SoFi Blog

Tips and news—
for your financial moves.

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Thanksgiving on a Budget: Tips for Both Hosts & Guests

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about celebrating your bounty, not spending it. Still, it can be tough to get through the holiday meal and festivities without gobbling up your bank account.

If you’re already working on a budget for the winter holidays—between Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and New Year’s—why not back things up a bit and include Thanksgiving in your plan? That way you won’t be in the red before you even get to Black Friday.

Whether you’re the host or a guest, being creative and proactive can be key. Here are some tips on how to save money. (No thanks necessary.)

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SoFi vs First Republic Comparison

No one likes high interest rates any more than they like managing multiple student loan payments every month. That’s why refinancing can help. It means you can consolidate to one monthly payment, instead of several, and refinancing can potentially lower your interest rate or help make your monthly payments more manageable.

We’ve created a straightforward comparison chart, so you can see exactly why SoFi is a smart choice when refinancing student loans. We’ll compare loan structures, discounts, and how easy it is to actually refinance. We’ll also look at perks like unemployment protection, so you know what to expect if you find yourself facing an employment gap.

The goal of this information is to allow you to compare and contrast SoFi and First Republic Bank, based on information available on both websites, so you can choose the loan that works best for you and your unique situation. If you’re ready to refinance your student loans with SoFi, you can find your rate in just two minutes.

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How to Save for Your Wedding as a Couple

There are few things as exhilarating as finally finding the right person and deciding to commit to a life with each other. If you’re basking in the warm glow of a recent engagement, enjoy every minute of hazy happiness before the realities of planning a wedding sink in. Planning can be exciting, full of cake tastings, dress fittings, and venue visits. But all of those price tags can really add up. As you begin planning your wedding, it’s important to know what to expect.

The average cost of a wedding in the United States in 2017 was $33,391. According to the Knot, who polled 13,000 couples in their annual wedding study , this number is actually on the decline, down from about $35,000 in 2016. And this doesn’t even include the honeymoon!

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Your October Monthly Market Recap

What Caused the October Stock Market Decline?

One thing that’s always kind of freaked me out is how quickly things can turn on a dime. I know, that’s the way life goes sometimes, but it still can feel a bit unnerving. And evidently, I’m not alone, at least if this past month is any indication.

Prior to this past October, the economic data hitting the news read like an investor’s dream. The US economy was booming, wage growth was picking up steam, inflation was contained, and American stocks were on track for another year of double-digit returns.

Most economies outside of the US were also doing very well—in fact, every single major economy was displaying expansionary tendencies. It’s not often that synchronous growth occurs around the globe, but everyone seemed to be playing their part and marching ahead. Life was good.

Then, October came through like a wrecking ball. Everyone got spooked—weeks before the actual ghouls and goblins came out to play, and in turn, stocks took a dive. Things were going so well prior to this, so what happened?

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47% Counts on Latina Equal Pay Day

As we reflect upon Latina Equal Pay Day, it’s important to look at the full backstory. The core issue behind it is not just about equal pay for women. According to a recent study, the early November timeframe represents just how far Latina women have to work on average into the year to make as much as white, non-Hispanic males during the prior year.

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