Dan Rafter's blog

5 Questions to Ask Before You Borrow From Your Retirement Account

You need quick money, and money is exactly what you have sitting in a retirement account. Is it okay to borrow from it?

If your FICO score needs some TLC, these strategies will get it whipped into shape — ASAP.

If late loan payments have snowballed into default, don't panic. It's time to dust yourself off and get back on track.

The Fed raised its benchmark rate last December and — almost nothing changed? Now, just why, exactly?

Wait! Before you give your two-week notice, make sure you're leaving for the right reasons.

Perplexed by those three little numbers? Here's the breakdown of what exactly makes up your FICO score.

Don't just wing it. When credit card debt is piling up, one of these strategies can kick your repayment plan into high gear.

If only you knew! Real estate agents everywhere want you clued in to these basic home-buying and selling facts.

When you're looking for your new dream home, should you ever shift your gaze to a high-foreclosure neighborhood? Here's what you need to think about.

You may think that life gets a whole lot easier when the wealth pours in, but the grass isn't always greener.

You may have to live in a van down by the river, but if you have equity, you can erase a lot of consumer debt by selling your home.

If you find yourself the target of a civil lawsuit, don't panic. Understand what you need to do to protect yourself — and your money.

In the bustle of parenthood, new moms and dads often forget about these huge potential tax savings. Are you making the same mistake?

Tax day is almost here, and you may be tempted to pay Uncle Sam with plastic. But if you do, you're just trading cheap debt for expensive debt.

Put down the scissors, and step away from the plastic! You can catch up on credit card debt in much smarter ways than chopping up your cards.

New homeowners can get a leg up on their tax bill, so long as they remember to claim these huge deductions.

Ready to make a house a home? Get a leg up on a mortgage application by knowing what lenders are looking for.

Sure, you know what a 401K is, but what the heck is a 403B? Here's how they differ.

Working from home is not all pajamas and afternoon naps. If you want to keep your job, you actually have to work, too.

It's every taxpayer's worst fear, but it doesn't have to be if you're honest and you stick with these tax-prep basics.