Tip: Common Indexes. The most common indexes to which the interest on adjustable-rate mortgages is pegged are the 1-Year Constant Maturity Treasury Index, the Cost of Funds Index (COFI), and the London Interbank Offered Rate Index…
Tip: Payment Practices. Depending on the loan, a home buyer who chooses a 30-year mortgage may have the option to make extra payments. In a sense, this enables the borrower to treat the long-term loan like…
Fast Fact: Get Over It. A bad credit score doesn’t last forever. Since your credit score is a “snapshot” of your risk at a particular point in time, it changes as new information is added to…
Fast Fact: Credit Inquiries. Your FICO score won’t drop by much when you apply for new credit. But if you apply for several new credit cards over a short period, your credit report will reflect the…
Tip: Mid May. If the government had raised taxes enough to cover federal borrowing, we would have had to work until May 10 just to cover the tax bill. Source: FoxNews.com, April 24, 2016 Taxes are one of…
Tip: High Bracket. In 1944, the highest federal income tax bracket was 94%. It applied to all income above $200,000 a year and applied to all taxpayers, regardless of filing status. Source: Tax Policy Center, 2017…
Whole life insurance remains in force for your whole life, as long as you remain current with your premiums. In exchange for fixed premiums, the insurance company promises to pay a set benefit when the…
Tip: Final Cost. Paying for a funeral can be a financial burden on a family. Make sure your estate management will provide your loved ones with sufficient funds to cover this important cost. If your family…
Tip: Correlation. To adequately diversify, it’s important to select securities that have a low correlation — that is, securities that don’t tend to track each other’s movements up and down. Securities with a high correlation may…
Tip: Not Smooth. During both recessions and expansions, the economy can go through brief reversals in economic activity. A recession may include a short period of expansion followed by further decline; an expansion may include a…