Personal Finance

Dr Don

By Don Taylor, Ph.D., CFA, CFP • Bankrate.com

Refinance can fund home improvement plans

A refinance or home equity line or loan can be used to fund home improvement plans.

Archive

Financial planning requires team of pros

Article: Investors who seek financial planning advice may be best served by a "team" approach.

Mortgage insurance won't last forever

Article: Mortgage insurance premium payments will not hound a homeowner forever.

Modest savings bond yield looks savvy

Article: A modest return on a Series I savings bond will look like a pretty savvy investment over the years.

DIY search can find lost savings account

Article: Finding an inactive savings account is a do-it-yourself project that does not require paid help.

401(k) may not offer hardship withdrawal

Article: A 401(k) plan is not required to offer a hardship withdrawal option to participants.

Can't refinance without mortgage

Article: You can't fund renovations with a refinance if there's no outstanding mortgage on the house.

Higher interest rate may require risk

Article: An investor has to decide whether a higher interest rate is worth taking on greater risk.

401(k) loan from old job unlikely

Article: A company is unlikely to allow an ex-employee to take out a 401(k) loan, but it can't hurt to ask.

CD rates now higher than Treasuries

Article: Right now, CD rates are higher than the yields on Treasury securities for comparable maturities.

Use retirement savings to pay for home?

Article: It's risky to use retirement savings to create a "house rich, cash poor" status.

Loan co-signer must have good credit

Article: Lenders typically expect a loan co-signer to have a good credit score and a solid income.

Which mortgage payment plan is best?

Article: An apples-to-apples comparison reveals the best mortgage payment plan option for one homeowner.

Refinance an uphill fight after job loss

Article: A couple is unlikely to qualify for a refinance, which may not be a good option for them anyway.

IRA conversion rules change in 2010

Article: IRA conversion rules are undergoing an important change in 2010.

Credit card may beat home equity loan

Article: Credit card debt may trump a home equity loan for a couple planning a home improvement project.

Know rate before cashing savings bond

Article: Before cashing in a savings bond, it's important to know the current and expected future interest rate.

IRA transfer solves tax worry

Article: A trustee-to-trustee transfer can help an IRA beneficiary avoid a short-term tax hit.

Are loan costs tied to CD rates?

Article: Do current CD rates limit the rate banks can charge on a loan? The answer is complicated.

U.S. Treasury securities remain safe

Article: The full faith and taxing power of the U.S. government keeps Treasury securities safe.

Compare Rates

About our rates

About this index

Overnight Averages

Product	Rate	+/-	Last week
30 yr fixed	5.03%		5.06%
15 yr fixed	4.41%		4.49%
5/1 ARM	4.04%		4.10%

View rates in your area:

Product	Rate	+/-	Last week
30K HELOC	5.27%		5.26%
30K Home Equity Loan	8.23%		8.24%
50K HELOC	4.99%		4.98%

View rates in your area:

Product	Rate	+/-	Last week
48 Mo Used Car	6.97%		6.89%
48 Mo New Car	6.51%		6.56%
36 Mo Used Car	7.27%		6.99%

View rates in your area:

Product	Yield	+/-	Last week
6 Mo CD	1.05%		1.07%
1 Yr CD	1.49%		1.53%
5 Yr CD	2.92%		2.96%

Compare rates:

Product	Rate
Low Interest Cards	9.81%
Balance Transfer Cards	14.91%
All Variable	13.63%

Compare rates:

ByHolden Lewis

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Jobs down, rates up

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