Michelle Huffman

The best way to build credit when you don’t need to borrow money

You’ve done the hard part. You’ve built up savings, organized your credit union or bank accounts and created some financial stability.  But there’s one piece missing: your credit history.  If you’ve never used credit before, it can feel like a catch-22: You need credit history to qualify for credit cards or loans — but you need credit cards or loans to start building credit history in the first place.  But if you’ve already been investing in your financial health, you’re in a […]

10 financial questions to ask before you get married

Getting married means combining more than calendars and closet space. It also means figuring out how you and your future spouse will make everyday financial decisions together. Money tends to come up more often than couples may expect. A recent survey of U.S. couples found the average pair has about 58 arguments a year about […]

7 things to know about your finances after divorce

Divorce can affect nearly every part of your financial life, from your monthly budget to your retirement timeline.   The transition often comes with big changes: a shift in income, new housing costs, different financial responsibilities and a long list of accounts and documents to update. It can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to make important financial decisions while your life is still in flux. That’s why practical advice can […]

Top 5 mistakes that can derail your mortgage application

You’ve found the house. You’re ready to apply for a mortgage. Everything seems to be moving forward — until your lender quickly needs additional documents, delays closing or tells you that something in your financial situation isn’t adding up.  Situations like this are more common than many buyers expect.  If you’re still early in your real estate journey, and especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer, start by making sure you understand mortgages and the steps to buying a house. This […]

Financial planning considerations for LGBTQ+ couples

Every couple has a story.  Maybe you met through a mutual friend. Maybe it was a dating app. Maybe it was ones of those meet cutes in a coffee shop that turned into something bigger. However it started, at some point the conversation shifts from “What are we doing this weekend?” to “What are we building together?”  That’s where financial planning begins.  For LGBTQ+ couples in the United States, […]

Retirement checklist: The 5 years before you retire

In the five years before you retire, things start to feel real in a new way. This is the window where retirement stops being a distant idea and starts becoming an actual date on the calendar. For most people, that moment sits on top of years of preparation, from the first dollar they ever put into a […]

How much mortgage can I afford?

Buying your first home is exciting — and a little intimidating. You might already have a sense of what homes cost in the area you’re hoping to buy in, what you’re currently spending on housing and even current mortgage rates, but translating that information into a monthly mortgage payment you can afford can feel like a leap.  The good news: […]

How multiple savings accounts can help you reach your financial goals

Saving money is a lot easier when you know exactly what you’re saving for, whether it’s a robust emergency fund, a down payment for a home or the trip of a lifetime. Smart savers know they need to have savings earmarked for different financial goals, but if all the money sits in one account, things can get messy. You don’t want to touch your emergency savings, […]

Credit card consolidation strategies to pay off debt faster

If you’re carrying credit card balances, you already know the math can feel stacked against you. High interest rates mean a big portion of every monthly payment goes toward interest instead of your actual balance. Even when you’re doing everything “right,” progress can feel slow and discouraging.  That’s where credit card consolidation comes in — not as a magic fix, but as a practical way to regain momentum toward paying […]

Tips to completing the January no-buy challenge (and other ways to reset your budget)

January is a natural time to take a closer look at your money. After the holidays, you may be looking for ways to reset your budget, rethink your spending habits and start the year feeling more in control. And because January tends to inspire fresh starts, more people are turning to challenges that make budgeting feel less like a chore […]