Advantage Insights

It’s the holiday season with lots of gift-buying to be done. So let’s examine your options.
First, you could go to the mall, the outlet shops or that row of big-box stores near the highway. The drawbacks? Traffic snarls, parking problems, long lines, snooty sales clerks and frustration when the items you want are all sold out.

Once upon a time, some clever person decided to decode the “Twelve Days of Christmas” and figure out how much it might cost to procure the turtle doves, golden rings and leaping lords as gifts for a loved one.

If you’ve applied for a car loan or a mortgage lately, you’ve probably heard someone mention your credit score. It’s also likely you’ve read articles or blog posts about how to improve your score.

With a variety of available credit cards, how do you know which is right for you? Each card offers unique rates, fees and benefits.

Having poor credit can be stressful, especially if you’re applying for a mortgage or auto loan or making a big purchase. Before you can fix a problem with your credit, you need to determine the root cause. Several factors contribute to your credit score, and it takes a while for changes to be reflected with the credit bureaus.

Many people associate budgeting with a checking account, but you can also budget by paying for daily expenses and bills with a credit card. Credit cards can help you manage your expenses, build credit and earn cash back or rewards.

Mortgage refinancing means getting a new mortgage to replace your existing mortgage. View our infographic to see if this is right for you. 

You’ve probably heard pitches and received letters in the mail touting the benefits of refinancing your mortgage. What does that mean for you? When you refinance your mortgage, you get a new home loan to replace your current one. The appeal is getting a lower interest rate, so you can save money on your monthly payment, or refinancing to access your home’s equity as cash. Alth ...

Similar to buying a home vs. renting an apartment, deciding whether to buy vs. lease a vehicle is a decision with many pros and cons. Let's explore how you can compare both options and steer yourself toward the decision that is right for you.

Americans spend a lot of time shopping for cars. They stroll through dealerships, browse the web and study articles in auto-oriented magazines. With so much research in hand, it makes sense that they’re often happy with the car, pickup, SUV or van they end up buying. But consumers tend to spend much less time thinking about refinancing their car loan. And so they often end up ...