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Ahh the rumble of the engine starting up, the sun glinting off the new paint and that sweet new car smell. There are few things that are more satisfying than the feeling of driving your brand-new car off the lot for the first time. But before you walk away with keys in hand, there are a few steps you must go through first. There can be a lot of anxiety around the car buying process, especially if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know what to ask. This guide will give you a comprehensive primer of things to know and look out for to ensure that your experience at the dealership is a smooth ride.

Buying a home in a seller’s market can be challenging. While housing market conditions may be less than ideal, there are still benefits to buying a property versus renting. Use these tips to stay ahead of the competition and land the house you’ve always wanted.

Many of us store personal, sensitive and confidential information on our digital devices. This makes them an attractive target for scammers and criminals. Follow best practices in these areas to help keep your devices secure:

Retirement. You’ve spent all your life preparing, dreaming and working towards that day when you get to trade your morning commute for a cruise to the Bahamas or grab a set of golf clubs on your way out the door instead of your briefcase. Whatever your ideal retirement looks like, they should all have a few things in common: Relaxing, fulfilling, secure, etc. But what you shouldn’t have to do is worry about money or pick up extra work out of necessity or financial hardships. To help make sure that your retirement years are some of the best of your life, take these three steps towards financial wellness.

We’ve all heard sayings like you can’t buy happiness or money is the root of all evil. While people may have negative feelings around money due to bad experiences in the past, that doesn’t mean that money can’t be a positive part of a person’s future. Money isn’t the most important thing in life, but it can help someone achieve their goals in other areas such as providing for their family, having more freedom around lifestyle choices and taking care of their health.

Debt consolidation loans allow consumers to transfer the account balances from multiple credit cards or installment loans into a single loan and to make a single monthly payment. For debt consolidation loans to be beneficial, the repayment period for paying off the consolidation loan should be shorter than what it would be for your existing debts without the loan. Secondly, the interest that you pay over the repayment period should be less than what you would pay with your existing repayment terms. In some cases, a debt consolidation loan may look attractive because it has a significantly lower monthly payment than what you are paying today, but it is likely the case that the lower payment is due to extending the repayment of the loan over a much longer repayment period.

Do you work hard every week, only to see your paychecks slip away like sand between your fingers? Saving money can be difficult. The good news is that it’s never too late to start saving and you can take baby steps while you learn how to put money away. As your nest egg grows, you’ll be motivated to find more ways to boost it up and can add even more money saving tricks to your repertoire.

In this beginner's guide, you'll learn what platforms are available for you to invest on, the pros and cons of each one and the types of accounts you may want to get started with.

Use this checklist when buying a used vehicle to help make sure you're getting a good deal and a reliable car.

Depending on how fast prices and rents rise and how long you stay in your home, you may be better off renting rather than buying. Factors that are part of the equation are the difference in monthly rent versus mortgage payment, home value appreciation, annual rent increases, the interest rate you will pay on your loan, your marginal tax rate and the yield you might receive on savings. When looking at these factors, consider the present value of each option. The one with the lower present value will be the better financial choice.

Repayment of a home equity line of credit requires that the borrower makes a monthly payment to the lender. For some home equity lines of credit, borrowers can make interest-only payments for a defined period, after which a repayment period begins. Interest-only payments are based on the outstanding loan balance and interest rate. During the repayment period, the payment includes both repayment of the loan principal, plus monthly interest on the outstanding balance. Loan payments for the repayment period are amortized so that the monthly payment remains the same throughout the repayment period, but during that time, the percentage of the amount that goes towards principal will increase as the outstanding mortgage balance decreases.

Are you ready to house hunt, but are wondering "How much mortgage can I afford?" Getting pre-approved for a mortgage can show sellers that you are a serious prospect and give you a leg up on other buyers who jump the gun by visiting open houses without even knowing their budget. In this market, where sellers are getting many offers including cash offers, a pre-approval can help you stand out as a buyer. When you have a documented pre-approval, the seller knows you will be able to get the funding you are offering for the home and you’ll be able to close more quickly and reliably.