FreeTaxUSA is a tax preparation software program that is exactly what the name implies – free.

It’s free to file your federal income tax return and $14.99 per state return.

With FreeTaxUSA, you can prepare your tax returns for free, even if they are more complicated. Most tax prep software programs only allow you to file for free under certain very limited conditions. That’s not the case with FreeTaxUSA, and that’s why this software is well worth a close look.

At a Glance

• Almost all tax situations are covered.
• Federal returns are free, state returns are $14.99
• Tax assistance can be added for $39.99
• Audit defense can be added for $19.99

Who Should Use FreeTaxUSA

If you don’t qualify for a free version at a competitor, then you should consider FreeTaxUSA. The service is inexpensive and easy to use. The add-on features, such as tax assistance and audit defense, are also reasonably priced so you should be able to get all your tax needs met.

However, if you qualify for a totally free version, such as TurboTax’s free version, that doesn’t charge a fee for your state return, you can save some money by using that instead.

FreeTaxUSA Alternatives

Pricing	$0 for federal $0 for state	$0 to $89 for federal $0 to $39 for state	$0 to $42.95 for federal $0 to $39.99 for state
Tax pro access	No	Add-on	Add-on
Audit defense	Included	Add-on	Add-on
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

FreeTaxUSA Free Version

The Free Version allows for free federal returns and covers basically all tax situations, which is very unusual for a free plan. State returns aren’t free, but they are inexpensive, just $14.99 per state.

This is considerably cheaper than how much it costs to get taxes professionally prepared. Accountants will charge $263-$368 to prepare a Form 1040.

Once again, one of the major advantages of using FreeTaxUSA is that it supports virtually any type of income tax return. That’s a very unusual benefit of using this program.

For the free version, customer support is available by email, but not by live chat.

Returns are stored in PDF format. There’s no limit on how many returns you can store, and no charge for doing so. You can also download and either store or print your returns on your own computer.

Go to FreeTaxUSA

FreeTaxUSA Deluxe Version

The FreeTaxUSA Deluxe Version has all of the functionality of the free version, but it adds several important premium features that are well worth the price. The paid version costs $7.99 for your federal income tax return and $14.99 for each state return filed.

Those added features include:

Unlimited amendments. You can file amended federal income tax returns for free when you filed using the Deluxe version.

Priority Support. This feature enables you to get a priority on your inquiries. That means that your email or chat questions will be moved to the front of the line. That will put you ahead of users who are working only with the free version.

Live Chat. If you have questions about the software you can chat with customer service in real time. This does not include tax questions.

Go to FreeTaxUSA

Add-ons

There are a few additional services you can add on if you wish.

Pro Support. If you have tax questions that are specific to your situation, you can speak to a tax professional for $39.99. You’ll be able to share your screen with them and they can walk you through any questions you have.

Audit Defense. For just $19.99 you can get audit defense. If you are audited, FreeTaxUSA will communicate with the IRS on your behalf and provide up to $1 million in services. They will help you with both federal and state audits.

FreeTaxUSA Features and Tools

FreeTaxUSA offers many of the features and benefits that you typically find with paid tax software programs or those that charge much higher fees.

FreeTaxUSA accommodates filing more complicated returns. This includes self-employed taxpayers, rental income, K-1 income from an LLC, partnership, or S corporation, or a home office deduction. You can do any and all of these with FreeTaxUSA, even with the free version.

FreeTaxUSA Refund Maximizer. This tool double-checks your work on a return filed with another tax prep software program. You enter the information from that return, and the maximizer will analyze it to determine if you could have gotten a bigger refund with FreeTaxUSA.

Also, you can import prior year’s tax returns from other software.

Upload W-2 from a PDF. If you have a PDF of your W-2 you can upload it. This saves time and limits typos.

Pay fees with your tax refund. If you want, you can pay the fee with your tax return instead of with a credit card. However, this costs an extra $24.99 on top of the normal fee. There’s no added cost if you pay with a credit card. If you have a card, I would recommend using it instead.

Printed return: You will get a PDF copy of your return that you can print for free. However, if you’d rather have FreeTaxUSA print it, they will mail you a paper copy of your return for $7.97, shipping included. You can also get a copy that is professionally bound for $15.97.

Accuracy Checker. FreeTaxUSA uses a real-time accuracy Checker to check your work throughout the preparation process. If the program determines that you may have made a mistake or an omission, you’ll be alerted. This will help to keep you on track throughout the process.

Accuracy guarantee. FreeTaxUSA guarantees the accuracy of your return as filed. You will be reimbursed for IRS-imposed penalties and interest for any errors, omissions or other misinformation resulting from the program software. (Penalties and interest on state income tax returns is not covered under this guarantee.)

Customer support. Email technical support, included with all services, is 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM Eastern Standard Time every day (including weekends). They report answering most emails in under 20 minutes. Particularly complex questions might take up to 24 hours.

Prior years. If you need to file taxes for prior years, you can file your federal returns for free and $17.99 for each state.

Unlimited amendments. You purchase a package that allows for unlimited amendments for just $15.98. If you filed using the Deluxe plan, amendments are free.

Go to FreeTaxUSA

FreeTaxUSA Alternatives

Cash App Taxes

Cash App Taxes is a totally free way to do your taxes. It completes both federal and state returns for free and covers almost all tax situations. Audit defense is included, but there is no option to speak to a tax professional, even for a fee.

You also can’t file multiple state returns, so if you earned income in more than one state, you won’t be able to use Cash App Taxes.

Here’s our full review of Cash App Taxes.

Go to Cash App Taxes

TurboTax

If you qualify for TurboTax‘s free plan, you can file both your federal and one state return for free. However, only simple returns qualify. You are limited to W-2 income, unemployment income, and a limited amount of interest income. You also must claim the standard deduction, but can also claim the earned income tax credit and child tax credits.

If you don’t qualify for the free plan, then you’ll pay up to $89 for the federal return and $39 per state. You also have the option to add on live assistance from a tax professional. You can also choose to get your entire return done for you with their Full Service plan.

Here’s our full review of TurboTax.

Go to TurboTax

TaxSlayer

TaxSlayer is another software that offers a completely free version. You can file both your federal and one state return for free if you qualify.

To qualify, you’ll need to have under $100,000 in taxable income. You also can only have W-2, unemployment income, and limited interest income. You must take the standard deduction and cannot claim any dependents. You can deduct student loan interest and education expenses.

If you don’t qualify for the free version, you will likely qualify for the Classic version, which costs $22.95 for federal and $39.95 for each state return.

Here’s our full review of TaxSlayer.

Go to TaxSlayer

Will FreeTaxUSA Work for You?

Despite a few program limitations, FreeTaxUSA is well worth using. It has far greater functionality than many other free tax preparation software programs, and even the Deluxe version costs just a fraction of what it does with other popular paid programs.

Due to the lack of importing capability, you must expect to spend more preparation time with this program then you will with TurboTax, but you will also be saving a considerable amount of money on the program fee.

The ability of FreeTaxUSA to accommodate even the most complicated tax returns is virtually a built-in advantage. Most competing free tax software programs can only do the most basic returns. If you have anything more complicated, you’ll have to move up to a premium version.

Even the popular paid programs use a graduated service level. For example, you may pay $50 for a program that does basic returns, but then be required to pay $100 if you operate a small business. There are no such up-charges with FreeTaxUSA.

If you want more information, or if you want to sign up for the program, check out the FreeTaxUSA website.

Go to FreeTaxUSA

The post FreeTaxUSA Review 2025: Completely Free Federal Tax Filing Services appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Betterment is a longstanding robo-advisor offering low fees and more control over your portfolio than many automated investment platforms.

Betterment offers expert-built portfolios, including socially responsible and crypto portfolios, a high-yield cash account, a no-fee checking account, and access to human advisors.

But with so many robo-advisors to choose from, is Betterment still worth it?

At a Glance

• The management fee is $4/month (for balances up to $20k) or 0.25% annually
• $0 minimum initial investment
• $100,000 minimum required for Betterment Premium
• Individual and joint taxable accounts; retirement accounts
• High-yield cash account
• No-fee checking account
• Create customizable sub-accounts (goal accounts)
• Available on iOS and Android mobile app
• Accounts are SIPC protected up to $500,000 ($250,000 cash)

Who Should Use Betterment

Betterment is perfect for beginner investors or anyone who wants hands-off investing. It has much lower fees than working with a human advisor, plus a variety of premade portfolios that are automatically rebalanced over time. It also has some tax efficiencies you can opt into if you have taxable accounts.

Betterment Alternatives

Monthly Fee	0.25%	$3 (waivable)	0.25%
Minimum balance	$50	$50	$0
Self-directed accounts available	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

Who Is Betterment?

Betterment is an online, automated investment platform, a.k.a. a robo-advisor.

With over $50 billion in assets under management, Betterment is one of the largest independent robo-advisors on the market today. In fact, Betterment was the first independent online financial advisor to reach $10 billion in AUM in July of 2017.

With Betterment, your entire investment experience takes place online. An algorithm calculates your portfolio based on your preferences and goals. 

Since everything runs through computers, they can offer investment management at a very low cost. This makes it cost-effective for any investor, regardless of investment size. Most financial advisors won’t even talk to you if you have less than half a million in assets, but you can invest with Betterment for as little as $1.

If you’re new to investing or you don’t have much money, Betterment may be the best solution to your investment needs. If you are a larger or more experienced investor, Betterment may be a good platform to have some of your portfolios professionally managed.

Go to Betterment

How Betterment Works

Betterment will provide automated account management for a very low annual fee. That will include creating and rebalancing your portfolio, reinvesting dividends, and implementing tax efficiencies to minimize the tax liability your account will generate.

Betterment uses Modern Portfolio Theory, which favors general asset allocation over individual security selection.

Your portfolio will consist of exchange-traded funds(ETFs), comprising U.S. and foreign stocks and bonds in your asset allocation.

ETFs are low-cost, index-based funds designed to match an underlying index’s performance, like the S&P 500 Index. This is what’s known as passive investing because neither Betterment nor the funds themselves actively trade securities within the funds.

Tax Efficient Investing

Betterment has built automated tax-efficient strategies into its portfolios to help you lower your taxes. Betterment supports tax loss harvesting, which involves offsetting capital gains and income by selling a security that has experienced a loss. Betterment’s Tax Loss Harvesting+ feature is fully automated and is available to investors at no additional cost.

Betterment also offers tax coordination, which automates a complex strategy known as asset location for your retirement goals. Asset location can improve your after-tax returns without increasing your portfolio’s risk level.

Betterment Account Types

You can open the following account types with Betterment:

• Individual and joint taxable accounts
• Traditional IRA
• Roth IRA
• SEP IRA
• Rollovers
• Employer-sponsored 401(k) plans (Betterment 401(k))
• High-Yield Cash account
• No-fee Checking account
• Trusts

Betterment Portfolios 

Betterment has ten prebuilt portfolios to choose from, plus a cash reserve fund. Here is a breakdown of some of these portfolios as of December 2024.

Core  

This portfolio is for those who want optimized exposure to stocks and bonds. It has had annualized returns of 9.5% since 2011 and has an allocation of 90% stocks and 10% bonds.

Top holdings include:

• 44.9% U.S. Large Cap Stocks: SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPLG) and Vanguard Large-Cap ETF (VV)
• 25.5% International Developed Market Stocks: Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA)
• 7.1% U.S. High Qualify Bonds: iShares Core Total U.S. Bond Market ETF (AGG)
• 6.1% U.S. Mid Cap Stocks: SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF (SPMD) and Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF (SCHM)
• 4.6% U.S. Small Cap Stocks: – SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM) and Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB)

Value Tilt

This portfolio focuses on value investing and looking for undervalued companies worldwide. It has an annualized return of 9.4% since 2011 and an allocation of 90% stocks and 10% bonds.

