damircudic/Getty Images; Illustration by Richard Tran/Bankrate Keeping track of average personal loan rates can give you an idea of how much you’ll pay for a personal loan for debt consolidation, home improvement, emergencies or any other financial goal that requires quick funding with a fixed monthly payment. The average is…

Americans who are planning for their retirement can get bigger Social Security benefit checks by delaying their application for benefits until after they reach full retirement age. The monthly benefit payments to Social Security beneficiaries are determined based on their full retirement age (FRA), which varies based on the year a worker…

Debt settlement companies technically aren’t allowed to charge fees until after lowering a consumer’s debt. But a loophole in the Telemarketing Sales Rule — and a mish-mash of federal and state laws — allows predatory firms the opportunity for exploitation. A growing corner of the $23 billion debt relief industry…