Rising Interest Rates

If you follow the national business news, you are likely getting mixed messages about the state of the economy. While never very reassuring, pundits’ opinions on the stock market and the country’s economic state are changing as frequently as the Ohio weather.  But there’s one area that’s been constant for some time now: rising interest […]

Cryptocurrency Hacks

Cryptocurrency is all the rage. Money you can’t see? Online accounts that aren’t regulated by big banks or even the feds? It has a futuristic feel, and anyone and everyone seems to be buying into the trend. Lots of those folks who are buying up bitcoins by the hundreds claim cryptocurrency investment is the ticket […]

Return or Loan? Why Tax Refund is a 4 Letter Word.

Retailers across the country expect big sales for the first quarter of the year. They know this is the time of year when 75% of Americans get a big check in the mail courtesy of Uncle Sam. Nobody likes filing their taxes, but everyone likes getting a refund. It’s free money, right? Whoa … hold […]

Choosing an Equity Loan In A Rising Rates Environment

Q:  I’d like to take out a loan against my home’s equity, but I’ve heard that interest rates are expected to climb soon. What are the differences between a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and a typical home equity loan? How does an environment of rising interest rates impact each choice? A: It’s true […]

4 Home Improvement Projects with High Long-Term Return

When you’re making improvements to your home, you’re not just making your life better in the short term. You’re also making an investment in your future. Ideally, the increase in the value of your home will exceed the cost of the improvement. However, it seldom works out like that. The most efficient home improvements don’t […]

The Sky Isn’t Falling: Financial Repercussions Of The Brexit

Listening to financial pundits, it’s easy to think that the end of the world occurred last Thursday. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a contentious referendum. While the implications of this decision are many and wide-ranging, there’s no need to panic. What the Brexit does The referendum in the United Kingdom […]