I recently beat out my Money Crashers colleagues in a grueling test of collegiate athletics knowledge. My prize was a Dunkin’ gift card in all its orange and white glory. There was just one problem. I live in Minnesota, home of Caribou Coffee. I’d never set foot in a Dunkin’ here. I wasn’t even sure … Read more

Americans’ personal savings have absolutely cratered since the middle of 2020. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the dollar value of our collective piggy bank declined from nearly $5 trillion in the second quarter of 2020 to just $626 billion in the the third quarter, or $15,990.59 per person. And … Read more

You can only work so many hours per day, so if you want to build wealth, you will need to make money while you sleep. For this to happen, you must find ways to generate passive income. Unfortunately, earning passive income can seem overwhelming as it often requires a lot of money or effort upfront … Read more

You can only work so many hours per day, so if you want to build wealth, you will need to make money while you sleep. For this to happen, you must find ways to generate passive income. Unfortunately, earning passive income can seem overwhelming as it often requires a lot of money or effort upfront … Read more

A certificate of deposit, or CD, is an excellent place to park cash you don’t need right away. It’s insured by the federal government, it usually pays more than a standard savings account, and its yield (interest rate) is guaranteed for the entire term. That rate guarantee is important because CD rates can be volatile … Read more

According to a recent Gallup poll, more than half of American adults (58%) have money invested in the stock market. Although the median holdings (amounts invested) vary based on age, income, and other demographic factors, it’s clear that Americans see the value of investing — even if their exposure is limited to a workplace 401(k). … Read more

Historically, one enormous advantage the wealthy had over the rest of us was access to expert investing advice. They didn’t need to be experts on stocks or market movements or investing. They could pay someone to “just take care of it.” Today, everyone has access to expert investing advice — if not through human investing … Read more

Opening a Roth IRA can be a smart move if you want to invest for retirement and save money on taxes later in life. However, there are strict rules when it comes to how much you can contribute to your Roth IRA.  Contributions to a Roth IRA are made with after-tax dollars, which means your … Read more

Over the long term, the stock market returns around 10% on average. Investors looking to sit back and relax can put their stock investments on autopilot, investing in index funds, possibly managed by a robo-advisor or investment advisor. It’s easy, and it works. But what if you’re not satisfied with average returns? Investors seeking an … Read more

If you’re a student (or parent) looking for a place to park your money without excessive fees or unrealistic balance requirements, check out the impressive array of low-cost, low-balance checking accounts available to students. Some actively restrict membership to younger individuals, most often those between 17 and 23 or 24 years old. But others are … Read more