Kevin Mercadante

Oct 31, 2024 | time.com | Rebecca Lake |Catherine Hiles |Kevin Mercadante |Wendy Connett

As the use of paper checks continues to decline, electronic transfers have experienced dramatic growth. The two most common methods of electronic transfers are ACH and wire transfers. What’s the difference between the two, and when is one a better option than the other? Both take place primarily in a checking account. ACH transfers are routinely used by just about anyone with a bank account, especially those who take advantage of online and mobile banking.

Sep 10, 2024 | time.com | Jackie Lam |Craig Stephens |Jean Folger |Kevin Mercadante

What if you’re not able to open a rewards credit card? Or perhaps you want to ensure that you’re not running up credit-card debt every time you buy something. That’s where debit cards come in. Debit cards are connected to your bank account and act just like writing a check. Except that they are as convenient to use as a credit card. Some debit card issuers have gotten smart and are offering cash back rewards for debit card purchases—something these cards haven’t typically offered.

Sep 6, 2024 | apnews.com | Kevin Mercadante |Lynnae Freeman |Keith Meatto

This content is created by AP Buyline in accordance with AP’s editorial guidelines and supervised and edited by AP staff. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about AP Buyline here.  | Updated September 17, 2024In a nutshellInflation affects everything in our financial lives.

Aug 19, 2024 | apnews.com | Kevin Mercadante |Will Kenton

This content is created by AP Buyline in accordance with AP’s editorial guidelines and supervised and edited by AP staff. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about AP Buyline here. Updated August 28, 2024In a nutshellFedNow is designed to supplement (but not replace) existing payment systems. Its benefits include instant transfers and 24/7 accessibility.

Aug 18, 2024 | wallethacks.com | Kevin Mercadante

Index fund investing got its start in 1976, but in less than 50 years, these funds have grown to represent just over half of all fund investments. It’s clear that both financial experts and individual investors see the virtues of investing in index funds. What is an index fund, and should you invest in them? Part of the reason for the rapid growth in index funds is the many benefits they provide. Examples include:There are currently 1,437 index funds to choose from.