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Mortgage applications decreased 6.8% for the week ending March 25, 2022, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: 5 Best Foods To Buy in Bulk at Costco This Spring Find: What Income Level Is Considered Middle Class in Your State? “Mortgage rates jumped to their highest level in more than three years last week, as investors continue to price in the impact of a more restrictive monetary policy from the Federal Reserve,” Mike Fratantoni, MBA Senior Vice President and Chief Economist said in a press release....

Overview Wells Fargo occasionally releases new credit cards to keep up with the ever-changing needs of the market. In 2021, Wells Fargo released the Active Cash and Reflect Cards. For 2022, the financial institution released the to help cardholders maximize reward points on everyday spending categories such as restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. By Katherine Cantrell Overview Features How It Stands Out Competitor Comparison...

Anyone who has taken out an auto loan or mortgage has likely entered into a hypothecation agreement to secure the loan. Hypothecation is common with secured loans. By Andrea Norris What It Is How It Works Why It’s Important Takeaway In the case of getting a mortgage on a home, without hypothecation, a borrower could default on the mortgage and yet still be able to keep the house. No financial institution would be willing to lend with such risk, leaving most people unable to buy a home without the cash to do so....

Callie Brutcher says her previous experience at the FBI focusing on ransomware and darknet narcotics helped her shape her current work as a blockchain intelligence analyst on the Threat Intelligence team at blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs. Brutcher said one of the things she admires about the crypto space is “the human impact” and how she can help victims of fraud. She talked to us about her experience, her views on where crypto is going and what needs to change in the space, such as demystifying it....

Although the CARES Act was signed into law in March 2020, there’s a lesser-known provision regarding student loan debt. Section 2206 of the CARES Act created a temporary tax-free provision for employer student loan assistance programs, according to Forbes. By Josephine Nesbit Find Out: What To Do If You Can’t Afford Your Student Loan PaymentsPrepare: Student Loan Forgiveness Scams on the Rise — Avoid Being a Victim of Fraud According to the provision, an employer can make up to $5,250 in student loan payments for an employee within a year either directly to the employee or the student loan servicer....

Some people put their Christmas tree up right after Halloween, but that’s not your style. However, now December has arrived and not only is your tree not up — you don’t even have one. By Jennifer Taylor Maybe you’ve already made a firm decision on whether you’ll buy a real or artificial tree, or perhaps you’re still on the fence. Either way, you’re finally ready to get shopping. Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings TipsAdvice: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000...

One of the unfortunate side effects of financial success is that it puts a bullseye on your back. Where there’s money, there will always be people looking to take advantage of those who earned it or saved it. By Andrew Lisa If you’re well off — or if the people in your life perceive you as being better off than they are — prepare to be disappointed by some of your friends, relatives, love interests, acquaintances from your past and even professionals who are supposed to be looking out for your best interests....

Today, social media is one of the fastest, most accessible ways to communicate with people all over the world. After eating a delicious meal at your favorite small business in town, you might be inclined to post a picture of your meal on Facebook and share your favorite spot with your followers. But is that the best way to show support to the businesses you most appreciate? By Maddie Duley See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money Experts Also Read: What Is the Highest Income for Food Stamps in 2022?...

Amid exploding popularity, NFTs will be the gift of the moment this year. For the gift giver, it has several advantages: You don’t need to wrap it, you don’t need to carry it when you travel, it’s a really thoughtful gift as it can appreciate over time and it can be highly personalized. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Multimillion-Dollar Sales and More From the Big Year for NFTs Find: NFT Art: What It Is and Where To Buy...

The prospect of suddenly finding yourself without a job isn’t pleasant to think about — but it could happen. By Cynthia Measom The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to MoneyExplore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions Answered “You cannot predict what may happen in the workspace and in any particular industry,” said Edith Hamilton, a certified career development coach for executives and founder of NEXT New Growth. “Things shift so quickly and you could find yourself on the outside looking in, whether it be as an employee, a business owner or a company altogether....

