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Many people leave too much money in their high-yield savings account instead of investing it. Most experts recommend keeping at least three to six months of expenses in a dedicated savings account as an emergency fund. Ideally, these funds are kept in a high-yield savings account that earns enough interest to keep up with inflation and then some. The fact is, interest rates for savings accounts and CDs fluctuate based on market conditions. Get Exclusive Savings with Raisin: Open one of the best savings accounts with a no-fee Raisin account in minutes and spread your savings across an exclusive network of over 30 FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions.

Persons: —, Lawrence, Regina McCann Hess, Hess, Jeff Rose, Will, Shinobu Hindert Organizations: Service, Nasdaq, Vanguard, Fidelity

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Being rejected for a credit card won't harm your credit score for more than a few months. Fortunately, being rejected for a credit card won't lead to long-term damage to your credit score. What to Do After a Credit Card RejectionWhile being rejected for a credit card won't irreparably harm your credit score, not getting the card you want can definitely. What steps can I take to avoid impacting my credit score with future credit card applications?

Persons: Read, Chase, haven't, shouldn't, you've Organizations: Chase, Citi, American Airlines, Citi Premier, Citi Prestige, you've Locations: Chevron

Applying for a business credit card using an EIN keeps your personal and business finances separate. Advantages of using an EIN for business cardsUsing an EIN for business credit cards offers several advantages for business owners. SVB Innovators Card: The SVB Innovators Card earns 2x points on all business spending, making it a rewarding choice for business owners who want a business credit card using only an EIN. The SVB Innovators Card earns 2x points on all business spending, making it a rewarding choice for business owners who want a business credit card using only an EIN. How to obtain an EIN for business card applicationsIf you want to get a business credit card using your EIN, you might need to start by obtaining the EIN itself.

Persons: —, EIN, Holly Johnson, it's, Julia Menez, BILL, Keogh Organizations: Service, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Card, EIN Locations: United States, Chevron

Many card issuers will allow you to downgrade your credit card instead of canceling it outright. How to Contact Your Credit Card IssuerIf your card issuer lets you downgrade your credit card to another one, you should see the change in your online account page within a few days. Considerations Before DowngradingImpact on Credit ScoreClosing a credit card account can reduce the age of your credit history and cause your credit utilization to rise if you carry balances on other cards. The Drawbacks of Downgrading Your Credit CardYou can absolutely downgrade your credit card, but there's an argument to be made for signing up for a new, different credit card instead and simply closing your old one. Your best bet is having a card in mind to downgrade to, then calling your card issuer using the number on the back of your credit card to ask.

Persons: you've, Chase, It's Organizations: Chase, Chase Sapphire Reserve Locations: Chase

☆ The Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can get you bonus credit card rewards, waived fees, and more — here's how to qualify
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Holly Johnson | Tessa Campbell | Freelance Writer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +38 min

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now lock icon An icon in the shape of lock. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now lock icon An icon in the shape of lock. Insider’s Take The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is worth considering if you're looking for a no-annual-fee cash-back credit card that lets you choose your highest rewards category. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." How to earn more credit card rewards by joining Bank of America Preferred RewardsAt this point, you're probably wondering how much more you'll earn in rewards by becoming a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member.

Persons: you’ve, takeout, Wells, We're, Merrill, Susan G Organizations: Business Insider, Alaska Airlines Visa, Virgin Atlantic, Mastercard, Bank of America, of America, ® Wells, Chase, Bank of America's, Vehicle, Cable, Services, Bank of America Travel Center, TSA, Travel Insurance, Komen, Rewards Bank of America, Business, Mobile Banking, Cash, Travel, Merrill, Bank, America, Merrill Guided

☆ 10 best ways to use Chase points for travel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Jennifer Yellin | Andrew Kunesh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards are currently offering 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. These cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points which are some of the most valuable and flexible travel rewards points out there. But before you apply, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for travel. Best ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards pointsYou can book KLM business class by transferring Chase points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. Use the Chase Travel portal to book any flightBook flights on any airline with the Chase Travel portal.

