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Schwab Invest First 2% Cash Back Card Officially Dead

by Flexo

Now that the Schwab Invest First 2 percent Cash Back credit card is officially closed, consider one of the alternatives below. Owners of the very popular Schwab Invest First Visa credit card, which offered 2 percent cash back on purchases deposited directly into a Schwab account, have started receiving word that their favorite card will be converted ... Continue reading this article…

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U.S. Will Sue Major Banks Over Mortgages

by Flexo

Imagine you’re shopping for a new high-definition television. You’re looking around the store for the television with the best picture from a brand you trust. You pick the one you like, not the least expensive model but not the most expensive, either. You take it home, plug it in, and all the television can display ... Continue reading this article…

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Betterment Review

by Flexo

Betterment is a different type of brokerage. Unlike most discount brokerages whose purpose is to get customers to trade — as frequently as possible — Betterment is looking to be your asset manager. Currently, the brokerage is offering a bonus of $25 for new customers, but the way they do business is a bit different ... Continue reading this article…

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Money Magazine’s Best Banks 2011

by Flexo

In early October, I will announce the winners of the Second Annual Plutus Awards, which will include the best bank, best credit card, best brokerage, and a number of other categories. Later today, the Plutus Awards website will list the finalists. Money Magazine has already completed its survey and announced the publication’s editor’s picks for ... Continue reading this article…

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Quicken Loans Review

by Flexo

For the time being, S&P’s downgrade on United States debt has yet to produce an increase in mortgage interest rates as some predicted. Borrowers can still find mortgage loans for such a low cost that if they qualify, low interest rates combined with lower house prices would make owning a house more affordable than ever. ... Continue reading this article…

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Why I Still Drive My Old Honda Civic

by Flexo

After noticing, month after month, that I include the value of my 2004 Honda Civic in my monthly net worth updates, a reader wrote in to Consumerism Commentary to ask why I haven’t given into my desires and purchased something newer or more exciting. I’ve had a bit of a storied past with cars, but ... Continue reading this article…

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ING Direct Now Offers Paper Checks

by Flexo

The internet is a-twitter with the news that ING Direct is now offering paper checks to accompany its Electric Orange “paperless checking” account. Apparently, customers have received emails from the bank confirming this long-needed enhancement, but I have not received an email yet. A box of 50 checks costs $5 through the ING Direct website. ... Continue reading this article…

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Capital One Buys HSBC Credit Card Business

by Flexo

Recently, Capital One announced they would purchase ING Direct, and from the feedback I’ve seen, most ING Direct customers are not to happy about this arrangement, primarily due to their experiences with Capital One credit cards. While I’m reserving my judgment until later because credit card operations are usually run by different management than banking ... Continue reading this article…

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