Boost your borrowing power with a rapid rescore

Have a less-than-desirable credit score and want to boost it quickly? Consider a rapid rescore, a process where your lender works with a third-party credit reporting company to update your credit file – and recalculate your credit score – within 1 to 5 business days, instead of waiting 30 to 45 days for the bureaus to update on their own. It's not a loan product, a credit repair service, or something you can request yourself: Only a lender can initiate a rapid rescore on your behalf.

Learn more about rapid rescores and how you can benefit by reading my latest story for Better.com, available here.

Avoid these renter's insurance mistakes

Imagine you’ve come home to your apartment only to discover that it’s been ransacked and valuable items are missing. Calm down, you tell yourself: At least your renters insurance will cover this break-in and theft. Only you quickly realize, after combing through your policy paperwork, that you first have to pay a pricey deductible and the chintzy coverage limits won’t reimburse you the full value of what’s been stolen.

Truth is, many leasing tenants have misconceptions about what their insurance will cover (and to what extent) and don’t realize the hard truth until it’s time to file a claim. Take a deeper dive into common and costly insurance missteps renters make and how to avoid them by reading my latest article for The Zebra, available here.

Cineversary podcast honors 20th anniversary of Pan's Labyrinth

Alicia Malone

In Cineversary podcast episode #94, host ⁠Erik J. Martin⁠ honors the 20th birthday of Pan’s Labyrinth, directed by Guillermo del Toro. Joining him on this journey to the underground realm is TCM host Alicia Malone, author of TCM Imports: Timeless Favorites and Hidden Gems of World Cinema. Together, Erik and Alicia sneak into the Pale Man’s lair and explore what makes this film a timeless masterwork, how to distinguish between what’s real vs. fantastical, significant themes, and much more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com

Car insurance discounts that military members can claim

The good news, if you’re a veteran or active duty military member – including National Guard numbers and Reservists – is that you can likely save significant dollars on car insurance. That’s because many carriers market heavily to folks like you and offer discounts in deference to your military service. But available military auto insurance discounts and cost-saving opportunities can vary widely from insurer to insurer.

That begs several questions: What’s a real military car insurance discount versus a marketing gimmick that doesn’t yield substantial savings? What are the cheapest military auto insurance companies when it comes to premiums, after discounts are taken into consideration? And how can you find the best insurance rates overall? Read my first article for new client The Military Wallet, available here, for helpful answers to these questions.

What's the difference between a home's assessed value and market value?

Preparing to buy, sell, or refinance a home? It’s important to understand the worth of the property. But there’s more than one way to determine the value. In fact, there are two primary measurements of value to be aware of here: house assessed value vs. market value. Assessed value is the home’s value come tax time, while fair market value is the cost to purchase a home in that area. Each type of valuation has its own purpose: one applies to property taxes, and the other to resale value.

Read my latest article for Rocket Mortgage to learn more about property tax assessment vs. market value, why both metrics matter, how fair market value is calculated, and how home assessed value is determined so that you can make a more informed decision when you’re preparing to purchase, sell, or refinance a home.

Are electric vehicles worth it?

Drivers today are energized about electric vehicles (EVs) and making the switch. For proof, consider that there are an estimated 116 million EVs on the road today worldwide, and the number is expected to rise 30% in 2026. That’s hardly a surprise at a time when gasoline is averaging over $4 per gallon.

But that begs an important question: Is buying and owning an electric car actually worth it? Truth is, the answer will depend on your driving habits, budget, location, charging access and other factors. Upfront costs, fuel savings, expected maintenance, charging convenience and the likelihood of long-term ownership need to be considered carefully.

To help you make a more informed decision, read my article on this topic, published by MSN, available here.