Mastercard and Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, are teaming up to allow customers to pay with credit or debit cards for non-fungible tokens on an NFT marketplace run by Coinbase, the companies said Tuesday. Customers will be able to use a regular Mastercard, not necessarily one that is crypto-linked, so they can effectively pay with plain old dollars, which is new: Normally, buying an NFT would require you to open a cryptocurrency wallet, buy crypto, specifically Ethereum, then use it to purchase the NFT in an online marketplace....

While the average monthly mortgage payment on a new purchase has risen more than twice as much as the median rent—$865 since just before the pandemic began, according to mortgage data company Black Knight—renters are succumbing to the same market forces. By making it that much less affordable to buy a home, higher mortgage rates and spiraling home prices are in turn sending more people into the rental market. “Rising mortgage-interest rates are forcing would-be homebuyers to keep renting,” Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr said in a commentary....

As a Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF) attained through the American College of Financial Services, he learned to effectively coach and supervise financial planners on making suitable recommendations of complex financial products such as fixed annuities, custom variable universal life insurance, index annuities, variable annuities, and whole-life products. He also reviewed transactions involving mutual funds, stocks, and bonds for suitability and adherence to FINRA and firm policies. Michael was an associate director of compliance for Northwestern Mutual from 2017 to 2019....

Another advisor goes even further, saying, “Selling covered call options and cash-secured puts is a smarter strategy than buying options because 90% of options expire worthlessly.” Do Most Options Expire Worthless? The truth is that neither of these beliefs is exactly accurate. The first person’s statements suggest that selling naked options—as an alternative to selling covered options—is a wise strategy. However, this too is fraught with risk. The second person’s statement is also flawed, but it contains a nugget of truth....

The percentage of advisors who currently use or recommend cryptocurrencies to their clients jumped to 14% from less than 1% in both 2019 and 2020, according to the 2021 Trends in Investing Survey by the Journal of Financial Planning and the Financial Planning Association, supported by Onramp Invest. That was the largest jump among any category of investment vehicle. Private equity was second with a rise to 12% from 9% in 2020, while most other categories either slipped or stayed the same....

That same broad scope makes them more robust than other types of trade agreements once all parties sign. Bilateral agreements are easier to negotiate but these are only between two countries. They don’t have as big an impact on economic growth as does a multilateral agreement. 5 Advantages Multilateral agreements make all signatories treat each other equally. No country can give better trade deals to one country than it does to another....

The emergency motion, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, says the Centers for Disease Control caved to “a tidal wave of political pressure” in issuing a new order that stops evictions until Oct. 3. The plaintiffs in the case, including realty groups from Alabama and Georgia, argue the new ban conflicts with prior court rulings that said the federal government overreached with its first eviction moratorium late last year....

Whether it’s due to spending too much or an unexpected expense, it’s stressful to realize that you are out of money and still have several days or even weeks until you get paid again. Here’s what to do if you come up short. You will want to take measures to cut back on the amount you spend at the grocery store. Try to create meals from the food you already have in your pantry....

Operating expenses are usually ongoing costs incurred for daily operations that keep the business running like employee pay and marketing costs. Capital expenses, on the other hand, are typically one-time costs of purchasing fixed assets and making long-term investments like buying a building, upgrading technology, or purchasing patents, to name a few examples. Let’s explore the key differences between operating expenses and capital expenses so you can learn how they play a role in your business planning....

Even if you didn’t graduate, there are options for presenting your educational background in a positive manner. An entry-level resume will often present more educational or training information than would a resume for someone who has been in the workforce for many years. Here are a few options for including your education, as well as for mentioning credit you have earned for college-level work on your resume even though you didn’t graduate....

Read on to find out exactly what a panel interview is and how to respond if you’re invited to one. Plus, review sample interview questions and get tips on how to prepare for the panel. There is also an example of a panel interview invitation via email. What is a Panel Interview? Panel interviews are conducted by a group of two or more interviewers. Typically, you’ll be in a room with several people who work at the company—these interviewers make up the panel....

The payment and interest pause has been extended for the eighth time, the White House and the Department of Education said Tuesday. Borrowers with federal student loans won’t have to make payments, and loans won’t resume accumulating interest until 60 days after current court cases challenging President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program are resolved or the Department of Education is allowed to move forward with the program. If the cases aren’t resolved by June 30, payments will resume two months after that....

Learn more about why you need car insurance in the Tarheel State. What Happens if You’re Caught Driving Without Car Insurance? If your insurance company fails to renew your policy, or if you have a lapse in coverage, your North Carolina insurer is required by law to notify the DMV. You will then be sent a notice to which you must respond within ten days. If there was no break in coverage, you must let the DMV know....

It’s critical to understand how each type of loan works when deciding which is right for you. Doing so can help you save money on interest charges and prevent debts from lingering for too long. What’s the Difference Between a Personal Loan and a Credit Card? When you use a personal loan, you receive your entire loan amount at once, so you typically can’t borrow more after that. However, some lines of credit do allow for additional borrowing....

At a time when many in America may be reassessing their financial behaviors and futures, The Balance asked several renowned personal finance experts and influencers to share their own narratives from the past year and how they’ve informed their perspectives in areas like budgeting, investing, and achieving financial independence. Today we hear from “The Budgetnista,” Tiffany Aliche. When the latest economic crisis hit, Tiffany Aliche already had firsthand experience dealing with a financial crisis, as she was among the millions directly impacted by the “Great Recession” of 2008....

In many cases, your interview will be scheduled in advance by email or phone. In others, you may receive a surprise phone call asking whether you’re available to chat about the job. You should also make sure that your voicemail message is professional. Why Companies Use Phone Interviews Employers use telephone interviews as a way of identifying and recruiting candidates for employment. Phone interviews are often used to screen candidates to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews....

Air Pollution Air pollution kills seven million people each year, according to the World Health Organization. In 2013, those deaths cost the global economy $225 billion in lost labor. Around the world, nine out of ten people breathe highly polluted air. In the United States, air pollution caused $131 billion in damages in 2011. It was less than the $175 billion in 2002. Those who become sick from pollution bear the most of the cost....

As for COVID-19, 39% chose it among the two most important issues in the latest survey, down from 41% in July, the results show. The two concerns were tied at the top of the list, with no other answer (immigration, climate change, the deficit, among others) being selected in one of the top two spots by more respondents. The survey of 800 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 3....

Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is insurance that lenders require borrowers to have when they get a mortgage and don’t have enough equity in the home. For many buyers seeking a mortgage, avoiding the added expense of PMI means coming up with a 20% down payment when buying a home. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy for new home buyers to come up with that kind of cash, but there are a few other options to avoid paying PMI premiums when home buying....

It’s quite common for owner-occupied residences to get loans at LTVs of 80 percent. Most lenders really want to see prospective buyers invest at least 20 percent of their own funds into the transaction. Of course, that’s not ideal for all homebuyers. Some prefer to keep their initial outlay of cash as minimal as possible. And commercial properties come with a host of their own rules. The LTV Formula Calculating LTV is really just very simple math....