Target-date funds 101

Target date funds offer many benefits to potential investors, but there are caveats that should be observed when picking the appropriate fund to use.  Read more...

BoA, Other Big Banks Being Reviewed for Antitrust Violations

Though banks went back on their proposal to impose fees for using debit cards, the incident is not over for several of the country's biggest banks. Th Read more...

Banks Turning Elsewhere for Fees

As the surprising success of the consumer movement against fees charged by major banks begins to fade into memory, some have started questioning wheth Read more...

Almost all RIAs identify asset market volatility as one of top client concerns

A recent statement released by Invesco indicates that the majority of registered investment advisors (RIAs) believe that volatility in the market has  Read more...

OneReceipt Brings All of Users’ Shopping to One Place

Two young entrepreneurs think they have found the solution to one of the biggest problems of road trips and holiday seasons alike. As the holidays  Read more...

Hotel Prices in Asia and Latin America on the Rise

The hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI) indicates that hotel prices in Latin America and Asia rose in 2011 from 2010. Asian hotel prices rose 1 percent Read more...

Credit Unions Beat Banks in Service Ratings

A new survey from Harris Interactive found that major banks have a far worse customer service reputation than their non-profit counterparts. Conduc Read more...

Square Looks to Reinvent Mobile Payments

The mobile payments sector continues to include a variety of companies all scrambling to be the next dominant form of payment. But Slate's Farhad  Read more...

Mint Offers Easy Access to Money Management

A new iPad app looks to simplify the process managing people's finances by giving them greater control over the information they need, according t Read more...

Banks Likely to Find Other Sources of Revenue

After the recent backtrack on several big banks' decision to impose fees on debit cards, the financial sector will likely look to recoup losses throug Read more...

Bank of America Backs Off Debit Fees

In a dramatic reversal, Bank of American has canceled its plans to impose a monthly fee for debit card use, according to The New York Times. Severa Read more...

Incentives Key In Finding Wealth Manager

As the financial sector undergoes a major shift on multiple fronts, many Americans are left with no clear direction for financial advice. The New York Read more...

Mobile Devices, Social Media Growing In Wealth Management

The wealth management industry has slowly begun to adopt some of the new technologies that have taken the market by storm, according to a new report f Read more...

Credit Unions See Jump In Interest

The outrage sparked by the recent announcement of increased fees at major banks across the country has already proven to be a boon for credit unions,  Read more...

Fee Uproar Sparks Online Banking

American banks have taken some heat recently over the decision to increase fees on services that have traditionally been free. DailyFinance.com report Read more...

Citi Ups Checking Account Fees

Numerous national banks have introduced new fees for some of their traditionally free services, primarily debit cards. Now Citibank has announced that Read more...

Cost of Waiting: Why Gen Y Needs to Start Saving for Retirement Now

“The 3 Pillars of Saving” By Lule Demmissie, managing director, investment products and retirement for TD Ameritrade In Oliver Stone’s “ Read more...

Americans Have Options to Big Banks

Americans have voiced outrage at the idea that banks would begin charging for the use of debit cards, with many vowing to switch to competitors. Consu Read more...

Banks Plan to Impose Debit Card Fees

During the debates over last year's financial reform bill, banks warned that some of the provisions could raise costs on consumers. The New York T Read more...

How Car Users Can Maintain Favorable Personal Finances

Consumers in the U.S. looking to cut down on costs of living may be able to do so by reducing payments made pertaining to their cars. Although doing t Read more...

Personal Finance Mobile Applications May Have Security Problems

As enticing as a given personal finance or money-related software application might be for smartphone and tablet computer users, it may also pose a co Read more...

U.S. States Requiring Personal Finance Education for High School Students

The state of Virginia recently announced that it would begin adding personal finance and economics classes to the overall high school curriculum. Seve Read more...

Strategies for Young Professionals Looking to Up Their Credit Score

A high credit score can be a valuable asset for professionals in their 20s, but it may not always be an easy thing for such individuals to obtain. To  Read more...

New Social Network Provides Personal Finance Advice

Online social networking is perhaps one of the most prominent trends in the culture of the world today. A newly launched website, Social Premier, inte Read more...

Possible Effects of S&P Downgrade on U.S. Consumers

The major financial ratings firm Standard & Poor's (S&P) officially lowered the U.S. credit rating on August 5. This downgrade is widely being Read more...

Employees Using 401(k) Funds for Personal Expenses

401(k) accounts are one of the more prevalent retirement savings accounts in the U.S. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a considerable amount Read more...

Large and Small Banks Battle For U.S. Consumers’ Finances

Banking in the United States is largely dominated by major financial institutions, specifically Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Goldman Read more...

