Lauren Ward

For decades, a college diploma was seen as the golden ticket to a good job and long-term income growth. But college enrollment has been on the decline since 2010, decreasing nearly 12% in the last 14 years. On top of that, the population of college-aged students is on the verge of dropping as well.

The average homeowner with a mortgage ended 2023 with $299,000 in home equity, according to ICE Mortgage Monitor, which also estimates that the average funds homeowners could tap by borrowing against their home equity is $193,000.

Talent scarcity is a major concern for C-suite executives, with 78% of CEOs believing there is an impending workforce crisis due to a lack of necessary skills. The good news is that human potential is an incredibly powerful resource, and within your current workforce, there may be untapped talent ready to grow into essential roles.

Soaring home insurance premiums are causing major disruptions for mortgage lenders. Policy premiums increased almost 9% in early 2023, compared to just 5 to 6% growth in the previous year. And those jumps are even more prone in certain states, including Texas (15% increase) and South Carolina (17%). Not only are higher prices impacting mortgage eligibility, but carriers in an increasing number of states are discontinuing new policies altogether.

Market swings are a natural part of the economy, and there are several ways to help protect what you've earned.

Members of Gen Z (currently ages 12 through 27), face increasing financial burdens due to a number of economic factors. In fact, inflation is this generation’s biggest cited concern, with many costs outpacing gains in income.

Research shows that comprehensive sex education reduces teen birth rates and sexually transmitted infections, improving outcomes for young people. However, the implementation of sex education is left to the states, causing vast differences in what adolescents learn (and don’t learn) about sex.
We set out to find the states providing the most comprehensive curriculum and services inside schools.

Mental health is becoming an increasing priority for Americans across the country.
90% of the population believes there is currently a mental health crisis, with top causes attributed to personal finances, politics, personal relationships, and work.
Where do people turn to get their minds off their problems? For many, the answer is television.

Your current debt is an important factor when choosing a home-buying budget that works for you and gets approved by a lender.
Lenders evaluate your debt-to-income ratio and the types of debt you have to determine approval and a maximum home loan amount.
Here’s everything you need to know about how debt affects your home-buying journey.

Market swings are a natural part of the economy, and there are several ways to help protect what you've earned. One way may be to diversify your portfolio.1
Whether you’re thinking of making some changes to your portfolio before tax day or a big life event such as retirement is drawing closer, test your knowledge of three financial strategies below that may help you better navigate turbulent market cycles and money milestones in the future.
In addition to diversifying your investment portfoli...

A new ruling from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) under the Biden administration has made a huge change in how large credit card companies can charge late fees.

Losing a job is never pleasant. But if it happens, knowing what to do right away can alleviate some of your stress. This also makes it more likely that you’ll make sound financial decisions to stay solvent until you land a new job. From taking care of your finances to networking to finding your next professional move, we’ve got you covered.

Solid money management skills don’t come out of nowhere and many young adults don't learn this information in high school. Like anything in life, it’s a skill that takes time to learn and cultivate. To help you out, here are five things every student should know about how to successfully manage money.

Figuring out how much car insurance you need impacts the cost of your auto insurance premium and the level of coverage you receive in the event of an accident. You can choose coverage that meets your state’s minimum requirements or explore higher limits and policy add-ons that provide better benefits in different scenarios. Find out the basics, plus additional auto insurance coverage recommendations.
How much car insurance is enough?
The easiest way to gauge how much car insurance you need is...