensure that you cover everything you want to discuss for the coming year.

By following this advice now, you’ll have the resources and information you need to start on the path to recovery as soon as possible after an unexpected crisis.

Learn all about the basics of trusts, including their pros and cons, to help determine whether establishing one would be beneficial for your financial needs.