Home Refinancing Basics

Even though more than half of all new mortgages issued in recent years have been for homeowners refinancing their existing home loans, the decision to refinance isn’t necessarily the wisest strategy for everyone. The most important fact to consider is whether the...

Helping to Care for Aging Parents

Many baby boomers are finding that their aging parents are in need of health care assistance. Luckily, there are many options available today to help your parents grow old gracefully, either in their own home or in a facility, and several ways that you can finance the...

Financing a New Car

For most new car buyers, the question of whether or not to finance their purchase is academic — with the average new car price approaching $30,000, some sort of loan is usually necessary. But the type of loan or financing can vary considerably, with different payment...

Buying a New or Used Car

The first step to getting a good deal on a new or used car is to be informed before you negotiate with a dealer. New and used car cost guides are available in bookstores, libraries, and online. These will help you research prospective models, their factory invoice...

Beyond Retirement: What About Your Other Goals?

In addition to saving for retirement, there may be several other major financial goals you’ll need to juggle in a lifetime. Let’s say that at the age of 25 you earned $35,000. If your salary increased at the average historical rate, you’d have earned...

Understanding Health Savings Accounts

Health savings accounts (HSAs) are tax-preferred savings accounts set up in conjunction with high-deductible health insurance policies that are used to fund qualified medical expenses. Enrollees or their employers make tax-free contributions to an HSA, then use the...