Persons: , you’ve, Air Canada Aeroplan, Chase, Kyle Olsen, —, Holly Johnson, Ziva, Eliyahu Parypa, that’s, that’ll, You’ll, you’ll, United Chase, MileagePlus, Aeroplan, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, it’s, you’re Organizations: CNN, American Express, Chase Sapphire, Chase, Hyatt, United MileagePlus, Air Canada, Chase Travel, KLM, Air France, Blue, CNN, United Airlines, Aer Lingus AerClub Air Canada Aeroplan Air France, KLM Flying Blue British Airways Executive Club Emirates, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Rapid, United, Virgin Atlantic Flying, redemptions, you’ll, Southwest Airlines, British Airways, Images British Airways, Oneworld, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways Executive Club, British Airways Executive, Miami . British Airways, British, Air Canada's, Air, Star Alliance, Minneapolis . Air, Midwest, Singapore Airlines ’, Aloha State, Iberia Airlines, Iberia Avios, Sapphire, Virgin Points, All Nippon Airways, All Nippon Airways One, Virgin Atlantic, ANA, Virgin, Virgin Atlantic Virgin Points Delta Air, Virgin Atlantic Virgin, Delta Air Lines, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ink Locations: United, Japan, Iberia, Mexico, Bay, Jamaica, Cancun, Chicago, New York, United States, Caribbean, Washington, American, Alaska, Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, Minneapolis . Air Canada, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Hawaii, East, Aeroplan, United Airlines, iStockphoto Hawaii, Los Angeles, Kona, Spain, Europe, United Kingdom, Madrid, Barcelona, Boston, Iberia Iberia, San Francisco, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, Delta

Investment apps have made it too easy to check your investments, financial advisors say. Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Looking for the right advisor for you? Datalign Advisory makes finding a financial advisor specific to your needs easier than ever. "If you've done your homework or worked with someone to create a good long term investment plan, trust that it's going to work." Focus on what you can controlFinally, financial advisor Russ Ford of Wayfinder Financial says most people have limited time and mental energy to spend thinking about money.

Persons: —, Thomas Kopelman, Jeff Rose, you've, Rose, Jordan Nietzel, Get, Stephen Carrigg, There's, Gregory J, Cameron L, Richard Cooke, David H, DeWitt, Russ Ford, Ford Organizations: Investment, Service, Dow Jones, Trek Wealth, SEC, Bentron Financial, of Sound Foundation, Advisors, Vincere Wealth Management, DeWitt Capital Management, Wayfinder Locations: Indianapolis, DeWitt

AdvertisementAdvertisementMy family's cruise cost less than $1,700 for a week visiting several islands in Greece and Turkey. Cruise travel insurance is a good way to make sure you get the most out of the money you spend. Either way, interior cabins are always the least expensive, and they are often roomier and nicer than you might think. Compare cruise lines and itinerariesMake sure to compare cruise lines and itineraries before you book a cruise. Book earlyFinally, booking early is always the best way to save money on a cruise.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, MSC Musica, MSC Cruises, MSC Voyagers Locations: Greece, Turkey, Caribbean, Europe, Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Cyprus, Kuşadası

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Of course, I paid with a rewards credit card to "double dip" on the bonus miles and the regular rewards earned for spending. I'm taking advantage of programs like Amex Offers, Chase Offers and Capital One Offers to earn more rewards. If you pay credit card interest because you carry a balance each month, using a credit card will cost you in the long run. Products in this post: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Freedom Flex℠ , Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Persons: Holly Johnson, —, I've, Chase, I'm, that's Organizations: Business, Apple, Service, Chase, PayPal, Costco, Amex, Products, Capital Locations: Nike.com, Macy's, Chase, Lululemon

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). AdvertisementAdvertisementAs of October 2023, student loans payments are back, but there are options if you can't afford them. As of October 2023, monthly payments are once again due on federal student loans after being paused since March 2020. Fortunately, there are solutions for people who can't afford student loan payments now. Borrowers who don't want to pay the payment on a standard 10-year repayment plan should look into income-driven repayment plans (including Biden's new SAVE repayment plan).

