Stacker-Personal Finance & Investing

  Refinancing is a common strategy for managing student loan debt, but the decision to refinance isn’t always straightforward. SoFi surveyed 750 borrowers to learn more about their attitudes toward refinancing, student loan types, and monthly payments. The results reveal what proportion of borrowers consider refinancing, what’s holding them back, and how being overwhelmed about

  Before online trading platforms were available, owning a stock meant possessing a physical stock certificate, and it took several days to complete a trade. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) created settlement periods to allow time for buyers and sellers to physically exchange their respective halves of the trade. While it no longer takes

  Back-to-school season can bring a concentrated wave of expenses, including supplies, clothing, technology, transportation and activity fees. Deloitte’s 2026 Back-to-School Survey found that parents plan to spend an average of $557 per K-12 student. Half of respondents said they plan to cut back on other expenses, including dining out and entertainment, to make room

  If you’ve been thinking about estate planning, you may be wondering whether a trust or a will is better. For many families, however, this isn’t an either/or decision. A will often acts as the foundation of a solid estate plan, while trusts can help you accomplish specific goals. To help you make informed decisions,

  Federal student loan debt stands at $1.7 trillion, with roughly 1 in 6 Americans owing money on federal student loans. Now, a new SoFi survey has revealed a hard truth: Student loan debt is having a significant impact on every corner of adulthood, affecting job choices, living arrangements, even whether people marry, have children,

  A new laptop or tablet can take up a sizable share of your back-to-school budget. Achieve shares some of the best ways to stretch your money. Big-ticket tech has the most savings options. Swap or buy used. Plan to save on small costs year-round by buying in bulk and using a rebate app. 1.

  Sending your child off to college is a big milestone, and for many parents, it’s the first time their teen will be managing money on their own. Talking about money is important in Louann Millar’s family. Millar, who is leader of youth and student banking at Wells Fargo, has two teenagers who, as in

  When it comes to investment opportunities, publicly traded securities like stocks and bonds dominate the conversation. However, private holdings offer intriguing prospects for investors looking to diversify their portfolios and tap into unique opportunities. They also make up a huge universe of investments beyond the publicly traded markets. For example, while there are 4,000

  Despite living in a time of economic turbulence, Gen Z and Millennials feel positive about retirement, according to a new survey by SoFi. Gen Z is particularly bullish on retirement. Fifty-seven percent say it’s achievable with a plan in place, compared to just 45% of Millennials who feel the same. To find out how

  For most tenants, rent is one of their biggest monthly expenses. But do late rent payments affect credit? If your rent is due soon and you can’t pay, or you’re looking to build your credit score, you might be asking this question. In 2026, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It all

  The scariest part of debt is rarely the math. It’s not knowing what you actually owe, what your options are, or what happens if you do nothing. And right now, millions of student loan borrowers are staring down a deadline that’s forcing them into something new, ready or not. If you’ve been on the

  Between lakeside getaways, music and food festivals, trips to the national parks and even hitting the movie theater for some air conditioning, there are plenty of ways you may be tempted to stretch your budget on a summer weekend. FOMO can urge you to pull out your wallet more than you should, leading to

  Help paying for college is a wonderful gift to help your child get launched in life. Even while you give your child the best chance of an affordable education and a successful start to their future career, you can stay the course toward your own financial goals. With careful planning, you can navigate the

  When you’re buying a home, choosing the right loan can feel just as big as choosing the home itself. The loan you choose can shape how much money you need upfront, what your monthly payment looks like, where you’re able to buy, and how comfortable you feel moving forward. If you’re trying to keep

  When you first start saving for retirement, you need to decide where to keep your funds, along with the rules and limits of that account. For individual retirement accounts (IRAs), you can choose from traditional and Roth account types. Each has specific contribution limits, income limits and tax rules. Below, Ally Financial outlines what

  Someone seeing an ad for Trump Accounts might wonder: How is this different from the 529 plan and custodial account I already set up? Why would I open a retirement account for my 5-year-old? Those questions get to the real issue: These accounts aren’t interchangeable, and the right choice depends on what you’re trying

  Buy now, pay later (BNPL) services are easier to use than ever. They’re available in stores or at checkout online, and even bundled with credit cards. They’re especially useful for people who want to pay off large items over time without using a credit card or incurring interest. In fact, because these payments are

  When a senior loved one needs help at home, one of the first questions families ask is “How are we going to pay for this?” The emotional weight of seeing someone you love struggle with daily tasks collides with the financial pressure of affording care. You’re not alone in feeling that tension. A 2025

  Every summer, warm weather drives predictable shifts in consumer behavior: Families travel, airports fill up, and buildings crank up their cooling systems. The Motley Fool tested whether that seasonal pattern actually translates into stock market gains. Thirty-six publicly traded companies with a genuine reason to do more business in the summer — spanning hotels,