Author: Kim Franke-Folstad
Is interest on your car loan tax deductible?
Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive …
5 companies that offer credit card pre-approval
Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive …
Pros & cons of buying a starter home
Young people and professionals who are just starting out often opt to first buy a modest home at an affordable price. It sounds like a good …
6 ways to organize your bills
Making sure all of your bills are paid on time every month can be a tedious and time-consuming task. But it’s also an important one. …
A guide to getting through financial hardship
If you’re suffering through a period of financial hardship—whether it was caused by a loss of income, a medical emergency or some other challenging situation—you’re not …
How to negotiate medical bills
Facing a staggering medical bill can feel overwhelming, but if you find yourself struggling to pay, don’t give up hope. You may be able to work …
Strategies to lower your energy bill when working from home
One of the obvious perks of working from home is the opportunity to cut some expenses. If you’re no longer commuting every day, cooking more instead …
Should you ever use your 401(k) to pay down debt?
You have debt. But you’ve also got a stash of cash in your 401(k). If you’re feeling overwhelmed by high-interest credit card balances, a student loan, and/or …
4 financial new year’s resolutions your future self will thank you for
You can usually guess someone’s New Year’s resolution because it often involves losing weight, getting into better shape or cooking more nutritious meals. Look, …
3 common debt payoff strategies
In the U.S., debt is a reality for many Americans. According to the Federal Reserve’s most recent report, our total national household debt is $13.95 trillion. That’s …
How to plan the ultimate debt payoff strategy
Debt often has a negative connotation, but there are plenty of good reasons to have it — for example, using student loans to increase your …
Can you get your Sallie Mae loans forgiven?
The reality is that Sallie Mae student loans aren’t likely to evaporate into thin air. That’s because Sallie Mae is a private lender now. And despite …
Should I pay off debt before buying a house?
Ready to buy your own home? There’s a lot to consider, especially if this is your first time applying for a mortgage and you’re carrying debt. …
Pros & cons of using a debit card online
These days, debit cards are accepted almost everywhere credit cards are accepted, both in-person and online. And that can be a game-changer for consumers who are …
Can you lose your house with a reverse mortgage?
For older Americans who may find they need more money in retirement, using a reverse mortgage to convert some of their home’s equity into cash can …
The facts about getting audited
Filing your taxes can be challenging enough for the average American taxpayer. (Especially if you ended last year owing to some money to Uncle Sam.) But …
Where is my tax refund?
It can be tough to tamp down your impatience while you’re waiting on an income tax refund, especially if you have plans for the money. The Internal Revenue …
Popular monthly dividend stocks
You might not guess it from the way many investors base their mood on the day-to-day movements of the stock market, but for most people, an investment …
Do I need life insurance?
If you’re trying to decide if you need life insurance, a good place to start might be to ask yourself: Would anyone be put at risk …
Money management for college students
Parents expect that their children will head off to college with concerns about fitting in, finding friends, and not failing classes. What they may not think …
How does unemployment work?
Millions of Americans who never imagined they’d be out of work—especially in what was until recently an incredibly hot job market—suddenly have been forced by the …
How to budget for a baby
Having a baby can fill your house with love. It also can take a toll on your finances. So while you’re obsessing about pink, blue, or …
Is there such a thing as a safe investment?
Stocks are predictably unpredictable. And yet, even the media pundits who are paid to talk us through those roller-coaster twists seem to be surprised when there’s …
Average cost of medical school
Did you declare you’d be a doctor someday back when you were just a little kid? Perhaps your parents bought you one of those toy medical …
Tips for teaching your kids about investing
People talk about improving financial literacy for kids, but few seem ready to do much about it. According to the Council for Economic Education, only one-third of states …
Can medical bills affect your credit report?
Medical costs can sneak up on you. They’re often confusing and even frustrating. Billing statements may be hard to read. So can an insurer’s explanation of …
Exploring student loan forgiveness for nonprofit employees
Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The unicorn of student debt. Its very existence is debated. Thousands of federal student loan borrowers pursue it. And for those who …
5 ways to keep track of your expenses
Why is it important to track your spending? Let us count the ways: It can help you set and meet your goals. It can give you …
6 investment risk management strategies
We take risks all the time Risk is everywhere, every day. Some people take steps to protect themselves and manage that risk. Others leave it up …
US Recession History: Reviewing past market contractions
From time to time, media outlets that cover financial news will report rumblings of a coming recession. And that can be a little nerve-jangling. The potential …
7 ways to avoid monthly account maintenance fees
Have you ever heard the old saying, “Penny wise and pound foolish”? It’s a little knock at folks who tend to be frugal about small expenditures …
4 ways to pay for your child’s tuition
If you’re a parent who has always dreamed of sending your child to college someday, you’re probably well aware that tuition costs have increased pretty drastically over the …
How to save money from your salary
Americans are notoriously bad at saving money. Not just in the traditional sense, for the big stuff we want, like a car, college, a home and …
How much money should I spend on rent?
Maybe you can’t afford to buy a house just yet. Maybe you prefer renting to buying. Or maybe you’re just waiting for the right home to …
What percentage of income should I save?
Putting a portion of every paycheck into savings can be an important step toward building financial security. Parents, financial professionals and TV pundits like to press …
