15 Surprising Traits That Make Couples More Likely to Divorce – The predictors of divorce are not necessarily what you might think, according to Heather Z. Lyons, PhD, a licensed psychologist and owner of Baltimore Therapy Group in Baltimore, Maryland. “When a couples counselor sees a couple in high distress, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re more likely headed for divorce than the couple who seems less worried, vocal, or argumentative,” she says. So, if shouting isn’t the final straw, what is? Infidelity, domestic violence, and substance abuse are the three most common reasons, according to a study published in the journal Couple and Family Psychology. Here are more signs a split may be on the way — plus some guidance about how to get back on track.

7 Bankruptcy Stocks to Watch in 2019 – It doesn’t matter if times are tough or if they’re great, there are still going to be companies that go belly up. A perfect example? Look at 2008 vs. 2018. Just 10 years apart and look at how much has changed. Yet bankruptcy stocks are still popping up all over the map, and there’s not much investors can do about it: bankruptcy happens.

Lenders cut mortgage rates to give a kick-start to 2019 – First-time buyers and homeowners remortgaging their properties have been given some good news at the start of the year as a number of lenders have cut their rates in an increasingly competitive market.

Why now is the worst time to start a divorce – If Jeff Bezos was getting divorced in the UK, he would have just made one hell of a tactical mistake — one that, assuming he has to transfer an awful lot of Amazon shares to his soon-to-be ex wife, would have cost him many millions of dollars.

Can You Settle Student Loan Debt? – When you took out a student loan to pay for school, you probably didn’t expect it to go into default. But more than 1 million federal student loan borrowers default each year, according to the Urban Institute, a think tank focused on economic and social policy research.

Mortgage Rates Hit Lowest Point in Nine Months – Mortgage rates fell again in the latest week, hitting their lowest point in the past nine months for both 15- and 30-year products, a move that could propel more activity in the U.S. housing market.

What you need to know if you are considering getting a divorce in 2019 – A New Yorker cartoon famously pictures two young children admiring their Christmas tree. Presents are stacked so high, the tree is barely visible. The older child sagely says to her younger brother, “Cherish this moment, because clearly our parents are getting a divorce.”

Mortgage applications plummet nearly 10% to end 2018, despite lower rates – Mortgage interest rates fell to the lowest level in four months, but that did nothing to spark activity in the mortgage market.

12 housing markets where foreclosures are spiking – Foreclosure activity is down nationwide from a year ago, but certain local housing markets tell a different story.

Divorce Tax Rule Changes Under Trump Have People Rushing To Split Up Before The New Year – The end of one year and the beginning of another can bring a lot of changes, but for married couples who are splitting up, 2019 stands to come with new financial obligations. A survey released last week by the American Institute of CPAs shows that, because of divorce tax rule changes under Trump that will take effect in January, divorcing couples are rushing to complete their legal separations.

Before you retire, pay off that debt – How you manage debt could have a big impact in how your retirement dreams play out.

9 Housing and Mortgage Trends to Watch for in 2019 – It’s going to be a challenging year for home buyers in 2019: They will continue to compete for a short supply of homes. Home prices and mortgage rates are likely to keep moving upward, bruising affordability.

Why Prenuptial And Postnuptial Agreements Lead To Stronger Marriages And Prevent Disastrous Divorces – You can’t predict the future. The hard truth is that the way you feel about your partner today may not be the way you feel as life evolves. Marriage is wonderful. Marriage is difficult. That is why it is so important to have level-headed discussions about what might happen if your feelings change in the future now, when you are sitting on the same side of the table and both truly want what is best for each other.

Record Corporate Debt And The Next Financial Crisis: 5 Things Investors Need To Know – It’s been 10 years since the worst financial crisis the Great Depression tanked the world economy and wiped out $34 trillion in global equity market capitalization.

What to consider when buying a home amid rising mortgage rates – Many economists say mortgage rates will continue to trend upward this year and peak around 5 percent at most, which is still below average. Mortgage rates averaged consistently above 10 percent every year between 1979 and 1990 and then eased down to a range from 6 to 8 percent between 1992 and 1998, according to Freddie Mac’s records.

Keep your divorce civil but formal – While it’s tempting to sort out the details yourself, mistakes and oversights could prove very costly.

How To Kick Debt To The Curb: Advice From The Experts – According to the latest data from the NY Fed, total consumer debt is now at an all time high of $13.2 trillion. That equates to an average of over $40,000 owed by every single American across mortgages, student loans, auto loans, and credit cards. So much debt can certainly feel overwhelming and helpless.

Average U.S. mortgage rates rise; 30-year at 4.60 percent – WASHINGTON •  Long-term U.S. mortgage rates rose for the second straight week, continuing to dampen prospects for potential homebuyers.

4 Reasons To Finalize Your Divorce In 2018 To Save Money – If your marriage is on the rocks, you need to be thoughtful about the timing of decisions — the government has recently enacted many tax laws that impact divorcing couples, especially those with high net worth. Tax codes are confusing in the best of times. This – let’s be honest – is not the best of times, which makes it more important that you understand how these new laws affect you.

How to Consolidate Your Debt – Once you’ve decided to consolidate your debt, there are several necessary steps you need to take so that it’s ultimately beneficial for you.

Key mortgage rates mixed for Monday – Mortgage rates moved in different directions today. The average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was unchanged, but the average rate on a 15-year fixed tapered off. The average rate on 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs, the most popular type of variable rate mortgage, climbed.