Top holdings include:

• 34.7% U.S. Total Stock Market: Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) and Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB)
• 25.5% International Developed Market Stocks: Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets (VEA) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA)
• 16.9% U.S. Value Stocks – Large Cap: Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) and Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF (SCHV)
• 8.9% International Emerging Market Stocks: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets (VWO) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG)
• 7.1% U.S. High Quality Bonds: iShares Core Total US Bond Market ETF (AGG)

Broad Impact

This portfolio is for investors who want to invest in a socially responsible way. It has annualized returns of 7.9% since 2017 and has an allocation of 90% stocks and 10% bonds.

Top holdings include:

• 46% U.S. Socially Responsible Stocks – Large Cap: iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) and iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA)
• 24.1% International Developed Market Stocks: iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) and SPDR S&P World ex-US ETF (SPDW)
• 10% International Emerging Market Socially Responsible Stocks: iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF (ESGE) and SPDR S&P Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM)
• 5.4% U.S. Engagement Stocks: TCW Transform 500 ETF (VOTE)
• 5.2% U.S. Socially Responsible High-Quality Bonds: iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (EAGG) and Vanguard US Total Bond Market ETF (BND)

Goldman Sachs Smart Beta

This portfolio invests based on trends and is for investors seeking greater growth potential. It has an annualized return of 9.0% since 2017 and has an allocation of 90% stocks and 10% bonds.

Top holdings include:

• 57% U.S. Large-Cap: Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta US Large Cap Equity (GSLC) and iShares Russell 1000 (IWB)
• 13% International Developed Market Stocks: Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity (GSIE) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets (VEA)
• 8.2% International Developed Market Stocks – Europe: Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Europe Equity ETF (GSEU) and SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF (SPEU)
• 5.5% International Emerging Market Stocks: Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity (GEM) and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets (VWO)
• 3.3% International Developed Market Stocks – Japan: Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF (GSJY) and JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF (BBJP)

Goldman Sachs Tax-Smart Bonds

This portfolio is for those who are looking for a high after-tax yield. This portfolio began in June of 2024, but so far has annualized returns of 4.7% and has an allocation of 100% bonds.

Top holdings include:

• 60% U.S. Short-Term Municipal Bonds: iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond Active ETF (MEAR)
• 20% Ultra Short-Term Bonds: Goldman Sachs Access Ultra Short Bond ETF (GSST)
• 20% U.S. Short-Terms Treasury Bonds: Goldman Sachs TreasuryAccess 01 Year ETF (GBIL)

BlackRock Target Income

This portfolio is for those who want a low-risk investment to hold their cash but also potentially earn returns. It has had annualized returns of 1.8% since 2017 and has an allocation of 100% bonds.

Top holdings include:

• 24.5% U.S. Downgraded Bonds: iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF (FALN)
• 13% U.S. Short-Term High-Yield Corporate Bonds: iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (SHYG)
• 11% Emerging Markets High Yield Bonds: iShares J.P. Morgan EM High Yield Bond ETF (EMHY)
• 11% U.S. Corporate Multi-Factor Bonds: iShares Investment Grade Systematic Bond ETF (IGEB)
• 8.5% U.S. Short-Term Treasury Bonds: iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY)

Crypto ETF

This portfolio is for investors who want exposure to cryptocurrency. Annualized returns are not provided.

Top holdings include:

• 74.80% Bitcoin: iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT)
• 24.9% Ethereum: iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA)

Betterment will rebalance your portfolio as needed as funds change in value.

Go to Betterment

Other Betterment Portfolios

In addition to the portfolios listed above, Betterment offers additional portfolios. Here’s a brief description of those portfolios.

Innovative Technology

Betterment invests in “pioneer companies” through its Innovative Technology portfolio. The companies in this portfolio are involved with clean energy, semiconductors, robots, virtual reality, blockchain, and nanotechnology. 

The portfolio mix is 90% stocks and 10% bonds.

Climate Impact

This portfolio invests in companies funding green projects and lower carbon emissions, as well as those that divest from fossil fuel reserves. It is another SRI portfolio. Like Broad Impact, it includes a few bond funds from the Core portfolio but holds stocks in the funds that favor low carbon emissions. It has an allocation of 90% stocks and 10% bonds.

Social Impact

Another SRI portfolio, but one that emphasizes companies supporting social equality and minority empowerment. It adds funds with these specializations alongside bond positions. It has an allocation of 90% stocks and 10% bonds.

Betterment Cash Reserve

Betterment offers a high-yield cash account currently paying a variable rate of 4.00% APY. That makes it a nice option for you to hold cash balances on the same platform where you invest your money. You can open an account with as little as $10, and there are no monthly maintenance fees. Meanwhile, the account features unlimited withdrawals.

(Annual percentage yield (variable) is as of 12/30/2024. Cash Reserve is only available to clients of Betterment LLC, which is not a bank, and cash transfers to program banks are conducted through the clients’ brokerage accounts at Betterment Securities.)

Because multiple banking partners provide the Cash Reserve, FDIC insurance applies on balances up to $2 million. That’s eight times higher than the $250,000 in coverage offered by your friendly neighborhood bank. If you open a joint account, the FDIC coverage will rise to $4 million.

Betterment Checking

This is a mobile checking account that comes with a Visa debit card. There are no monthly or overdraft fees. Meanwhile, Betterment reimburses you for ATM fees and foreign transaction fees. The account even comes with paper checks, which is fairly unusual with online banks. And when you make purchases using your debit card, you can earn cash back rewards from thousands of your favorite brands.

Betterment Pricing

Here’s how Betterment’s pricing breaks down:

Investing: $4 monthly fee or 0.25% annual fee. You’ll start out with a flat fee of $4 per month, but you’ll automatically switch to 0.25% when you either a) set up recurring deposits of $250 or more or b) reach an account balance of $20,000 or more across all accounts held with Betterment. That includes the checking, Cash Reserve, Crypto portfolios, and your Core portfolio.

Crypto Investing: 1% annual fee + trading expenses

High-Yield Cash Reserve Account: No fee

Checking Account: No fee

Betterment Premium: A 0.15% add-on fee applies to Investing and Crypto investing fees but does not apply to Cash Reserve. Betterment Premium gives you unlimited access to financial planning advice from a Betterment CFP. There is a $100k minimum balance requirement for this service.

Go to Betterment

Betterment Premium

In addition to the investing plan, Betterment offers a Premium plan. You’ll need a minimum portfolio balance of $100,000, and you’ll have access to unlimited financial guidance from a certified financial planner. That planner will help you with everything from retirement to crypto investing. It includes professional one-on-one advice to help you establish your goals and create a roadmap to reach them.

The portfolio minimum balance includes investment and crypto accounts, whether taxable or retirement. It does not include cash accounts, HSAs, or an employer 401(k) account managed by Betterment.

✨ Related: Betterment Checking and Savings Review: Cash Reserve

Getting Started with Betterment

Betterment is available to U.S. citizens 18 years old or older with a permanent U.S. address, a U.S. Social Security number or ITIN, and a checking account from a U.S. bank. Residents of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (but not Guam) and U.S. military personnel residing abroad are also eligible.

You can open a Betterment account and start investing in a couple of steps:

1. Open an account directly on the Betterment website. The first step is to complete your application, including a brief questionnaire. The questionnaire assesses your risk tolerance, investment goals, and time horizon. Your answers to those questions will determine the type of portfolio Betterment will create for you. That can be anything from conservative to aggressive.
2. Choose the type of account you want. For example, you may want a taxable investment account for short-term savings goals, like saving money for the down payment on a house. Alternatively, you can select a tax-deferred account, like an IRA, for a long-term goal, like retirement.

Note: You can open an account with no money and then begin investing as you fund it. For that reason, you’ll need to connect a bank account to your Betterment account. But you can also set up direct deposits from your paycheck for funding purposes.

Go to Betterment

Betterment Alternatives

If you’re looking for a robo-advisor platform that supports your passive investing strategy, you may want to explore the following options before you sign up with Betterment.

Wealthfront

Wealthfront may be Betterment’s biggest competitor. Both companies launched around the same time, and they’ve closely paralleled one another since. Like Betterment, Wealthfront provides you with a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. 

However, Wealthfront offers a broader diversification, spreading your portfolio among 239 investments in 17 different asset classes. That includes sectors like cryptocurrency trusts, commodity funds, and funds that specialize in technology. They also offer a flat fee pricing of 0.25% on all account balances. And like Betterment, Wealthfront also offers a high-yield Cash account, with a slightly higher APY (5.00% vs. 4.75%) as of February 2024.

Here’s our full Wealthfront review for more information.

Go to Wealthfront

M1 Finance

If you like the robo-advisor concept but want more control over your investment, M1 Finance is an excellent alternative to Betterment. With M1 Finance, you can choose the stocks and ETFs that you hold in your M1 Finance portfolios (called “pies”) and have M1 Finance manage and rebalance them automatically.

There is a $3 monthly fee for the robo advisor. However, the fee is waived if you have an active loan and an investment balance of at least $10,000.

Here’s our full M1 Finance review for more information.

Go to M1 Finance

SoFi Automated Investing

SoFi Invest® is a robo-advisor that is similar to Betterment. It uses a goals-based system that allows you to invest for both short-term needs, like saving for the down payment on a home, or long-term goals, like retirement. 

Sofi charges a flat 0.25% for automated investing. Plus, it has a self-directed option, which Betterment doesn’t. You can invest on your own through SoFi Active Investing, with no commission fees, when you buy and sell individual stocks and funds. Like Betterment, SoFi offers a high-yield savings account. It doesn’t have a cash reserve account, but it does offer a high-yield savings account.

Here’s our full Sofi Invest review for more information.

Go to Sofi Invest

FAQs

Get Started with Betterment

Is Betterment Worth It?

If you’re looking for a robo-advisor and don’t need to be hands-on with investment decisions, Betterment is a solid choice. It’s ideal for beginner investors or anyone who follows a passive investing approach. We also like the automated tax-efficient strategies that Betterment employs, the fact that clients with larger portfolios can access financial planning advice, and the High-Yield Cash Reserve account.

That said, if you’re looking for the lowest possible price and more portfolio customization, M1 Finance might be a better choice. And if you’re a self-directed investor, you’ll want to deal with a discount brokerage that will allow you to select your own investments and place your own trades.

The post Betterment Review – Is Betterment Worth It? appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Alliant Credit Union has a wide variety of accounts and loans that will allow you to do most of your banking there. It offers a high-yield checking account and a high-yield savings, plus CDs. The checking and savings have decent rates, but the not the highest, and the CD rates are competitive. For loans, it has credit cards, mortgages, car loans, and personal loans.

It is a credit union, but the membership requirements are easy for anyone to meet, so you are sure to qualify.

At a Glance

• Low fees
• Competitive interest rates
• Wide varitey of accounts
• Anyone can join

Who Should Use Alliant Credit Union

If you like the credit union concept – where you’re a member and not just a customer – and you haven’t been able to find a satisfactory one where you live, Alliant Credit Union could be a great choice. With such a variety of bank accounts and lending, you’ll be able to do most, if not all, of your banking in one place.

It’s not a good choice for “rate chasers” since the rates on savings are competitive, but not the highest you can find.

Alliant Credit Union Alternatives

Savings APY	4.86% APY	3.70% APY	3.85% APY
Accounts offered	Several checking accounts, savings, personal loans, auto loans, and mortgages, and small business and commercial banking	Checking, savings, CDs, credit cards, auto loans, small business and commercial banking	Checking, savings, CDs, money market, and mortgages
In-person banking	No	Yes	No
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

Who is Alliant Credit Union?

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Alliant Credit Union has been in business since 1935. The credit union has more than $19 billion in assets and 800,000 members nationwide. It’s the largest credit union in Illinois and one of the largest in the country.

Alliant Credit Union offers interest-bearing checking, teen checking, high-yield savings accounts, and CDs with some of the best rates in the country. They also offer a suite of loan products, including credit cards, auto, personal, home, and commercial real estate loans.

The credit union is easy to join, and if you don’t meet one of its requirements, you can join the Alliant Credit Union Foundation, which will make you eligible for the credit union.

Alliant Credit Union Features & Benefits

Available Accounts: Checking, savings, CDs, minor accounts; traditional, Roth and SEP IRAs; trust accounts. Loan programs available include the following: credit cards, personal loans, auto and recreational vehicle loans, home loans, and commercial real estate financing.

