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There’s been a lot of concern about the economy lately, particularly regarding inflation, rising interest rates, layoffs, a potential recession — and the housing market. The housing crash of 2008 left many families underwater in their mortgages, leading to a wave of foreclosures and people unable to move until housing prices appreciated or they built up enough equity to sell. By Caitlyn Moorhead Crash Potential Buying a House Factors To Consider Capitalize on a Crash See: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000...

The best relationships are based on honesty and trust. That’s true for your personal relationships as well as your relationships with professionals who help you with your problems. You shouldn’t keep your symptoms a secret from your doctor, and you shouldn’t withhold pertinent information from your lawyer. Doing so can lead to unfortunate consequences. This same idea applies to your relationship with your financial advisor. By Chip Hollingsworth 10 Secrets Not To Keep from a Financial Advisor 10 Things You Should Never Hide from Your Financial Advisor You must be upfront and honest....

It’s no secret that the “great Resignation” is not over, as employees are leaving their jobs at rapid speed due, in part, to an increased desire for flexibility. This was underscored by the number of Americans who quit their jobs in October. The number decreased only slightly, to 4.2 million, down from a record 4.4 million in September, according to the Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report that came out on Wednesday, Dec....

From messaging to investing, some of the best apps are free — but in a handful of cases, it actually pays to pay. Many paid apps do little more than digitize buyer’s remorse, but there are more than a few diamond downloads in the rough that break the mold. By Andrew Lisa Important: 7 Financial Habits That Improve Your Daily LifeSee: 9 Safe Investments With the Highest Returns The following apps all cost a little cash upfront, but they eventually pay for themselves — sometimes in the form of money saved or gained, other times in the form of convenience or organization....

Buying a home is an exciting and momentous milestone in many people’s lives. But it’s also an enormous investment upfront and a huge commitment over time. You may be uncertain about whether you are eligible for a mortgage due to concerns over income and credit history or your ability to come up with a down payment. But don’t let doubts stop you from investigating. There are a lot of steps you can take to determine your eligibility, and improve it, if you aren’t quite there yet....

AMP is a cryptocurrency project that allows businesses and consumers to conduct fast yet secure transactions through collateral. Since January 2022, its price has been declining. However, it had a brief 25% rally during the third quarter of 2022. So, it poses the question: does AMP’S potential for use in combating crypto transfer fraud and defaults mean it’s a sound investment in 2022? By Chris Ozarowski Purpose Ups and Downs Is It a Good Investment Future Outlook Should You Buy Now Read: Looking To Diversify In A Bear Market?...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a series of orders to five companies — Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, PayPal, and Zip — offering “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) credit, on Dec. 16. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Buy Now, Pay Later: Beware of the Risks Find: How Buy Now, Pay Later Loans through Affirm & Afterpay Can Decrease Your Credit Score The CFPB said it was concerned about accumulating debt, regulatory arbitrage and data harvesting in a consumer credit market already quickly changing with technology....

In addition to the historic challenges and barriers experienced by Black-owned small businesses, the pandemic has contributed to further burdens, including business closures, a new report shows. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: 4 Small Businesses Making a Difference in Their Communities Find: Small Business Owners Say Remote Work Made Them Better Team Leaders The House Small Business Committee report finds that 41% of Black-owned U.S. businesses went into closure from February to April 2020, the largest closure rate of any racial group....

Bitcoin is now considered an investable asset, according to a new Goldman Sachs research report, even though it has its own idiosyncratic risk, in part because it’s relatively new and going through an adoption phase. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Bitcoin Cash (BCH): The Most Important Things You Need To Know About ItFind: 10 Major Companies That Accept Bitcoin The new report says that with cryptocurrency prices remaining extremely volatile, particularly on news about regulatory crackdowns, environmental concerns and heightened tax scrutiny, interest in crypto assets from credible investors has been rising and legacy financial institutions — including Goldman Sachs — have been launching new offerings, “crypto is undoubtedly Top of Mind....

Airline miles, or points, posted to your loyalty account don’t seem like much when you accrue them in small batches, but after two or three cross-country flights combined with regional travel, they really start to add up. Depending on the program you’re enrolled in, you could be on the cusp of cashing in your miles for a plane ticket to a sunny destination. However, you might want to think twice before you hit the “use miles” button to exchange them for a trip and consider this — Is that ticket really the best use for your hard-earned points?...

