Articles on Personal Finance

Bank-Based Small-Dollar Loans: An Alternative to Payday Loans

A recent pilot program conducted by the FDIC featured loans with terms designed to beat those offered by payday sharks. Hopefully we'll see these loans replicated.

Rethinking the 529 College Savings Plan Strategy

Since the 529 college savings plan offers both an investment and a tuition option, there's good reason to do both!

5 Signs That Your Credit Card Spending Is Out of Control

Credit cards can dominate your life (and ruin your budget) if you're not careful. Use these 5 warning signs to make sure you stay on top of your spending habits.

Questions and Answers on Life Insurance: Book Review and Money Saving Tips

Saving on life insurance without compromising your family’s future is doable with these tips and advice from life insurance expert Tony Steuer.

Co-Signing for a Loan: 4 Things to Consider First

Co-signing a loan for anyone, including your child or best friend, could affect your credit. What to know before you sign.

How to Build Wealth in a Depressed Economy

Recessions seem like they're just doom-and-gloom, but they can also be a great time to implement your wealth-building strategy.

Should Life Insurance Be Purchased as an Investment?

From term insurance to whole life, what you should know.

Share Your Thoughts: Consolidating Student Loans

What should one reader do to consolidate his student loan payments?

Credit Card Fraud and How to Avoid It

Credit card fraud affects thousands of people every year. During 2009, in the UK alone, £440.3 million was lost due to fraudulent actions on stolen or cloned credit cards.

Sick of Rebate Credit Cards? Read This to Get Cash

Annoyed by those plastic-wasting, annoying-to-use rebate credit cards? Learn how to turn the cards into cash.

U.S. Banks and the Tokyo Drift

A nation reeling from popped real estate and financial collapse mopes through a recession, its president urging calm. Just what country are we talking about?

What Stuxnet Means for Small Business

Cybercrime in general and Stuxnet in specific presents clear financial threats to you and your business.

Share Your Best Purchase Stories & Win $33,000 in Prizes

Win a trip for 6 to Napa Valley for a 5-day getaway, including travel, accommodations, gourmet meals, spa treatments, a hot-air balloon ride, limo tour, and a bunch of computers!

Why Retirees Are Using Annuities Instead of Early Social Security

Many senior citizens have become more interested in how annuities can fulfill their retirement investment goals.

6 Indirect Ways Taxes to the Rich May Hurt You

Should we extend the tax cuts for the rich? This may affect you more than you think, even if you aren't making $250,000 yet.

Guest Post: Now is the Time to Think Long-Term

I've got a guest post up at Get Rich Slowly on why now — when interest rates are very low — is the time to think long-term.

5 Things You Need to Know About Credit Scores

Over the past few years, consumers have been increasingly aware of the importance of a credit score. It is a good idea to learn as much you can about this important number.

Sinking Dollar: This Time on Purpose

The Fed wants to keep the inflation rate up around 2%, because their efforts to boost the economy only get traction when they can push interest rates well below the inflation rate.

I'm Financially Free. Now What?

We spend our whole life trying to reach our retirement goal. What do we do when we actually reach it? Here are some suggestions that anyone can and should follow.

Basic Tips for Investing in a Business

Investment is that exercise of applying your money in a particular endeavor, for the pursuit of growing one's money. We cover some basic tips for investing in a business.