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More Americans Going Ahead With Major Life Decisions Despite Financial Concerns

When deciding whether to make a big life change, such as getting married, having a baby, buying a house, or going back to school, more people are doing what they want to do without worrying about finances – at least that's what a recent study from Harris Poll showed.

When asked whether they'd put off a major life decision for financial reasons during the past year, only one-third of survey respondents said that they had done so. That's far fewer than the previous poll in 2015, when 51 percent reported putting off big things because of money concerns.

Going to college, getting married, and having children are all major markers in life, and putting them off for financial reasons isn't often seen as a good thing. So the shrinking percentage of folks postponing these milestones is a positive development, says Greg Anton, CPA and chairman of the American Institute of CPAs.

“As the economy continues to pick up steam and we put ...

Too Much Debt And Poor Credit History Are Most Common Reasons For Mortgage Rejections

Every year, thousands of prospective homeowners encounter a stumbling block on the road to their dream home: their application for a mortgage is turned down. It’s frustrating to be denied a mortgage, no doubt about it. But what are the most common reasons people’s mortgage applications are rejected?

A new study from LendingTree aimed to find that out, looking at data from over 10 million mortgage applications under the auspices of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, and finding out why people were turned down.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the biggest reasons people could not secure the mortgage they wanted was because they carried too much debt and because of poor credit history. Mortgage lenders look at an applicant’s income, relative to their level of debt, and determine whether they can take on additional debt in the form of a mortgage. This is known as debt-to-income ratio, and it accounts for many denials on the part of lenders.

Nearly 10 percent of borrowers denied

The LendingTree study found ...

Travelers Prefer To Leave Cash At Home, Visa Survey Finds

When packing for a trip, there’s one thing international travelers would rather not bring with them: cash. This is according to the latest Visa Global Travel Intentions Study, which found that the entire process of using cash when they’re away from home was stressful for folks. Respondents said they much prefer the convenience of a credit card when paying for things overseas, and appreciate the various cashless payment solutions available to them.

When traveling in another country, there are several issues with using cash. First, you have to actually get the cash – changing your currency into the local bills or coins needed. Then there’s finding a way to carry that cash safely, as well as the pressure of paying for things with unfamiliar currency.

Using a credit card averts all of those issues, and with the plethora of travel rewards credit cards that offer no foreign transaction fees, along with generous rewards for spending, there doesn’t seem to be a good reason for travelers to worry about ...

Hilton Honors Makes It Easier To Earn Reward Points

If you’ve got a credit card that earns you Hilton Honors points, you’re in luck. The hotel loyalty program is rolling out new perks and more point-earning potential this April, giving Hilton Honors members an easier way to accrue points and get rewards.

Mark Weinstein, senior vice president and global head of customer engagement at Hilton, says members asked for simpler, more straightforward ways to earn points, and the company responded. “Now more than ever, every stay counts. There’s always another milestone to reach, benefit to unlock, reward to earn,” said Weinstein. He said that Hilton properties are constantly evolving to give Hilton Honors members a better experience, with free Wi-Fi, members-only rates, and the ability to use Amazon Shop with Points and Points Pooling to redeem points in more and different ways.

Elite status has its perks – now more than ever

Elite tier status qualifications have changed, with new bonus rates for Silver, Gold, and Diamond members, who will earn eit ...

Financial Optimism Reigns In The New Year

It seems like at the end of every year, people look back and say how difficult it’s been, and hope that the next year will be better. And this year seems to be no different, with people who may have been discouraged or pessimistic near the end of last year now looking ahead and seeing a rosy outlook.

Allianz Life’s New Year’s Resolution survey found that people are, in general, feeling good about their financial prospects in 2018. Only 36% of those surveyed felt that there could be another major recession this year, while 39% were optimistic that they’ll make more money, as opposed to 23% who foresaw making less over the coming year.

Folks are focused on their finances: 71% of survey respondents said getting their money game in top form was their priority this year, even more than getting in shape and minding their health. As for bad habits, the most-named one was “spending too much money on things I don’t need.”

Allianz Life’s vice president of consumer insights, Paul Kelash, provided ...

Small Business Credit Cards Offer Valuable Tools for Entrepreneurs

The latest Small Business Growth Index from Capital One shows that 60% of small business owners report that business is good or excellent, and 37% are in a better financial position than they were a year ago.

The survey polls 500 small business owners across the country, measuring their optimism, their feelings about their financial position, and the challenges they’re facing. In spite of overall optimism on the part of the respondents, there are concerns as well. Forty-five percent said they were worried about taxes, 42% were anxious about cash flow, and 32% found keeping up with technology to be a challenge.

Celia Edwards Karam, head of small business banking at Capital One, said the company is “focused on understanding these challenges and delivering experiences designed to help businesses succeed an ...