Tax Prep Checklist
With Tax Day—April 15—just over two weeks away, now is the time to get your paperwork in order. A good starting point is a tax organizer or checklist, which can help you track income, investment interest, and charitable contributions in one place. Tax checklists are widely available online, and if you work with an accountant, …
Prospective Young Buyers Feel the Housing Market Squeeze
If you’ve doom-scrolled through TikTok real estate content lately, the vibes are confirmed: buying your first home is harder than ever. According to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, first-time buyers represent just 24 percent of all purchases. That’s a historic low down 32 percent from the previous …
New FICO Model Disrupts Credit Bureau Status Quo
Fair Isaac Corp., the Montana-based company behind the FICO credit score, is shaking up the industry with a new pricing model aimed at mortgage lenders, per The Wall Street Journal. The shift could significantly weaken the grip of credit bureaus Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, which have long controlled how credit scores are sold. Under the …
Wyoming Launches First State-Issued Stablecoin
Wyoming has become the first U.S. state to launch its own stablecoin, part of a broader push to make the state a hub for digital finance, according to CNBC. The Frontier Stable Token (FRNT) officially went live on August 19. Each token is backed one-to-one with U.S. dollars and short-term Treasuries, plus a two percent …
Gold and Real Estate Hype Misses the Stock Market Story
Gold bars and real estate might be trending on TikTok, but financial advisors say the hype is misleading. According to a recent Gallup poll, 37 percent of Americans believe real estate is the best long-term investment, while 23 percent say it’s gold—up five percentage points from last year. Only 16 percent picked stocks or mutual …
Nationwide Credit Scores Are Falling—Yours Doesn’t Have To
Credit scores across the U.S. are starting to slip—and for the first time in years, it’s not just a few outliers. FICO, the company behind one of the most widely used credit scoring models, reports that the national average score has slipped from 717 to 715. That drop may sound small, but it’s a significant …
Turn Market Losses Into Tax Wins
Between market dips and economic curveballs, 2025 has already been a rollercoaster for investors—especially for those in their 20s and 30s trying to build wealth in a turbulent world. One tool worth knowing about amid all this volatility is tax-loss harvesting. It might sound like finance-speak, but it’s a smart way to make the most …
Merging Finances Without the Mess
With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, some couples might be contemplating the ultimate commitment—merging finances. But before you rush to the bank hand-in-hand, let’s unpack the crucial factors to weigh before blending your financial lives. 1. Transparency is Key Before merging finances, lay all your cards on the table—debts, assets, income, and spending habits. A …
Bird Flu Scrambles Egg Prices
Egg prices are cracking under pressure as a new wave of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, sweeps through U.S. poultry farms. The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has led to the culling of over 11 million egg-laying hens since late 2023, further straining an already fragile supply chain, according to the CDC. The result? …
Why Mortgage Rates Have Climbed as Interest Rates Fall
Despite the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cuts, prospective homeowners might be scratching their heads as mortgage rates edge higher. Last Thursday, Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has reached seven percent for the first time since May 2024. This seemingly paradoxical situation boils down to the difference between short-term and …