Author: Nancy Bilyeau
Are all banks FDIC-Insured?
The role of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in protecting depositors’ bank accounts is important for everyone to understand. Most banks are insured by the …
Small business loans for veterans
Launching a small business is running into some tough headwinds. Economic conditions could be creating a credit crunch, a situation where banks may significantly raise their …
The mortgage reality check homeowners need right now
Assuming a mortgage means that the buyer of a home is able to take over the seller’s existing mortgage. When mortgage assumption is possible, it may …
How to pay for an expensive pet surgery
Our pets deserve top-notch medical care. That’s why when the veterinarian bills are sizable, it can be stressful. How to pay for this on top of …
Is it too late to winterize your home? No
Is it too late to protect your home from freezing temperatures — and from soaring energy bills? Not at all. Anything you can do at any point …
What you need to know about Biden’s student loan pause extension
On Nov. 22, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education announced another extension of the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections. Payments may not resume until …
Can current college students apply for Biden’s student loan forgiveness program?
Students currently enrolled in college and graduate school are eligible to apply for forgiveness of up to $20,000 of the federal student loans they’ve received …
How much student debt does the average American really have?
It can be hard to wrap your mind around the size of college student debts in America. When you’re talking about education-financing trends, the numbers …
20 free grants for your business startup
This is the fifth installment in a five-part series. Part Four: “Being Your Own Boss: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Tips” There might not be such a …
Yes, you can be your own boss. Here’s how
It takes guts to start your own business. But many people, after weighing the pros and cons, feel they can’t not make this move. As Amazon’s Jeff Bezos …
Smart ways to fund your small business
This is the third in a five-part series on small business success. Part Two: “You Built It, Why Didn’t They Come? Questions about money come …
6 reasons small businesses fail
This is the second in a five-part series on small business success. Part One: “Mistake-Proof Your Business Idea.” For the last 25 years, the number …
How to set up your small business for success
Mistake-Proof Your Business Idea You’ve got a vision for starting your own small business, and you’re far from alone. Today in America, 32.5 million small …
Biden cancels up to $20k in student loans: What we know
On Aug. 24, 2022, President Joe Biden ended months of speculation by announcing that each American who earns $125,000 or less per year ($250,000 for married couples) …
Here’s how long it takes the average American to pay off student loans
The average student borrower takes 20 years to pay off their student loan debt, according to a recent report. In the U.S. there is nearly $1.75 …
What rising interest rates mean for student borrowers
With retail interest rates set for another bump following the Federal Reserve’s expected half-point hike this week, student loans are coming into even sharper focus. The …
Good news: Americans are actually happier now than pre-Covid. Here’s why
Call it the silver lining to the second year of the pandemic: The lockdown has led to a deeper sense of fulfillment. That’s the surprising finding …
Does refinancing hurt your credit score?
Most people want to refinance their student loan to help their financial situation. So, the possibility of hurting your credit by going through the process of …
Should you refinance your student loans before buying a house?
Refinancing your student loans before you apply for a mortgage could put you in a better financial position — but only if the timing is right …
Can you refinance your car loan with bad credit?
Your car loan’s interest rate might be higher than you’d like, particularly at a time when inflation eats away at your paycheck. But if you had a …
Should you say ‘I do’ to a divorce loan?
When you’re in the middle of a divorce, stress could be coming at you from every direction. One source of major anxiety is money. That’s why …
What’s the difference between a co-op and a condo?
It’s easy to get confused about the difference between co-ops and condos. If you pulled up pictures of each during a home search, they might seem …
To buy or rent? Why inflation may impact your decision
The news that U.S. inflation has hit 7% not only makes people recoil at the sticker shock at the gas pump and in the grocery store aisles, …
How to pay off student loans
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 steps to switching your car insurance
To some, it may sound like as much fun as the dentist, but switching car insurance companies can make a great deal of sense. Besides, …
How much does auto insurance go up after an accident?
Those moments right after a car accident deliver some of the worst stress imaginable. You’re figuring out if anyone is hurt and how bad your …
Everything you need to know about car insurance
Most people know that after an accident, they’ll likely need to use the car insurance they’ve been diligently paying for. Car insurance can protect you …
Will my federal student loan monthly payment change in 2022?
The federal student loan payment pause ends on Jan. 31, 2022. The question on many minds is: Will monthly payments be exactly what they were before …
Top budgeting tips for single parents
If you’re a single parent, you probably carry a lot of weight on your shoulders. From paying for clothes to putting a roof over your children’s …
What’s the deal with buy now, pay later programs?
The option of making a big purchase today and spreading out your payments over subsequent weeks or months, often interest-free, is proving more appealing to …
