Investing News

Ahead of fresh data on new home sales and home prices this week, there are signs that new homebuyers are backing out of sales. Amid higher interest rates and a softening housing market, home purchase cancellations were above 15% for the second straight month. Last month about 64,000 agreements or 15.2% were cancelled, compared to

The Series 6 is a securities license entitling the holder to register as a company’s representative and sell certain types of mutual funds, variable annuities, and insurance. Holders of the Series 6 license are not authorized to sell corporate or municipal securities, direct participation programs, and options. With Series 6, an individual can purchase or sell

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is a fund that invests in the stocks of some of the largest companies within the United States. Vanguard’s (VOO) is an exchange traded fund (ETF) that tracks the S&P 500 index by owning all of the equities within the S&P. An index is a hypothetical portfolio of stocks

What Is Credit Repair? Credit repair is a process for rebuilding your credit and improving your credit score after they’ve been damaged by poor credit habits, financial setbacks, identity theft, or credit reporting errors. While bogus credit repair offers are a favorite ploy of scam artists, the process itself is legal. There are legitimate credit

The FOMC’s dot plot, which is perhaps the most boring but the most terrifying chart in economics and investing right now, is the summary of where members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) expect the federal funds rate to be over the next three years. It’s an estimate, not a mandate. Still, the most

Credit repair involves removing or correcting inaccurate information from your credit report to provide a fair and complete picture of your finances, taking steps to boost your credit score, and resolving to avoid credit problems in the future. You can do this yourself or hire a company that specializes in credit repair to do it

If you are overwhelmed by your debts, you’re not alone. The average American has more than $92,000 in debt, including credit cards, student loans, and personal loans.  If you’re struggling to pay off your balances, one option is to work with a nonprofit credit counseling agency and enroll in a debt management plan. With this

Money Market Fund vs. Money Market Account (MMA) vs. Savings Account: An Overview  You may be wondering where you should keep the money that you’ve started to accumulate. Some of the most popular options are money market funds, money market accounts (MMAs), and regular savings accounts. All three are highly liquid places to park cash,

Credit repair companies offer to help consumers improve their credit scores in return for a fee. Some are legitimate businesses, while others are little more than scams. Here is what a credit repair company can, and can’t, do for you. Key Takeaways Legitimate credit repair companies can help you remove inaccurate information from your credit

When investors think of a multinational e-commerce company, Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) is the name that generally first comes to mind. The company, which initially opened as an online bookstore, has been at the forefront of online commerce for the better part of two decades. However, traditional brick-and-mortar discount retailer Walmart Inc. (WMT) has been keeping pace online

The outsized Baby Boomer generation, named for the big increase in birth rates after World War II, has always made waves. The Boomers’ golden years will be no different. Born between 1946 and 1964, this vast cohort came of age in the 1960s and 1970s and began to qualify for Social Security benefits in 2008.

Social Security is a federal benefits program in the United States that was founded in 1935. While the program also includes disability income, it is most commonly associated with monthly retirement benefits paid out until death. The Social Security system is funded through payroll taxes. The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) mandates a 12.4% levy

The solar business is getting hit by declining prices of photovoltaic cells. Here’s a look at how two of the big players in the solar energy industry, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) owned Solar City and First Solar, Inc. (FSLR), are stacked against each other in this intensely competitive field. SolarCity’s Dominance in U.S. Residential Market SolarCity

Private vs. Federal College Loans: An Overview While a college education is a priority for many people, the ever-increasing cost threatens to push it out of financial reach. If you don’t have the savings to cover the cost of a college education, check out loan options. Key Takeaways You can obtain a student loan through

Keep An Eye On These Coins The previous week in the crypto market has not been eventful as the one, at least in terms of prices. The news of interest rate hikes and generally portentous economic outlooks have led to markets all over the world slowing down. The ever-looming threat of a recession has also

Marriott has launched two new credit cards, albeit with most of the same features, through its partners Chase and American Express. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase offer better rewards rates than the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, enhanced elite status, and a bonus every time

Mortgage rates are still on a tear, climbing more than eight-tenths of a percentage point in just two weeks. The steep ascent has raised the flagship 30-year average to nearly 7%. Today’s National Mortgage Rate Averages Rates on 30-year mortgages bolted still higher Friday, adding another 23 basis points to approach 7% for the first

Student loan forgiveness programs can make repaying education debt on a teacher’s salary easier. There are several programs that offer federal student loan forgiveness just for educators. “Teachers have more loan forgiveness opportunities than almost any other occupation and taking advantage of these easy-to-enroll-in programs can save hard-working teachers hundreds to thousands of dollars,” says

What Is the Glass-Steagall Act? The Glass-Steagall Act, passed in 1933, forced commercial banks to refrain from investment banking activities in order to protect depositors from potential losses caused by bank speculation in stocks. Glass-Steagall was largely repealed in 1999 although some parts of it remain, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which guarantees bank

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) own a basket of properties, ranging from malls to movie theaters, apartment buildings to office parks, hotels to hospitals. A REIT may specialize in a certain real estate sector, or it may diversify into a variety of property types. Investing in REITs is appealing for several reasons, especially for income-oriented