Persons: —, Jared Costigan, Costigan, Robert Farrington, Farrington, Danny Cieniewicz, you'll, Kantrowitz, Ben Markley Organizations: Service, White, The College Investor, Hyperion, Public, More College Financial

Cruise travel insurance can help cover emergency costs as well, which is why I have an annual travel insurance policy. For Caribbean cruises in particular, this part is easy since almost all spots in and around cruise ports accept US dollars. Drinks (if you drink a lot)I drink a lot on cruises, and I'm not just talking about cocktails and beer. This is why I always have a drink package when I cruise, which is easy since I normally cruise with MSC Cruises. On my next Caribbean cruise, we've booked a resort day pass at an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic through a platform called Resort for a Day.

Persons: I'm, Coke, we've Organizations: Voyages, MSC Cruises, Caribbean, MSC Yacht Club, Yacht, MSC, tote Locations: Caribbean, Europe, Miami, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

The stock market can seem like a scary places. We reached out to financial advisors to find out their thoughts on storing cash in savings instead of investing, and here's what they said. Villar uses the example of CD rates from a year ago, which were around 3.5% for a 48-month CD. In the meantime, some investment gains in the stock market could have more favorable tax treatment. Further, consumers can use high-yield savings accounts and CDs as part of their investment strategy to hold their emergency funds, short-term savings and risk-free investments.

Persons: Jeff Rose, Mike Villar, Villar, John Grace, Walter Russell of Russell, Russell, Read Organizations: Investor's, Corporation, Walter Russell of Russell & Company

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). AdvertisementAdvertisementI've learned a lot about how to make travel painless, and I always use a travel rewards credit card. Some travel credit cards even offer bonus points that apply when you book airfare directly with airlines. However, credit cards come with more robust protections when it comes to disputes thanks to the Fair Credit Billing Act. 5. Credit cards have zero fraud liabilityFinally, credit cards come with zero fraud liability, which is incredibly important when you're making pricey purchases online (e.g., buying airfare through an airline website or mobile app) and trying to prevent credit card fraud before it happens.

Persons: I've, There's Organizations: Service, ®, American, Delta, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Wall, Silicon, Delta

☆ How to use the Delta Reserve card to earn Delta elite status quickly
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

As a longtime Delta Air Lines enthusiast, I have had both the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card over the past few years. The Delta Reserve makes it possible for me to earn elite statusSpending $25,000 on the Delta Platinum or Delta Reserve cards waives the MQD requirement for elite status. Other reasons to love the Delta Reserve cardThe Delta Reserve card is loaded with perks, including Delta Sky Club access and upgrade priority. Status boostThe Delta Reserve and the Delta Platinum both come with a perk called Status Boost that gets you closer to Delta Medallion status without flying a single mile. Just make sure your Delta SkyMiles number is linked to your Delta credit card — this is often done when you apply for a Delta card.

Persons: Julian Kheel, You’ll, Andrew Kunesh Organizations: CNN, American Express, longtime Delta Air Lines, Delta, Delta SkyMiles ®, American Express Card, Delta Reserve, Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Sky Club, MQM, American, Delta Sky, Delta Air Lines Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Europe, Delta, United Kingdom, New York, JFK, Paris, Comfort

AdvertisementAdvertisementI love cruises as a vacation option with an affordable fixed price, and my Virgin Voyages cruise was great. Vacations often come with surprise expenses — cruises are a great value and make it easy to know exactly how much you'll spend in advance, and my Virgin Voyages cruise was a great value. While the cruise ship itself offered plenty to see and do, I thought the four included stops were some of the best I have ever visited on a cruise. Finally, we loved the inclusiveness the Virgin Voyages brand builds into their cruise product, which helped make the cruise more carefree and fun. Now all I have to do is start planning how we'll spend days in port on our next Virgin Voyages cruise in February.

