Kate Dore, Candidate for CFP® Certification

As the pandemic consumes the nation, millions of housebound Americans have immersed themselves in a new hobby: trading stocks. Lured by the ability to make commission-free trades, online brokerages—like Charles Schwab, Fidelity, and TD Ameritrade—have seen an uptick in users this year.

With fewer than 50 days until the election, there is no better time to compare candidates—including those at the federal, state, and local levels—to see how each one may impact your wallet. Here’s a closer look at Joe Biden’s tax policy and how much it may cost your family.

As families prepare to send kids back to school, many worry about the high cost of supplies. Two in three parents are feeling stressed by the expense—which is up from 43% in 2019, according to CompareCards’ annual Back-to-School survey—and it’s easy to see why. The National Retail Federation says coronavirus may push parents to record levels of back-to-school spending, with an estimated $789.49 per family.

Last week, Chase unveiled new rewards credit card offerings—including the new Chase Freedom Flex—along with new cash back rewards for the existing Chase Freedom Unlimited. Both will be available on September 15, 2020.

The purpose of an investment policy statement is to turn your investing strategy into a measurable plan. It may protect you from emotional decisions sparked by fear and anxiety, and can serve as your roadmap for future choices for what to do with your money, regardless of what’s happening in the stock market. Here’s how to get started putting one together.

More than half a million people in Massachusetts filed for unemployment benefits in the first month of the coronavirus outbreak. If you lost your job because of COVID-19, here’s how to file for unemployment benefits in Massachusetts.

PenFed Credit Union, one of the biggest credit unions in the United States,1 offers a variety of products—including personal loans. While the credit union is well known in the military, anyone can become a member.

When you’ve fallen in love with a home, it may be tempting to breeze through the home inspection—or skip it altogether. This may be a costly mistake.

As you start the homebuying process, it’s normal to focus on the biggest hurdle: qualifying for a mortgage. Your approval is a big deal and worth celebrating. But before filling the champagne glasses, you’ll need one more thing—homeowners insurance.

If you live or work in Pennsylvania, you may have to pay state and local income taxes. But those aren’t the only taxes that apply in the Keystone State. You may also encounter property tax, sales tax or even an inheritance tax.

Every year, college graduates hope to make the leap from student to the workforce. Two-thirds of students graduate with student loans, with an average balance of $29,990. Student loans can be a burden, especially at the beginning of one’s career. With the average starting salary of around $52,000, many wonder if their investment will pay off. Unfortunately, there isn't a simple answer. Here's how to figure out if student loans are worth it for your family.

If you live or work in Ohio, you will probably have to pay state income taxes. But Buckeye state residents may also face other types of state or local taxes, such as sales tax, property taxes and possibly even local income tax.

If you follow investing, you may know the active vs. passive investing debate has been going on for a while. Ever since Jack Bogle, founder of Vanguard, created index funds—the first passive investing option—experts have been arguing for and against the strategy.
With experts plugging the merits of both sides, it can be confusing to navigate—especially without a clear winner.

Living together unmarried is more common than ever before. Cohabitation has nearly tripled in 20 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Over the past two decades, the numbers have risen from 6 million to 17 million — or 7% of the total U.S. adult population. The reason may be due to a shift in attitudes or couples may be moving together to save money. Either way, a slew of people are cohabitating without the protections of marriage.

As you hear about swings in the stock market, it’s normal to worry about your investments. After all, those hard-earned dollars are your life savings—and you aren’t keen on parting with them. That’s why diversifying your portfolio of investments is so important. Bonds are a key piece of that puzzle. Here’s a closer look at what they are, how to use them, and their benefits.