Older couple consulting with an estate planning attorney

Article Summary The average cost of a will and trust can vary significantly depending on whether you prepare the documents yourself, use a website, or hire an attorney to prepare the documents for you. You could spend as little as $20 for a simple will or up to $2,000 or more for a lawyer to […]

Military service member in uniform smiling

Summary: The good news for veterans is that more and more states are choosing not to tax military retirement pay. Some states don’t have income tax at all, while other states only partially tax military retirement pay. As of 2023, only California and the District of Columbia fully tax military retirement pay. While the United […]

Young woman looking at a list of scholarships for tall and short people

Summary: You might be surprised to learn that in addition to college scholarships based on merit and financial need, a few scholarships available are based on a student’s height. Some of these scholarship opportunities include awards from the Tall Clubs International Foundation and The Little People of America. Whether you are an exceptionally tall or […]

consolidate debt collections

Summary: If you have been contacted by CBE Group regarding a debt, you will want to make sure you verify that the debt is legitimate and correct. Otherwise, CBE Group could report bad information to the credit bureaus, which will end up on your credit report. If you do find any errors, you can file […]

Woman reviewing her online bank account through a bank similar to Chime

Summary: Some online financial institutions similar to Chime include Varo, Ally Bank, and Quontic. Though Chime is one of the most popular online banks, many competitors are gaining traction by offering similar features. If you’re thinking about switching from a traditional institution, make sure you compare the features to figure out which app fits best […]

Man looking discouraged as he reviews a paper

Summary: If you have been contacted by Dynamic Recovery Solutions regarding a debt, you will want to make sure you verify that the debt is legitimate and correct. Otherwise, DRS could report bad information to the credit bureaus, which will end up on your credit report. If you do find any errors, you can file […]

Rising stacks of coins representing rising funds from home equity invested into stocks

Article Summary: You can potentially turn your home’s equity into more money by drawing on the equity to invest in the stock market. There are several ways to do this, including a home equity loan, a line of credit, a cash-out refinance, or a home equity investment. If you decide to use your home equity […]

Person notarizing a signed document

Article Summary: Many important financial and legal documents require signatures to be witnessed by a notary. This helps prevent fraud and ensures that the person signing the documents understands exactly what they are signing. Banks and other financial institutions deal with this kind of paperwork every day, so they often employ at least one notary […]

Person handing over a Amex or Chase credit card that has concierge services

Article Summary: Both American Express and Chase offer concierge services to some of their cardholders. However, American Express provides its own services, while Chase uses a third party (Visa) to provide concierge services. American Express also offers a dedicated concierge with its luxury Centurion card, but you’ll have to pay a very high annual fee […]

Woman counting dollar bills in her hands

Article Summary: A creditor is a person or entity who lends money, while a debtor is a person or entity who owes money. In exchange for lending money to a debtor, the creditor sets repayment terms on the borrowed money, and the debtor may have to pay interest. Sometimes debtors are not able to pay […]

Reference material for doing business taxes, pen, pad, glasses, post-it note, laptop

Article Summary: If you need an IRS form W-2 to file your federal income tax return but never received it, you don’t need to panic. You can try to track it down from your employer, contact the IRS, or file a substitute form. If you need more time to locate the missing information, you can […]

Construction worker sawing wood to build a shed

Article Summary: The cost of building a shed can range from a few hundred dollars for a small prefabricated shed to $5,000 or more for a custom-built model. The cost includes materials for the walls and foundation, labor costs, and finishing touches like lighting and paint. Many costs will be calculated by the square foot, […]

Man shaking hands with car dealer

Article Summary: Though it’s often possible to buy or sell a car without having the car’s title in hand, you’ll usually have to provide proof of ownership. The exact documents required vary by state, so you should check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. You may be able to request a new title, transfer […]

Couple smiling at a phone and holding their joint credit card

Article Summary: A joint credit card can be a good way to streamline your finances with a partner and accumulate rewards on your spending. But because both cardholders are responsible for making payments, you could be held responsible for the other person’s mistakes. This could hurt your credit scores and damage your relationship. Adding an […]

Close-up of a MasterCard on top of a Visa card

Article Summary: The number of points you can raise your credit score by opening a secured credit card depends on whether you are starting with no credit or trying to rebuild credit. By using your secured credit card and making your payments on time, you can improve your credit score on multiple fronts. Just make […]