Persons: Richard Branson's, Jeff Bezos, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Usher, That's, Burger, we'll Organizations: Service, HBO, Virgin, Voyages, Virgin Voyages Locations: Wall, Silicon, Athens, Greece, Dubrovnik, Split, Croatia, Kotor, Montenegro, Corfu, Old, Montenegro Kotor, Town, San Juan , Puerto Rico, St, Croix , Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Bahamas

AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the end, I found I could save almost $600 by switching my auto insurance alone to another highly-rated insurance company, Travelers. And if I switched auto and homeowners insurance coverage to this insurer, I could save $1,335 annually. Compare auto insurance quotes from multiple providers with Coverage.com. Getting auto insurance quotesI'm a financially savvy person, but I still found shopping for car insurance quotes and switching plans rather daunting. Switching insurance companies was easier than I thoughtOne point of contention I had with switching companies is the fact I had already prepaid auto insurance coverage for the year.

Persons: I'm, Ashley Brown, Connor, That's Organizations: Allstate, Service, Travelers, Cincinnati Financial, Connor Insurance, Company Auto, Travelers Insurance Locations: Wall, Silicon, Indianapolis

The USAA Rate Advantage Visa® Platinum Credit Card is one of the card options from USAA that doesn't offer rewards. USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum Credit Card RewardsThe USAA Rate Advantage Visa® Platinum Credit Card doesn't offer any rewards, which is another one of its downsides. USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum Credit Card Benefits and FeaturesThe USAA Rate Advantage Visa® Platinum Credit Card is light on benefits, but there are a few perks to be aware of. USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum Credit Card Fees and CostsThe USAA Rate Advantage Visa® Platinum Credit Card doesn't charge an annual fee, nor does it charge any foreign transaction fees. USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum Card Frequently Asked QuestionsIs the USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum Credit Card a good balance transfer card?

Persons: USAA, Wells Organizations: Reading Chevron, USAA, Wells, Security Locations: USAA, Wells

FIRE stands for "financial independence, retire early," and the movement has gained momentum over the last decade. Yet, I don't work because I love it, or because writing is some sort of passion I have. Some would say we are pursuing Fat FIRE, which is basically early retirement on steroids. 3 reasons to pursue early retirementWhat's funny is, a lot of people seem to think pursuing early retirement is really strange. We all know that not everyone can pursue early retirement, or for some, any type of retirement at all.

Persons: it's, —, It's, doesn't, Get, Heck, That's, Read Organizations: FIRE, Service, Centers for Disease Control Locations: Athens, Zagreb, Rome, United States, Dubai, Maldives

USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card RewardsThe USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card offers a flat rate of 1.5% cash back as we already mentioned, and there is no welcome bonus offered on this card. USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card Benefits and FeaturesThe USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card doesn't have a ton of perks, but it does have some. USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash CardWhile the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card offers a better-than-average rate of 1.5% cash back with no annual fee, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers superior rewards and benefits by far. USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Card Frequently Asked QuestionsIs the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card a good card? Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards CardWhen reviewing the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card, we followed our credit card rating methodology.

Persons: Dash, USAA, Cash, you'll, Cardholders, it's, cardholders, Wells, Read Organizations: USAA, Wells, Chase Locations: J.D, USAA, Wells

See our picks for the best personal loans for bad credit >>Steps to get a loan with bad credit1. Get your most recent credit scoreIt's one thing to suspect you have bad credit, and another to know exactly how bad it is. Consider a credit unionCredit unions are a great option for those looking to get a loan with bad credit. Where to get a personal loan with bad creditYou can get a personal loan with bad credit from many banks, credit unions, and online lenders. How to get a loan with bad credit FAQsIs there really a way to get a loan with bad credit?

