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1 week ago | 
bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Johna Strickland
Investors have seen a lot of volatility so far in 2025, as they try to grapple with the impact of new tariffs from the Trump administration on the economy. The S&P 500 rose to start the year, but fell sharply, ultimately entering a bear market, following the announcement of the new tariffs on so-called “Liberation Day.”Since then, the market has recovered much of its losses, with certain tariffs being reduced from their initial levels or delayed.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | Rachel Christian |Johna Strickland
If you’d thrown $1,000 at Netflix in 2015, you’d be sitting on about $10,000 today. Back in 2015, Netflix (NFLX) was still shaking off its DVD-by-mail image and betting big on streaming and original content. Fast-forward a decade, and it’s gone from a scrappy disruptor to an industry heavyweight, with a stock price over $1,000. While legacy media giants like Disney, Warner Brothers and Paramount have struggled to adapt, Netflix rewrote the rules — and then played the game better than anyone else.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Johna Strickland
Many Americans are intimidated by the stock market, Bankrate surveys have found. Learning about stocks and how they fit into your overall financial plan can help you gain confidence as an investor. Stock market volatility is to be expected, so prepare yourself for it before you start investing. The stock market is one of the best places to invest for the long term, but many people are intimidated to start investing.
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2 months ago | 
bankrate.com | Andrea Coombes |Johna Strickland
There’s no doubt TikTok can be entertaining, and there are legit financial experts on the social media app (dare we say, financial visionaries?). But there are also a lot of inexperienced people sharing questionable tips about tax deductions and credits. “Most TikTok-ers who are giving tax advice — a lot of them don’t have much knowledge in tax,” says Tia Uzzell, an enrolled agent, tax accountant and founder of Uzzell & Associates in Tampa, Fla.
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2 months ago | 
bankrate.com | Rachel Christian |Johna Strickland
Amazon (AMZN) unexpectedly threw its hat into the ring today to acquire popular video-sharing app TikTok. Unlike other major tech stocks that wobbled on Wednesday ahead of Trump’s tariff announcement, Amazon’s stock closed the day 2 percent higher on the news. Amazon has approached U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about its offer, The New York Times first reported.
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2 months ago | 
bankrate.com | Rachel Christian |Johna Strickland
XRP, created by Ripple, has gained significant traction in the cryptocurrency market due to its speed, efficiency and use in cross-border payments. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily serves as a store of value, XRP was designed to facilitate quick and cost-effective transactions. Here’s everything you need to know about what XRP is, how it works and why it’s become one of the most popular cryptocurrencies on the market. What is XRP?
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2 months ago | 
bankrate.com | James Royal |Brian Beers |Rachel Christian |Johna Strickland
If you’re a Social Security beneficiary, you may see a boost in your checks starting in 2026. While the official Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) won’t be released until Oct. 10, the increase for next year is estimated at 2.2 percent, according to The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior citizens group that accurately predicted the 2.5 percent COLA for 2025.
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2 months ago | 
bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Johna Strickland
Think about the mix of industries and sectors in your portfolio.
For instant diversification at a low price point, look to index funds. Watch out for over diversification as you pick assets. As stocks and other investments change value over time, investors may find that one or two securities make up a large portion of their overall portfolio.
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Feb 28, 2025 | 
bankrate.com | James Royal |Rob Johnson |Johna Strickland |Brian Baker
More than half of Americans feel they just aren’t saving enough for retirement, according to a 2024 Bankrate survey. But for those who have fallen behind, it’s always a great time to examine your 401(k) plan and get moving on ways to set you up for greater wealth and financial security in your golden years. A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored account that allows you to defer the taxes on your investments until retirement, meaning you can roll up more money faster.
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Feb 25, 2025 | 
bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Johna Strickland
It has never been easier to get started with investing thanks to an array of online brokers and robo-advisors, many of which offer investing apps that put financial markets in the palm of your hand. Many of these apps help to simplify the investing process, providing a clean user experience of what can sometimes be a confusing landscape for beginner investors. Investing apps offer a lot that beginners will appreciate, such as easy trading, portfolio management services and educational resources.