Geographic availability: Nationwide.

Online Banking: Offers all banking services including transfers, making payments, managing credit and debit cards, and even opening new accounts.

Mobile Banking: Available for both Android and iOS mobile devices, the app provides all the services of online banking. You can also locate one of the 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs or even check your ATM fee rebate status. It even lets you log in with biometrics.

Free credit scores: Members are provided with free quarterly credit scores.

Customer service: Available by phone and email on a 24/7 basis.

Account Security: Accounts are protected by the US Government-sponsored National Credit Union Association (NCUA) for $250,000 per depositor.

Checking Accounts

Alliant has two checking accounts, a high-rate checking and a teen checking. Both accounts earn 0.25% APY if you choose electronic statements and receive at least one electronic deposit per month. You’ll also have access to over 80,000 free ATMs, and receive up to $20 per month in ATM fee reimbursements.

Electronic deposits include direct deposit, ATM deposits, mobile deposits, and transfers from another bank.

High-Rate Checking

Currently paying 0.25% APY, the account requires no minimum balance and has no monthly service fees or overdraft fees.

This account also offers a service called “Courtesy Pay,” which will cover checks, electronic payments, and transfers that would otherwise put your account in the negative. There is no fee for this service, but the overdraft balance is due immediately. To qualify for this service, you must have the account for at least six months and receive at least $600 per month in electronic deposits.

Teen Checking

This account is available for members between the ages of 13 and 17 and requires joint ownership with parents. There is no minimum balance requirement or monthly fees.

When the teen turns 18, the account automatically converts to a High-Rate Checking.

Alliant Credit Union Fees

Alliant Credit Union fees and early withdrawal penalties on CDs are as follows:

• Stop payments, free if submitted by Online or Phone Banking, otherwise $25
• Return deposit item, $15
• Paper statement, $1
• NSF, $25
• Manually paid checks and ACH items, $5
• Inactivity or dormant account fee, $10
• Deposit of check drawn on non-US bank, $35
• Courtesy Pay fee, $28 per occurrence
• ACH initiated online, free ($10 if initiated by phone)
• Account closed within 90 days of opening, $10
• Wire fee, incoming, free
• Domestic wire fee, outgoing, $25
• Foreign wire fee, outgoing, $50
• 1% Visa foreign transaction fee with use of the debit card.

Savings Accounts

Alliant offers two savings accounts, a high-rate savings and a kid’s savings. Both earn 3.10% APY if you have an average daily balance of at least $100.

High-Rate Savings

This account has no monthly fees if you elect eStatements, otherwise paper statements are $1 per month. There is a minimum balance of $5, but you won’t earn interest if the balance is under $100. You can access your funds through the nationwide ATM network.

You can also open up to 19 supplemental savings accounts. Each supplemental account can be given a nickname so you can keep your goals organized.

This account can also be opened as an IRA.

Kids Savings Accounts

Designed for kids 12 and under, the account requires joint ownership with parents, grandparents or a guardian. There is a $5 minimum opening deposit, but Alliant will actually pay this on the child’s behalf. There are no monthly fees.

Kids over 12 can apply for a regular High-Rate Savings account or convert a Kid’s Savings Account into a Teen Checking account.

Certificates of Deposit (CDs)

Alliant Credit Union pays competitive interest rates on its CDs. Certificates are available with a minimum deposit of $1,000 and in terms ranging from 12 to 60 months.

• 3 month – 3.10% APY
• 6 month – 4.10% APY
• 12 month – 4.25% APY
• 18 month – 3.80% APY
• 24 month – 3.70% APY
• 36 month – 3.65% APY
• 48 month – 3.65% APY
• 60 month – 3.65% APY

Early withdrawal penalties on CDs occur if you liquidate some or all a CD prior to maturity. The following penalties will apply:

Credit Cards

Alliant Credit Union offers two different credit cards and has a prequalification tool that will allow you to see if you qualify without impacting your credit.

Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card

For those who have a High-Rate Checking account, the Alliant Cashback Visa earns strong cash-back rewards. You can earn 2.5% cash back on the first $10,000 of eligible purchases per billing cycle, and 1.5% cash back after that, all with no annual fee.

This card comes with rental car insurance, roadside dispatch, extended warranty protection, no foreign exchange fee, and travel accident insurance.

Alliant Visa Platinum Card

The Alliant Visa Platinum Rewards credit card has no annual fee and a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on both purchases and balance transfers, then 14.99% to 26.99% variable APR. The balance transfer fee is only 2% (min $5), which is low.

It also comes with rental car insurance and roadside dispatch.

Auto Loans

You can get a loan for a new or used car or refinance your existing car note. Loans have a max term of 84 months and rates are competitive. You can also finance an RV. Loans go up to $400,000 with a maximum term of 20 years. There are no pre-payment penalties, and you can get same-day approval in most cases.

Alliant Credit Union also offers a car buying service. If you use it to purchase a vehicle and finance it through the credit union, your interest rate will be reduced by 0.50% from the rates shown above. The service also offers an upfront, discounted price on an extensive inventory of pre-owned vehicles. Participation is in a nationwide network of certified dealerships.

Personal Loans

Alliant Credit Union offers unsecured personal loans for just about any purpose. You can borrow from $1,000 to $100,000 and terms from one year to five years at competitive rates. The credit union is often able to provide same-day approvals and funding. Loans have no origination fees or prepayment penalties.

Home Loans

Alliant offers both mortgages and home equity lines of credit. Fixed-rate mortgages have terms of 15, 20, or 30 years, and adjustable-rate mortgages have fixed terms of 5, 7, or 10 years, then adjust every six months after that.

Alliant doesn’t charge an application or escrow waiver fee.

With the home equity line of credit (HELOC), you can borrow up to 85% of the value of your home minus your existing mortgage. There are no closing costs or appraisal fees for loans under $250,000. There is a 10-year interest-only draw period and then a repayment period of up to 20 years.

Commercial Real Estate Loans

Alliant Credit Union offers commercial real estate loans for a variety of property types, such as: office buildings, industrial and retail space, multifamily properties, self-storage facilities, hospitality, parking garages, and manufactured housing communities. Each loan is tailored specifically to the subject property as well as based on the financial profile of the borrowing entity.

Insurance

Alliant Credit Union offers whole- and term-life insurance, as well as homeowner’s, auto, and accidental death insurance. All policies are offered through either TruStage or CMFG.

Alliant Membership Requirements

As is the case with all credit unions, you have to qualify for membership. Fortunately, it’s really easy.

You qualify if:

• Are a current or retired employee from one of the many businesses and organizations Alliant partners with in the U.S.
• Are a domestic partner or immediate family member of a current Alliant member
• Live or work in one of the communities near our Corporate Headquarters in Chicago. Check our website’s list of eligible communities to see if you qualify. 
• If you are not eligible through another option you can become a member of the Alliant Credit Union Foundation and be eligible for Alliant membership. The Foundation’s mission is to provide reliable digital access resources to underserved communities including rural and digitally-challenged populations. The Foundation awards grants for educational and digital inclusion efforts nationwide. Alliant Credit Union will make a one-time $5 contribution to the Foundation on your behalf.

That last bullet means anyone can join. Alliant even pays for the $5 membership fee.

Alliant Account Opening Process

The account opening process took just a few minutes. They ask for all the typical account opening information like name, address, Social Security Number, as well as what account you want to open.

You can fund it by linking an account via Plaid or by manually entering your information.

All in all, it took probably five minutes to open an account. I (Jim Wang) was able to gain eligibility by joining the Alliant Credit Union Foundation.

Alliant Credit Union Alternatives

Axos Bank

Axos Bank has most of what Alliant has, including both a high-yield checking account and a high-yield savings account with rates that tend to be higher than what Alliant offers. It also offers mortgages, personal loans, and auto loans.

In addition to those accounts, Axos offers investing and business accounts.

Here’s our full Axos Bank review for more information.

Go to Axos Bank

Capital One 360

The Capital One 360 checking account earns a little bit of interest, but not as much as with Alliant. The savings account, however, tends to earn more than Alliant’s high-yield savings. Capital One also has kids’ checking accounts, savings accounts, and CDs.

Capital One also has local branches you can access for in-person banking.

Here’s our full Capital One 360 review for more information.

Go to Capital One 360

Quontic Bank

Quontic’s high-yield checking can earn quite a bit more than Alliant’s, but you do have to jump through some hoops to qualify for the higher interest rate. Plus, Quontic’s high-yield savings and money market accounts are very attractive.

For lending, Quontic only has mortgages, so if you are interested in car loans or personal loans, and want them at the same bank where you have your checking account, then Alliant may be the better choice.

Here’s our full review of Quontic Bank for more information.

Go to Quontic Bank

The post Alliant Credit Union Review appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Online banks are everywhere these days, but not all of them stand out in any meaningful way. Axos Bank offers all of the convenience of online banking – including low and no fees – with many of the products associated with traditional banks, like loans, small business banking accounts, and investments.

At a Glance

If you’re wondering how Axos’ accounts and services compare to your bank or other online banks, here’s a list of key features you can expect from Axos:

• No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees on checking or savings accounts.
• 95,000 fee-free ATMs
• Rewards checking account pays up to 3.30% APY
• Cash Back Checking offers up to 1% cash back on purchases
• Provides small business and commercial banking and financing
• Offers both self-directed and managed investments
• Offers mortgage, personal loans, and auto loans

Who Should Use Axos

If you are looking to do all your banking in one place, Axos is worth a look. The Axos ONE checking and savings account earns a competitive interest rate, and you only need $1,500 in direct deposit to qualify.

If you want to invest with Axos, it offers both managed and self-directed accounts.

Axos Bank Alternatives

APY on savings	3.80% APY	3.70% APY	3.85% APY
Cashback on checking	No	No	Yes
Investing options	Yes	No	No
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

Who Is Axos Bank?

Launched on July 4th, 2000, Axos Bank is a technology-driven digital bank, FDIC insured #35546. Because it operates digitally, it can offer its services to consumers nationwide. Axos specializes in offering competitive interest rates, little to no fees, and convenient access. Since its launch, Axis has grown steadily and now has more than $20 billion in assets.

However, what sets Axos Bank apart is that it comes very close to providing comprehensive banking services. That includes checking and savings accounts – the mainstay of online banks – and loan products. Axos has also added investments and small business banking products to its lineup.

Go to Axos Bank

Axos Bank Offerings

Axos Bank offers five different checking accounts, savings and money market accounts, and Certificates of Deposit (CDs). Here’s a closer look at what each account has to offer.

Axos ONE Checking and Savings

The Axox One account is both a checking and savings account. There are no monthly or overdraft fees and there are no minimum balance requirements.

You can earn up to 4.86% APY on savings and up to acf field=”interest-rate-checking-1st” post_id=”75185″] on checking. To qualify for these rates, you’ll need to receive at least $1,500 in direct deposit into your Axos ONE checking account. Otherwise the rate on your savings account will be 1.00% APY and 0% APY on checking.

Rewards Checking

With Axos Rewards Checking, there is no minimum balance requirements an no monthly or overdraft fees. It will also reimburse you for all domestic ATM fees.

You can earn up to 3.30% APY. There are several hoops to jump through to earn this rate, and each hoop adds a little more to what you can earn. Note that to earn any interest at all, you must have at least $1,500 in direct deposit per month.

You can mix and match these activities; for example, if you meet the direct deposit and debit card transaction requirements, you would earn 0.70% APY. If you added in a car loan, you would earn 1.30% APY.

CashBack Checking

The Cashback Checking account doesn’t pay interest, but you can earn up to 1% cash back when you make purchases with your debit card. There are no monthly fees and you’ll receive unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursement.

To earn the 1% cash back, you must maintain an average daily balance of at least $1,500 and run the debit card as a credit card at the cash register. This is where you sign instead of entering a pin number. If you don’t meet the balance requirements, you’ll earn 0.5% cash back instead.

You can also earn up to $2,000 cash back per statement period, which is a lot. Most cashback checking accounts limit the earnings to $50 or less.

