Personal Finance

Debt plagues millions of Americans every day. It is such a common problem that many of us don't even think twice about what we owe, or how we landed in such a predicament. The simplest explanation is that debt happens when you spend more than you earn but it's not actually that simple when real life steps in. Unexpected events and bad planning...can leave you facing big debt that may take years to pay off. By understanding some of the main causes of debt, we can make better financial decisions in avoiding it. Let's take a look at some of the worst offenders.

According to the just-released latest quarterly household debt and credit report by the NY Fed, Americans' debt rose to a new record high in the fourth quarter on the back of an increase in virtually every form of debt: from mortgage, to auto, student and credit card debt (although HELOCs posted a tiny decline). With interest rates on household credit rapidly rising, and with no savings to fall back on, this is a recipe for disaster.

Do you have what it takes to pay off your debts and become comfortable financially or perhaps even rich, even VERY rich? You probably do but don't know exactly what to do or think your situation is just too dire to possibly turn around. Read the following articles for some encouragement, financial advice and ideas on how to make considerably more income, pay off your debts and possibly even become that millionaire you've always wanted to be but didn't know how to accomplish.

Here in January of 2018, stocks have not pulled back 2% for five-plus months; they have not corrected a mere 3% in 15 months or 5% in 19 months. It appears as though the fear of missing out on the uptrend has become so pronounced that buyers no longer wait for the most modest of pullbacks to acquire shares lower.

Robo-advisors are all the rage right now and many passive investors are choosing to invest with them. Who exactly are they? Well, this article explains exactly who they are, and how you can use them.

A noted stock market bull, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, believes the bitcoin price could “easily” double in 2018 outperforming equities [in the process] even though the flagship cryptocurrency’s breakneck rally has ebbed in recent weeks.

The first rule of personal finance is never carry a credit card balance. It’s another one of those simple to understand yet difficult to execute money management concepts for a large swath of the population.

Analysts at Bank of America use a ranking system to try and uncover the best income stocks in the Russell 1000 as follows:

There are steps you can take today that can help ensure a financially healthy 2018...and the best news is that most of them are relatively simple. Here are five money moves to make...to ensure your finances have a happy new year.

Your credit card bills may not be keeping you up at night yet, but if you analyze your financial situation, you may find that you are closer to the edge than you think. Here are 5 warning signs that you have way too much debt: