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Michael Graw

Michael Graw

Michael Graw is a personal finance expert at BestMoney.com, specializing in online banking and insurance. His work has appeared in print magazines and on high-impact websites. With a passion for clarity and practicality, Michael helps readers navigate today’s financial landscape.

Posts by Michael Graw

Western Alliance Bank Review

Western Alliance Bank is a Phoenix-based bank founded in 2003. Its High-Yield Savings Premier account offers 3.90%¹ annual percentage yield (APY) on deposits up to the maximum limit allowed of $250,000. You can open a new account with as little as $500. However, Western Alliance Bank has no branch access for this account type and doesn’t offer ATMs. So, it’s best for individuals who want to earn the best interest rate on their savings.
Read ReviewAug 31, 2026
western-alliance-bank-high-yield-savings-premier

Western Alliance Bank Review

Western Alliance Bank is a Phoenix-based bank founded in 2003. Its High-Yield Savings Premier account offers 3.90%¹ annual percentage yield (APY) on deposits up to the maximum limit allowed of $250,000. You can open a new account with as little as $500. However, Western Alliance Bank has no branch access for this account type and doesn’t offer ATMs. So, it’s best for individuals who want to earn the best interest rate on their savings.
Read ReviewAug 31, 2026
western-alliance-bank-high-yield-savings-premier

How to Apply and Qualify for Second Chance Banking

Second chance banking allows you to open a checking account even if you’ve been denied by traditional banks due to past overdrafts, unpaid fees, or negative ChexSystems records. While these accounts may include higher fees or restrictions, they provide an opportunity to rebuild your banking history and regain financial stability.
Read MoreAug 24, 2026
apply-and-qualify-for-second-chance-banking

The 7-Step Guide for Choosing a Loan Provider You Can Trust

Getting a personal loan can allow you to make bill payments on time or cover costs in an emergency. But the process of applying and being approved for a personal loan can be complex. For many people, just the idea of applying for a personal loan adds more stress to an already difficult situation.
Read MoreAug 24, 2026
Finding a loan provider you can trust can make all the difference

Do Personal Loans Hurt Credit Scores?

Keeping your credit score up is incredibly important for your personal finances. A strong credit score gives you access to more options when you need credit and access to lower interest rates on any money you do borrow. Your credit score may also be taken into account when you’re looking for housing or even when you apply for jobs.
Read MoreAug 24, 2026
Do Personal Loans Hurt Your Credit Score?

Shed your student loan debt in 5 steps

Earning your college degree is key to your future career stability and satisfaction. More career paths require advanced education and that means a college degree is critical to your success in today's workforce.
Read MoreAug 24, 2026
College Graduate with Their Debt

The Ultimate Guide to IRAs

An individual retirement account, or IRA, is a type of investment account designed for retirement investors. It offers flexible investment options, and the money in your account is tax-free or tax-deferred. IRAs form the backbone of many investors’ retirement plans. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about IRAs, from how they work to how to open one.
Read MoreAug 24, 2026
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The Ultimate Guide to IRAs

Everything you need to know about Individual Retirement Accounts in 2026 — from contribution limits and tax advantages to choosing the right IRA type for your situation.
Read MoreAug 24, 2026
ira

Saving Money on Your Car Insurance: Insider Secrets

Car insurance is absolutely essential if you own a car to get around town or commute to work. But just because you need to have car insurance doesn’t mean it needs to be expensive.
Read MoreAug 24, 2026
Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Drivers About These Recent Changes?

Lower Monthly Car Insurance Payments

Owning a car can be expensive. Not only do you have to fill it up with gas, but there are other costs too. Finance, maintenance, service bills, and tire changes, to name a few. Plus, on top of this, you also have to pay for car insurance. However, the good news is that many drivers may qualify for more affordable car insurance policies.
Read MoreAug 24, 2026
10 Ways to Lower Your Car Insurance Premiums

It’s 2021. Let’s Get Personal.

So, how can you keep visitors’ attention and turn them into repeat customers? The key is to deliver personalized experiences.
Read MoreAug 24, 2026
Let's get personal

Best Egg Review

Best Egg is an online lender that offers personal loans for borrowers with fair to strong credit. We like Best Egg because it offers an easy online application, money is sent to your account in as little as 1 day, and the loan interest rates are competitive. In addition, with Best Egg there’s no penalty for paying off your loan early.
Read ReviewAug 12, 2026
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Chase Business Checking Review

Chase, a multinational bank and one of the largest in the states, offers three business checking accounts for businesses of varying sizes. Those include full-service business banking with access to all your business banking services in one place. A $15-$95 monthly service fee is in place, but multiple ways exist to waive it, including maintaining a minimum daily balance or purchases on your Chase Ink® Business credit card.
Read ReviewAug 11, 2026
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What Are Common Small Business Loan Terms?

This guide breaks down the loan amounts, repayment terms, and typical rates for every major small business loan type—so you can match your financing to your goals and budget.
Read MoreAug 5, 2026
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E*TRADE Review

E*TRADE is a brokerage firm founded in 1982 and acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2020. The platform is best known for its trading products, but also offers a high-interest savings account through Morgan Stanley Private Bank. The account provides a competitive annual percentage yield (APY) with no minimum deposit or monthly fees. It’s a solid option for investors who use E*TRADE since you can instantly move money into an E*TRADE investment account.
Read ReviewJun 5, 2026
etrade-premium-savings

E*TRADE Review

E*TRADE is a brokerage firm founded in 1982 and acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2020. While the platform is best known for its trading products, it also offers a high-interest savings account through Morgan Stanley Private Bank. The account provides a 3.25% annual percentage yield (APY) with no minimum deposit or monthly fees. It’s a solid option for investors who use E*TRADE since you can instantly move money into an E*TRADE investment account.
Read ReviewJun 5, 2026
etrade-premium-savings

Centier Bank with Raisin Review

Raisin is a financial platform that brings together savings accounts, high-yield CDs, no-penalty CDs, and money market deposit accounts from different partner banks. You can deposit money in any of the available accounts and manage all of your accounts through Raisin. Explore Centier Bank products powered by Raisin with no fees incurred from Raisin on any of the savings products offered.
Read ReviewApr 30, 2026
centier-bank

Centier Bank with Raisin Review

Raisin is a financial platform that brings together savings accounts, high-yield CDs, no-penalty CDs, and money market deposit accounts from different partner banks. You can deposit money in any of the available accounts and manage all of your accounts through Raisin. Explore Centier Bank products powered by Raisin with no fees incurred from Raisin on any of the savings products offered.
Read ReviewApr 30, 2026
centier-bank

Mercury Review

Mercury is a banking* services platform that offers high-tech business checking and savings accounts for startups and growing companies. Mercury charges zero account fees and doesn’t require a minimum deposit. You can request physical debit cards or create your own virtual cards for employees. Mercury also offers an API so you can integrate your bank account with the rest of your business software.
Read ReviewApr 30, 2026
mercury

EverBank with Raisin Review

Raisin is a financial platform that brings together savings accounts, high-yield CDs, no-penalty CDs, and money market deposit accounts from different partner banks. You can deposit money in any of the available accounts and manage all of your accounts through Raisin. Explore EverBank products powered by Raisin with no fees incurred from Raisin on any of the savings products offered.
Read ReviewApr 23, 2026
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