Daniel Harper
Daniel is a finance writer covering personal finance topics including budgeting, credit, and beginner investing. He began his career contributing to his Substack, where he covered consumer finance trends and practical money topics for everyday readers. Since then, he has written for a range of personal finance blogs and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, straightforward content that helps readers make more informed financial decisions.
Latest Articles by Daniel Harper
Roth IRAs require no withdrawals in your lifetime and keep growing tax-free for heirs
Roth IRA owners never have to take a single dollar out of their accounts while they are alive, a statutory advantage that lets balances compound...
You can place a free one-year fraud alert on your credit file that forces lenders to verify your identity
A federal law that took effect in September 2018 replaced the old 90-day fraud alert with a free, one-year version, giving any consumer the ability...
A 15-year mortgage costs more each month but saves tens of thousands in interest over a 30-year loan
Homebuyers who opt for a 15-year fixed mortgage face monthly payments that can run hundreds of dollars higher than a 30-year alternative on the same...
A 529 college-savings plan earns a state tax break in most states for any child you name
Families saving for college through a 529 plan can name any child as beneficiary and still claim a state income tax deduction in a majority...
Target-date funds automatically move your savings from stocks to bonds as you near retirement
Millions of Americans saving for retirement through 401(k) plans hold target-date funds that automatically adjust their mix of stocks, bonds, and cash over time. The...
Downgrading a card to a no-fee version keeps your credit history intact
Cardholders facing higher annual fees on premium credit cards have a simple defensive move: ask the issuer to switch the account to a no-fee product....
Donating appreciated stock instead of cash skips the capital-gains tax entirely
Investors sitting on years of stock-market gains face a straightforward choice at year-end: sell shares and write a check to charity, or transfer those shares...
A fifth straight year of insurance hikes is pushing Florida homeowners’ premiums near $8,500 a year
Florida homeowners face a fifth consecutive year of rising property insurance costs, with average annual premiums now approaching $8,500. The increases, tracked through mandatory insurer...
Credit card balances slipped to $1.252 trillion last quarter, yet 61% of borrowers have been in debt over a year
Millions of Americans saw a small reprieve in their revolving debt load last quarter, with total credit card balances edging down to $1.252 trillion. That...
Starting this year, you can pull up to $2,500 from a 401(k) to pay long-term-care insurance premiums without the usual early-withdrawal penalty
Workers younger than 59 and a half now have a new way to cover long-term care insurance without draining their retirement savings or paying a...
Existing-home sales rose 3.2% in May to a 4.17 million pace, with the median price at $429,300
Buyers who had been sitting on the sidelines pushed existing-home sales up 3.2% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million units,...
Social Security is clawing back overpayments by withholding up to half a monthly check
Millions of Social Security recipients who owe money to the federal government now face the loss of half their monthly benefit check. The Social Security...
Money you put into a Roth IRA can be withdrawn anytime, tax- and penalty-free
Anyone who has contributed to a Roth IRA holds a financial advantage that many account holders still do not fully grasp: the money they put...
Yamaha recalled 8,650 golf cars whose brake cable can snap mid-drive
Yamaha is recalling approximately 8,650 model-year 2021-2022 fleet golf cars after discovering that a passenger-side brake cable can be misrouted during assembly, causing the cable...
Regulators recalled pool drain covers sold on Amazon that can trap a swimmer underwater
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned consumers to stop using Asixxsix pool drain covers immediately and has recalled at least five other drain...
Money at a brokerage isn’t FDIC-insured, but SIPC covers up to $500,000 if the firm fails
Investors holding stocks, bonds, or mutual funds at a brokerage have no Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation safety net if the firm collapses. The Securities Investor...