A credit score can be key to unlocking many firsts — an apartment, a car loan, or a mortgage. But when you’re starting out, getting a score is maddeningly elusive. Many lenders are reluctant to extend credit unless you already have experience with credit. Credit bureau Experian wants to ease that Catch-22 for credit novices

Creating an estate plan is a gift to the people you leave behind. By expressing your wishes, you’re trying to guide your loved ones at a difficult, emotional time.

Recessions are like natural disasters: They’re inevitable, but smart preparation may reduce the impact on you.

Choosing the best way to pay for something — credit or cash — can make a real dollar difference for you. So knowing when to do which is key.

I recently heard from the parents of a yet another high school senior who turned down a huge scholarship from a good college to attend her “dream school,” which of course has lousy financial aid. Now her parents are scrambling, trying to figure out how to pay for it. This madness must end. Asking teenagers to