Strategies & tactics to get ahead financially & in life
Personal loans are one of the least talked about subjects in personal finance. It’s tricky because it combines two of the stickier areas of life – debt and relationships. One of our friends went back to graduate school with the help of a loan from his in-laws. It was like a loan from the bank […]
When it comes to investing, most of my money is in a Vanguard fund or ETF. It’s not nearly as simple as a three-fund portfolio but it’s pretty close. However, there is a little piece of it in some stocks because we all need to live a little. To scratch that stock picking itch in […]
Bank of America is one of the largest banks in the United States and chances are you have a branch just around the corner. While headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bank of America has approximately 4,600 retail branch locations and almost 16,000 automated teller machines sprinkled throughout the country. I did a quick search on […]
Have you ever wondered why some banks have “National Association” after their names and others don’t? If you look at the bottom of the Bank of America website, it says, “Bank of America, N.A.” At the bottom of Discover Bank’s website, it just says, “Discover Bank, Member FDIC.” I was doing research when I noticed […]
Years ago, the idea of a debit rewards card was rare. If you want cashback, you needed to use a credit card. The economics were better. Whenever you use a credit card at a store, it charges the store a fee to process that transaction. The fee starts at 30ยข + 2.9%. Credit cards can […]
Have you noticed a recent rise in the number of “cash management accounts?” If the term is new to you, you’re not alone. I only learned about these a few weeks ago and they’re fascinating. They are not technically bank accounts. The companies that have them are not banks. They’re usually some other type of […]
Did you know that the average American has a one-in-four chance of becoming disabled before retiring? That’s the grim news from the Social Security Administration. Yet disability insurance is one of the most overlooked types of insurance coverage there is. Sure, there’s permanent disability provided by Social Security. But that can take many months to […]
Did you know that Capital One launched a brand new online savings account called 360 Performance Savings? I sure didn’t! Unfortunately, it’s not a particularly exciting new account. I have a few accounts with Capital One Bank but they all were legacy ING Direct accounts. Capital One acquired ING Direct back in 2012 and I […]
When it comes to regional banks, M&T Bank is one of the largest and most recognizable in the northeast United States. It helps that they have their name all over M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens! Founded in 1865, M&T Bank stands for Manufacturers and Traders Trust. They are headquartered in Buffalo, […]
A few years ago, I opted to get Lasik. I was having problems with my contact lenses, after using them for years and not having any issues, and it got to the point that I was sick of it. During allergy season, my eyes would change sizes just enough that the contacts would slide around. […]