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As of today, January 27, 2023, the average 30-year fixed mortgage refinance rate is 6.58%, FHA 30-year fixed is 6.74%, jumbo 30-year fixed is 5.40%, and 15-year fixed is 5.64%. Our rates may differ from what you see in online advertisements from lenders, but they should be more representative of what you could expect from a lender quote, depending on your qualifications. Check out the Methodology section of this page to learn more about what makes our rates different....

She worked her way up from her first internship to become the managing editor of The CollegeBound Network. The company published national and regional print magazines called CollegeBound, which aimed to help teens with their high school-to-college transition. After the print magazine folded, she managed a suite of related websites and their associated social media accounts. During this time, Dawn began freelance writing, expanding her expertise to credit score repair, consumer finance issues, talent acquisition technology, and more....

Learn how to choose municipal bonds that fit your budget and needs. What Are Municipal Bonds? Municipal bonds are issued by cities, counties, states, and other municipal authorities as a way of raising revenue for earmarked public projects. The interest rate paid by munis tends to be lower than that of corporate bonds. However, because the ventures they’re financing are considered to serve the greater good, the interest is free from federal income tax—and state and local taxes as well, if it’s issued in your locality....

Libel and slander are types of defamation, meaning a statement that damages the reputation of a person or organization. To qualify as libel or slander, the false statement must be hurtful and cause harm to the other party. To prove defamation, a person must show all of the following: The statement about him or her was false.The statement injured him or her in some manner.The statement was communicated to a third person....

Rainy day funds may sound similar, but they’re intended to pay for the occasional smaller expense. For example, let’s say your refrigerator suddenly stops working, and you need to replace it, or your pet needs unexpected surgery. (Though in the latter case, pet insurance might help take the sting out of that expense.) Emergency Fund Safety Net An emergency fund is intended to be your safety net in the event of a financial emergency....

This is understandable. After all, most properly drafted estate plans retain their validity across different states. But there are occasions when adjustments are called for, given that some states have unique laws pertaining to the creation and implementation of documents like wills, trusts, advance medical directives, and powers of attorney. The Role of the Executor When people make a will, they typically name an executor to manage the financial health and distribution of the estate....

Of the three, the statement of cash flows may be the most important because it’s the one document that tells you whether you’re going to have the money you need to run your business. It describes the flow of funds in and out of your business in the given accounting period and shows you where the business is trending—what’s working well and where improvements are needed. The Difference Between the Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flows Sometimes business owners at the beginning of their careers find the differences between these documents a little confusing, especially the balance sheet versus the statement of cash flows....

Now you’re wondering if you can get reimbursed for at least some of the spoiled food. Learn how your homeowners insurance might be able to reimburse you for food spoilage and whether a claim can raise your premiums. Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Spoiled Food? Standard homeowners insurance policies usually have $500 of food-loss coverage stemming from a power outage. Consider your home insurance deductibles—the amount of money you are responsible for paying when seeking insurance coverage for medical care or a disaster—before filing a home insurance claim, though....

Learn more about why tax returns go unclaimed and how to find out whether you missed claiming one in the past. How Tax Refunds Go Unclaimed Millions of income tax refunds go unclaimed. Often, taxpayers don’t realize they even have a refund coming, so they don’t file a tax return. You may not have filed a tax return because of your income level. You aren’t required to file a return unless you earn over a certain amount during the course of the tax year....

What Are the Dogs of the Dow Stocks? The Dogs of the Dow are a group of the 10 highest-paying dividend stocks in The Dow Jones Industrial Average index. Because price often moves in opposite direction as dividend yield, the Dogs of the Dow also have the distinction of being among the lowest performers in terms of price gain. Hence, the term “dogs.“ A contrarian investing strategy might have an investor looking for bargains on stocks, or “dogs,” that may be positioned to have a good year....

The Doha talks were ambitious. First, all WTO members (almost every country in the world) participated. Second, decisions had to be settled by consensus at the trade talks—every country needed to sign off. Third, there were no piecemeal sub-agreements. There was either an entire agreement or none at all. In other words, unless every country agreed with the whole deal, there would be no deal. The Purpose For the Doha Talks The agreement’s purpose was to boost the economic growth of developing countries....

Learn more about what it means to be an employer and an employee. What Is an Employer? More specifically, an employer is an organization, institution, government entity, agency, company, professional services firm, nonprofit association, small business, store, or individual who employs or puts to work individuals who may be called employees or staff members. Employers are required to withhold federal, state, Medicare, and Social Security taxes for their employees. Employees also have certain protections, including the right not to be harassed or discriminated against due to race, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, disability, and age....

Understand what you will be agreeing to when you sign a car loan and take along an essential checklist of things to consider while you are comparison shopping for a loan. What Makes a Loan Car loans come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have three main components: dollar amount, duration, and interest rate. The dollar amount will, of course, be determined by how much money you need to finance the purchase of the vehicle, while the duration is determined by your given ability to pay and the interest rate is typically determined by your credit score....

Adjust Your Household Budget The average cost of raising a child until age 17 can run as high as $310,605, which represents more than a $26,000 increase due to inflation. These future expenses make it important to examine your income and spending now. Pull out recent bank statements, and compare your pay to your current expenses. Next, forecast future family expenses. Housing can be one of the top expenses for families since you might need an extra bedroom or larger vehicle to accommodate the addition of a new family member....

Financing a cellphone purchase can be advantageous if you need time to pay, want to earn credit card rewards, or build your credit. But the benefits vary, depending on which financing option you choose or are eligible for. The Basics of Financing a Cellphone Paying cash for a cellphone may not always fit your budget. For example, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro (introduced in October 2020) start at $699 and $999, respectively, before trade-in....

You may want to start with a large goal such as buying a house or retiring early and then look at the things you will need to do to reach that larger goal. Regardless of your goal, it’s wise to set up a support system to make it easier to reach your financial goals. It’s also important to measure your progress periodically throughout the year. Consider these financial goals to take on in the New Year....

How Foreign Exchange Reserves Work The country’s exporters deposit foreign currency into their local banks. They transfer the currency to the central bank. Exporters are paid by their trading partners in U.S. dollars, euros, or other currencies. The exporters exchange them for the local currency. They use it to pay their workers and local suppliers. The banks prefer to use the cash to buy sovereign debt because it pays a small interest rate....

The CAC 40 launched on Dec. 31, 1987, with a base value of 1,000. After reaching an all-time high of nearly 7,000 during the dot-com boom in 2000, the index fell to around 3,000 during the economic crisis in 2011 before recovering to upward of 5,000 in 2020. Several other indices, including the CAC Next 20 and the CAC Mid 60, have been introduced alongside the CAC 40 and gained popularity among domestic and international investors....

cmannphoto / E+ / Getty Images It was based on assumptions outlined in the Economic Report of the President. It discussed key economic trends but neglected the growing U.S. debt. It ignored the inverted yield curve, a clear signal of the impending recession. As a result, revenue came in lower than budgeted, and spending was higher. Revenue The federal government received $2.524 trillion in revenue, lower than the $2.662 trillion projected in the FY 2008 budget....

More and more insurers are getting on board with technologies that make things easier for the consumer, such as online portals and mobile apps. The GEICO mobile insurance application is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad mobile devices. About GEICO Insurance GEICO’s founder, Leo Goodwin, started the company in 1936 with the intent to target government employees and military personnel. Goodwin wanted to provide a wide range of insurance products including homeowners, motorcycle, automobile, renters, life, boat, commercial auto, and business insurance, among others....