Financial Research Firm Releases Report Highlighting Tech-Savvy Professionals

In a report culled from surveys of over 5,100 consumers, the research firm Javelin Strategy and Research outlines methods in which tech-savvy, finance Read more...

Consumers Prepare for Consequences of Possible U.S. Government Debt Default

The August 2 deadline for the U.S. federal debt crisis, when the government must pay its debts or default, is fast approaching. American consumers are Read more...

Personal Finance Website Conducts “American Dream” Survey with National Endowment

According to a survey created by the personal finance website MainStreet in association with the National Endowment for Financial Education, saving mo Read more...

Financial Planning Firm Offers Personal Finance Tips for 2011

To address the personal finance needs of consumers in 2011, Heritage Financial Planning has created a comprehensive list covering practices it hopes w Read more...

Fuel-Efficiency Often Misunderstood and Not Always the Best Choice

While gas prices have declined somewhat since the release of national reserves, most Americans still face costs of almost $1 more per gallon than they Read more...

Insurance Not Enough to Prevent Debt

Recent medical reforms emphasized the huge number of Americans who lack any kind of insurance. A new study from the University of Arizona points out t Read more...

Credit Unions a Different Option for Banking

For many younger Americans, the choice of banks is often a matter of convenience. A college campus might be flooded with ATMs from Bank of America, so Read more...

New credit card technology makes travel harder for Americans

Traveling has also had its fair share of hassles, particularly when it comes to money. Exorbitant exchange fees or the hassle of a lost credit card ca Read more...

Bank of America Customers Beware: Your Credit Card Penalty Rates Could Soar

If you're a Bank of America customer, your dander will definitely rise within seconds. The North Carolina-based bank said it could begin charging cust Read more...

A ‘How To’ Manual On Buying Renter’s Insurance

Renter's insurance isn't as popular an insurance option as some other kinds, including health and homeowner's. Perhaps because renters often feel like Read more...

Have No Fear: Homeowner’s Insurance Help is Here

Navigating through the complex world of insurance companies can seem like a daunting task - often, because it is. There are scores of different types  Read more...

Deciding Between Buying and Renting? Here’s Some Advice

It's a difficult decision that most everyone has to make in his or her life: Should I rent or buy my place? People struggle to answer the question bec Read more...

Deciding Where You’ll Go For College? Consider Your Return On Investment

It's that time of year again: High school seniors around the U.S. - the world for that matter - are receiving decision letters from colleges and unive Read more...

Experts Advise How to Make Instant Improvements to Your Credit Score

Having a good credit score is incredibly important, especially if you're looking to borrow money for a car loan or mortgage, among other things. Durin Read more...

Survey: Millionaires Grow More Confident in Economic Recovery; Some Don’t Feel Wealthy

If you're a Millennial, then you may remember the movie "Blank Check" from your childhood. Essentially, the cinematic masterpiece was ab Read more...

Many Americans Don’t Understand Their Credit Scores – Do You?

According to a survey from the Consumer Federation of America and VantageScore Solutions, the majority of Americans don't understand how their cre Read more...

BillMyParents Helps Teens Learn Money-Management Skills

It's often hard to manage a credit card when you're first introduced to the idea of spending money you don't have. Often times, people for Read more...

You Don’t Have to be a Genius to Invest like One : Investment Strategy from Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors in U.S. history: With an estimated personal fortune of $47 billion and a knack for picking stoc Read more...

Check Your Tax Refund Status Using New I.R.S. Smart Phone App

Filing your taxes can be quite the hassle. Unless you want the Internal Revenue Service after you, though, you should make sure they’re filed by Read more...

Secondary Trading Market Sends Value of Private Technology Companies Up – Way Up

There has been a surge in valuations of private technology companies lately as private equity and venture capital firms have poured funding into media Read more...

Like Video Games and Business? Try LavaMind’s Business Simulation Games

The business world can be hard to understand. It fluctuates on a day-to-day basis and is affected by myriad economic factors. Schools and universities Read more...

What to do with Your Government Tax Break

The recently-passed bipartisan tax bill gave a majority of Americans a tax break. How, though, should you spend that money to make the most of your fe Read more...

Credit Card Companies and Banks Targeting Riskier Borrowers Again

After the recession struck in 2007, credit card companies and banks suffered massive losses as consumers defaulted on their payments. Since then, they Read more...

New tax package will aid most Americans, especially wealthiest

After seemingly endless wrangling on Capitol Hill, a new tax package seems likely to pass, although not without its fair share of controversy. The leg Read more...

Housing Market Stays Soft

The country's housing market continues to reel, data shows.The real estate sector looked poised to pick up earlier this year, when thousands of pe Read more...

Generation Y Rejects Driving

Many young people are opting not to drive, car-sharing service Zipcar reports.Forty percent of the 18-to-34-year-olds that the company surveyed said t Read more...

