Education Articles

Despite the Noise, Stay the Course on Your Financial Plan

In a 24-hour news cycle with no shortage of ups and downs, it’s natural for your reactions to affect your everyday life, including how you manage your finances. The stock market isn’t immune either. On February 19, the S&P 500, a leading market indicator, soared to an all-time high, only to slip into full “sell! sell! sell!” mode, culminating in...

When to Use (And Not Use) a Credit Card

To use or not to use a credit card. That is the question. Some experts recommend making nearly all of your purchases on a credit card. Others say to use a credit card only for needs and not wants . Every scenario has a common thread, though: “However you choose to use a credit card, it’s important to understand the true cost of your purchase and...

Help Fight Phishing Scams by Inspecting Links in Emails and Texts

You’ve probably noticed that scam emails and texts are getting harder to tell apart from legitimate messages. If it’s enough to make you question everything that hits your phone or inbox, you’re not alone. Scammers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to breathe new life into traditional phishing methods, making them more convincing and harder...

Prepare Your Home and Vehicle for a La Niña Winter

La Niña is predicted to make another appearance this winter. What does that mean for the Pacific Northwest? For one, colder and wetter conditions through February. It also adds a little urgency to preparing your home and vehicle—and the need to take extra precautions on the road. In the event of storm damage or an accident, it’s good to know wha...

Romance Scams: Breaking Hearts & Bank Accounts

By now, most of us have heard about “ romance scams ” that target individuals looking for companionship or to give a family member a hand (these are also known as “distant relative scams”). Such scams are well known because they’ve been around a long time—and because they’re effective. Romance scams and other versions of the “advance-fee scam” c...

8 Back-to-School Shopping Hacks

Hard to believe, but summer is nearly in the rearview and back-to-school season has arrived. It’s an exciting time for students, who are itching to put their best foot forward, often with the latest styles and newest tech. To help avoid overspending, check out these eight frugal hacks for keeping your budget intact (and your student eager for th...

Your Guide to Paying Taxes as a Gig Worker

The gig economy continues to expand exponentially—and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. To give you an idea of how much the workforce landscape has changed, gig workers (temporary or part-time independent contractors and freelancers, such as Uber drivers, Airbnb hosts, website designers, dog walkers, etc.) are projected to mak...

Affordable Sustainability, Part 2: Going Organic

Here are six ways to shop organic on a budget. It’s not unusual to walk right past the organic foods sections in a grocery store—after all, the cost of groceries is high enough without the added premium. But going organic—whether for health, environmental, or taste reasons—doesn’t mean you have to be a big spender. Here are ways to go organic on...

Account Takeover Fraud Is on the Rise. Avoid Becoming a Victim

Online systems have never been more secure, providing multiple ways to protect your personal information. Because these systems are so safe, fraudsters have to look for new ways to access this sensitive information.   A new technique called account takeover fraud (ATO) has pushed its way to the front of the line. Because online security systems...

Payment Apps Are Convenient, But Storing Money There Poses Risks

According to a recent Motley Fool survey , about 75% of Americans trust digital payment apps more than, or as much as, traditional payment methods like cash or cards. The apps’ convenience and wide availability as payment options have made it increasingly easy to perform peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions like splitting a check, requesting funds, o...