The clock is ticking on efforts by Congressional Democrats to pass legislation before Republicans take over the U.S. House in 2023, and some lawmakers are working hard to approve a bill that would permanently expand the Child Tax Credit. By Vance Cariaga See: 11 Grocery Items To Buy at Dollar TreeFind: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Among those leading the effort is Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)....

Efforts to partially restore an enhancement to the child tax credit did not succeed, as the expansion didn’t make the cut of the $1.7 trillion federal spending package for 2023. By Nicole Spector Child Tax Credit: IRS Issues Important Reminder and 4 More Before Tax SeasonExplore: Stimulus Checks Could Be Coming to These 4 States Soon Democrats and progressives were vying to increase the refundability of the child tax credit so that more of the lowest-income families could continue to qualify for it, as they did under the American Rescue Plan’s temporary expansion in 2021....

Texas SNAP benefits are administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and distributed once per month to Texas Lone Star Cards, the state’s EBT card. Benefits, including November food stamps, are distributed to SNAP accounts according to the same schedule each month. By Josephine Nesbit SNAP Benefits: Can You Use EBT Card/Food Stamps To Purchase Hot Food?Find: What Is the Highest Income for Food Stamps in 2022? SNAP can be used to purchase most foods, as well as seeds and plants to grow food....

What Is Fundrise? Fundrise is a company that enables individuals to invest in real estate in a low-cost, risk-adjusted way. Founded in 2012, Fundrise pools investor money and buys residential and commercial property. These properties are grouped by type and location and are added to portfolio strategy types based on what they can bring to the table. By Kelli Francis About Fundrise Who It’s For Features Should You Invest Accessibility...

As the pandemic reaches its tail end, Generation Z seems to be emerging better focused on finance and financial education, according to a new study from Bank of America’s financial education website, Better Money Habits. By Dawn Allcot See: Millennials and Gen Zers Are More Invested in the Stock Market Than Other Financial Assets, Including CryptoFind: Millennials and Gen Z Want To Retire by 60 — One Expert Points Out Major Obstacles to Their Plans...

In the United States, the average age for retiring is 63, with the average monthly retirement benefit coming in at just over $1,600. Even living modestly, most Americans will need more than $1,600 to live in their 60s and beyond. That’s where retirement savings come in. By Sam DiSalvo Retirement at Any Age: Get Retirement Tips That Fit Every Stage of LifeMore: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000...

The tradition of giving gifts on Christmas hasn’t always been focused on children. Originally rooted in the three gifts the Magi gave to the baby Jesus, the practice has taken numerous divergences, from early Christian rulers demanding gifts from their subjects to rowdy throngs of impoverished 19th-century New Yorkers taking to the streets to demand handouts from moneyed elites. By Cody Bay Take a Look Back: 2022 Year in ReviewLearn: 3 Easy Tips To Turn Your Credit Woes Into Wows...

In the midst of The Great Resignation, employers of in-person hourly service jobs are losing the most workers, Fast Company reported. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 750,000 leisure and hospitality workers are dropping out of the workforce every month. So, what can be done to reverse this trend? What do hourly workers want from prospective employers that will entice them to fill open roles? By Gabrielle Olya Check Out: Amazing Perks These 10 Companies Offer Employees Making Money: 5 Things To Negotiate at Your Job Other Than Salary...

If you’re thinking of launching a podcast or already have one and are looking for ways to monetize it, you have come to the right place. There are multiple ways to monetize a podcast. Some monetization strategies are suitable for beginners, while others work well for more regular podcasters with a larger audience. By Lydia Kibet How Podcasters Make Money Advertising Earnings Popular Podcast Income You can make money podcasting if you put in the work and use suitable monetization strategies....

On Nov. 1, 2022, musician Taylor Swift announced on social media her next tour — Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour — is scheduled to begin its first leg across U.S. stadiums in 2023. Hot on the heels of Swift’s release of her 10th studio album Midnights, this tour presents parents who have Swiftie fan teens with an opportunity to discuss financial literacy together. By Heather Taylor The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to MoneyFind Out: If Your Credit Score Is Under 740, Make These 4 Moves Now...