As a common strategy for estate planning, a family trust offers advantages and disadvantages. Most of the time, a trust is set up through your will. Its purpose is to help your family by protecting your assets and avoiding probate. Let’s look at the pros and cons of this type of trust. Family trusts can … Read more
People with credit scores between 300 and 850 have good credit. Scores between 670 and 739 are bad. Credit scores of 740 and above are very good while 800 and higher are excellent. Credit scores between 300 and 850 are good, with a score in the mid to high 600s or higher being the best. … Read more
This is a normal part of the debt collection process. It applies to most common types of consumer debt including: Falling behind on debt payments can feel like an endless nightmare. As soon as you deal with one debt collector, your debt seems to get sold yet again to another agency. It leaves you wondering … Read more
You can pay off your car loan faster using several strategies, including refinancing your car loan, making biweekly payments, putting money toward extra lump-sum payments and canceling add-ons. If youre anxious to remove your auto loan from your list of debts, there are ways to do it more quickly. You can pay off your car … Read more
While having a credit score of 575 might make it harder to get an auto loan, it is still possible with the right plan. If you have “fair” credit, you won’t be able to borrow as much money from lenders and will have to pay higher interest rates. Still, there are things you can do … Read more
Irina Maltseva is a growth marketer with 10+ years of experience in digital marketing. After being scammed by Airbnb and Booking. com, Irina joined Aura to help the company on its mission to create a safer internet for everyone. Jory MacKay has worked as a writer and editor for over ten years, winning awards for … Read more
“Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Bankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to … Read more
Bailiffs (also called ‘enforcement agents’) could take your belongings if they’re collecting a debt you haven’t paid. They can take things you own or that you own jointly with someone else – for example electrical items, jewellery or a vehicle. Bailiffs can only take things from inside your home if you let them in – … Read more
Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is an important part of how mortgage lenders evaluate your financial health. DTI ratios represent how much debt you have compared to your income. It’s important to know your DTI as you consider buying a home. If your debt is higher than your income, you might want to pay it off … Read more
Bankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Heres an explanation for . Our is to ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Bankrate logo. Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial … Read more