Go to Axos Bank

Essential Checking

This is a very straightforward checking account, with no hoops to jump through and few rewards. Like Rewards Checking, Essential Checking has no minimum balance requirement and no monthly maintenance, overdraft, or non-sufficient funds fees. It also comes with unlimited ATM fee reimbursements.

The account includes Direct Deposit Express, which allows you to get paid two days early. However, it also includes peer-to-peer payments with family and friends, as well as bill pay.

First Checking

The Axos First Checking account is designed for teens between the ages of 13 and 17. The account comes with daily transaction limits of $100 in cash and $500 in debit purchases and must be co-owned by a parent or guardian.

You’ll earn 0.10% APY, and there are no monthly maintenance, overdraft, or overdraft fees. You’ll also receive up to $12 in domestic ATM fee reimbursements per month.

Golden Checking

Designed specifically for consumers 55 and over, this is an interest-bearing checking account currently paying 0.10% APY on all balances. It also comes with free personal checks, no monthly maintenance fees, and up to $8 in domestic ATM fee reimbursements per month.

Axos High Yield Savings

There is no minimum balance or monthly fees for the Axos High Yield Savings account. It also has a free ATM card upon request and a suite of digital money management tools.

The account pays 0.61% APY on balances below $25,000, then drops to 0.25% APY on balances between $25,000 and $100,000. At $100,000 and above, the rate drops to 0.15%.

Axos High Yield Money Market 

The account pays 0.25% on all balances and comes with check-writing privileges. There are no minimum balance requirements or monthly fees.  

In addition to check writing privileges, you can access your account balance with a debit card. The account comes with a referral bonus, peer-to-peer payments, debit card management, and bill pay.

Axos Certificates of Deposit (CDs)

Axos Bank offers CDs in terms ranging from 3 to 60 months. Unfortunately, the returns aren’t at all competitive, with all CDs paying only 0.20% APY regardless of the balance or term. The minimum amount required to open a certificate is $1,000. There are no setup or maintenance fees; each CD automatically renews within a 10-day grace period.

First Savings

First savings pairs with the First checking and is available for teens between 13 and 17 years old and must be jointly owned with a parent. There is no minimum balance, monthly fees, or overdraft fees. It comes with a debit card and will reimburse up to $12 in domestic ATM fees.

The account earns 0.10% APY.

Go to Axos Bank

Axos Small Business & Commercial Banking

Axos Bank also offers a full suite of business accounts, including Business Checking, Savings, Money Market, and Business CDs.

They also offer commercial banking services to larger businesses, including third-party payment processing, HOA banking and lending, global fiduciary banking, merchant services, treasury management, IntraFi Network deposits, etc.

In addition to core banking, commercial clients can get loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, and commercial real estate loans.

If you are in the market for a small business checking account, check out our list of the best business checking accounts.

✨ Related: Best Business Savings Accounts

How to Open an Axos Bank Account

You can open an account online or by downloading the mobile app.

To get started, you’ll need to provide the following information:

• Your Social Security number
• A valid form of ID, typically a US driver’s license or state ID
• A US cell phone number
• Valid US address (other than a PO Box)
• A valid email address
• You must be either a US citizen or a resident alien
• You must be at least 18 years of age

You’ll be asked if you want to open a Best Savings Account, paying a much higher rate of interest than their other savings products. However, that product is not listed as a general offer and does require a minimum of $10,000.

Go to Axos Bank

Axos Loan Products

Axos Bank provides mortgages, personal loans, and auto loans.

Mortgages are available with no lender fee and can be used for both purchases and refinances.

Personal loans are unsecured and can be used for debt consolidation, home improvements, major purchases, or any major expense. You can borrow between $7,000 and $50,000 with terms ranging from 3 to 6 years. Rates and payments are fixed for the life of the loan, and there are no prepayment penalties. You can get a prequalification offer online in about three minutes without affecting your credit score.

Auto loans are available for a new purchase or to refinance your existing loan. Loans are available for between $10,000 and $1000,000 with terms up to 96 months. The vehicle must have less than 125,000 miles and a value of at least $8,500. There are no out-of-pocket expenses, and no payment is required for the first 90 days.

Axos will not finance RVs, motor homes, camper vans, ATVs, or motorcycles.

Axos Invest

One of Axos Bank’s competitive advantages is that they are a banking and investing solution wrapped into one. In addition to the banking products and services covered above, you can open self-directed trading and managed portfolio accounts with Axos Invest.

Axos Self-Directed

Key Features:

• $50 welcome bonus if you open a new account and purchase $100 of EFTs, mutual funds, or a combination of both
• Commission-free trades of stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds
• Individual, joint, and IRA accounts are available
• No annual or monthly fees
• No inactivity fees
• Margin Trading (Axos Elite)
• Enhanced market data (Axos Elite)
• Extended trading hours (Axos Elite)
• TipRanks market research (Axos Elite)

Axos’ Self-directed trading is done through either a Basic Self-Directed Trading Account or an Axos Elite Account. The Basic Self-Directed Trading Account has no monthly fee, commission-free trading, $1 per contract on options trading, and is available during standard market trading hours.

The Axos Elite Account provides real-time market data and analysis through TipRanks and offers margin trading and extended trading hours. There is a $10 per month service fee, but trading is commission-free, with options trading at $1.00 per contract. The account also provides instant trade settlement credits.

Axos Managed Portfolios

Key Features:

• Low advisory fee of 0.24%
• Low $500 minimum balance requirement
• Automatic portfolio rebalancing
• Free tax-loss harvesting
• Extra interest on a linked checking account

Managed Portfolios can be used for both taxable investment accounts and IRAs (traditional or Roth). You can build unique portfolios and as many as you like. Once your portfolio has been created, you’ll get the benefit of automatic portfolio rebalancing and tax loss harvesting.

As a robo-advisor, Managed Portfolios uses algorithm-driven strategies to manage your account. But they can make manual changes to your account as your investment needs and goals change. The portfolio is comprised of exchange-traded funds and is designed for long-term investing.

Go to Axos Bank

Axos Bank Alternatives

Axos Bank has a lot to offer, but so do a lot of other online banks. Before signing up with Axos, check out the following alternatives to make sure you choose the best bank for your needs.

Ally Bank

Ally offers both a checking and savings account with low fees and competitive rates. Both accounts have no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements. The checking account earns 0.10% APY, and the savings earns 3.80% APY.

For lending, Ally offers mortgages and auto loans. For investing, it has automated investing and self-directed trading.

Here’s our full review of Ally Bank for more information.

Go to Ally Bank

Capital One 360

Capital One offers checking and savings accounts with competitive rates and fees. The 360 checking account has no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements. The 360 Performance savings account earns 3.70% APY APY with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.

Capital One also offers CDs and kids checking and savings. They do not have investment options, but they do have credit cards and in-person branches, which Axos doesn’t offer.

Here’s our full review of Capital One 360 Performance Savings for more information.

Go to Capital One

Quontic Bank

Quontic Bank has two attractive checking accounts, one that earns cash back on debit card purchases and one that earns interest. Both accounts have a $100 minimum opening deposit with no monthly fees. It also offers a money market account that earns 4.75% APY and several CDs with competitive interest rates.

For lending, it only offers mortgages and doesn’t have any investment options.

Here’s our full review of Quontic Bank for more information.

Go to Quontic Bank

FAQs

The Bottom Line on Axos Bank

Axos Bank is a solid choice if you are looking for an online bank that provides something close to full banking services, including investment options through its self-directed trading and robo-advisor platforms.

I like the number of accounts they offer to cater to different customer types. Unfortunately, their interest rates on savings and CDs leave much to be desired. That said, you can earn up to 3.30% APY in Rewards Checking.

If you’re looking for a high-yield savings account, there are better options. Also, if you’re looking for a credit card or credit-builder product, Chime is a better option than Axos.

The post Axos Bank Review: Is Axos Right for You?   appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

But Greenlight isn’t the only kids banking app worth considering. Here are five alternative kids banking apps that you should explore before deciding on the right one for your children.

The five Greenlight alternatives are summarized below:

	Best for	Learn more
	Low cost	Learn more
	Financial education resources	Learn more
	No recurring fees	Learn more
	Building credit	Learn more
	Provides investment option	Learn more

FamZoo

Best for: Low cost

• Minimum account balance: $0
• Spending roundups: No
• Allowance and chores: Yes
• Investment option: No
• Fees: $5.99 per month, with discounts up to 58% when you pay in advance

Much like Greenlight, FamZoo is built around a debit card for your child(ren), and while it offers more features overall, it’s limited in scope. For example, while Greenlight accounts pay interest, FamZoo provides for interest paid to children by their parents.

Also important is that the debit card provided is a prepaid card. No bank account is required to open an account, and there is a single fee plan for all users, which can be paid using a credit card on file.

The account provides instant card-to-card transfers, direct deposit of paychecks and tax refunds, card activity alerts, automated allowance and chores, and savings goal tracking. You can also set up specific accounts for spending, saving, and giving. If you do, percentage allocations of any funds received on the child’s account will go into each specific account.

Here's our full review of FamZoo for more information.

Go to FamZoo

GoHenry

Best for: Financial education resources

• Minimum account balance: $0
• Spending roundups: No
• Allowance and chores: Yes
• Investment option: No
• Fees: $5 per month per child, or $10 per month for up to four children

Like FamZoo, GoHenry provides prepaid debit cards for kids. Since the card does not have a bank account attached, parents make interest payments on savings allowances.

The card provides for allowance and chores and offers a wealth of educational tools to help your kids learn to become savvier in managing their finances. Those resources are conveniently tailored to your child’s age, providing progressively more challenging modules.

GoHenry allows you and your child to select from one of more than 45 customizable debit card designs. A companion app is available for parents, enabling you to track spending and savings activity, set spending limits and savings goals, and receive real-time spending notifications. The card can even be used to give to charity (the Boys and Girls Clubs of America) or to split a check with friends and family.

Here's our full goHenry review for more information.

Go to GoHenry

Chase First Banking

Best for: No recurring fees

• Minimum account balance: $0
• Spending roundups: No
• Allowance and chores: Yes
• Investment option: No
• Fees: No monthly service fees

Chase First Banking differs from some other apps on this list in that it is actually a bank account. That means it can offer some real-world benefits that standalone debit cards don’t, like the ability to gain experience with a live bank account. The account and debit card are designed for kids between the ages of 12 and 17. And while parents manage it, kids have access to multiple banking features.

Each participating child will receive a Chase debit card that can be used for both purchases and ATM access. Parents can set spending limits, as well as withdrawal limits, and receive alerts for account activity. As a parent, you will also have the ability to either approve or reject a child’s request for additional funds.

Kids can monitor the activity on their accounts using the Chase mobile app. In addition, your child will enjoy access to more than 4,700 Chase branches and more than 15,000 in-network ATMs.

Here's our full review of Chase First Banking for more information.

Go to Chase First Banking

Current

Best for: Building credit

• Minimum account balance: $0
• Spending roundups: Yes
• Allowance and chores: No
• Investment option: Crypto investing only with as little as $1
• Fees: No annual fees

Current offers a kids checking account and debit card through Choice Bank. It offers a unique benefit with the ability to use the account to build credit, at least if your child has a wage-earning job. This is done by qualifying for paycheck advances of $50 to $500. It’s even possible to increase the advance if the child’s income is stable and increases.

There is no credit check, and no interest is charged on the advance. Advanced funds are available in one to three days. The repayment is reported to the major credit bureau giving your child an opportunity to build credit.

Current offers another valuable perk. While the account doesn’t pay interest, you can earn a bonus of up to 4.00% APY annually on your savings. To help you build savings, your child can take advantage of the roundup feature to add a little money to savings with each purchase made with the debit card. 

Here's our full review of Current for more information.

Go to Current

BusyKid

Best for: Provides investment option

• Minimum account balance: $0
• Spending roundups: No
• Allowance and chores: Yes
• Investment option: Yes
• Fees: $4 per month (billed annually) for up to 5 cards

BusyKid is a chore management app with a debit card. But it distinguishes itself from the competition by offering an investment option.

