Credit card protection plans draw state lawsuits, federal scrutiny

If you have a credit card, you've probably heard the pitch. It comes from a telemarketer, or perhaps from a mailer included with your statement, and warns that "life is unpredictable." Prepare for the worst, the pitch goes on to say, by purchasing a plan that will handle your credit card debt if you lose your job, become disabled or die.

Mortgage Rates Match All-Time Lows; "Wall" Begins Cracking!

Mortgage Rates continued a recent trend of moderate improvement fueled indirectly by political turmoil in Europe.  The gains bring rates in line with all-time lows with some lenders priced slightly better and some priced slightly worse than than February's record offerings.  The current rate environment is causing the longstanding "wall" at 3.875% to begin to crack.

Bank-Loan Funds: A Risky Reach for Yield!

With interest rates so low, individual investors have been piling into bank-loan funds, taking on more risk as they seek higher yields and a hedge against inflation. In April $729 million flowed into U.S. mutual funds that invest in the corporate debt, also known as floating-rate loans, according to preliminary data from EPFR Global, a research firm.