(StatePoint) Mortgage rates have recently hit near-record lows and Freddie Mac predicts rates will remain low for the foreseeable future.

(StatePoint) The holidays are fast approaching, making now the time to consider some wise strategies to get the most out of the season, without wreaking havoc on your personal finances.

(NAPSI)—If you receive Social Security disability benefits and want to work, Social Security Work Incentives can allow you to keep your healthcare (Medicare and Medicaid) and, in some cases, cash benefits as you begin working. These Work Incentives are designed to encourage and support benef…

(NAPSI)—Texas is a great place for companies to do business and developers are building fast to keep up. Texas also experiences extreme weather and forces property owners to think seriously about how their new facilities can endure these extremes.

(BPT) - Your wedding is one of the most memorable days of your life. To pull off the big day of your dreams, it is important to have a plan in place.

(NAPSI)—If you spend a lot of time on social media sites or looking for great online deals, you may wear a bullseye when it comes to scammers hunting for prey, according to groundbreaking fraud research from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust and the…

(StatePoint) For many families, the holiday season is the most expensive time of year. Americans spent over $707 billion dollars during the 2018 holidays, according to the National Retail Federation, and it would be no surprise for spending to increase in 2019.

(NAPSI)—With unemployment at a 50-year low, companies are eager to draw talent from a diverse pool of job seekers, and organizations have recognized the inherent value in a diverse workforce that includes qualified employees with disabilities.

(NAPSI)—If you own or run any of America’s nearly 31 million small businesses, recent research reveals gift cards can be a real gift to your bottom line. According to a 2019 Small Business Gift Card Study commissioned by First Data, now Fiserv, gift card programs help small business owners b…

(StatePoint) Millennials are no strangers to watching numbers. Lives today are affected by a vast number of online and social media statistics -- likes, followers, scores and ratings. However, a new survey suggests that despite the time and attention this generation devotes to social media, …

(BPT) - From mobile deposits to apps that transfer money in the blink of an eye, financial technology (or fintech) is disrupting the financial marketplace in new ways. The latest example is an innovation in the annuity marketplace that expands online access to a conventional retirement produ…

(NAPSI)—Whether you’re looking for a job for the first time or trying to return to the workforce, you don’t have to do it alone.

(NAPSI)—According to AARP, there are 10,000 people turning 65 every day—a figure that is expected to be consistent until 2030. As these Americans continue to prepare for and enjoy their retirement years, more and more are factoring the cost of aging into their financial plans. For good reaso…

(BPT) - About 80% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, often struggling between paydays. If this is a challenge for you, here are three easy ways that can help you get from one paycheck to the next with ease, avoid financial pitfalls, and even come out ahead.

(NAPSI)—Floods are the most common and costly natural disasters occurring in the United States today. They can impact anyone, anywhere, at any time. Yet only 15 percent of Americans choose flood insurance, leaving countless properties uninsured. Just one inch of water can cause thousands of …

(BPT) - In addition to its typical cadence of taxpayer correspondence, the IRS has also begun sending roughly 10,000 letters to taxpayers with virtual currency transactions that may have been unreported or misreported, as well as another tranche starting in late September to taxpayers with e…

(StatePoint) Consumers face major financial decisions at every stage of life. But experts say a basic understanding of financial concepts can help you make better decisions related to money management and reduce your stress at the same time.

(BPT) - The IRS projected that more people than ever before — 14.6 million — would file an extension. That estimate may have been conservative, given how tax reform influenced people to delay filing as they figured out what tax reform meant for them.

(BPT) - For many people, a monthly mortgage payment may be manageable, but their biggest obstacle is the upfront expense — namely down payment and closing costs — of buying a home. In fact, according to the Bank of America Spring 2019 Homebuyer Insights Report, 69% of prospective homeowners …

(StatePoint) When looking for a financial planner who can bring all the pieces of your financial life together and put you in the driver’s seat of your own financial future, experts say it’s important to look beyond his or her resume.

(StatePoint) There are more than 300,000 professional financial advisors in the U.S. It’s fair to say that a majority are dedicated to helping their clients achieve their financial goals. However, some unethical individuals seek to take advantage of clients’ trust and lack of financial knowl…

(StatePoint) From fitness apps monitoring daily activity to calendar apps that send appointment reminders, having high-quality, real-time information in the palm of your hand can be an effective way to stay accountable to your goals. So if you’re looking to better manage your money, it may b…

(StatePoint) For many people, getting married and buying a house is still part of the American Dream. That’s reflected in the numbers. The homeownership rate among married couples in the U.S. is 80 percent, according to recent data reported by Statista. But what if something were to happen t…

(NAPSI)—If you or someone you care about is—or hopes to be—a college student soon, a few facts and stats may prove educational:

(NAPSI)—The Advanced Placement (AP) Program gives students a chance to experience college-level classes in high school and opens the door to earning college credit before they ever set foot on campus. Students get to dig deeper into subjects they love, while building the skills and confidenc…

(StatePoint) As more states nationwide adopt laws requiring high schools to offer personal finance classes, a new survey suggests that generation Z is on board with the trend.

(NAPSI)—For college freshmen looking to manage their own finances—often for the first time—heading to college can often mean a lot of unexpected expenses and even new debt.

(StatePoint) As you prepare your young adult for college and beyond, it’s important to talk about the road to financial independence, which includes building healthy credit. This is vital for big life moments like getting a car, apartment, house or job, and your child’s credit report will be…

by Rick Shadyac

(StatePoint) As we age, we sometimes regret those life lessons that might have served us better when we were younger. If you could roll back the years, what would you tell your younger self about money? 

(NAPSI)—Millions of Americans get Social Security disability benefits yet want to work. They may be glad to know about a federal program that can help them enter the workforce while maintaining access to benefits. Thanks to Social Security’s Ticket to Work program, free employment support se…

(BPT) - If you’re like many parents, one concern at the back of your mind is whether you’ll be able to help with your children’s education costs once they graduate from high school.

(NAPSI)—Here’s an idea many homeowners may warm to: Rent out your place as a vacation home.

(NAPSI)—According to the Federal Reserve Board, four in 10 adults, if faced with an unexpected expense of $400, would either not be able to cover it or would cover it by selling something or borrowing money. If you’re ever among them, or the 78 percent of American workers who live paycheck t…

(BPT) - Financial advisors are supposed to help you achieve your financial goals by providing expert guidance and strategic recommendations. Most truly want to see their clients succeed and work hard in your interest. But what about when they put their interests ahead of your own? Unfortunat…

(BPT) - How do you identify future leaders? Is it GPA? Test scores? Another metric? There are all kinds of formulas to predict who among the nation’s youth will become our country's leaders. But trying to decipher them can leave you lost in a sea of analytics.