Personal Finances

What Is Smishing?
Fraud

What Is Smishing?

Steven J.J. Weisman, JD | December 17, 2024

The next text message you receive might not be from who you think it’s from—it might be a smishing scam.…

How to Avoid Venmo Scams
Fraud

How to Avoid Venmo Scams

Steven J.J. Weisman, JD | December 5, 2024

Money-transfer apps such as Venmo can be a convenient way to pay…and an attractive target for scammers. Venmo—and similar apps…

Common Estate-Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Estate Planning

Common Estate-Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Martin Shenkman, CPA, JD | November 13, 2024

Having your will done doesn't mean you’re done with estate planning. While the last will and testament is easily the…

What Is a Guarantor? Who Can Be One and What Are the Risks
Credit & Debt

What Is a Guarantor? Who Can Be One and What Are the Risks

Keith ­Gumbinger | November 7, 2024

Steep real estate and car prices have made it especially difficult for many young adults to qualify for mortgages, car…

Living Trust vs. Will: What You Should Know
Estate Planning

Living Trust vs. Will: What You Should Know

Michael Gilfix, Esq. | November 6, 2024

Wondering whether a will or a living trust is the appropriate document for your estate plan? The answer is simple—you…

Beware of These Online Shopping Scams
Fraud

Beware of These Online Shopping Scams

Steven J.J. Weisman, JD | October 28, 2024

Online shopping combines two things that scammers love to exploit—access to victims' credit card numbers and the anonymity of the…

US Elections 2024: What Will They Mean for Your Wallet?
Personal Finances

US Elections 2024: What Will They Mean for Your Wallet?

Greg Valliere | October 1, 2024

The sharply divergent agendas of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are familiar to us all. The…

How to Switch Banks
Personal Finances

How to Switch Banks

Ken Tumin | September 27, 2024

Just the thought of moving your money to a new financial institution can be daunting—but it doesn’t have to be,…

Don’t Make These Financial Mistakes When Your Spouse Dies
Personal Finances

Don’t Make These Financial Mistakes When Your Spouse Dies

Michael Piper, CPA | September 26, 2024

More than a million older Americans lose a spouse each year. And sadly, while still dealing with their grief, many…

How To Dispute a Credit Card Charge
Credit & Debt

How To Dispute a Credit Card Charge

Ted Rossman | September 21, 2024

Are you having a problem with a merchant over a product or service?  Perhaps, the $3 tip tacked onto a…

Best Online Side Hustles You Can Do to Make Extra Income
Personal Finances

Best Online Side Hustles You Can Do to Make Extra Income

Laura Olert | September 19, 2024

Somewhere between one-third and one-half of American workers are finding ways to make extra money on the side. For many,…

Where Can I Put My Money to Earn the Most Interest?
Banking

Where Can I Put My Money to Earn the Most Interest?

Ken Tumin | September 16, 2024

With interest rates at their highest in decades, it’s been easy for savers to safely earn interest on their money…

Pros and Cons of Reverse Mortgages
Personal Finances

Pros and Cons of Reverse Mortgages

Wade Pfau, PhD, CFA | September 10, 2024

Reverse mortgages don’t deserve their less-than-savory reputation. These days, reverse mortgages are heavily regulated by the US Department of Housing…

The Latest Email Scams
Fraud

The Latest Email Scams

Steven J.J. Weisman, JD | August 29, 2024

Email scams are becoming tougher than ever to detect. Thanks to artificial intelligence, even scammers who lack strong command of…

The Cash Trap
Personal Finances

The Cash Trap

Robert M. Brinker, CFS | August 28, 2024

After the historic losses bond investors suffered the past two years, it’s no wonder they are content to stash more…