Investing requires parents to open an investment account with BusyKid’s brokerage service, which is held with Apex Clearing. A section of the account is established for the child to make investments, which requires a minimum initial investment of $10. The child or teen will be able to make purchases and sales through the account, with the parents notified of each trade. 

Another interesting feature is the Savings Match. Parents can match a child’s savings contributions based on a percentage of the deposit made. Your child can also contribute to charities, subject to the parent’s approval. The debit card is a Visa card issued by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC.

BusyKid also offers a wealth of financial education resources, including budgeting, compound interest, credit and credit scores, inflation, taxes, compound interest, 401(k) plans, and more.

Go to BusyKid

What are Kids Banking Apps?

Kids banking apps are simply apps designed to provide at least limited banking access to kids. They are generally available to kids between the ages of six and 17. While they have many of the services offered with a traditional checking account, there are notable exclusions.

For example, kid's banking apps don’t normally permit overdrafts or check-writing privileges. Instead, the entire app is built around a debit card. The child can use the debit card to make in-store and online purchases and often withdraw cash from ATMs.

Since kids are minors, kid's banking apps require parental monitoring. That means the parents are required to be included on the account and will have general oversight over any activity the child engages in. This gives parents the ability to know how much and what their kids are spending money on and to put limits on that spending authority.

Because there are so many different kid's banking apps, each offers a wide variety of features and services. As you can see from our list, some provide savings capabilities and even introduce kids to investing.

Because of the range of services and fees, parents should choose a kid’s banking app that provides the service level the parents are trying to help their children learn.

How to Choose a Kid's Banking App

If you’re looking for the best banking app for your kids, you don’t want to simply throw a dart and choose the cheapest one available. Start by evaluating exactly what you want a banking app to help your child with.

Major factors to consider include the following:

Do you want a debit card with a real bank account attached? A debit card with a bank account will give your child real-life experience with a bank account. What’s more, many banks will allow your child to convert the kid’s bank account to an adult checking account upon reaching the age of majority in your state.

But not all kids are ready for a whole bank account. If you just need a convenient way to give your child some money, a debit card without a bank account could be the perfect solution.

Do you want a kid’s banking app with an interest-bearing savings option or even investing? Many banking apps do provide an interest-bearing savings option. That can be a good way to help you show your child how to save money for future purchases. Fewer kid's banking apps provide an investment option. One that does is BusyKid. That will not only teach your child the basics of investing but also give him or her a head start on building a strong financial future.

Cost. The cost of a kid's banking app shouldn’t become a financial burden. Though many of the ones outlined above have small monthly fees, choosing one with no recurring fees is possible. Current and Chase First Banking are two examples.

Educational resources. One of the primary benefits of a kid’s banking app are the financial educational resources they provide. There’s a wide variety of resources among these apps. Apps like GoHenry and BusyKid offer resources to help your child learn about everything from budgeting to investing.

How to Open a Kids Banking App

Kids banking apps can be opened on Google Play or The App Store by downloading the banking app to a mobile device or by signing up for the app on the issuer's website.

You’ll need the information typically required to open any financial account in the US. Among the possible requirements are:

• Your email address.
• Mobile phone number.
• Your children’s names and dates of birth.
• Your legal first and last name.
• The physical address of all participants.
• Your date of birth.
• Your Social Security number.
• A valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license.

You will also be required to connect an existing bank account or credit card to the banking app for funding purposes.

What About Kids Checking Accounts and Prepaid Debit Cards?

Kids checking accounts or prepaid debit cards may be viable additional alternatives to Greenlight. 

Kids Checking Accounts

If your kids are a bit older, another option is to get them their own checking account.

Giving them their own checking account is a great way to start transitioning them into financial adulthood. It’s a stepping stone to their own adult checking account, as when the child turns 18, the account will automatically become solely theirs.

These accounts are typically free but require more responsibility on the child’s part to avoid overdrafts.

Kid checking accounts are tied to your own checking account and can be seen when you log into your online banking. This will give you access to see your child’s spending and monitor the balance, but you will not have control over their spending as you do with the kid's debit cards.

Transfers from your account to theirs are painless and can usually be done on your bank’s app.

If you have multiple children, getting them each their own checking account might be more of a hassle than it’s worth. If you have a lot of kids, this could mean a lot of extra hassle.

Here’s our list of the best free checking accounts.

Prepaid Debit Cards

What’s nice about the debit cards specifically designed for kids is that they pair with an app that gives you visibility and control over your child’s spending. But if you aren’t concerned about that, you may be considering a prepaid debit card.

Prepaid debit cards are exactly what they sound like: a debit card that you can load up with money and then spend at will. You can only spend what has been preloaded onto the card. Different cards have different methods of reloading. Most accept direct deposit, bank account transfers, mobile check deposits, and loading from an ATM or in the bank.

For example, if you wanted to put a set amount on your child’s prepaid debit card each payday, you could set that up through direct deposit from your paycheck. Your child would then have a card they could use whenever they wanted.

The drawback is that prepaid debit cards have notoriously high fees. If you go the prepaid debit card route with your child you’ll want to be crystal clear on all the different fees the card can charge before you begin. Sometimes, what can appear as a benefit (overdraft protection) can end up dinging you – here’s a warning about automatic billing overdraft loopholes on debit cards.

Here’s our list of the best prepaid debit cards.

Summary

Getting your child their own debit card can eliminate some of the little hassles in life, like struggling to pay your kid's allowance or worrying about them losing your cash when they go out with friends.

Plus, a service like Greenlight, or one of the alternatives listed in this article, gives you total control over where and how your children can use their debit card and how much they can spend at particular stores. You’ll also get access to where the card has been used–giving you control and security.

The post Greenlight Alternatives – Find the Best Debit Card for Your Kids appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

If you’ve been looking for a credit card that offers premium travel rewards and benefits – but without the high annual fee – look no further than the Capital One Venture Rewards Card. It combines high rewards, a large sign-on bonus, and travel perks available only with premium credit cards, all in a card with an annual fee of under $100.

At a Glance:

• Generous, easy to qualify for sign-on bonus.
• Earn 5X miles for every dollar spent on travel purchased through Capital One Travel.
• Packed with valuable travel benefits.
• High and unlimited rewards for other purchases.
• Multiple miles rewards redemption options, including transfers to other travel loyalty programs.
• Low annual fee.

Who Should Use the Capital One Venture Card?

While the Capital One Venture Card can be an excellent credit card choice for just about anyone – due to the combination of a very generous sign-on bonus and unlimited 2x miles per dollar on every purchase, every day – the card is designed specifically for frequent travelers.

That’s because the Capital One Venture Card provides enhanced travel benefits, like unlimited 5X miles on every dollar spent on travel booked through Capital One Travel. But the travel benefits don’t stop there. The Venture Card provides other valuable perks, like auto collision damage waiver, which is a benefit that is becoming increasingly uncommon even on travel cards, as well as no foreign transaction fees.

This is also an excellent choice if you want practically unlimited rewards redemption options. Capital One allows you to redeem rewards for new and previously booked travel purchases with Amazon.com or PayPal, gift cards to popular merchants, cash back in the form of a statement credit or a check, and other options.

While this card does have an annual fee, it’s only a fraction of the fee charged by competing credit card issuers that offer travel cards with this many benefits.

Alternatives to the Capital One Venture Card 

What Is the Capital One Venture Card?

Capital One Venture Card is a rewards credit card specifically focusing on travel-related rewards and benefits. Though the card pays unlimited 2x miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, you can earn 5X miles for every dollar spent on purchases through Capital One Travel. 

From there, the card also provides valuable travel benefits, including a credit of up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and auto collision damage waiver on car rentals. But the whole offer starts with a very generous sign-on bonus worth hundreds of dollars.

You’ll also enjoy 24/7 customer service, the ability to choose your due date, credit monitoring through Capital One’s CreditWise free credit monitoring service, security and account alerts, virtual cards, and $0 fraud liability protection against unauthorized charges.

All of those rewards and benefits come packed on a credit card with no foreign transaction fees and an annual fee of just $95.

Learn More about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Sign on Bonus

The Capital One Venture Card starts you off with a very generous sign-on bonus, enabling you to earn 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening the account. That translates into miles worth $750, or nearly $0.19 for every dollar spent.

The bonus will be redeemable within two billing cycles after it has been earned. Like other Capital One rewards, your bonus miles never expire as long as your account remains open.

Current Capital One credit card customers are not eligible for this card or the bonus if they have received a new cardmember bonus on the same card within the past 48 months.

Capital One Venture Rewards

Capital One Venture offers three rewards level categories:

1. 5X miles on every dollar spent on travel purchases made through Capital One Travel. This includes hotel, car rentals, and vacation rentals – but not airfare purchases.
2. unlimited 2x miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, including airfare purchases.
3. 5X miles on Capital One Entertainment purchases, providing you with access to concerts, sporting events, and dining with exclusive presales, tickets, and suite access.

How to Redeem Capital One Venture Rewards

Capital One Venture Rewards are unlimited and won’t expire for the life of the account. They can be redeemed through any of the following methods:

• Travel booked through Capital One Travel.
• Reimbursement for recent travel purchases using your Venture card.
• Gift cards with your favorite merchants.
• Cash, in the form of either a statement credit or a check.
• For eligible PayPal purchases at millions of online merchants.
• To shop on Amazon.com.

You can also transfer your rewards miles to one of 16 travel loyalty programs, some of which include: 

• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Avianca Life Miles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Choice Privileges
• Emirates Skywards
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• TAP Miles&Go
• Virgin Red
• Wyndham Rewards

You’ll receive 1,000 miles or points when you transfer 1,000 Capital One miles to most participating travel rewards partners.

0% Introductory APR

Capital One Venture does not offer a 0% introductory APR at this time.

Other Card Benefits

Capital One Venture Card also comes with a laundry list of other valuable perks and benefits:

• Credit of up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
• Hertz Five Star status, entitling you to free status upgrades, a wider selection of rental cars, and the ability to skip the line.
• Average savings of 15% on flights with price prediction from Capital One Travel.
• Auto rental collision damage waiver when you charge a car rental, using the card.
• Elevate your stay – receive a $50 experience credit to use on Lifestyle Collection bookings at unique hotels.
• 24-hour travel assistance.
• Automatic accident insurance for a covered loss at no extra charge when you purchase airline tickets using the card.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Capital One Shopping, a free browser extension that automatically applies the best available coupon codes at check out, and alerts you when prices drop on items you’ve viewed or purchased.
• Capital One Offers give you exclusive access to earn statement credits when you shop at popular online retailers.
• Extended warranty on purchases made using the card, at no additional cost.
• Capital One Dining gives you access to unique dining experiences in major cities around the world.
• 50% off handcrafted beverages every day at Capital One Cafes.

Learn More about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Card Fees

Like most credit cards, Capital One Venture Card charges some fees. Common ones are as follows:

• Annual fee: $95
• Balance transfer fee: 4% of the amount transferred
• Cash advance fee: the greater of $5 or 5% of the amount of each advance
• Late fee: $40
• Foreign transaction fee: 0

The Capital One Venture Card vs. Alternatives

Chase Sapphire Preferred 

Chase Sapphire Preferred comes the closest to matching Capital One Venture. It’s also a travel specific credit card, offering 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on everything else (plus a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit), as well as no foreign transaction fees, auto rental coverage, and extended warranty protection.

However, Chase offers something the Venture card does not, with a 25% rewards points enhancement when points are redeemed for travel through Chase Travel. In that way, the 60,000 point sign-on bonus will be worth $750.

In addition, on each account anniversary, you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year. That means $30,000 in purchases using the card will translate into an additional 3,000 bonus points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred also throws in some additional travel benefits, like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, and travel and emergency assistance.

Read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred Review

Chase Button

Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select

Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select is something like a cousin to the Capital One Venture Card, except it’s designed specifically for businesses. It’s also a travel-centric card, offering unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Though the non-travel rewards are less generous than they are for Capital One Venture, Spark 1.5% Cash Select does pay rewards in cash. That can be either a statement credit or a check.

