Author: Smart Wealthhabits

Twelve electric cars and SUVs qualified for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s 2026 Top Safety Pick awards. That number is more than a quarter of the group’s 45 Top Safety Pick+ designation, the insurance industry group’s highest accolade. The Ford Mustang Mach-E was the only fully electric car among the group’s Top Safety Pick winners, its second-highest award. The findings come as the average price of gas rose to $3.99 on March 27, boosting interest in electric cars. That’s up from $3.91 a week ago on March 20. The IIHS said it wants carmakers to improve safety in all…

Ryan K. Nelson, the new president of Emerging Affluent Wealth Management at US Bancorp Advisors, InvestmentNews learned more from the company’s new President of Emerging Affluent Wealth Management. US Bancorp Advisors is launching a Connected Wealth offering for emerging affluent investors that it believes will reshape the way advisors engage with this segment, a hybrid blend of human advice, self-directed investing and integrated banking data. The new president of Emerging Affluent Wealth Management, Ryan K. Nelson tells InvestmentNews that this initiative is not about launching another standalone digital tool, but about creating a comprehensive service model that clients actually want…

Sixty-two is the most popular age to claim Social Security. And this shouldn’t surprise anyone, because this is the age when retirement benefits become available to most Americans. Hey: it’s money. But is 62 the best age to claim Social Security? You can find hundreds of articles on that question, and the answer is not clear. If you take Social Security earlier, you get bigger checks. Each year you wait, until age 70, the checks get larger. Do the math, however, and you’ll see solid evidence for waiting until age 70 to take Social Security. The reason for this is…

WonderVisuals/Getty Images Commitment to our readers The GOBankingRates editorial team is committed to providing you with unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methods to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our review methodology for products and services. 20 yearsHelping you become richer trusted by millions of readers Thinking about moving to Europe but don’t know what you’re doing financially? Look down on other Americans who have already taken the big step of establishing forts abroad. GOBankingRates spoke to American expats living…

with Federal Reserve has cut rates From 4.5% to 3.75% in the last six months, the mathematics of investors’ returns is changing. Cash and money market yields are trending lower, while the 10-year Treasury sits near 4.34%, a level that calls for dividend equity strategies to hold their ground through growth, not just yield. Dividend growth ETFs, which prioritize companies that consistently raise their payouts, provide a compelling answer: income that grows over time rather than stagnating at the expense of inflation. The four funds below each approach this objective differently. Understanding those differences matters more than comparing expense ratios.…

Simple, fee-free everyday banking Chime offers a streamlined checking and savings experience with no monthly maintenance fees and no minimum balance requirements. Built as a mobile-first platform, Chime focuses on easy money management, automated savings tools, and credit-building features – all designed to keep everyday banking straightforward and accessible. Chime offers a different kind of banking experience. Often described as a neobank, Chime operates entirely online and offers many of the same core services as traditional banks – only without physical branches.Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, Chime offers checking, savings, and credit-building tools through its banking partners,…

With competitive rates and a strong local presence, Amboy Bank is a solid choice for customers who value relationship-driven, community banking. It’s hard to go wrong with Amboy Direct Bank, especially if you’re a New Jersey resident. The rates are competitive, the fees are negligible and it’s easy to transfer money between Amboy Direct and your existing checking account. Amboy Direct is a fee-free online bank backed by a long-standing New Jersey institution, offering competitive savings and money market rates without the overhead of physical branches. It’s a simple, low-cost option for customers who want easy transfers, strong local roots,…

A Bank of America branch in New York, US on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Michael Nagel | Bloomberg | getty imagesBank of America Victims of notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have agreed to pay $72.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging the bank helped his sex trafficking operation, a filed in New York federal court Showed on Friday evening.The settlement, in which BOA did not admit wrongdoing, is the fourth settlement by a major bank over legal claims by Epstein victims or a government entity alleging they effectively facilitated his trafficking when he was a client. The agreement…

The oil surge led to a selloff on Wall Street and on March 27, the Iran war continued with no end in sight. The two major US indexes are now in correction territory, defined as a decline of more than 10% from recent highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped nearly 800 points to close 1.7% lower for the day and 10% below recent peaks. The Nasdaq Composite Index closed down 2.15%, down more than 11% from last October’s high. The S&P 500 closed down 1.6%. Meanwhile, the 10-year US Treasury note rose 2 basis points to about 4.44%. This…

oil prices are increasing. Inflation expectations are rising. The likelihood of a rate hike by the Federal Reserve is increasing in futures markets. And then there’s Kevin Warsh and his stated desire — and President Donald Trump’s order — to cut interest rates. Even before hearings are scheduled on her nomination as the next Fed Chair, Wersh’s ambitious agenda for “regime change” at the Fed is facing challenges. The most obvious: $100 a barrel oil prices and the threat of incipient inflation run counter to Warsh’s expectations of a sharp cut in interest rates.But challenges lie ahead. The new president,…