According to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, the average American family carries $6,270 in credit card debt. This is in addition to loans held for vehicles, homes, education and other obligations which brings the average American personal debt to $92,727.* While these figures may make previous generations balk, the average cost of a car, house, and college education has skyrocketed when compared to the average household income. While gross household debt was only 15% of GDP in 1946, it is close to 80% now.** As a result, typical consumers need to borrow money if they want to buy a home, drive a car, or educate themselves or their children.

Insurance can be a complicated matter; there are thousands of insurance companies and policies to choose from, and new products are entering the market all the time. Policies are often filled with disclaimers and insurance jargon that can frighten the average consumer. A variety of specialized types of coverage, discounts, and surcharges may further muddy the waters. Let's break down some of the insurance basics:

It is an exciting time of your life – you’ve graduated college, moved out on your own, landed your dream job, and you’ve even been lucky enough to find that special someone. The future is looking bright, but you have questions about money mixing into your love life. This dilemma is no small matter; in fact, a study published by SunTrust Bank discovered that 35% of people experiencing relationship stress blame money as the primary culprit*.