House

Home Energy Rebates Could Save You Money

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included two provisions allowing rebates for home energy efficiency retrofit projects and home electrification and appliance projects. These home energy rebate programs are to be administered by state energy offices, with the U.S....
US Household Assets chart.

Where Americans Are Stashing Their Cash

Source: Federal Reserve, 2024; Money market funds are neither insured nor guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is...
Man walking through airport.

Playing Fair: New Consumer Protections for Airline Passengers

There's no doubt about it, airline travel can be stressful. Thanks to a new federal law and rules issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, airline passengers could have extra consumer protections, some in time for the holiday travel season. Hassle-free...
Younger woman walking with her arm around an elderly woman.

A Critical Combo: Life Insurance with Long-Term Care Benefits

An important part of any retirement strategy involves accounting for potential long-term care (LTC) expenses, which can be surprisingly high. The median cost of a private room in a nursing home was $9,733 in 2023, while a full-time home health aide was $6,292 per...
Percentage of total farmland graph.

Vanishing Family Farms

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2024 According to the latest Census of Agriculture, the number of U.S. farms declined 6.9% in the five years between 2017 and 2022, while the average farm size increased 5.0%. This trend continues a decades-long period of...
Car

Can You Put the Brakes on Rising Auto Insurance Premiums?

When your auto insurance policy renews, chances are that your premium will be going up, possibly by a lot. Rates vary by state and location, but nationwide, premiums increased more than 20% between May 2023 and May 2024.1 Higher vehicle prices and repair costs...
Flotation device

Do You Have Enough Life Insurance?

When you are young, you may not have a need for life insurance. However, as you take on more responsibility and your family grows, your life insurance needs increase but then decrease after your children are grown. You should periodically review your life insurance...
Woman Holding a Credit Card

Making the Most of Your Credit Card

A growing number of Americans are moving towards a "cashless" society. As a result, credit cards are being used more often than ever — especially by those with higher incomes.1 Credit cards are no longer viewed solely as a debt instrument for cash-strapped...
State Income Tax Across the Map

State Income Tax Across the Map

Source: Tax Foundation, February 2024 Seven states have no state income tax. Of the 43 states with a state income tax (and the District of Columbia), the top marginal income tax rate ranges from 2.5% to 13.3%. Most states (and D.C.) with an income tax have multiple...
Man Reading a Book

Eight Great Investing Quotes

Investing can be daunting, whether you are experienced or a beginner. Even if you feel confident about your investing strategy, it can be easy to lose focus or make decisions based on emotion. Here are eight quotes from successful investors, economists, and other...

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