Bottom Line Inc

01/13/2026

If you are within 5 years of retirement, welcome to the "Red Zone." Bottom Line expert Colin Exelby, certified financial planner, founder and president of Celestial Wealth Management and a former financial advisor for Morgan Stanley who created the YouTube financial-education channel See the Forest Through the Trees, explains everything you need to know now to be ready five years from now.

If you’re within five years of stopping work, welcome to the Red Zone. “It’s the trickiest and most crucial phase of retirement

01/09/2026

How much debt a company carries is something you should consider before investing in their stock. Here, Bottom Line expert Joseph Hogue, CFA, former equity analyst who runs the YouTube channel Let’s Talk Money! and author of 10 books on investing, explains the debt-to-equity ratio and how to use it as a consideration when evaluating a stock purchase.

Investors looking to buy a stock typically focus on a company’s share price, earnings and growth potential. But they often overlook an equally

01/07/2026

Front load washers are particularly at risk for getting moldy, so it's important to keep them clean. Here, Bottom Line expert Ben Schlichter, owner of Ben’s Appliances, ­an appliance repairman and founder of the YouTube channel Ben’s Appliances and Junk, which offers appliance reviews and repair advice, explains how to keep your front load washer clean.

Your washing machine’s job is to clean things for you—but to do that job properly, it needs to be cleaned, too. Cleaning is especially

01/03/2026

Walking isn't just good for your muscles and joints. It's also great for your brain and your heart. Here, Dr. Khalid Zalmay, BMBS, MRCGP, a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and a family physician headquartered in London, discusses why you should make walking a key part of your health strategy.

In the many years that I have practiced as a family doctor, I have prescribed countless medications and treatments. Yet one of the most powerful things I

01/01/2026

Have you been struck down by this year's terrible flu? Or do you just want to take steps to reduce your risk? Here are strategies for preventing flu…and what to do if you get hit.

Viral infections like cold and flu are best prevented by taking care of yourself and keeping your immune system in tip-top shape with good nutrition.

01/01/2026

Best wishes from Bottom Line for a happy, healthy, prosperous 2026!

01/01/2026

All mortgages are not alike. There are many types to choose from. How do you know whether a fixed or variable mortgage is the right one for you? Here, Bottom Line expert Keith Gumbinger is vice president of HSH, a mortgage information and research website, explains the pros and cons.

Most mortgages in the US have fixed interest rates—the rate written into the contract remains in effect for the entire length of the loan, potentially 30

12/31/2025

Under what situations should you consider an "irrevocable" trust? If you are considering a trust, or already have one, you should understand and consider the value of irrevocable trusts. Here, Bottom Line expert Ellen Cookman, JD, LLM, founder of the estate-planning firm, Cookman Law, and a certified specialist in estate planning, trust administration and probate, explains.

When most people think about trusts, they’re usually thinking about simple revocable living trusts—the kind that let you control and retain both legal and

12/30/2025

Should you consider a Continuing Care Retirement Community? Here, Bottom Line expert Brad Breeding, CFP, president of MyLifeSite, which helps consumers research continuing-care retirement communities, and author of What’s the Deal with Retirement Communities? explains how these CCRCs can help seniors maintain their independence longer.

One of the biggest health-care dilemmas for aging seniors and their families is navigating the progression of care from independent living…to an

12/29/2025

Are reverse mortgage hype or a help? Here, Bottom Line expert Michael Gilfix, Esq., partner with Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP, Palo Alto, California, fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and author of Beat Estate Tax Forever: Planning for Future Generations, explains the true value of these programs.

A reverse mortgage offers a way for an older homeowner to tap the equity in his/her home without having to move out of the home. But these complex

12/28/2025

These exclusive, private trading markets are a benefit to you even though you yourself don't have access to them. Bottom Line expert Charles Rotblut, CFA, vice president at American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) and editor of the AAII Journal, explains why.

Approximately 40% of all US stock trades occur on silent exchanges that most don’t know about. These private networks are called “dark pools.”

12/27/2025

As we start a new year, now is a great time to consider whether you have the right auto coverage. Here, Bottom Line expert Douglas Heller, insurance expert with the Washington, DC–based Consumer Federation of America, an association of nonprofit consumer organizations, explains the difference between full coverage and just liability.

The cost of car ownership is on the rise, and sky-high auto prices aren’t the only reason why. Auto insurance premiums now average nearly $2,700 per year