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If you're moving into a more expensive house, remember that utilities and other expenses may be higher. And how do you handle the transaction if you need to buy another home before you sell your current property? Financial planners have three tips for anyone thinking about buying a new house before selling their current house. That said, there are notable downsides that come with buying a home before you sell from a financial standpoint. A bridge loan is a short-term loan that helps "bridge the gap" when you're buying a new home before selling your old one, and it typically lasts for around one year.

Persons: Glen Hedrick, Brandon Juodikis, you'll, Hedrick, Juodikis, There's Organizations: Calque, Wealth Management, BRJ Wealth Management Locations: Old, Calque

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card are offering $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. If you're looking for a rewards business card, it's hard to go wrong with any of the Chase Ink Business credit cards. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card stands out because it offers more rewards in popular business categories. If you're intrigued about the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you should know that it offers more perks on the travel front.

Persons: Read, Wells, We're, Chase, you'll, that's, You'll, Holly Johnson Freelance, Holly Johnson, Johnson, Joseph Hostetler, Joseph, Guy Organizations: Chase Ink, Card Citi, Card, Target, Walmart, Citi, Chase, FDIC, Reading Chevron, Business, Sapphire, Ink, Chase Travel, United Airlines, Air, Hyatt, Virgin Atlantic, Rover, U.S . News, Club, Finance Locations: Air Canada, Europe, Delta, Chase, U.S

I looked into getting new homeowners insurance and found I could save around $900 a year. We have also had a $2 million umbrella insurance policy for the last few years, which complicates matters even more. But in recent years, we've sold our two rental properties, so we're back down to the basics of homeowners insurance, auto coverage, and umbrella insurance. Note that you can also use a homeowners comparison site like The Zebra to compare several homeowners insurance quotes in one place. Comparing costs and coveragesUltimately, I found that switching homeowners insurance companies could help me save as much as $900 per year.

Persons: I'm, —, I've, we've Organizations: Service, Allstate, State, Liberty Mutual, GEICO Liberty Mutual, Central Indiana, Insurify, Progressive Locations: GEICO

All-inclusive packages can be an easier way to travel, and road trips are a great budget option. These higher costs are leaving everyone wondering what kind of travel they can actually afford over this year's summer vacation season — and rightfully so. Travel in late summer if you canScott Keyes of Going says that summer flights for 2023 are expensive in general, but not equally expensive over the full summer travel season. Consider a summer road tripTravel expert Anu Agarwal of Destination CheckOff says that summer 2023 is a great time to consider a new type of trip if you're trying to keep costs down: summer road trips. "Flights in the 2023 summer travel season are expensive, plus airlines have hefty change or cancellation fees for flights," he says.

Persons: —, Sharael Kolberg, Kolberg, Kaitlyn Rosati, Scott Keyes, Greg Johnson, Johnson, Linda Orceo, Gulps, Arceo, you'll, Jacob Wade, Wade, Anu Agarwal, Agarwal, Ray Aberman, Brett Keller, Keller Organizations: Service, Family Travel, Travel Locations: Ipsos, Anguilla

☆ 6 reasons why the Capital One Venture X is worth the annual fee
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Still, I decided to keep the Capital One Venture X when the annual fee was charged again in December. The $300 annual travel credit is easy to useYou can book airfare on most major airlines with the Venture X's travel credit. The Venture X offers lots of airport lounge optionsThe Capital One Lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) airport. Getty ImagesThe Capital One Venture X offers some solid earning rates for travel booked through Capital One Travel. Anyone with am eligible rewards-earning Capital One credit card — including no annual fee cards like the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card — are also eligible to use the platform.

Persons: Emily McNutt, I’ve, Taylor, Taylor Swift Organizations: CNN, American Express, Capital, Venture, Getty, Venture X, Dallas Fort Worth International, Chase, Denver International, Dulles International, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Air France, KLM, Blue, British Airways Executive Club, American, 55,000, Air, Ticketmaster, Capital One Entertainment, Entertainment Locations: Bruges, Belgium, DFW, Dallas, Denver, Washington, airfare, Newark, Budapest, Paris, Air France

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