Financial Literacy Articles | Banzai

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Housing

Buying a home may be one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make.

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Borrowing And Credit

GreenPath: A Road to Financial Wellness

GreenPath is a nonprofit organization that helps those who are struggling with their finances.

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Saving

A simple, practical rule of thumb for individuals who want a budget that is easy to implement.

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Budgeting

Teaching Children About Money

Perhaps just as important as teaching kids about the birds and the bees is teaching them the value of money.

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Life Changes

How to Boost Your Local Economy

There are actions everyone can take to help pull the economy out of a downward slide.

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Life Changes

Planning for Your Health

Know your choices before you pick an insurance policy.

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Taxes

Completing a Return

Your tax return tests you much like a standardized test, but it doesn't have to be as complicated as it seems.

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Insurance

If anyone depends on you for financial security, life insurance is something you can't afford to ignore. And even if you're not at that stage in life yet, it's still smart to know what's at stake so you can make the right decision when the time does come.

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Budgeting

Quality vs Cost

There are a few key factors that can help you make the decision between where you should splurge and where you should save.

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Insurance

Health Insurance

Your health can be unpredictable, and no one knows when health problems could befall them. Learning how to navigate health insurance will help you protect yourself in the future.

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Life Changes

Staying alert is the best defense against fraud.

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Saving

Money Market Accounts

Meet the hybrid account that may be the right saving solution for you.

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Borrowing And Credit

Repaying Student Loans

Student loans account for a lot of personal debt and often seem too daunting to handle. Learn how to start repaying.

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Running A Business

Professional Help with Your Business

Your business can benefit from the help of experts.

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Insurance

Health Savings Accounts

If you have a high-deductible plan, you can allocate tax-free income toward your health with a health savings account.

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Retirement

Transitioning to Retirement

When you’re mapping out the best route to collecting retirement income, there’ll be several forks in the road. But you can arm yourself with knowledge to make informed decisions.

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Taxes

Look ahead to the tax consequences of your financial decisions, so you can legitimately meet your minimum tax obligations.

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Borrowing And Credit

Dealing with a Lender

Finding a mortgage lender isn't as hard or scary as it seems.

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Budgeting

The Cost of College Life

Going to college incurs a lot of expenses you might not have thought about.

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Insurance

Disability Insurance

Even if you feel your job is secure and you're in perfect health now, it's smart to plan for the unexpected; acquired disabilities may be more common than you think.

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Life Changes

Unemployment can throw a curve ball at your financial plans, but you can mitigate the damage.

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Running A Business

Documentation for SBA Loans

In order to apply for an SBA loan, you'll need to provide the correct documentation.

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Borrowing And Credit

Refinancing Loans

Stuck making payments on a loan with unfavorable terms? Refinancing may help.

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Running A Business

Funds to Build Your Business

Growing a business requires a steady flow of money.

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Budgeting

Income and Expenses

People spend money. But many people don't know how to track how much they're spending or how to prioritize it.

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Borrowing And Credit

This article is about using credit. Like credit cards, loans and stuff like that.

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Budgeting

Checking Out Charities

You've heard people say that it's better to give than to receive. But what does that really mean?

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Saving

Finding Funds in an Emergency

Wondering what to do in an emergency if you don’t have an emergency fund? Consider these options.

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Saving

Certificate of Deposit

If you need to save aggressively, a high-interest certificate of deposit (CD) may be right for you.

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Budgeting

What a Car Loan Costs

Gearing up to get a car loan is the key to getting wheels.

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Life Changes

To-Dos for Leaving a Job

Whatever your reasons for leaving a job, there are things you need to consider as you transition out of your current position.

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Saving

Reducing Your Food Bill

Food can eat up a big part of your budget but cutting how much you spend on food is completely doable.

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Retirement

Having a will to allocate your estate after you die is essential, so make sure it's done formally and legally.

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Taxes

When tax season comes around, you need to be thorough to make sure you pay what you owe and save where you can.

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Life Changes

How To Manage Your Debt: Strategies & Tools

Most people have to borrow money at some point, and many struggle to pay it back. But debt is a burden that doesn't have to break the bank.

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Saving

Is the Money in My Account Safe?

Short answer: Yes! With the NCUA and FDIC, you can rest assured that your money is protected.

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Life Changes

Preparing for a Baby

Having a baby? Here’s how to plan financially for such a big change.

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Borrowing And Credit

Whenever you’re online, you're sharing information, whether you mean to or not. It's up to you to protect your data, your privacy, and your identity.

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Borrowing And Credit

The CARES Act: Student Loans

The CARES act has temporarily suspended federally owned student loan payments. Learn more about what that means for you.

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Insurance

Dealing with Illness

Illness can befall anyone, but if you have a plan in place for those circumstances, you can rest easier.

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Borrowing And Credit

Reasons to Refinance

Refinancing can help you get out of debt quicker or pay less in interest if everything lines up.

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Life Changes

Filling Out the FAFSA

If you're considering going to college, you have nothing to lose by applying for federal student aid.

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Borrowing And Credit

When looking for a new car, you have three main options: buy used, buy new, or lease. There are pros and cons to each method.

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Saving

Savings Accounts

Learning about different kinds of money accounts can help pave the way to financial security.

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Borrowing And Credit

When You Can't Afford Your Minimum Payments

If you’ve found yourself unable to make minimum payments, you have options to help improve your situation.

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Retirement

Social Security Basics

If retirement and Social Security seem one and the same to you, there’s good reason. More than 90% of US households with someone over 65 are part of the system. And the monthly benefits check is the primary source of income for almost 67% of those households.

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Running A Business

Keeping Your Employees

Creating a strong team is key to your company’s growth.