The sign-on bonus is also less generous than it is for the Capital One Venture Card at $500 if you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months from account opening. But once again, that bonus will be paid in cash, not points. As a business card, you can offer free employee cards with set spending limits, assign account managers, maintain purchase records, and get year-end summaries.

Learn more about Capital One Spark Cash Select

Discover it Miles Card 

If you prefer a travel credit card with a much simpler reward plan, Discover it Miles is worth checking out. Though it doesn’t pay an enhanced benefit on travel purchases, it does offer unlimited 1.5X miles on every dollar on all purchases.

It doesn’t offer a formal sign-on bonus, the way the Capital One Venture Card does, it does provide an automatic 100% match of all miles earned in your first year. That eliminates the need to meet a spending quota within the first three months of owning the card.

Discover it Miles offers an important benefit Capital One Venture Card doesn’t have, which is a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months In addition, the card has no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees. Your miles can be redeemed toward travel purchases or for statement credits against your bill. Your miles never expire, even if you close your account.

Discover button

FAQs

Should You Apply for the Capital One Venture Card?

Several premium credit cards offer the kinds of travel rewards and benefits provided by the Capital One Venture Card. However, those cards usually have annual fees of $500 or more, making them suitable only for very frequent travelers.

But if you are a not-so-frequent traveler, and want to enjoy premium rewards and benefits on a card with a low annual fee, apply for the Capital One Venture Card today.

The post Capital One Venture Card Review appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

If you have bad credit or no credit, then you know how hard it can be to increase your credit score. But luckily, there’s a financial service that will help you to either build or rebuild your credit.

The Self Credit Builder Account is a loan that you can use to build your credit and your savings. When you take a loan, instead of receiving the money from the loan, it is put into a CD. You make payments on the loan, and when the loan is paid off, you’ll receive access to the funds in the CD minus the loan interest and fees.

Your payments are reported to the credit bureaus, and at the end you have some money in savings.

At a Glance

• Builds credit and savings at the same time
• Four plans available, with payments starting at $25 per month
• No hard credit check
• A credit card that is secured by the CD is also available

Who Should Use a Self Credit Builder Account?

Self is best for those who need to rebuild their credit but do not want to put down a security deposit for a secured card. It offers a legitimate and inexpensive way to simultaneously build credit and savings.

There are no income limits or hard credit check, but you do need to provide your social security number. You also need to be at least 18 years old and have a bank account. You’ll also want to choose a payment plan that fits easily into your budget. Plans are between $25 and $150 a month.

Self Credit Builder Alternatives

Builds savings
Builds credit with everyday bills	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pricing	$5 per month	Free	$4.99 to $29.99 per month
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

What is the Self Credit Builder Account?

Based in Austin, Texas, and founded in 2014, the company’s official name is Self Financial, Inc.; however, it is commonly known simply as Self. The company is dedicated to giving its customers the ability to either better their credit or to build it from the ground up. The company reports that more than 500,000 consumers have used the service.

Self is a technology company offering their Credit Builder Account to those who either have no credit or don’t have access to traditional financial products. The account is an installment loan that enables customers to build a positive payment history, while also saving money.

Self Financial has a Better Business Bureau rating of “B”, on a scale of A+ to F. It also has a rating of 4.8 stars out of five by nearly 16,000 users on Google Play, and 4.9 out of five stars among more than 39,000 users on The App Store.

How a Self Credit Builder Account Works

As described above, Self offers their Credit Builder Account, which is a loan that runs for a term of 24 months. You can choose the repayment plan that fits your budget. And each time you make a monthly payment, it will be reported all three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Whether you have no credit or poor credit, making your payments on time each month will help you to either build or better your credit history.

There’s an added bonus to the arrangement, and it’s huge. Each time you make a monthly payment, you’ll be adding funds to a certificate of deposit (CD) in your name, which acts as security for the loan.

You’ll start the process by applying for a loan that will be held with one of Self’s bank partners. Bank partners include Sunrise Bank, Lead Bank, and First Century Bank. The same bank will also accumulate the monthly contribution to the CD portion of your payments.

Get Started with Self

Self Credit Builder Account Loan Options

Self offers four different loan options, each with 24-month terms. The details of each are as follows:

So you can see, for the first example, you pay $25 a month for 24 months. Over that time, you’ll pay $600 in loan payments and you’ll receive $511 from the CD at the end of the loan. So essentially, you’ll have paid $89 to improve your credit.

You can choose to pay off or close your account early. However, you will be charged a small early withdrawal fee on the CD. Self warns that paying off the Credit Builder Account early can decrease your credit betterment efforts.

Also, be aware that you will not have access to the CD balance until the term loan is paid in full. CD funds will be released within 10 to 14 business days of loan payoff and be delivered either by check or ACH transfer into your bank account.

How to Open a Self Credit Builder Account

To be eligible to open an account you will need to be at least 18 years old, and either a US citizen or valid permanent US resident with a physical address in the US.

You’ll also need to have the following available:

• A bank account, debit card or prepaid card (credit cards are not accepted).
• A valid email address and phone number.
• Your Social Security number.

The information is necessary to verify your identity and make payments on your account.

Credit: Self will run a “soft credit pull,” which will not affect your current credit score. However, no one is denied a Self Credit Builder Account based on their credit score. They do warn it is possible to be denied for other purposes, including lack of sufficient verification of your ID, being under age 18, not having a Social Security number, or not being either a US citizen or permanent resident.

Self also discloses that each of their bank partners will run your name through ChexSystems. This is of a repository used by banks that tracks consumer performance in managing their bank accounts. For example, if you ever closed a bank account with an open balance, it will appear in the ChexSystems database. This is another possible reason you may be denied for a Credit Builder Account. (not all banks will use ChexSystems though)

Income: Self does not require a minimum income. They only require that the monthly payment you choose be one that you can afford.

Once your account is approved, you’ll pay a one-time, non-refundable administrative fee for the service — details will be provided under Self Credit Builder Account Pricing & Fees below.

One of the three bank partners will provide you with a small loan, with the loan funds held in a certificate of deposit that’s fully FDIC insured. The following month, you’ll begin repayment on your account. The loan will be for a fixed term of 24 months.

As you make your payments on time each month, your payment history will be reported to the three major credit bureaus, allowing you to build or rebuild your credit history. Once the loan has been fully paid, the CD will mature, and the funds will be available to you. This is the strategy used by Self to both better your credit and enable you to accumulate savings in the same program.

As an added bonus, you can get your monthly credit score through Self free of charge.

Get Started with Self

Self Visa® Credit Card

Self also offers a Visa credit card. Previously, it was only available to customers who had a Self Credit Builder Account but they recently removed this requirement. Now, you can open an account with a $100 deposit upfront (if you don’t, you can still fund it over time using a Self Credit Builder Account).

Just as with the Credit Builder Account, your credit history — or the lack of it — will not be a factor in determining your eligibility for the card. In fact, there is no hard credit check.

If you become eligible for the Self Visa® Credit Card, you can choose what portion of your savings progress will be used to secure your card and set your credit limit. That limit must be a minimum of $100. The credit limit can be increased in increments of $25 at a time, based on the increase in your portion of the balance in your Credit Builder Account CD.

The Self Visa® Credit Card does not offer rewards or allow balance transfers or cash advances. It is also not possible to add an authorized user. However, just as is the case with the Credit Builder Account, your payment history on the Self Visa®Credit Card will also be reported to all three major credit bureaus, giving you another good credit reference.

Your Self Secured Visa® Credit Card credit line is tied to the funds on deposit in your Credit Builder Account. The only way to have those funds released at the end of the loan term is to cancel your Visa® card. Unfortunately, the portion of your Credit Builder Account CD that secures your Visa® credit card does not earn interest.

Why Not Just Apply for a Credit Card or a Personal Loan?

In theory, you could apply for either a credit card or a personal loan to help you build or rebuild your credit. But there are a couple of problems with that strategy.

First, if you don’t have a credit score, it’s almost impossible to get a credit card or personal loan. Second, if you have bad credit, you won’t be eligible for traditional credit cards or personal loans.

In either case, you’ll be forced to take a credit card or personal loan that will either charge exorbitant interest rates and/or very high annual or monthly fees. And just as important, credit cards and personal loans for consumers with no credit or bad credit are notorious for very low loan limits. Plus, in the case of credit cards, you may be required to provide a security deposit

And unlike the Self Credit Builder Account, neither a credit card nor a personal loan will leave you with money in savings after you’re done with the arrangements. That’s because Self provides a dual advantage: credit building while also building savings (minus interest and fees, of course).

Self Credit Builder Account Features

Availability: All 50 US states. Self is not available outside the US.

Savings security: All funds accumulated through your monthly payments will be held in a CD at a partner bank and will be fully FDIC insured.

Referral bonus: The Self Financial dashboard will give you access to a unique referral URL. You can provide that to friends and family members and earn $10 for each person who signs up for a Credit Builder Account. The referral bonus will be paid after the friend or family member has been approved for an account and has made his or her first account payment.

Mobile App: Available at The App Store for iOS devices, 10.0 and later, and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Also available on Google Play for Android devices, 5.0 and up.

Customer support: Available by email and live chat, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Central time.

Self Credit Builder Account Pricing & Fees

Each loan has a specific interest rate and APR. Those APRs are shown under the “Four Different Self Credit Builder Account Loan Options” section above.

If you close your account before the end of the term, you may be subject to an early withdrawal fee of up to $5, depending on the account size.

Late fee: If a loan payment is more than 15 days past due, you’ll be charged a late fee equal to 5% of the scheduled monthly payment. If the payment is more than 30 days past due, it will be reported as a late payment to the three credit bureaus.

Self Credit Builder Account Pricing & Fees

Each loan has a specific interest rate and APR. Those APRs are shown under the “Four Different Self Credit Builder Account Loan Options” section above.

If you close your account before the end of the term there is an early withdrawal fee of up to $5 depending on the account size.

Late fee: If a loan payment is more than 15 days past due, you’ll be charged a late fee equal to 5% of the scheduled monthly payment. If the payment is more than 30 days past due, it will be reported as a late payment to the three credit bureaus.

Get Started with Self

Alternatives to Self Credit Builder

Self Credit Builder isn’t the only credit builder loan available. There are now several companies that offer credit builder loans, here’s how they compare:

Kikoff

When you sign up for Kikoff, you can get a $750 credit line (Kikoff Credit Account) with no credit check — but there is a $5 monthly membership fee (annual commitment). You can then make purchases from the Kikoff store.

You can also get a secured credit card. It’s a secured card that acts like a prepaid debit card. You load money onto the card, as you spend money is removed from your available balance and set aside. The payment is then made in full from the set aside funds.

Your payments to both the line of credit and the credit card are reported to all three credit bureaus.

If you want to learn more, check out our Kikoff review.

Learn more about Kikoff

Chime

Chime has a Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa Credit Card. This card works like a prepaid debit card. Once you load the card, you can use it like any other credit card. As you spend, the purchase amounts are removed from your card and put aside to be used to pay off the card on the due date. There are no annual or monthly fees on this account.

Chime also reports to all three bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and Transunion.

Our full review of Chime has more information on this.

Learn more about Chime Credit Builder

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Please see back of your Card for its issuing bank.

StellarFi

StellarFi lets you build credit by paying your regular bills. It works by paying your bills for you, essentially lending you the money. Then, you pay StellarFi back. They report that payment to the credit bureaus, which builds your credit.

There are three plans available, and they cost between $4.99 and $29.99 per month, depending on how much the bills are that you want paid.

Learn more at our full review of StellarFi.

Go to StellarFi

Will Self Credit Builder Work for You?

If you’re not happy with your credit report and credit score, or you have no credit profile at all, the Self Credit Builder Account is a good option. What’s more, it will also allow you to begin building savings. That’s important because those with bad credit often have a lack of savings, which is part of the reason for the bad credit itself.

In that way, the Self Credit Builder Account will help you achieve two very important financial milestones in the same program. You can participate in the program with a monthly payment of as little as $25, and both fees and interest rates are very reasonable.

Think about it — you can build your credit over 24 months, and by the time you complete the program, there’ll be a funded CD waiting for you. Self has put together a best-in-class service to help consumers both better their credit. If you’re looking to do either or both, this is the program for you.

