Let’s Talk About Trusts
Trusts have long been thought of as an inheritance tool meant only for the super wealthy thanks to the “trust-fund baby” stereotype in Hollywood movies. But, you don’t have to be a Hilton, Kardashian, or Richie Rich’s parents to set up a Trust. Anyone who wants to leave precise instructions on how their assets should […]
Your Three-Minute Guide to Simple Interest
With many things in life — your favorite recipes, your morning routine — it pays to keep things, well … simple. That’s especially true when it comes to borrowing money or saving it. Simple interest is a term you might’ve heard before, but you might not fully understand how it works. Not to mention how […]
When Your Car Breaks Down, a Vehicle Service Contract Can Help You Keep On
Maybe you’ve heard this one before. (Or worse, experienced it yourself.) You’re in the car headed to work, listening to your favorite tunes or podcast. The road is open, your mind is clear, and the day seems free for the taking. Then, your car makes a horrible noise and you’re forced to pull over on […]
Are CDs Right for You? Weigh the Pros and Cons to Decide
A certificate of deposit (CD) is an easy, safe place to stash your savings and earn some interest while you’re at it. But CDs have some features that may not work for your situation. So how do you know if a CD is right for you? When you have an important decision to make, especially […]
How Risky Are Certificates of Deposit?
Life is all about balancing risks and rewards — especially when it comes to your finances. You want your money to earn interest at the highest rates, but you also want to safeguard your principal. Generally speaking, high-risk investments — like some stocks and bonds — yield higher returns than FDIC-insured bank products — like […]
Do Higher Interest Rates Mean It’s a Bad Time to Purchase a House?
The years following the market crash in 2008 at times felt like a staging of “Waiting for Gadot.” Like the play’s title character, interest rate hikes never arrived, even though you expected them at any moment. For seven years, the Federal Reserve’s benchmark federal funds rate, the rate that banks charge to loan each other […]
The Basics of a Jumbo Mortgage
Chances are, you know a little something about mortgages. But have you heard about their big brother, the jumbo mortgage? A jumbo mortgage — also known as a jumbo home loan — might sound expensive and downright financially daunting, but it’s not nearly as intimidating as it sounds. A jumbo loan is simply a big […]
Top 5 Myths About Putting A Down Payment on Your New House
Plenty of myths circulate about the home buying process. With conflicting pieces of information flying all over the neighborhood, how are you supposed to know what to believe? It’s time to provide some clarity about one of the more misunderstood parts of buying a home: The down payment. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you might […]
Turn ‘Can’t Even’ Into ‘I Got This’ With This Interactive Investing Guide
In an Ally Invest survey of U.S. adults, we found nearly 66% of Millennials said they found investing to be intimidating or downright scary. To help you get the proverbial investing monster out of the closet, we launched this GenZ- and Millennial-friendly e-book titled: The Clutch Guide to Investing. Click to read The Clutch Guide to Investing […]
6 Questions to Help You Actually Have ‘The Money Talk’ Without Freaking Out
In the beginning of a budding romance, finances can be the farthest thing from your mind. Before you take things to the next level (i.e. moving in together), it’s imperative to get on the same page about how the two of you will approach spending, saving, debt, and budgeting as a couple. And perhaps for […]
