Christy Rakoczy Bieber

Christy Rakoczy Bieber is a full-time personal finance and legal writer. She is a graduate of UCLA School of Law and the University of Rochester. Christy was previously a college teacher with experience writing textbooks and serving as a subject matter expert.

Dad holds his daughter, smiling, upon his return home from military assignment

What is a VA loan?

Downtown Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, is seen in the background with the scenic arch of the Pike Avenue Bridge spanning the Arkansas River in the foreground.

How to file an Arkansas state tax return

Couple sits with financial advisor to go over papers

What is a conforming loan?

Three famous District of Columbia landmarks - the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and Capitol building - at twilight.

How to file a District of Columbia income tax...

Close up of a sack of potatoes nestled in the furrow of a green field of potato vines in Idaho.

What to know about filing an Idaho state tax...

Couple working behind the counter at a coffee shop

What are the business credit bureaus?

young woman working on a laptop computer at home.

Credit-builder loans: What they are and how they work

African American couple using laptop to e-file their taxes, smiling confidently.

Is e-filing really a better way to file your...

Various tax forms with a pen

Tax forms 101: The forms you need to file...

Patient giving nurse health insurance card in clinic

Health insurance tax: Is there still a penalty for...

Family moves boxes from truck.

Moving? What you should know about the suspended moving...

Couple learning about the difference between a credit union and a bank

What is the difference between a credit union and...

A young man in a white shirt holds papers while working at a laptop computer

When — and how — to change the due...

Customers form a line at a financial institution.

What is the NCUA?

Two couples cooking and laying table together

Why is credit important?

Young African American couple doing paper work and wondering if their state's SALT cap workaround will help them reduce their federal income taxes.

Will state SALT cap workarounds help you deduct more...

Young woman, frustrated by unanswered tax questions, draws a question mark in the sand on the beach.

13 common tax questions answered

Young hispanic woman, leaning her head on desk in frustration, trying to decide how long to keep tax records.

How long should you keep tax records?

Young Asian mother holding baby and taking the IRS quiz to determine what tax filing status she should use on her federal income tax return.

How your tax-filing status affects your tax bill

Young woman work from home on her laptop.

Payment history: What it is, and why it matters...

Young Caucasian businesswoman doing an online payment

7 tips to help you pay your bills on...

Shot of a young woman using a laptop in a cafe

Is identity theft insurance worth it?

Woman on the phone dealing with bills

Is there a statute of limitations on collecting old...

African-American mother holding baby on her lap while researching the child tax credit on her laptop.

What is the child tax credit and how can...

Worker swiping credit card reader in a clothing shop

The 3 best Bank of America balance transfer offers

Couple washing dishes and discussing questions to ask a financial adviser

5 questions to ask a financial adviser before you...

Man sitting at kitchen table, head resting on his folded arms, looking at a calculator and wondering how tax reform will affect his property tax deduction.

How might the cap on the property tax deduction...

Asian businessman contemplating Form 14039, sitting in office and looking tired.

Form 14039 explained

A shopkeeper does his monthly financial planning and bookkeeping

Small-business startup loans: Not the only way to get...

Estranged couple sitting back to back on opposite ends of a couch wondering how to file their taxes after their divorce.

How does divorce change your taxes?

Young woman shopping for a flatscreen TV in the electronics department and wondering if she can put the purchase toward her sales tax deduction.

Sales tax deduction: What to know

Man listening to music in his room looking out the window on rainy day.

You can find a home loan with bad credit...

Worried couple researches how to get a personal loan with bad credit

6 things to know about a personal loan with...

Young businesswoman sitting at her desk, looking up information about self-employed retirement plans on her laptop.

Self-employed retirement plans: Tax tips to know

Anxious young man on smartphone

Why everyone should have an emergency fund

Mother exercising at home doing floor yoga with her baby.

3 ways to make your HSA work harder for...

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