*****Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval.

The post Self Credit Builder Account Review 2025 appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

It offers three different model portfolios and numerous investment newsletters, each with its own purpose, objectives, and fee structure. You can select one or more of the services that apply to you or take advantage of multiple services when you subscribe to the Total Portfolio program.

At a Glance

• Provides three portfolio models and 23 newsletter services
• Advisory service that does not directly manage your portfolio
• Provides stock recommendations and portfolio allocations
• Packages available offering multiple services for one price

Who Should Use Stanberry

Stansberry Research may work best for wealthier investors, for whom the investment gains from the recommendations will easily offset the cost of the newsletter.

For example, if the recommendations earn 10% on a $20,000 portfolio, it will be well worth the cost of a $200 newsletter. However, if you have only $1,000 to invest, the 10% return will not cover the subscription cost.

Stansberry Research is also designed primarily to benefit passive investors with a long-term commitment. Their investment recommendations are slanted in favor of value stocks. Those stocks are currently out of favor in the investment community but have strong fundamentals. The expectation is that they will outperform other stocks over the long term. You must be prepared to commit to the recommendations for several years.

Because of the cost of this newsletter service, Stansberry Research is better suited to large, experienced investors. Subscribing to several newsletters at the same time can potentially cost several thousand dollars per year.

Stanberry Research Alternatives

Best For	Stock picks and research	Stock picks and stock rankings	Stock picks and analysis, portfolio management tool
Minimum Investment	N/A	$25,000	N/A
Price	$0 – $99 per month	$199 per year	$249 per year
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

About Stansberry Research

Stansberry Research was founded in 1999 and is based in Baltimore, Maryland. The company gets its name from its founder, Frank Porter Stansberry – or simply Porter Stansberry – a controversial figure because of his unconventional investing style. 

Stansberry Research nonetheless offers more than 30 stock-picking newsletter options. It’s one of the most popular stock-picking newsletters, with over 1 million subscribers worldwide, including 70,000 lifetime subscribers.

The newsletters offer strategies for different types of investing, including:

• dividend investing
• fixed-income investing
• value investing
• alternative assets

However, the site also includes a wealth of investor resources to help you learn more about the process.

Stansberry Research Complete Portfolio Solutions

Stansberry Research offers three model portfolios, each with its own specialization. Unlike robo-advisors and traditional investment advisories, Stansberry Research doesn’t actually manage your portfolio for you. Instead, you’re provided with investment recommendations for each portfolio type.

Unfortunately, the company does not indicate the cost of its services. In fact, you cannot purchase the services online. You must call to get the price.

The three portfolio options are as follows:

The Total Portfolio

This is a hedge portfolio using about 40 stock recommendations. They’re drawn from safe income, growth stocks, emerging markets, and small capitalization stocks. The service for this portfolio is published monthly.

This is a generally conservative portfolio mix, with a recommended minimum portfolio size of $100,000. The typical holding period is from 1-3 years and emphasizes “super-high-quality, capitalization-efficient companies.” However, there will be occasional recommendations for short trades.

One of the main advantages of The Total Portfolio is lifetime access to all Stansberry Research and newsletters as well as immediate access to all publications available for both The Capital Portfolio and The Income Portfolio. 

The Income Portfolio

This portfolio consists of between 20 and 30 securities emphasizing generating a monthly income. It focuses on income-generating stocks, fixed-income bonds, and bond funds. This is also a portfolio with a generally conservative orientation, designed primarily for retirement account growth and safety.

The Capital Portfolio

The portfolio comprises 20 of Stansberry Research’s “highest conviction ideas.” These include companies in gold stocks, foreign stocks, insurance firms, technology, real estate, energy, and biotech.

Like the other two portfolios, The Capital Portfolio has a conservative orientation. The service is published monthly and provides more than 20 recommendations of super high-quality, capital-efficient companies likely to thrive regardless of market conditions. It’s designed for investors looking for a more passive, low-maintenance portfolio.

Stansberry Research Investment Advisory Letters

Stansberry Research may be best known for its investment advisory newsletters. They offer 23, six of which are completely free!

We’re not going to cover all of them in detail, but here’s a list of the most popular and interesting newsletters:

Stansberry Investment Advisory

This is the company’s flagship research advisory. It is published on the first Friday of each month. Recommendations will center on individual stock positions and between 20 and 30 companies. 

The recommended holding period is at least one year, with a minimum investment of $1,000. The newsletter costs $499 per year, but you can start with a 30-day trial subscription.

True Wealth

This newsletter focuses on value stock selections — buying assets no one else wants and then selling them when “others will pay any price.” It can include unusual investments like timber, gold coins, and government tax certificates. Others include farmland, oil and gas royalties, and virtual banks. The recommended number of positions is 25 companies, and its orientation is conservative.

A minimum investment of $1,000 is recommended, and you’ll be invested in individual stocks and exchange-traded funds. The newsletter comes out monthly and is available at $499 per year, with a 30-day trial subscription.

Retirement Millionaire

This newsletter has a slightly different angle. It’s designed to instruct readers on living “a millionaire lifestyle on less money than you’d imagine possible.” It’s a monthly newsletter subscribed to by almost 100,000 readers.

The newsletter focuses on 20 to 25 stocks, with a recommended holding period of at least two years, and you’ll need at least $1,000 to invest. It is designed for beginning investors, retirees, and those planning to retire. The newsletter comes out on the second Wednesday of each month.

Like other Stansberry Research newsletters, the subscription is available for an annual fee of $499, with a 30-day trial.

Other Stansberry Research Newsletters

The company offers at least 20 other newsletters, with most being highly specialized.

They include:

• Stansberry Gold and Silver Investor
• Commodity Super Cycles
• Stansberry Innovations Report
• The Ferris Report
• Prosperity Investor
• Crypto Capital
• Retirement Trader
• Stansberry’s Big Trade
• True Wealth Systems
• Stansberry Venture Technology
• Stansberry Venture Value

• Stansberry Credit Opportunities
• Income Intelligence
• Daily Wealth Trader
• Ten Stock Trader

The six free Stansberry Research newsletters include:

• DailyWealth
• Health & Wealth Bulletin
• Stansberry Digest
• Stansberry Investor Hour
• This Week on Wall Street
• Whitney Tilson’s Daily

Stansberry Research vs. Alternatives

If Stansberry is not for you, there are several alternatives to consider. Like Stansberry Research, all three alternatives below are investment advisory services, not investment management services.

Seeking Alpha

Consider Seeking Alpha if you want in-depth research on any stock or ETF and also want to find investment ideas for multiple strategies.

Unlike an investment newsletter, you won’t receive monthly investment recommendations to buy a specific stock. However, you can access lists of top-rated stocks, a stock screener, and a rating system to find investment ideas.

Once you find an idea, you can read analysis articles that can present the bullish and bearish case for the company you’re researching from several authors. These articles can help give you a better understanding of a stock and its potential risks and rewards that a monthly Stansberry publication may not have time (or space) to cover.

It’s also possible to follow your favorite authors and track their long-term recommendation performance. These authors may also have a model portfolio that can give you investing ideas.

In addition to the research articles, the stock profile includes the fundamental financial data and the exclusive Quant Ratings.

The Quant Ratings provides a bullish or bearish score for these factors:

• Valuation
• Growth
• Profitability
• Momentum
• EPS Revisions

These ratings and the research articles can be the best reason to consider Seeking Alpha as you have more control over your research process.

Other core features include:

• Stock and ETF screener
• Portfolio tracker
• Stock dividend grades

You receive more hands-on research tools than a standard Stansberry Research subscription.

There are three different membership plans available:

• Basic (Free): Limited access to research articles and analyst ratings. You cannot access the stock screener, Quant Ratings, or investment idea lists. It comes with one free premium article, the ability to create a portfolio, and real-time alerts on the stocks you follow, as well as to check real-time stock prices.
• Premium ($4.95 for the first month, then $239 for an annual subscription): Unlimited access to articles, Quant Ratings, rankings of the top stocks and ETFs, a stock screener, a Portfolio Health Check, and other research tools.
• Pro ($99 for the first month, then $2,400 for an annual subscription): Access to additional stock lists, screening tools, upgrades and downgrades, short sell ideas, and newsletters.

Want to know more? Check out our full review of Seeking Alpha.

Go to Seeking Alpha

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor

The Motley Fool has been around for quite some time, having been a good resource to learn about personal finance and investing. More recently, they started offering more guided investing advice in the form of stock picks and recommendations. 

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor is an investment advisory service and one of the most popular in the industry. They have a history of picking some of the most successful stocks of the past 20 years; though, as we all know, past performance is not an indicator of future results.

It’s priced at $199 per year and is designed for a minimum portfolio size of $25,000. You’ll get access to monthly stock picks, the Stock Advisor with monthly rankings, three entry stages for cautious, moderate, and aggressive investment styles, and access to financial planning articles.

Here’s our full review of The Motley Fool.

Go to Motley Fool

Morningstar Investor

Morningstar is one of the most respected investment information sources in the industry. Not only are they regularly quoted by the financial media, but they’re the frequent choice of investment brokerages to provide information and ratings to their customers.

Their proprietary five-star rating system for stocks and funds is one of the most popular in the industry.

But if you want to get more detailed investment information directly from the source, you can sign up for Morningstar Investor. It provides analysis and ratings of individual stocks, bonds, and funds. In addition, it comes with a wealth of investment tools, like analysts’ reports, top investment picks, portfolio manager, screeners, and their proprietary Portfolio X-Ray.

A subscription is available for either $34.95 per month or $249 on an annual billing basis – each after a seven-day free trial.

Here’s our full Morningstar Investor Review.

Go to Morningstar

For a limited time, Morningstar Investor is discounted by $50!

It comes with a 7-day free trial so you can lock in your savings, try the service, and cancel if you don't think it's for you.

Get $50 off Morningstar Investor

FAQs

Summary

If you sign up for one of the Stansberry Research services, use it only as a starting point. This should be the case with any investment advisories you work with.

While an investment advisory can recommend buying stock in certain companies, none can guarantee a successful outcome. You can shortlist the recommendations they make, but be sure to do your own research.

Investment advisories do make the job of individual stock selection easier. But no one is more responsible for the investments in your portfolio than you are. So, start with selections recommended by an investment advisory, then drill down and do your due diligence.

Combined with your efforts, a good investment advisory may be the best stock selection source possible.

The post Stansberry Research Review 2025: Investing Newsletters for Everyone appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Index fund investing got its start in 1976, but in less than 50 years, these funds have grown to represent just over half of all fund investments. It’s clear that both financial experts and individual investors see the virtues of investing in index funds.

What is an index fund, and should you invest in them?

Why Invest in Index Funds?

Part of the reason for the rapid growth in index funds is the many benefits they provide.

Examples include:

1. There are currently 1,437 index funds to choose from.
2. Index funds cover virtually every niche of the stock market, from the general market to specific industry sectors to geographic regions.
3. Index funds are also available for bonds and other asset classes.
4. The funds trade like stocks and can be easily bought and sold — commission-free — through investment brokers.
5. You can invest in index funds with as little as $1 using fractional shares.
6. You don’t need any specific investment knowledge to invest in index funds.
7. It’s possible to build a fully diversified portfolio using just four or five different index funds.
8. Index funds are totally passive, which means your only responsibilities are to choose the funds you want to invest in and then contribute to them on a regular basis.
9. It’s very easy to dollar-cost average with index funds since they are less dependent on events, like earnings reports, than individual stocks.
10. Index funds can form the base of your portfolio, freeing you up to invest smaller amounts in individual stocks to gain investment knowledge and take advantage of special opportunities.

The Tax Advantages of Index Funds 

This is yet another benefit to investing in index funds and one that requires its own discussion.

Because index funds are based on the composition of the underlying index, securities are only traded when there are changes within the index. Since that is a relatively rare event, index funds trade stocks only infrequently. This means they generate little in the way of taxable capital gains. 

