Christine Benz

Dedicated to clear and practical financial advice, Christine writes to help people navigate the world of personal finance. She focuses on essential topics like budgeting, saving, and smart money habits, translating them into straightforward strategies for everyday life. Christine's goal is to provide readers with the tools and understanding they need to make informed financial decisions with greater ease.
Joint Life Insurance for Families - Verified by FangWallet
9 min read

Joint Life Insurance for Families

9 min readHow Joint Life Insurance Supports Families Joint life insurance is one policy that covers two people. This makes it a good fit for families and couples. It gives money support to loved ones. This helps keep up with payments on the family home and covers other needs after someone in the family is gone. This […]Continue reading "Joint Life Insurance for Families" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Guides,Insurance
9 min read
What Income Counts as Upper Class in 2025? - Verified by FangWallet
8 min read

What Income Counts as Upper Class in 2025?

8 min readDetermining what salary classifies someone as upper class today can be complex. While traditional markers like a six-figure income often apply, factors such as location, lifestyle, and wealth accumulation also play significant roles in defining this status.Continue reading "What Income Counts as Upper Class in 2025?" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Lifestyle,Market News,Personal
8 min read
Resident Alien vs. Non-Resident Alien: Know Your Tax Status - Verified by FangWallet
8 min read

Resident Alien vs. Non-Resident Alien: Know Your Tax Status

8 min readMain Points to Know The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses two main ways to find out if a person is a tax resident in the U.S. These are the green card test and the substantial presence test. A resident alien has to report all money they get from around the world for taxes. A nonresident […]Continue reading "Resident Alien vs. Non-Resident Alien: Know Your Tax Status" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Guides,Legal
8 min read
What are Bullish and Bearish Markets? - Verified by FangWallet
7 min read

What are Bullish and Bearish Markets?

7 min readIntroduction The stock market often uses words like “bull market” or “bear market.” These words show different times in how the market changes. A bull market means that prices go up, and many people feel good about the market. A bear market is when prices go down, and there is less hope about the future. […]Continue reading "What are Bullish and Bearish Markets?" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Guides,Investing
7 min read
Self-Directed IRA Processing Fees, Annual Costs, and Rules - Verified by FangWallet
7 min read

Self-Directed IRA Processing Fees, Annual Costs, and Rules

7 min readIntroduction A self-directed IRA (SDIRA) lets people spread out what they put their money into, instead of just stocks and bonds. You get more control over where your money goes. With an SDIRA, you can pick things like real estate or private company shares to add into your plan. If you want to make your […]Continue reading "Self-Directed IRA Processing Fees, Annual Costs, and Rules" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Guides,Legal,Personal
7 min read
Retirement Cost of Living: Budgeting for a Happy Future - Verified by FangWallet
7 min read

Retirement Cost of Living: Budgeting for a Happy Future

7 min readThe cost of living in retirement comes from many things, like housing, healthcare, and what people spend day to day. Housing is a big part of this. Things like property taxes and mortgage payments are often the biggest cost for retirees. Prices tend to go up over time. This means older people have to […]Continue reading "Retirement Cost of Living: Budgeting for a Happy Future" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Elderly,Guides,Retirement
7 min read
Does Medicare Cover Ozempic? - Verified by FangWallet
3 min read

Does Medicare Cover Ozempic?

3 min readMain Points Medicare Part D may cover Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes but not for weight loss. Coverage depends on the plan’s list of approved drugs and proper use per FDA guidelines. Medicare does not allow coverage for weight control-only prescriptions. Cost-saving options include savings cards, patient assistance programs, or price comparisons. Ozempic (semaglutide) lowers […]Continue reading "Does Medicare Cover Ozempic?" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Elderly,Health,Insurance
3 min read
Is Paying Closing Costs Helping Buyers Win in 2025? - Verified by FangWallet
4 min read

Is Paying Closing Costs Helping Buyers Win in 2025?

4 min readIntroduction Closing costs can be one of the final hurdles for homebuyers, but they do not have to be a surprise. With the help of a real estate agent and proper planning, buyers can use closing costs as a smart tool to win bids and close deals quickly in 2025’s competitive housing market. This section […]Continue reading "Is Paying Closing Costs Helping Buyers Win in 2025?" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Guides,Mortgage,Personal
4 min read
What Is Mortgage Recasting? - Verified by FangWallet
7 min read

What Is Mortgage Recasting?

7 min readMortgage Recasting Explained Mortgage recasting lets homeowners lower their monthly payments by making a large, one-time payment on the main balance of their loan. Unlike refinancing, recasting does not change the interest rate or loan terms on your current mortgage. This is only open for certain mortgages, and lenders will say if you can use […]Continue reading "What Is Mortgage Recasting?" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Guides,Mortgage
7 min read
How to Determine if Cars Get Better Gas Mileage in Summer - Verified by FangWallet
5 min read

How to Determine if Cars Get Better Gas Mileage in Summer

5 min readIntroduction Do you see a change in your car’s gas mileage in the summer? When the weather gets hotter, the way your car uses fuel can get better or worse. It depends on how you drive and how you take care of the car. Things like using air conditioning, changes in tire pressure, and the […]Continue reading "How to Determine if Cars Get Better Gas Mileage in Summer" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Auto,Guides
5 min read
Do You Pay Inheritance Tax On a Trust in California? - Verified by FangWallet
3 min read

Do You Pay Inheritance Tax On a Trust in California?

3 min readDo You Pay Inheritance Tax On A Trust In California? California does not have a state inheritance tax on trust distributions. Understand the differences between inheritance tax, estate tax, and trust taxation. Trusts can help reduce taxes and simplify estate planning in California. Federal estate tax applies to large estates over $13.61 million (2024). Review […]Continue reading "Do You Pay Inheritance Tax On a Trust in California?" →
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Christine Benz<span class="bp-verified-badge"></span> Christine Benz
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Legal,Personal,Retirement
3 min read

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