Few Consumers Sign Up for Overdraft Protection

Overdraft protection isn't seeing many takers, Consumer Reports says.The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 req Read more...

Using Software to Keep Tabs on Spending

Tracking spending is an essential part of keeping one's finances in line - but too few young people are confident that they know how much they' Read more...

Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home?

Every year, millions of Americans make the leap from renting to homeownership. Is it a good time to join their ranks?The answer, as always, depends on Read more...

Consumers Plan to Shun Credit Cards This Holiday Season

Americans have been relying less on credit cards since the recession struck - and that trend looks poised to continue in the next few months.Since Jan Read more...

Thinking About Your New Year’s Resolutions Yet?

The holidays are just around the corner - and that means it's time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions.Don't make them? That Read more...

Generation Y Workers Worry About Life Crises

Some younger members of Generation Y are just entering the workforce, but many Millennials - as the generation is also known - are already worried abo Read more...

Checking Account Costs at All-Time High

Checking accounts are more expensive than they've ever been for American consumers, Bankrate.com data shows.The site, which provides information o Read more...

Health Plan Costs to Rise by More Than 10 Percent

The cost of health insurance plans will rise next year by at least 10 percent, insurers and plan administrators surveyed by consulting firm Buck Consu Read more...

Americans Get More Responsible With Credit Cards

People are carrying less credit-card debt, and fewer card users are delinquent on their payments, separate surveys indicate.According to consumer-issu Read more...

Recession-Weary Car Buyers Shop With Pragmatism in Mind

People looking for a new car are more motivated by pragmatic factors this year than they were in 2009, a new survey from automotive data firm Chrome S Read more...

Do You Need Insurance?

As a young person, you may feel invincible - and you might think you can skate by without insuring your assets or your health. But thinking like that  Read more...

Mortgages May Prove Difficult to Get

Mortgage rates are near all-time lows - great news for young people looking to buy their first homes, right?Not so fast.According to a report released Read more...

Employees’ Health Insurance Costs Rise

Young people in the workforce may have their own health insurance plans for the first time in their lives - and they may be staggered by the high cost Read more...

Chrome and Safari Extension Makes Managing Email Fun

Google's popular Gmail service calls itself "intuitive, efficient and useful - and maybe even fun." But trying to organize a messy Gmail Read more...

Government Officials Focus on Improving Mortgage Documentation

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Elizabeth Warren, the newly appointed head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, met with advocacy groups T Read more...

New Car Tip: Keep the Oil

Anyone who grew up with a mechanically-minded father - or mother - is likely to remember the 3,000-mile oil change. As regular as clockwork, when the  Read more...

New Car Tip: Keep the Oil

Anyone who grew up with a mechanically-minded father - or mother - is likely to remember the 3,000-mile oil change. As regular as clockwork, when the  Read more...

Obama Administration Goes Back to School with Financial Challenge

Citing the recent financial crisis, the Obama Administration unveiled a new program that will give high school students a better grasp of the basic co Read more...

Obama Administration Goes Back to School with Financial Challenge

Citing the recent financial crisis, the Obama Administration unveiled a new program that will give high school students a better grasp of the basic co Read more...

Divorce Insurance Offers a Novel Approach to Splitting Up

It's a truism that around half of the marriages in the U.S. end in divorce - which is to say, you're more likely to get divorced than experience a car Read more...

How to Choose a Financial Planner

Choosing a financial planner is an important decision - you should approach it with the same level of seriousness that you would apply to buying a hou Read more...

More Homeowners Refinance to 15-year Mortgages

Interest rates are at record lows - and homeowners aren't shy about taking advantage of that fact. More and more, Marketwatch reports, they're refinan Read more...

Thinking About Buying a House? Think Again

The following advice, it's important to note, is bad for the economy. However, it might be good for you. If you're a young worker or entrepreneur cons Read more...

Saving Money and Saving Friends

Most people will, at some point in their lives, be called upon by a friend - or even a family member - for a loan. In these perilous economic times, t Read more...

Best Credit Cards for College Grads and Students

Odds are, you've been getting credit card offers since you turned 18, or even earlier. The credit card industry sent out 1.1 billion offers in the sec Read more...

Best Apps for Saving Money and Staying out of Debt

VentureBeat recently ran an article naming the five best smartphone apps for entrepreneurs - and some of them are pretty good even if you're not in bu Read more...

Set Yourself Realistic Goals

Life is driven by expectations as much as reality. A widely praised rookie entering his first major-league season has a far greater weight on his shou Read more...

New Credit Cards Cut You Off – When You Want

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Your card has been declined," says the cashier.Your reply: "Excellent!"A confusing reaction? It will make sense Read more...

