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The solar business is getting hit by declining prices of photovoltaic cells. Here’s a look at how two of the big players in the solar energy industry, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) owned Solar City and First Solar, Inc. (FSLR), are stacked against each other in this intensely competitive field. SolarCity’s Dominance in U.S. Residential Market SolarCity

The Social Security Trust Fund is an account managed by the United States Treasury that takes in Social Security payroll taxes from workers and their employers and pays out benefits to Social Security recipients. It invests in securities that are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Key Takeaways The Social

Social Security is a federal benefits program in the United States that was founded in 1935. While the program also includes disability income, it is most commonly associated with monthly retirement benefits paid out until death. The Social Security system is funded through payroll taxes. The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) mandates a 12.4% levy

The outsized Baby Boomer generation, named for the big increase in birth rates after World War II, has always made waves. The Boomers’ golden years will be no different. Born between 1946 and 1964, this vast cohort came of age in the 1960s and 1970s and began to qualify for Social Security benefits in 2008.

One of the largest, oldest and most popular U.S. government programs, Social Security has in recent years outlasted several efforts to make it smaller by cutting benefits and the payroll taxes funding them. Several of those failed reform proposals had a common element: the full or partial privatization of the system. Social Security pools payroll

Private vs. Federal College Loans: An Overview While a college education is a priority for many people, the ever-increasing cost threatens to push it out of financial reach. If you don’t have the savings to cover the cost of a college education, check out loan options. Key Takeaways You can obtain a student loan through

Savings and loan institutions–also referred to as S&Ls, thrift banks, savings banks, or savings institutions–provide many of the same services to customers as commercial banks, including deposits, loans, mortgages, checks, and debit cards. However, S&Ls place a stronger emphasis on residential mortgages, whereas commercial banks tend to concentrate on working with large businesses and on unsecured

Figuring out how to pay for college can be both difficult and confusing. This is especially true for LGBTQ+ students because some face the barrier of not receiving parental support or guidance. The College Board estimates that the average price of undergraduate tuition, fees, and room and board were around $50,770 for a four-year private

Keep An Eye On These Coins The previous week in the crypto market has not been eventful as the one, at least in terms of prices. The news of interest rate hikes and generally portentous economic outlooks have led to markets all over the world slowing down. The ever-looming threat of a recession has also

Marriott has launched two new credit cards, albeit with most of the same features, through its partners Chase and American Express. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase offer better rewards rates than the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, enhanced elite status, and a bonus every time

With over 45 million student loan borrowers collectively owing $1.6 trillion, it’s easy to see why funding a higher eduction has become a lifelong burden for so many people. It no doubt came as a relief to many of these borrowers when, on Aug. 24, 2022, President Biden announced a three-part student loan forgiveness plan

According to the 2021-2022 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey, 70% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to nearly 90.5 million homes. These households spent a total of $123.6 billion in 2021 and $103.6 billion in 2020, spending more every year since 2018. Veterinary care was the second-largest category of

Mortgage rates are still on a tear, climbing more than eight-tenths of a percentage point in just two weeks. The steep ascent has raised the flagship 30-year average to nearly 7%. Today’s National Mortgage Rate Averages Rates on 30-year mortgages bolted still higher Friday, adding another 23 basis points to approach 7% for the first

Federal Reserve board members are expected to speak this week to defend their latest interest rate hikes and monetary policy. Over the weekend, Atlanta Federal Reserve president Raphael Bostic told reporters he believes the Fed can achieve its goal of 2% inflation without severely damaging the economy. Last week, the Fed raised its target interest rate range by 75 basis points in an

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) own a basket of properties, ranging from malls to movie theaters, apartment buildings to office parks, hotels to hospitals. A REIT may specialize in a certain real estate sector, or it may diversify into a variety of property types. Investing in REITs is appealing for several reasons, especially for income-oriented

What Is the Glass-Steagall Act? The Glass-Steagall Act, passed in 1933, forced commercial banks to refrain from investment banking activities in order to protect depositors from potential losses caused by bank speculation in stocks. Glass-Steagall was largely repealed in 1999 although some parts of it remain, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which guarantees bank

Getting your first credit card is an exciting proposition. But taking on too much debt with it is all too easy. For college students with lots of expenses but little income, getting out of debt can be a challenge. Here are some steps that can help. Key Takeaways More than 36% of students reported having

Long ago, in the dawn of the Internet age, pirates ruled the digital waves and music-lovers found, to their delight, that anything could be downloaded for free. Sales of recorded music crashed. Every musician was playing the blues. Those days are over, but the road to a business model that works for Internet companies, music

Social Security benefits are a vital source of income for many retired Americans. However, as with any income, the federal government is able to tax Social Security benefits—how much depends on the retiree’s income. Generally speaking, this is all that Social Security recipients in most parts of the United States will have to pay. However,

Student loan forgiveness programs can make repaying education debt on a teacher’s salary easier. There are several programs that offer federal student loan forgiveness just for educators. “Teachers have more loan forgiveness opportunities than almost any other occupation and taking advantage of these easy-to-enroll-in programs can save hard-working teachers hundreds to thousands of dollars,” says