By Heather Taylor Learn: Unplug These Appliances That Hike Up Your Electricity BillRead More: 20 Home Renovations That Will Hurt Your Home’s Value What is Earthquake Insurance? Earthquake insurance is a separate endorsement or policy, depending on the state, for coverage from damages caused by an earthquake to your home and belongings. Typically, earthquakes aren’t covered by a standard homeowners policy. “Earthquake insurance covers your home and belongings specifically for the peril of an earthquake,” said Garcia....

The federal funds rate, the figure that determines interest rates in the United States, increased to 4.33% on Dec. 15, 2022. That rate is the highest rate since 2007 when the federal funds rate topped 5% amid the Great Recession. By Bob Haegele A high federal funds rate can help curb inflation, as it increases the cost of borrowing. This usually leads to banks increasing interest rates on savings, which has been the case in the current climate....

Floki Inu is proving that a meme-inspired cryptocurrency like Dogecoin wasn’t just a fluke — it could become a popular and lucrative investment. It’s closely following Shiba Inu, which some are calling one of the cryptos to watch in 2022. But is it worth investing in? By Scott Jeffries About Floki Inu Should You Buy Can It Reach $0.01 Meme-inspired cryptocurrency is an interesting concept, combining meme humor to solve real-world problems....

Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he launched an investigation into Twitter for potentially false reporting over its fake bot accounts. In turn, the AG’s office has issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to investigate whether the social media platform reporting on real versus fake users is “false, misleading, or deceptive” under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Elon Musk Says Twitter’s Refusal to Provide Bot Stats is ‘Material Breach’ of AgreementFind: Elon Musk Has ‘Super Bad Feeling’ About Economy, Has To Cut 10% of Tesla Jobs...

The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a devastating blow to many small businesses across the country. By some estimates, over 35% of U.S. small businesses have closed from January 2020 through June of this year, the Austin American-Statesman reported. And while it’s always challenging to run a small business, those that have remained open this year are truly remarkable. By Gabrielle Olya More From Your Money: Choose a high-interest saving, checking, CD, or investing account from our list of top banks to start saving today....

MCR, one of the largest hotel owners in the U.S. with more than 15,000 guest rooms in 110 hotels, is shifting its pricing model so guests may have to pay for certain amenities, the Wall Street Journal reported. The properties that adopt this model will also lower room rates by varying degrees. Other hotels, with the exception of larger chains, are also experimenting with this model. By Dawn Allcot See: 35 Things Your Hotel Will Give You for Free Find: Travelers Home Insurance Review: Flexible Coverage Options and a Variety of Discounts...

Forty-year-high inflation. The pandemic’s ongoing effects. Failures to emphasize financial literacy in education. Hesitancy by many consumers to get professional financial guidance. By J. David Herman For a host of reasons, experts say, more of us are living check to check and aren’t prepared to deal with financial emergencies. The consequences can be serious, even dire. SNAP Benefits: How Long Do They Last? Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings Tips...

Bradley Cooper is an American actor, director and producer who became a household name in 2005’s “Wedding Crashers.” He has shown his acting versatility through roles in “American Sniper ” and “Silver Linings Playbook,” as well as directing and starring in “A Star Is Born.” His large filmography also includes the 2021 thriller “Nightmare Alley,” as well as “The Hangover,” “He’s Just Not That Into You,” “The A-Team,” “Joy” and “American Hustle....

Jimmy Kimmel is welcoming President Joe Biden in the world leader’s first in-studio late-night interview as president. Biden previously spoke to Kimmel in December 2021, in a virtual television appearance and during his campaign in September 2019. By Katherine Hoey See: How Rich Are President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris and the Wealthiest US Politicians?Find: Melissa McCarthy and 34 Other Celebrities Who Got Rich and Famous Later in Life Kimmel has previously hosted former presidents Bill Clinton, George W....

The pandemic may have reshaped the way we plan weddings and caused a shift in our priorities, but it didn’t make them any cheaper. In fact, the cost of weddings has gone up in the U.S. since 2020, in part because of surging demand and, of course, swelling inflation and supply chain disruptions. Weddings in 2022 cost an average of $27,000 — up from the pre-COVID-19 average of around $24,000, according to market research firm The Wedding Report....