Just the thought of an “IRS audit” is enough to strike fear in the heart of any taxpayer. Everybody knows someone with a story about an audit from hell from an over-zealous collections officer. Audits can be an effective bogeyman to “encourage” people to be truthful in their tax returns, but what are the odds you will be audited?

Gamification may be a modern buzzword in business these days, but there’s nothing new about the idea that we learn from play.

Housing affordability is a term that describes the cost of housing relative to a household’s income. Although it’s an easy enough term to under intuitively — whether or not most families can afford to pay for housing — it’s often challenging to pin down exactly what is (or isn’t) affordable housing. For instance, the term is used both for renters and households that own their homes. Also, a lot depends on how you define the “typical” household, the housing market and the local income levels.

The line between personal and business finance is extremely blurry when it comes to small businesses and entrepreneurs. According to the Federal Reserve’s latest Small Business Credit Survey¹, 14 percent of small business owners use personal loans and 86% of employer firms rely on their owners’ personal credit scores when applying for financing.

Small businesses are often underserved by banks. Just creating a bank account can be a slow and painful experience. The reasons are apparent. Small businesses provide less profit, don’t have a credit history, and usually don’t have the minimum balances banks require. However, fintech companies, such as Azlo, NorthOne, and Novo, are filling the space that banks have left behind and are making it easier for individuals and small businesses to access banking services.

Average home equity per household with a mortgage

Saving for college is one of the most important financial goals for students, parents, and even grandparents. And for good reason.

If your small business is in trouble, you’ve lost your job, or you’re struggling to pay the mortgage, there are coronavirus financial assistance resources that could help. The following is a comprehensive list of federal, state and private coronavirus financial assistance programs designed to help you during these challenging times.

Recessions are unavoidable, but fear-driven decisions can make them even more damaging. Economic downturns often tempt people to panic—selling off investments, hoarding cash, or making financial moves that hurt them in the long run. Instead of reacting impulsively, focus on strategic preparation: build savings, pay down debt, control expenses, and diversify income and investments.

It would be great if we were all discovered we had a bottomless trust fund to our name and no longer had to worry about money. But, at this stage, that’s unlikely.