Few borrowers read every line of the avalanche of paperwork that comes with a mortgage, and even the most well-intentioned consumer might have difficulty understanding all costs associated with their loan — and how it compares with what other lenders are offering.
For millions of Americans, watching and waiting is the new day-trading-and the trillion-dollar question is when they’ll feel fully comfortable investing in stocks again. In the U.S. alone, investors still have nearly $900 billion parked on the sidelines, according to Thomson Reuters.
States and municipalities have jumped on a new bond program, selling $12 billion of Build America Bonds since the program began in mid-April. The issuers have benefited from lower borrowing costs.
Shortly after Andrea and Rick Campbell got married, when Rick was fresh out of graduate school, Andrea’s parents suggested the young couple could benefit from a trip to their financial planner.
Never underestimate the little guy. Investors often dump shares of small companies at the first signs of trouble: They’re perceived as riskier than behemoths like Wal-Mart or IBM.
