Under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, taxpayers with active student loans are entitled to special deductions. These deductions apply to the interest paid on the loan in a given year. They help borrowers reduce the lifetime cost of their student loans by putting hundreds of dollars back into their pockets. However, the rules and the […]

When processing applications for standard personal loans, financial institutions normally perform credit checks. This usually involves what is known as a “hard pull” of your credit file, which makes your score dip. Thus, the very act of applying for a loan can hurt your credit, regardless of whether you’re approved in the end. No credit […]

People who hang it up at age 55 (or younger) are generally considered to have retired early. With careful planning and financial discipline, it’s possible to save enough for an early retirement on a median-range income. However, there are also some lurking financial pitfalls that don’t rear their heads until after you’ve said goodbye to […]

To say that the U.S. housing market has been hot in 2021 would be an understatement. Sale prices are soaring and bidding wars have become the “new normal.” Buyers and investors are also tripping over themselves to plunk down big money on properties they haven’t even seen in person. If that all sounds crazy to […]