- What Is a Prepaid Debit Card?
You’ve probably received a Visa, MasterCard or American Express gift card at some point. Or, you’ve bought one yourself. Prepaid cards can be found in the checkout line at the gas station or even in your mail as a reward… read more…
- What Is a Money Market Account?
Offering a higher interest rate than a regular savings account with the accessibility of a checking account, a money market account is a great place to stash your emergency savings. The hybrid kind of account has been an option since the 1980s… read more…
- What Is a Wire Transfer?
Perhaps you’ve found yourself in a situation (or two) where you needed to send or receive money as soon as possible. Whether it’s legal trouble, a large medical bill or an urgent trip, it’s not always easy to transfer money… read more…
- What Is the Average Checking Account Balance?
Chances are, you’re pretty intimate with your checking account. This type of account is typically used for regular spending. You may even move money in and out of it multiple times a day. The best checking accounts are affordable to maintain,… read more…
- What Is the Average Savings Account Balance?
Most of us rely on financial instruments to keep our savings safe, but it can be hard to know if you’re saving enough. Evaluating the average savings account balance across the country is a good start. Using data from the… read more…
- What Is a Credit Union?
A credit union is a lot like a bank, but with one big difference. It’s not for profit. So it’s not taxed. In theory, this allows it to pay higher interest rates to savers and charge lower interest rates to… read more…
- The Most In-Demand Jobs in the U.S.
The job market can change quickly. The decline in manufacturing jobs was a focus during the 2016 presidential election and the BLS projects some jobs like data entry keyers will be in serious decline by 2026. To stay ahead of these trends, and to make sure your savings account never runs dry, it’s a good… read more…
- Lauren (Greutman) Cobello: Savings Advice From a Recovering Spender
Lauren (Greutman) Cobello is dedicated to helping others save money. Saving is something that financial coach Cobello struggled with for years. Her inability to save led to $40,000 of debt. But through dedication and simple changes, Cobello and her husband… read more…
- The Best Places for Working Women – 2017 Edition
One constant in the U.S. economy over the past 40 years has been the ascendency of women in the work place. In 1976 the number of men in the workforce was about 47% higher than the number of women (57.1 million to 38.9 million). By 2016 that number had dropped to almost 14% (84.7 million… read more…
- AJ Smith: Everything You Need to Know
AJ Smith didn’t always focus on personal finance. She liked to work and earn money – that was about as far as she planned. But over the course of her career, she came to see just how important personal finance is.… read more…
- Occupations With the Largest and Smallest Income Growth
People advise you to do what you love. But sometimes doing what you love doesn’t pay your mortgage bills. Of course, it’s possible to combine your interests with a career with solid earning potential. With that in mind, SmartAsset took a… read more…
- U.S. Cities With the Fastest-Growing Incomes
The unemployment rate in the U.S. hit 4.2% in September 2017, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the lowest it’s been in a decade, since the start of the Great Recession. While a low unemployment rate is important, rising incomes matter more for American families. SmartAsset examined the most recent income data to… read more…
- What Are the Different Types of Bank Accounts?
You have some money that you want to put in the bank. What type of bank account should you put it in to make sure you get the most bang for your buck? It can get confusing with all the… read more…
- 10 Money Management Tips to Know
Money management is a tricky subject. For many, the topic’s accompanied with a feeling of apprehension. Maybe you’ve put off saving for retirement for a bit too long. Or, perhaps you’re worried about not having an emergency savings cushion. Whatever… read more…
- Here’s How Male and Female Millennials Spend Money
Whether it’s $14 avocado toasts, $5 lattes or $1,000 iPhone Xs, millennials have become the punchline of many jokes for their alleged profligacy. But is this reputation earned? SmartAsset gathered spending data to analyze millennial money habits. Read on as… read more…
- All About College Savings Plans
Starting early with college savings is a smart choice. With the price of higher education rising each year, the sooner you start, the better chance you’ll have of helping make a dent in those costs. The average private college charged… read more…
- What Is a Joint Bank Account, and How Do They Work?
You might associate joint bank accounts with married couples or couples who live together. While those are common situations when a joint bank account can work, there are a number of other relationships that could benefit from a joint bank… read more…
- How the 50/30/20 Budget Rule Works
There are many different strategies for approaching building a budget. In fact, there are a number of budgeting apps and programs available that can do much of the work for you. Understanding how to build a budget on your own,… read more…
- How to Make a Budget
Ever wondered what the key to financial success is? While it’s hard to pin down one single key, having a budget plays a part. Having a budget is crucial to taking control of your finances. It helps you take stock… read more…
- Credit Union vs. Bank: How Are They Different?
You’re probably already familiar with big banks. Banks tend to be huge institutions that stretch nationwide, if not worldwide. Chances are you already have a bank account, too. But what’s up with big banks’ smaller cousins, credit unions? We often… read more…
- Where Can I Cash a Money Order?
Money orders, a popular alternative to checks, provide a secure way of sending and receiving funds between banks. They especially come in handy for sellers when you don’t know or trust the buyer. Anyone can request or choose to pay… read more…
- What Do You Need to Open a Bank Account?
If you’ve never opened a bank account before, you’re probably wondering how the process works. Specifically, what kind of qualifications, information and paperwork do you need to have to open an account? Whether you’re opening your first bank account or… read more…
- All About ACH Payments
It wasn’t long ago that paying bills or getting a paycheck meant waiting for a check to move through the mail system. Nowadays, many of these payments happen online through an electronic network called the Automated Clearing House or ACH. Tens… read more…
- Certified Checks: Everything You Need to Know
Whether you want to make or receive a secure payment, it’s hard to know the best way to do so. You could go the cash route, but that’s risky to send in the mail. Plus, do you really want to… read more…
- What Is a Cashier’s Check? How to Buy One, Definition and Cost
A cashier’s check is often necessary for big purchases, like the down payment on a home. This is because a cashier’s check is drawn from a bank’s account and is therefore as highly regarded as cash. You can’t bring a regular personal… read more…