Life teaches us that we can never be too prepared. We all need a protection plan in place, which includes a few essential elements: an emergency fund, health insurance, a basic estate plan and – for many of us – enough life insurance. Read More.

The Different Types Of Life Insurance 
First, the basics: There are two types of life insurance you can buy: Term and permanent. Term insurance is essentially just a death benefit. It has a fixed price for a certain period of time, or “term,” and then it expires. (If you’re offered insurance through your employer it’s probably term. It’s probably also a good way to start with insurance because group policies tend to be less pricey. But it may not provide as much as you need in total.) Read More.

In today’s housing market, a strong credit score can make a big difference in what you’ll pay over the life of a loan. The better your score, the more likely you are to qualify for competitive rates and favorable terms — potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars over time. So what if your credit isn’t quite where you’d like it to be? Read More.

Taking on mortgage debt is not something to be done cavalierly. You have to make certain you’re in a good place financially and can truly afford not only your mortgage but also other costs associated with home ownership and know how it affects your credit. Read More.

You’ve updated your home. Now it’s time to see how these changes may have impacted your homeowners insurance. Depending on what you’ve done, you may no longer have the coverage you need. Do you need a new policy or just a policy review? How do you go about getting the coverage you need? Read More.

If you rent a house or apartment, or have a child away at college, you’ve probably at least thought about renters insurance. Even if a landlord doesn’t require it, this is one of those small-money big-peace-of-mind moves that’s usually worth it. Read More.

Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is an insurance policy your lender might require you to pay if your down payment is less than 20% of the home’s purchase price. PMI typically costs anywhere from 0.58% to 1.68% of the original loan amount, depending on factors like your credit score, your loan term, and how much money you put down. Read More.

Millions of people feel that budgeting is a chore they’d rather avoid, or they may feel overwhelmed by the need to wrap their arms around their money. But the good news is that the simpler your budget, the more likely you are to stick with it — and simple budgets can actually be fun! Read More.

Any time is a great time to take a step back and look at the way money is actually moving through your life. Cash flows are so invisible that it can be hard to tell. But if your goal is to do better financially than you have in the past, then that starts with one simple shift: being intentional about what stays in your monthly budget and what goes. Read More.

Ages 40 to 59 can be a pivotal (and exciting!) time in your financial journey. Not only are you likely earning more than you ever have before, you’re also getting closer to retirement.  For most people, it’s also a wildly busy era where you’re trying to reach the peak of your career and raise your kiddos to get ready to tackle the world independently. If it feels like a lot, that’s because it is! So, take a deep breath, and allow these expert-driven budgeting tips to guide your strategy. Read More.