Instead, the individual share price of an index fund rises over time. No tax liability is generated until you sell your position in the fund. That creates a type of tax deferral normally available only in tax-sheltered accounts, like retirement accounts. The advantage is even greater if you hold your shares for more than one year since any gains will be taxed at lower long-term capital gains rates.

For that reason, index funds can be an excellent choice in a taxable brokerage account, as well as a retirement account.

What is an Index?

An index is a popular measure of either the general investment market or specific slices of it. Respected industry institutions, like Dow Jones & Company, NASDAQ Inc., and various large fund families, create indexes that are utilized throughout the industry.

A popular example is the S&P 500 Index, which was created and is managed by S&P Dow Jones Indices. Launched in 1882, the index tracks the performance of the 500 (or so) largest publicly traded corporations in the United States (by market capitalization). As such, it represents approximately 80% of the value of publicly traded stocks on all exchanges in the US. The index is highly valued because it provides the single largest representation of the overall US stock market.

While the S&P 500 Index is considered a more general index, there are many more that are very specific. For example, there are market indexes attached to the performance of specific industries, such as automobiles, airlines, energy, primary metals, consumer durables, consumer nondurables, and healthcare, just to name a few. There are others that are related to geography. For example, there indexes the track the stock markets in Japan, the European Union, the UK, Latin America, and other countries and regions.

What is an Index Fund?

Investment managers create portfolios designed to track the underlying indexes. This eliminates the need to research individual companies and buy and sell individual securities in an attempt to outperform the market. Instead, the fund manager maintains the portfolio to match the index, so the fund and index’s performance are identical.

For this reason, index funds are commonly referred to as passive funds. This gets to the fact that they require no active management (buying and selling of securities) by either the fund manager or by individual investors.

Both individual and institutional investors can purchase shares in index funds for their portfolios. When index funds are exchange-traded funds (ETFs) — as most index funds are — they trade like individual stocks. They can be bought and sold through investment brokers, usually commission-free.

Common Types of Index Funds

If you’ve heard of a market or industry sector, it’s almost certain there’s an index fund tied to it.

Examples include:

• Large-cap stocks (like the S&P 500)
• Mid-cap stocks
• Small-cap stocks
• Technology stocks
• Healthcare stocks
• Real estate-related stocks
• Gold stocks and bullion
• Energy stocks
• Building materials stocks
• Utility stocks
• International stocks
• Emerging markets stocks
• Government bonds
• Corporate bonds
• International bonds
• Municipal bonds

That’s just a small sampling of the types of index funds that are available.

Some of the most popular index funds include:

• SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY)
• Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ)
• Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ)
• Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT)
• Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTABX)

The above funds are so popular that they are frequently included in professionally managed portfolios, as well as robo-advisor portfolios.

Index Fund Costs

One of the major advantages of index funds is their low cost. Unlike actively managed funds, index funds do not charge load fees. This is important because load fees can be as high as 8.5% but are more typically in the 1% to 3% range. However, they are not a factor when it comes to index funds.

As noted earlier, index funds are commonly available through investment brokers commission-free.

However, there is one cost associated with index funds, and that is expense ratios. Expense ratios are annual fees charged within an index fund to cover various expenses, like marketing and administrative costs. They can be as high as 1% of the value of your fund position each year, but index funds are commonly available with expense ratios under 0.10%.

How to Invest in Index Funds

There are various ways you can invest in index funds. Perhaps the most popular way is through investment brokers like Ally Invest, SoFi Invest, and E*TRADE. You can choose from hundreds of index funds with each broker, and all are available commission-free.

If you prefer, you can also invest directly with the sponsoring fund family. Popular fund families include Vanguard, Fidelity, and iShares. Similar to investment brokers, you can purchase positions in index funds commission-free.

Still, another way to invest in index funds is through robo-advisors. These are online, automated investment services that provide complete portfolio management at a very low fee. Popular robo-advisors include Betterment, Wealthfront, and SoFi Invest.

If you prefer to choose your own index funds, and even mix in a few individual stocks, you should investigate M1 Finance. There, you can select up to 100 individual stocks and exchange-traded funds, which M1 Finance will then manage free of charge. You can even create multiple portfolios with the service.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Index funds will not underperform the market index they track.
• Provides a fully diversified portfolio across hundreds or thousands of individual securities.
• Index funds are available for stocks, bonds, and other asset classes.
• There is no need to manage your index fund other than to choose which funds to buy and when.
• Index funds are simple to buy and sell and are available through most brokerage firms with no commissions.
• Since index funds only buy and sell securities when the composition of the underlying index changes, they generate very little in the way of taxable capital gains.
• Since an index fund performs like a stock, its share value can grow over many years, deferring any tax liability until your position in the fund is sold.

Cons:

• An index fund will never outperform the underlying index.
• Because so many index funds are based on market-cap weighting, the performance of the fund may primarily be determined by a small number of very large companies.
• Because they are passive investments, index funds may not provide you with an opportunity to increase your investment skills and experience.
• Index funds can be a bit boring if you like the excitement of trading individual stocks.

FAQ

The post What is an Index Fund? appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

KashKick is a straightforward get-paid-to (GPT) website that rewards you with cash for completing surveys, playing games, and fulfilling cash-back offers. You can even earn a small bonus for referring friends. But with so many GPT sites to choose from, is KashKick legit or just another site that doesn’t live up to the hype? We cover the various features, including how you can earn in this full KashKick review.

At A Glance

• Get-Paid-to (GPT) site that rewards you with real cash instead of points
• Multiple ways to earn
• Get paid when you earn $10
• Now has a mobile app (iOS and Android)

Who Should Use KashKick?

As with any online rewards website, you won’t get rich with KashKick. Any legit part-time job will earn you far more money. However, if you want to earn a few extra dollars each month in your spare time and spend a lot of time on your mobile device, then you might enjoy using KashKick. To make more money, avoid sites like KashKick and start a more lucrative side hustle.

KashKick Alternatives

Ways to earn	Surveys, searching the web, playing games, fulfilling orders, watching videos	Online surveys, Focus groups (limited)	Surveys, watching videos, shopping online, read emails
Minimum Payment threshold	$1 for Amazon gift card or $25 for cash	$5 (500 points)	$30
Payout options	Gift cards, PayPal Cash	eGift cards, PayPal Cash	Gift cards, PayPal Cash
	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More

What Is KashKick?

KashKick is a U.S.-based loyalty rewards website that allows you to earn cash by participating in various activities while saving money on purchases. KashKick is available via desktop or on your iOS or Android mobile devices.

Though the company is based in Wilmington, Delaware, no information is provided on the website regarding how long the service has been available. However, it looks to be one of the more recent online income-earning services.

Learn More About KashKick

How to Earn with KashKick

You can earn money on KashKick by completing consumer surveys, testing new apps, watching videos, and playing online games. You can also earn cash by participating in featured offers, which may change occasionally.

Surveys

KashKick begins each survey with a set of prequalification questions. Sometimes these are KashKick’s standard questions, sometimes the market research company sponsoring the survey will provide their own. The purpose for these questions is to ensure KashKick is matching you with the right surveys.

There are several reasons that you might be disqualified for a survey. For example, the market researcher may have reached their quota for a specific survey. Or, your answer in the survey may have contradicted the information you provided in your profile.

Like most survey websites, you’ll earn anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars per survey. The longer the survey, they higher the payout.

Featured Offers

To increase your earnings, you can participate in KashKick featured offers. Here’s an example of some of the offers displayed on the KashKick website at the time of writing:

Based on the offers I saw on the website, you can earn up to $200 per activity. However, it isn’t a complete list of the activities offered, and many of them will likely pay significantly less. But if you have the time and the inclination, KashKick will let you earn extra cash in your spare time and on your terms.

The amount you can earn and what you must do to complete a task successfully will vary with each offer. Some offers pay you to view them, like the daily click bonus or when you register for another service, but others require you to sign up for a service.

Referrals

KashKick offers a referral program. Users can earn up to 25% of the cash earned by those that they refer to KashKick. KashKick requires you to use a unique referral code, and the more people you sign up to participate on the platform, the higher your referral earnings will be.

How to Sign up with KashKick

Getting started with KashKick is easy. Head to the KashKick website and select a method of registration – PayPal, Facebook, Gmail, or directly with email. I went with the email option and you just enter in your email address and make up a password. Then you’re in.

KashKick state thats you must be a resident of the U.S. and be at least 18 years old. When you sign up, you’ll also agree to receive emails with promotional messages from KashKick.

One note: you need a PayPal account. KashKick cash and rewards are paid only through PayPal. You will be eligible to receive funds in your PayPal account once you have earned a minimum of $10. A nice thing about PayPal is that you can spend directly from there or transfer your money to a linked bank account. 

The KashKick Terms of Service agreement indicates a potential option to receive payment through KashKick gift cards. However, you can’t find this on the website anywhere, so it could have been removed.

Learn More About KashKick

Unclaimed Earnings

One of the biggest drawbacks to KashKick is its policy around inactive accounts. According to KashKick, accounts that have not been accessed for 90 days are considered inactive. If this happens, KashKick considers all verified earnings (that haven’t been cashed out) unclaimed. As a result, you may forfeit your earnings and KashKick may close your account.

Is KashKick Safe?

Yes. The amount and type of information you’ll need to participate on KashKick isn’t particularly sensitive and so we feel confident that it’s safe. For example, basic information, like your name, address, and email address, is already available from multiple sources. But you are not required to provide financial information, like access to financial accounts. Furthermore, PayPal is one of the most secure monetary transfer systems on the Internet.

Overall, KashKick should be seen as relatively safe.

Learn More About KashKick

KashKick vs. Competitors

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is another very popular GPT platform. It functions as a rewards site where you can earn points (convertible to cash) for searching the web, participating in surveys, playing games, fulfilling orders, installing toolbars on your computer, and watching videos.

Similar to other sites, Swagbucks pays your rewards in the form of PayPal transfers or gift cards. It has a lower minimum payout threshold than KashKick. You can redeem for Amazon gift cards as low as $1, or $25 in PayPal Cash. Unlike KashKick, Swagbucks offers a $10 signup bonus. For more information, check out our Swagbucks review.

Learn More About Swagbucks

Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is perhaps the best-known of all paid survey sites. As its name implies, Survey Junkie is all about surveys. You’ll participate in surveys related to market research, which you can complete in a matter of minutes. Those surveys are performed by phone calls, journaling your experience with the product, or even doing product testing. Since Survey Junkie is so popular, it is able to offer what may be widest variety of survey opportunities in the industry.

SurveyJunkie uses a point system that’s converted to cash. Like KashKick, you must earn at least $10 to qualify to cash out. You can receive your rewards through gift cards or a PayPal transfer. Learn more in our Survey Junkie review.

Learn More About Survey Junkie

InboxDollars

Much like KashKick, InboxDollars enables you to earn rewards in cash without needing a points conversion. And similar to Swagbucks, those rewards can be earned by watching videos, completing surveys, fulfilling orders, shopping online, and much more.

The amount of compensation you’ll earn varies by assignment. For example, you’ll earn just a single penny for each email you click on or video you stream. But you can earn several dollars by fulfilling orders, which is a more complicated and time-consuming process.

The minimum cash out is high — $30, but you can receive payment by check, PayPal, or gift cards – your choice. InboxDollars offers a $5 sign-up bonus. Learn more in our InboxDollars review.

Learn More About InboxDollars

FAQs

Learn More About KashKick

Summary

KashKick is a solid GPT platform. It’s made improvements in recent years, most notably by adding iOS and Android mobile apps so you can earn on the go. Some websites report that KashKick is now available in Canada, however, its website states that you must be a U.S. resident. Until we hear further, consider the app off-limits north of the border.

Unfortunately, there is no welcome bonus — only a $1 credit for completing your profile survey when you sign up. Customer support is also lacking. There is no phone number or live chat option; it is just an online form to submit questions. That said, most GPT sites offer little support.

If you want to try out KashKick, we recommend combining it with other rewards apps, like the abovementioned alternatives. It’s the best way to increase your earning potential and have a fallback in case KashKick doesn’t turn out to be to your liking.

The post KashKick Review 2025: Is KashKick Legit? appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.