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Social Security is a federal benefits program in the United States that was founded in 1935. While the program also includes disability income, it is most commonly associated with monthly retirement benefits paid out until death. The Social Security system is funded through payroll taxes. The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) mandates a 12.4% levy

The solar business is getting hit by declining prices of photovoltaic cells. Here’s a look at how two of the big players in the solar energy industry, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) owned Solar City and First Solar, Inc. (FSLR), are stacked against each other in this intensely competitive field. SolarCity’s Dominance in U.S. Residential Market SolarCity

Savings and loan institutions–also referred to as S&Ls, thrift banks, savings banks, or savings institutions–provide many of the same services to customers as commercial banks, including deposits, loans, mortgages, checks, and debit cards. However, S&Ls place a stronger emphasis on residential mortgages, whereas commercial banks tend to concentrate on working with large businesses and on unsecured

Keep An Eye On These Coins The previous week in the crypto market has not been eventful as the one, at least in terms of prices. The news of interest rate hikes and generally portentous economic outlooks have led to markets all over the world slowing down. The ever-looming threat of a recession has also

Marriott has launched two new credit cards, albeit with most of the same features, through its partners Chase and American Express. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase offer better rewards rates than the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, enhanced elite status, and a bonus every time

Mortgage rates are still on a tear, climbing more than eight-tenths of a percentage point in just two weeks. The steep ascent has raised the flagship 30-year average to nearly 7%. Today’s National Mortgage Rate Averages Rates on 30-year mortgages bolted still higher Friday, adding another 23 basis points to approach 7% for the first

Student loan forgiveness programs can make repaying education debt on a teacher’s salary easier. There are several programs that offer federal student loan forgiveness just for educators. “Teachers have more loan forgiveness opportunities than almost any other occupation and taking advantage of these easy-to-enroll-in programs can save hard-working teachers hundreds to thousands of dollars,” says

What Is the Glass-Steagall Act? The Glass-Steagall Act, passed in 1933, forced commercial banks to refrain from investment banking activities in order to protect depositors from potential losses caused by bank speculation in stocks. Glass-Steagall was largely repealed in 1999 although some parts of it remain, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which guarantees bank

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) own a basket of properties, ranging from malls to movie theaters, apartment buildings to office parks, hotels to hospitals. A REIT may specialize in a certain real estate sector, or it may diversify into a variety of property types. Investing in REITs is appealing for several reasons, especially for income-oriented

Long ago, in the dawn of the Internet age, pirates ruled the digital waves and music-lovers found, to their delight, that anything could be downloaded for free. Sales of recorded music crashed. Every musician was playing the blues. Those days are over, but the road to a business model that works for Internet companies, music

Getting your first credit card is an exciting proposition. But taking on too much debt with it is all too easy. For college students with lots of expenses but little income, getting out of debt can be a challenge. Here are some steps that can help. Key Takeaways More than 36% of students reported having

Social Security benefits are a vital source of income for many retired Americans. However, as with any income, the federal government is able to tax Social Security benefits—how much depends on the retiree’s income. Generally speaking, this is all that Social Security recipients in most parts of the United States will have to pay. However,

It is rare to hear any long discussion of the stock market without some mention being made of the economic outlook. As of early 2018, it’s safe to say that the economy has recovered to a certain extent from the recession of 2008. What analysts are now wondering about is if the current good fortune

The standard American math curriculum is anything but inspiring. Based on memorization and timed tests, it encourages boredom and anxiety. A lucky few students get the inspiration and motivation required to enjoy and excel in math from a parent or teacher. The rest muddle through, often quitting at the first opportunity. How can we disrupt

When interest rates fall, many homeowners will refinance their mortgage to lock in a lower interest rate, which can reduce a borrower’s monthly payment or allow a homeowner to build equity more quickly. However, one group of homeowners who typically have trouble refinancing are those in negative equity. This means they owe more on their

Jim Umpleby, CEO of Caterpillar Inc. Adam Jeffery | CNBC This year has already been a tough one, and 2023 isn’t looking much better, with economic growth expected by the Federal Reserve to come in at just 1.2%. Given this dour outlook, investors will have to carefully choose where to put their money to work.

Information in this article reflects congressional funding as well as guidance from the Small Business Administration following passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021, on Dec. 27, 2020, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law on March 11, 2021. Whether you’re seeking financial help for your small business in response

Mistrust toward banks and other financial institutions prompts more fearful individuals to seek alternative venues to park their capital. Others may be avoiding the banks on principle, given their participation in the reckless lending that led up to the housing bubble bursting and triggered the Great Recession. Of course, after last year’s wildly volatile stock

Retirees looking for dependable income during their golden years can no longer rely on money market funds and certificates of deposit (CDs) since the interest rate is too low to make them a viable primary savings instrument for retirement. Instead, a key to combating increasing costs of living is the smart diversification of funds. Transamerica

After you die several things can happen to your bank account, depending on the type of account you have, how you’ve set up your account before your passing, and whether you’ve set up a will or trust. Learn the common ways you can set up your account to make things as simple as possible after