Joshua Rodriguez

One benefit of retirement is having the freedom to choose what you’ll do with your time. And, if you’re like many, you’re looking forward to using that freedom to travel. But traveling can be expensive and planning trips can be a headache. But, AARP may be able to help. AARP is an association that advocates for the interests of the 50-plus community. And, while the organization does work to improve seniors’ legal rights, it also offers other benefits to its members. Many AARP benefits are center…

Thursday’s inflation report showed that annual price growth cooled from 3.3% in May to 3.0% in June. Some economists expected June’s inflation rate to be 3.1%, meaning that rate is now falling toward the Federal Reserve’s 2% target faster than projected. That’s important because the Federal Reserve stated on July 9 that continued positive economic data may open the door to interest rate cuts. And while those potential interest rate cuts may be good for any variable-rate debt you have, they can a…

The CPI inflation report for June was released Thursday, showing continued cooling of price growth in the United States. Consumer prices were down 0.1% month-over-month and the annual inflation rate cooled from 3.3% in May to 3.0% in June, which was lower than the 3.1% rate some economists projected. That’s important because the inflation rate plays a significant role in the interest rates consumers pay to borrow money and earn when they deposit it. And, if you’re considering buying a home, it m…

Today’s high interest rate environment can make credit card debt expensive. With the federal funds rate frozen at a 23-year high, interest rates on credit cards and other debts are elevated. But, that could change soon. The inflation report for June showed that price growth is continuing to cool in the United States. And, there’s a clear correlation between inflation and interest rates. When price growth slows, stagnates or falls, it gives the Federal Reserve cause to reduce its federal funds ra…

If you’re struggling with your credit card debt, you may have heard credit card companies and debt collectors are often willing to settle for less than you owe. This is done through a process called debt settlement or debt forgiveness. And while this can offer meaningful savings, it can also hurt your credit. In fact, debt settlements can negatively impact your credit score for up to seven years. And, the fact that you settled an account for a smaller amount may not be the only aspect of these p…

Your home equity could give you access to $90,000 when you need it. Here's how much the loan would cost monthly.

If you’re thinking about enrolling in a debt relief program, you may be apprehensive about the impact doing so could have on your credit score. After all, these services may cause your score to fall, making it more difficult to access loans and credit lines with reasonable interest rates and terms in the future. But while some debt relief services, like debt settlement, tend to have a long-term negative impact on credit scores, the negative effect of others, like debt consolidation and managemen…

There are many reasons to consider investing in gold right now. With high inflation, geopolitical unrest and the coming election, having a healthy safe haven allocation in your investment portfolio makes sense. And, gold is an effective way to protect your portfolio from risk. Gold’s price has seen strong growth this year, too. After starting the year off at $2,063.73, the price of gold climbed to $2,439.98 by May 20. But that price has since cooled. Today, gold is trading at around $2,380.00 pe…

Inflation has been cooling and that’s a sign that the Federal Reserve could cut its federal funds rate soon. The Fed adjusts this benchmark rate in response to economic developments. And, many experts agree that a rate cut will happen at some point before the end of the year. That’s important because changes to the federal funds rate are typically followed by changes to the interest rates financial institutions charge consumers for borrowing money and pay them for depositing it. If the Fed does…

Your home is a big investment, and for many homeowners, it’s their largest. If you’re trying to meet the money goals you’ve set to solidify your financial future, though, you could be trying to free up cash to make other types of investments. And, while it makes sense to try and find room in your budget to allocate more toward investing, you may have other options. For example, your home equity might be worth tapping into for investing via a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC)…