When you take out a certificate of deposit (CD), you agree to leave your money in the bank for a set period of time. When the term of the CD ends, the bank will release the money to you, along with the interest it earned. This is known as the CD maturing. When your CD

Certificates of deposit (CDs) provide a way for consumers to make a little more interest on their savings than they can get by keeping their money in a standard savings account. The customer is promising not to withdraw the money for a specific period of time. The longer the time period, the higher the interest

Certificates of deposit, or CDs, have become such a familiar financial product that it may seem like they’ve been around forever. They actually date back to the early 19th century in the United States, although their roots go back much farther. Key Insights Banks in the U.S. have been issuing certificates of deposit since the

When contemplating an investment, few questions are as important as “What is your time horizon?” The answer can help you decide what type of investment vehicle you should consider, which investments to avoid, and how long to hold your investment before selling. It is important to note that the passage of the Setting Every Community Up

Is buying a house near an airport advisable? Suppose your real estate agent shows you a property that is virtually perfect in all other aspects. Does all that good outweigh the one bad point? And, really, is it a negative at all? Of course, any home purchase is inevitably fraught with questions. To help ensure

A Roth IRA is a tax-advantaged retirement savings vehicle that allows for tax-free withdrawals if certain conditions are satisfied. A Roth IRA forms an integral part of many investors’ retirement planning, but they are not available for everyone. If you earn too much in a year, you will not be able to make contributions to

When it comes to your retirement accounts, comparing how much you have saved with the national average can help you benchmark your savings. For most employees, an employer-sponsored 401(k) account is a significant piece of their retirement planning. Knowing how the balance in your 401(k) stacks up against the averages for your age range may

Cars are indispensable for most of us who don’t live in New York City. While it’s common knowledge that car expenses traditionally rival only dwelling expenses in the standard household budget, is it true that cars have gotten correspondingly more expensive over the years? Henry Ford achieved business immortality by democratizing the car. Of his

Operating margin and EBITDA are two measures of a company’s profitability. They are related but provide investors and analysts with different insights into the financial health of a company.  Operating margin, which is expressed as a percentage, is a measure of the revenue left over after accounting for expenses. It is the amount of profit that a

Inflation can have a negative impact on fixed-income assets when it results in higher interest rates. Central banks, like the U.S. Federal Reserve, typically have inflation targets. When inflation begins to exceed the desired threshold, officials will increase interest rates. Since the interest payments from existing fixed-income assets become less competitive relative to newer higher

An asset-protection trust can help seniors in need of constant nursing care pay the substantial costs of assisted living or skilled nursing facilities and at-home help. Average daily nursing home costs can exceed $297 and can be significantly higher in certain metropolitan areas, according to a 2021 Genworth survey. Medicare, the federal health care program

Bonds and interest rates have an inverse correlation: as interest rates increase, bond prices fall. However, the more the Federal Reserve hikes interest rates, the better news potentially for municipal bond investors. Municipal bonds (or “munis”), long touted as among the safest, most tax-efficient debt investments available, were hit hard in the wake of the

Free on Board Shipping Point vs. Free on Board Destination: An Overview International commercial laws have been in place for decades and were established to standardize the rules and regulations surrounding the shipment and transportation of goods. Having special contracts in place has been important because international trade can be complicated and because trade laws

Life insurance can be a valuable financial tool to provide for your loved ones after your death. Having life insurance can help you plan for the future and bring you peace of mind. While life insurance can offer a number of advantages for many people, but others may have reasons why buying life insurance may

Investors’ demand for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continues to grow. ETFs are a cost-effective way for novice investors to begin investing in the stock market and they remain a great diversification tool for experienced investors. The attraction of ETFs is owed to their lower fees, as well as the lower risks they provide through broad diversification.