Personal Finance

Refinancing your student loans seems like a no brainer. But is it always a good idea?

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

If you need money in a hurry, there are numerous ways to get it. But many quick loan options come with serious drawbacks.

By Patrick J. Kiger

A personal loan is a great way to pay for small-scale home renovations, but for bigger jobs, a home equity loan or line of credit may be a better option.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Lenders don't ask your reason for wanting one, but our experts discuss some typical motivations for taking out a personal loan.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Taking out a personal loan can be a great way to fulfill a short-term goal or finance a dream, but there are definitely some mistakes to avoid.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Personal loans generally are installment loans that can be obtained without collateral. They have many uses and may be cheaper than running up a big credit card balance.

By Patrick J. Kiger

You might be confused by the difference between term and whole insurance, as well as all the other life insurance products out there. Or whether you even need life insurance in the first place.

By Dave Roos

"How low will my new interest rate be?" is not the only question to ask before you refinance your mortgage. Here are five others you should think about.

By Alia Hoyt

So you have homeowners insurance, but do you know exactly what you will need in order to file a claim when the time comes?

By Patrick J. Kiger

The annual cost of homeowners insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars and depend on many different factors. How can you save money on this necessary expense?

By Patrick J. Kiger

You'd like to take advantage of the low interest rates out there to refinance your mortgage, but your credit is less than stellar. Is it worth even trying to refinance?

By Alia Hoyt

Homeowners insurance generally is required only if you have a mortgage on your home. But even when your home is paid off, you'd be wise to maintain coverage.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Need some extra cash to take care of some debts? You could tap into your home equity through a cash-out mortgage refinance. But what are the pros and cons?

By Alia Hoyt

Many people think the only life insurance payout option is a lump sum after the insured person dies, but there are actually many choices out there. We look at some of them.

By Dave Roos

Do you have to have a relationship with the person, or can it be any old Joe?

By Dave Roos

Life insurance is one of those adult-type things that everyone needs to think about, but not everyone needs to buy. Do you need life insurance and, if so, how much?

By Dave Roos

How much you pay for life insurance can vary on tons of factors, including your age, gender and even your favorite hobbies.

By Dave Roos

Many people don't write checks anymore - or didn't grow up having to fill them out. Still, there are times when the old check is the most convenient (or only) method of payment. So how do you fill one out?

By Nathan Chandler

Even if you have no need for a checkbook, you still need your bank's routing number to set up online payment. So where do you find it?

By Nathan Chandler

Not all Social Security services are available online. And you don't have to be over 65 to visit the office either.

By Dave Roos

U.S. Federal law mandates that you get a free credit report each year through a government website. But lots of copycat websites have sprung up offering the same information for a charge. How can you be sure you're on the right page?

By Dave Roos

Americans didn't always pay income taxes. When did that start and what was behind the creation of the IRS?

By Dave Roos & Jane McGrath

While many Americans have seen their tax refunds go down under the new tax laws, we have some strategies to increase your tax refund.

By Dave Roos & Denise Harrison

Taxpayers in the U.S. were accustomed to taking a personal deduction off their taxes for themselves and their dependents. But the tax reform laws have eliminated that. So, will their taxes go up or down?

By Dave Roos

In good times and bad, dollar stores seem to thrive. But how are they are able to make so much money selling things so cheaply?

By Dave Roos