Jennifer (Calonia) Coates

Although some individuals are eager to begin a New Year, federal student loan borrowers are dreading the implications of 2022. The administrative freeze on federal student loan payments and interest charges — a protection that has offered financial relief to borrowers throughout the pandemic — was originally set to expire on January 31, 2022.
The Department of Education recently announced its latest extension of the federal student loan pause through May 1, 2022 giving borrowers 90 days of ad...

A career as a medical physician can be rewarding but costly. The latest survey by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) found that 83 percent of medical school graduates from the Class of 2021 are leaving school with $100,000 or more in total educational debt.

Student loan debt is an exceedingly difficult burden to manage, particularly for law school graduates. A 2021 survey by the American Bar Association found that the average graduate borrowed about $108,000 in law school loans alone — and as much as $130,000 in combined undergraduate and graduate loans.
One way to save money on the cost of student loan repayment is through a law school loan refinance. Refinancing your student loans can help you reduce your interest rate, and secure more favorab...

Returning to college as an adult is expensive, but it could pay off. Here's how to afford returning to school as an adult student.

Having a financial safety net can help you get through difficult times. Experts generally suggest having between three and six months’ worth of expenses saved for an emergency fund. But unexpected situations can come up, sometimes before you’ve built a rainy day fund. Learn about the different emergency loans available.

If you want to refinance your home’s mortgage loan, you have a few options, including a cash-out refinance and a home equity loan. If you’ve built plenty of equity in your property and plan on selling your home within a few years, refinancing a first mortgage with a home equity loan can make sense. Here’s what to know.

The IRS announced that more than 36 million families can expect letters in the mail about their eligibility for advance 2021 child tax credit (CTC) payments. Here’s what else you need to know about the new child tax credit rules.

If the novel coronavirus changed your travel plans, you should be able to cancel without a fee and reclaim or re-book your travel.

Although many airlines and hotels are enacting flexible policies during the pandemic, there are restrictions. You'll need to research whether you should contact the travel provider directly or cancel through your credit card's rewards program.

Here's what you need to know about changing or canceling credit card rewards travel due to COVID-19 – and what to do with your rewards when you get them back.

If you plan to make a big purchase or suddenly need funds, good credit can broaden your choice of financial products, such as personal loans. With good credit – a FICO score of 670 or higher – you’re more likely to receive approval for a personal loan and qualify for the best rates and terms.

Here’s a look at some of the best personal loans for good credit to help you find the lowest interest rate and attractive repayment terms.

A personal loan can help you pay for planned or unplanned expenses, but it’s not a blank check. You’ll need to repay not only the principal loan balance but also interest charges.

Shopping for a competitive rate, even on a low-interest personal loan, can reduce the interest you pay on your loan. That can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on your cost of borrowing.

If you're a Target shopper, you've likely been asked at checkout about applying for a Target credit card. The Target REDcard offers a few perks for "Tar-JAY" enthusiasts, but you might question whether this retail card is worth having in your wallet.

To decide whether applying for the Target REDcard is the best move for you, you'll want to learn more about its benefits and limitations.

If you're a frequent flyer on Southwest Airlines, you can earn a sign-up bonus worth more than $800 through Feb. 10 on Chase Southwest Airlines consumer credit cards. The offer applies to three Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards.

You receive 60,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 on your Chase Southwest Airlines credit card within three months of opening it. Those points are valued at $822, based on U.S. News research.

The Platinum Card from American Express is a popular rewards credit card known for its suite of luxury perks, such as concierge service, travel protections and access to various lounge networks.

However, these top-tier benefits come at a cost: a $550 annual fee, which can be steep for some travelers. Although the card's list of benefits sounds enticing, you might question whether the AmEx Platinum annual fee is worth it. Here's what to consider.

Some savvy credit card holders have made a killing out of opening new credit cards just long enough to score a big sign-up bonus – and then closing or downgrading them shortly after. It can mean big bucks for the cardholder. After all, some sign-up bonuses are worth $1,000 or more.

Now, many issuers have policies in place to limit so-called credit card churning. Chase has a policy referred to by many as the "5/24 rule."

If you're looking to buy land to design and build your dream home, a VA loan with no down payment might make this idea even more appealing. But you need to be ready to build if you plan to use a VA loan.