Personal Financial Advice from a former Certified Financial Planner
For most people, a credit union offers a better banking platform than a traditional bank. Here are the biggest credit unions in Colorado to get you started. Remember, bigger is not always better and smaller Colorado credit unions might offer better value for your situation. There are over 100 credit …
Recently, someone asked me about a credit card offer they received from Merrick Bank. I wasn’t familiar with Merrick Bank, so I agreed to look into it. The Merrick Bank credit card is pretty interesting for the right type of person. The Merrick Bank secure credit card lets people with …
The Federal Reserve has been highly predictable for the last few years thanks to Covid and a brittle economy, but high inflation changed the game. Now knowing if you should open a CD before the next Fed meeting is a little trickier. However, this Fed hasn’t changed its stripes and …
Getting high interest rates from CIT Bank is not that hard, but as always, you want to be sure it is the right choice for your finances. High Interest Rates Online Savings As with most things these days, there is a way to get a better financial deal on your …
Update: As of February 2023, the new interest rate on Marcus Savings accounts is 3.25%. Update 2: As of Augus 7, 2023 , the new Marcus interest rate is 4.30% APY. The Fed giveth and the Fed taketh away. High Yield Savings Worth It Again After a few years of …
If you are still paying ATM fees, it’s time to find a new bank. Too many customers have gotten used to paying ATM fees, but there is no reason for it. Good banks, credit unions, and financial institutions all have multiple options to use ATMs for free, including, in some …
ACH stands for Automated Clearing House (ACH). It is governed by NACHA which issues rules and standards. If you can’t comply with Nacha, you can’t be part of the ACH network. What Is ACH Used For? ACH is a way to make payments to bank accounts regardless of which banks …
Now that the economy is no longer awash in free money, financial companies, banks and brokerages are in customer acquisition mode. New customers tend to stay customers, especially when scary stories on TV or scary circumstances trigger the impulse to stay put. $50 Fee for Fidelity Youth Account You probably …
A debit card is a useful money management tool. It provides credit card-like access to purchases, but the money comes directly from your checking account, not from a line of credit. Many people prefer to use debit cards in order to avoid the pitfalls of credit cards. Some banks and …
I have been in the personal finance game long enough to have seen some trends. One of those trends is the increase in free money offers, zero interest offers, and cash back offers, like the $400 Wells Fargo Free Checking offer that showed up in my mail. If you are …