Recessionary Economy Has Side Benefits for the Employed

A new report in the New York Times outlines one of the little-talked about phenomena of the recession that drained the U.S. of jobs and wealth in 2008 Read more...

Smartphones Could Take the Place of Credit Cards

A simple wave of an iPhone or a Droid might replace the old-fashioned swipe and sign ritual of credit cards, reports Bloomberg/BusinessWeek. AT&T, Read more...

Credit Card Terms Change, but Rewards Seem Untouched

Some watchers of the credit card industry predicted dire consequences if Congress passed the financial reform bill, claiming that issuers would recoup Read more...

Meet the New Card, Same as the Old Card

You didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you? The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 took a wrecking ball Read more...

As You Move, Consider Your Commuting Costs

When planning a move, the number of considerations you need to make can feel overwhelming. Renting or purchasing, monthly costs, utilities, roommates, Read more...

Are more Americans finding ways to pay off their credit card debts?

A new report finds that for the third straight month credit card charge offs have fallen, which might be good news for Americans looking to get out of Read more...

A Helpful Guide to International Tipping

The custom of tipping is fraught with anxiety and cultural differences. It's easy to get confused and inadvertently offend your hosts, guests or serve Read more...

Split Your Paychecks Before They Even Arrive

Saving might seem easy until that paychecks lands in your hands or your bank account. Then, things start cropping up: You need to run to the laundroma Read more...

DIY Tips to Save Money on Your Car

Anyone who's ever owned a car - particularly one that's been "pre-loved" - knows what an awful sink of time and money a motor vehicle can be Read more...

Use Google Voice to Save on Text and Call Fees

Recently, the Google Voice service opened itself up to all users, after a long period of invitation-only testing. The service began its life in 2005 a Read more...

Your Credit Score: Why it Matters

Imagine that you’re a loan officer at the local bank. Two customers, Mr. Rich and Mr. Buck, come in to borrow money. You check Mr. Rich’s history Read more...

How the World of Credit Cards Has Changed

How the World of Credit Cards Has Changed The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 was a sweeping reform of the nation Read more...

Banks Looking to Expand Relationships with Customers

One personal finance decision younger consumers may face is how to handle their banking relationships, while financial outfits have worked to increase Read more...

Free Checking May Become Thing of the Past

For years now you may have enjoyed the benefits of having a free checking account. However, that may change soon, as financial institutions look for n Read more...

Foreclosed Properties Provide Savings for Purchasers

The tax credit made available from the government may have spurred you to purchase a home. And in doing so, you would probably want to look at the bes Read more...

Personal Finance Apps Can Help Save Money

From telling you the best spots to eat, to downloading the latest music, Apple's iPhone has a whole mess of applications available. While a lot of  Read more...

Who Can’t Handle Credit? Adults More Likely to Have Debt on Plastic

When it comes to credit card debt, younger people are often chided for their ill-advised use of plastic. After all, many may not have had the prope Read more...

Be Careful Before Committing Funds to Help in Gulf

Young people seeing the plight of residents and animals in the Gulf Coast region as a result of the oil spill may want to lend a hand or donate money. Read more...

Don’t forget to include Fun in your Home Budget

Trying to get out of debt could cause many people to avoid adding any fun money to their home budgets. However, totally eliminating the ability to  Read more...

Home Budget, Shopping Ahead Help With School Supplies

In trying to manage personal finance balances and a home budget, consumers may be trying to get ready ahead of time for school expenses. According  Read more...

Parents Can Follow Checklist to Help Kids Be Financially Savvy

A recent story from the Wall Street Journal noted that only three states require a certain amount of education in personal finance for high school stu Read more...

Working on Staying Within a Home Budget? Don’t Worry, Dating Options Still Exist

While staying at home may end up helping a home budget, people who are dating are going to want to get out together at least once in a while. But, lim Read more...

Personal Finance Education Helps Younger Consumers Feel Prepared

A recent survey from Capital One Financial Corporation shows that almost half of graduating high school students are not confident when it comes to ma Read more...

Pennsylvania Agency Can Help With Home Purchase

Young people in the Keystone State who want to buy a home may find their personal finance situation makes it more difficult to do so.However, there is Read more...

Will a Good Idea Even for Young People

The old joke goes that young people may feel as though they are invincible, lead them to take chances that adults wouldn't dare attempt. And because o Read more...

Rent or Own? Things to Consider Before Buying

Many young people will probably opt to rent for a while before jumping into home ownership. And before they buy their first place, there are number of Read more...

Rules for Credit Accounts Announced by Fed

New credit card regulations from the government may have already affected young people, and the Federal Reserve Board announced new rules recently tha Read more...

Dad’s Advice May Not Be That Far Fetched

Really, what does dad know anyway? As it turns out, quite a bit, according to a recent release from the Federal Trade Commission. In honor of Father's Read more...