Marcie Geffner

Pets may be more popular in America today than baseball or apple pie.
In fact almost 85 million U.S. homes, about 67% percent, have a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Dogs and cats were the most popular, with about 63.4 million and 42.7 million owners, respectively. Other pets included fish, birds, other small animals, reptiles, and horses.
Getting a pet, whether a dog or a bird, is an exciting, but life changing decision. You’re basically picking a member of yo...

Even if you’ve just started thinking about selling your house, making home improvements can be beneficial for many reasons. The hard part isn’t making the list, it’s figuring out how to prioritize so you get the most out of your investment. Should you remodel your kitchen first and then build a new backyard deck? What will create more value—a new master suite or replacing the roof?
Fortunately, there are smart ways to maximize your home's resale value through strategic renovations. Below are ...

If you're a student who's approaching graduation, you’re probably busy wrapping up finals, job hunting, and hopefully enjoying your last couple months of student life before entering the “real world”. Whether you’re attending a trade school or four-year college, in the midst of everything else you may have some concerns about affording life after graduation; from rent to loans and car payments, expenses can add up quickly. Preparing financially for post-grad life means doing your research, pl...

If you're in the position to do so, Hawaii offers excellent opportunities to purchase another home as a vacation getaway, an investment property, or both.

For example:

- A luxury beachfront spread could be used as your vacation home for part of the year and a rental-income property for the rest of the year.

- A home near the University of Hawaii at Manoa or another college could house a child, with the extra bedrooms rented out to other students.

- A high-rise condominium could be a rental property...

Even if you’ve just starting thinking about selling your house, making home improvements can be beneficial for many reasons. The hard part isn’t making the list, it’s figuring out how to prioritize so you get the most out of your investment. Should you remodel your kitchen first and then build a new backyard deck? What will create more value—a new master suite or replacing the roof?
Fortunately, there are smart ways to maximize your home's resale value through strategic renovations. Below are...

Most people need at least one checking account and one savings account. But having multiple bank accounts can help you manage your finances by separating certain expenses and keeping savings goals clear. The number of accounts that you need depends on your financial goals.
When deciding how to plan and manage your finances, consider the following reasons to help you find the best approach for you.
1. Stick to your budget. Most people have at least a few must-pay expenses, like rent or a mortg...

The Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) is a proposed federal law that would change the way most credit card transactions are processed in the U.S.
Currently, almost all transactions can be processed on only one card network.
Visa card transactions are processed only via the Visa network; Mastercard card transactions are processed only via the Mastercard network; American Express cards are processed only via the American Express network, and Discover card transactions are processed only via the Discover network. These exclusive arrangements exist because Visa and Mastercard, the two largest....

A credit union is a cooperative organization that provides banking services, including deposit accounts, credit cards, and loans to its members. Similar to many other types of cooperatives, credit unions are member-owned and not-for-profit.
Most credit unions are relatively small and locally focused. However, some are regional, national, or even global, with members in multiple states or countries. In this article, we’ll examine what differentiates credit unions from banks and how to join one.

The CARD Act is a federal law that protects consumers, like you and me, from a laundry list of harmful practices that were once standard operating procedures for card companies. These practices included unfair fees, unclear disclosures, and predatory marketing that targeted young people who often didn’t have much — if any — experience with credit.
The CARD Act isn’t as complicated as it sounds, and in this article, I’ll break down its history, origins, and key provisions that matter to you. I’ll also summarize all of the protections you need to know about before applying for credit.

For the first time in years, home buyers are shopping with more time and bargaining power, and even price cuts in some areas — meaning you may be facing less competition on that home you’ve been eyeing. If that’s inspiring you to make your home buying goal a reality, it’s time to get prepared. Having your finances in order and a robust home buying team can go a long way towards ensuring you’re well-positioned to put in a winning offer. This checklist walks you through how to prepare to buy a ...

With inflation tightening household budgets and rising rates making refinancing less attractive, it’s no wonder many homeowners are seeking other ways to lower their mortgage payments.

Here are eight smart strategies — straight from mortgage professionals — that could provide significant savings in the short term, long term or both. Prospective buyers curious about the costs of homeownership may want to take notes too.

1. Cancel your mortgage insurance

Mortgage insurance is a fee that many ho...

When someone says a house has “good bones,” what exactly does that mean? And if you’re shopping for a home, how can you determine if the one you like fits the definition? If it doesn’t, should you buy it or walk away?
While there’s no hard-and-fast definition of this realty term, a house with good bones generally has three characteristics:
Major components and systems in like-new or very good condition
Cosmetic flaws are relatively simple, easy or affordable to fix
The home’s “awesomeness pot...