Category: Finance

As part of CGAP’s Agent Networks at the Last Mile initiative, we explored the role of gender in developing rural agent networks in Bihar State, India, through the State Government’s Bank Sakhi Program. CGAP partnered with the Rural Livelihood Mission (Jeevika) to perform field research to better understand the business, impact and outcomes of women […]

When most people hear the phrase “six figures,” they immediately think of a huge salary. After all, six-figure incomes are often associated with high-powered jobs in the business world or top-tier professionals like doctors and lawyers.  And do you know 18% of American individuals are six-figure earners, according to Zippia? That’s a lot of money […]

For many people, the idea of making $20 an hour sounds like starting salary perfection. Because the federal minimum wage is just $7.25 per hour, getting paid $20 an hour would be a great way to increase your yearly salary significantly. But how much is this actually? In this article, we’ll explore what it means […]

Isn’t it funny how childhood experiences shape our views of rich vs. wealthy, as well as who has money compared to who doesn’t? There are several memories from my own childhood that made me think I knew how to tell if someone was rich, yet one in particular still sticks in my mind. When I […]

More low-income individuals are generating digital footprints through their phones than ever before. CGAP’s recently published Global Landscaping Study on the Data Trails of Digitally Included Poor (DIP) People estimates that in 2021, 1.8 billion low-income people (earning under USD 5.50 per day) in low-and middle-income markets had digital access (as defined by ownership of […]

Interest rates have been rising rapidly in recent months, and you may be pleasantly surprised to see how much. If you’re currently holding your money in a bank that’s paying 0.0-something percent on your balance, you need to seriously investigate the alternatives. In this guide, we’re going to provide 11 of the best online banks, […]

Although the choice between leasing or buying a car has plenty of financial implications, money isn’t the only factor that goes into this decision. In fact, this choice is often based on a person’s tolerance for risk, and how often they prefer to switch cars.  If you want to own a car outright — and […]

Getting a new car is one of the better feelings in life, I’ll admit. But, it’s also one of the biggest financial transactions most people make. Get a good deal, and you’ll save a ton of money over the life of the car. Strike a bad deal, and it can haunt you for years.  It […]

Before I started writing in the personal finance space, I spent nearly 8 years working alongside my husband in a funeral home. My husband Greg worked as a mortician, and I was the Director of Family Services. I learned so much about living and dying during my years in the mortuary business, but there’s one […]

Thinking about converting your retirement account to a Roth IRA? It’s easy to see why the Roth IRA is so incredibly popular. Contributions to a Roth IRA are made with income that has already been taxed, meaning there’s no initial tax benefit, but the money you have in a Roth grows tax-free over time. Roth […]