Personal Finance

Balloon mortgages have some tempting qualities. They come with lower interest rates and, because of this, smaller monthly payments. This can help borrowers get into a pricier home that they might not have been able to afford otherwise but balloon mortgages come with one huge risk: At the end of a set period, borrowers must pay off the remaining balance on these loans in full (the "balloon") and these balances can be quite large. So, how exactly do these mortgages work, and who do they work best for? Let's break it down.

Good decision making is a precursor to excellence. Great investors have this skill and we can see it in the many books about Warren Buffett but it’s not only investors that investors can learn from.

All investors think they are better in their investing than the average investor and such overconfidence can get you into trouble with your finances. It can cause you to take risks you shouldn't, and to ignore information that disagrees with pre-existing biases. It's tough to combat, because most overconfident people are also convinced they are not overconfident!

How well you build your investment portfolio matters like never before. It can mean the difference between a comfortable or a compromised retirement, a debt-free or an indebted college degree.

Investing can be intimidating with its unique language but you can do this and we can help. With the following five keys, you'll be well on your way toward becoming a confident, successful, do-it-yourself investor.

Combining your passion for social and environmental causes with the need to build for your future could give new energy to your retirement planning regardless of your age.

Buying a new car doesn't make much sense when you look at it from a financial perspective. Frankly, you could come out $1 million dollars ahead driving used instead of buying new over a span of 40 years. Yes, over $1 million dollars!

Wish you had a crystal ball for retirement planning? Most of us do, and for good reason... This is where a financial adviser can help. We asked financial advisers for some of the most important ideas they wish their clients understood when it comes to money, retirement, and the future - and here are their answers.

In periods of prosperity, stocks outperform. In periods of deflation, bonds do well. In periods of inflation, gold shines. During a recession or a liquidity crisis, cash is king. However, the Permanent Portfolio weathers all types of market conditions.

We feel the pain of losing money so much more than we feel the joy of earning a reward. This trend is called "loss aversion," but, in everyday terms, you might find it a bit familiar to FOMO: the fear of missing out.