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Budgeting

Checking accounts take center stage in your day-to-day finances, and you can open one of several styles.

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Housing

Making a Down Payment on a House

A down payment is an important element of home buying, but what is it? And how can you save for one?

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Saving

When Times Get Tough

Whether you want to get ahead and prepare or find help in the midst of an emergency, there are ways to shore up your financial situation.

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Insurance

There are a wide range of employer-provided benefits beyond just a salary that you should consider when looking for a new job.

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Budgeting

Tracking Your Joint Expenses

When you share your life with a partner, you're sharing your finances too. It can be awkward, but it's possible to make good decisions together.

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Life Changes

The Cost of Divorce

It’s important to know what you might face during a breakup.

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Life Changes

Government Assistance

Understanding more about government assistance ensures that you’ll know where to turn if you ever need financial aid for the basic stuff you need.

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Housing

The Cost of a Mortgage

The cost of a mortgage depends on the amount you borrow, the APR, and how long you take to repay.

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Borrowing And Credit

A brief overview of what you need to know about interest.

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Life Changes

Financial To-Dos for Newlyweds

Getting married? You may want to check out some of these financial to-dos.

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Housing

Renter's Insurance

If you're renting, it's always a good idea to protect your possessions from disaster.

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Life Changes

Talking to Your Partner About Money

Talking with your partner about finances can be scary—but it doesn’t have to be.

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Borrowing And Credit

Every single time you use credit, the details of the amount you spend and how you repay is added to your credit report and influences your credit score.

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Saving

Early Withdrawals From Retirement Savings

Early withdrawals from your retirement savings should only be done after careful consideration in order to avoid negative consequences.

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Life Changes

Recognizing and Avoiding Scams

Scammers will do all they can to get your money or information. The best way to defend yourself is to prepare and recognize red flags.

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Retirement

Setting up a trust is a way to ensure that your assets are handled the way you want them to be after you pass away.

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Borrowing And Credit

Best Practices for Using a Credit Card

Following these guidelines with your credit card can help give a boost to your credit score.

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Budgeting

Robust safety features and powerful, convenient services make mobile banking options an ideal on-the-go solution.

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Housing

Selling Your Home

Selling your home and buying a new one when you retire can be a taxing experience.

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Life Changes

Moving is a big undertaking, but planning a budget can help make it go as smoothly as possible.

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Saving

Leaving a Job with a 401(K)

Leaving a job with a 401(k)? Here's what you can do with the money you’ve saved.

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Saving

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net that everybody should have for life's unforeseen challenges.

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Borrowing And Credit

Credit cards are useful tools but have their trade-offs. Learn more about how to handle them cautiously.

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Running A Business

Health Benefits

Offering health insurance can benefit you and your employees.

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Taxes

The CARES Act: Individual Benefits Overview

The CARES Act offers help in various ways to individuals struggling due to COVID-19, including expanded unemployment, student loan payment suspensions, and more.

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Housing

Find a Place to Rent

For many, picking the right house or apartment in a tight rental market is daunting, but by preparing in advance, you're more likely to find the perfect place to call home.

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Investing

Individual Retirement Accounts

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can look intimidating and cryptic when you begin planning for retirement, but there are some foundational lessons to learn so you plan wisely.

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Insurance

Insuring Your Home

If you’re buying a home, you’ll want to protect your investment. Insuring your home is the only way to really protect yourself from the unpredictable events in life.

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Saving

What to do With Your Stimulus Check

Stimulus checks are being sent to many Americans across the country in response to Covid-19. What’s the best thing that you can do with yours?

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Taxes

Tax Brackets and Statuses

Learn more about how your filing status and tax bracket impact your income tax rate.

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Investing

Avoiding Inappropriate Investments

There's outright fraud and there are inappropriate investments. Stay away from both.

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Life Changes

Property and Divorce

Divorce law varies throughout the United States, but there are some principles you can follow to protect your financial security.

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Retirement

Portfolio Building

Variety isn’t just the spice of an investor’s life. It’s an essential ingredient.

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Budgeting

Calculating compound interest can be tricky and intimidating. Here is a shortcut to estimate growth rates.

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Housing

To Buy or Not to Buy?

There are some compelling reasons to buy real estate, but it's not a clear-cut situation for everyone.

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Housing

Rules for Renting

Renting a home can be a walk on Easy Street or a tug of war with your landlord.

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Budgeting

Cards are a convenient way to pay, and it pays to know the details of how debit cards work.

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Life Changes

Divorce and Retirement Savings

In addition to the emotional strain and hardship of divorce, the end of a marriage also often results in major financial changes.

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Budgeting

Envelope Budgeting

This simple budgeting system can help enforce good habits and careful spending.

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Housing

Home Money Smarts

Wherever and however you live, use these practical tips to make your everyday living easier.

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Running A Business

Attracting Employees

To draw new employees, it’s important to have a well-rounded incentive package.

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Retirement

Critical Retirement Choices

You’ll have the answers you need down the road if you ask the right questions now.

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Saving

Opening Your First Account

Ready to open your first account at a bank or credit union? Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know.

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Budgeting

Figuring out how you will organize your finances, and to what degree you will have combined accounts, sets the groundwork for the main tool of money management—a budget.

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Retirement

The CARES Act: Retirement Accounts

The CARES Act can impact your retirement account in several important, and positive, ways..

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Insurance

Auto insurance is like ordering fast food—you have a lot of options.

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Life Changes

What is a Recession?

What actually is a recession? What should I expect if one is on the horizon?

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Saving

Meet Your 401(k)

If you’re lucky enough to be introduced to a 401(k), you’ll make a friend for life.

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