Becoming Your Family’s Historian
Genealogy can be a truly fascinating hobby, and uncovering your family’s history can bring the past to life in a fresh and personal way. If you’re someone who loves history or is just interested in how your [...]
The Rise of Consumer Credit and How to Manage Your Own
How often do you use a credit card? Perhaps you even use more than one. In today’s economy, the small rectangle of plastic (or metal) in your wallet is more than just a tool for buying groceries; [...]
A History of Modern Credit and Why It’s Important Today
You’re probably familiar with credit in your everyday life. Many Americans have credit cards, use them for everyday expenses, and (most) try to act responsibly to increase their credit scores. But where did it all come from? [...]
A History of the Sales Tax
Before we take a peek into the past to see how sales tax became a part of our lives, let’s define our terms. Sales tax is a tax on the sale or exchange of an item or [...]
A Brief History of the Social Security COLA
Although to some of us it may seem as if Social Security has always been around, that isn’t the case. The Social Security Act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 14, 1935. [...]
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
In 1897, an eight-year-old girl, Virginia O’Hanlon, wrote The New York Sun to ask a simple question: Is there a Santa Claus? And the answer she received has since been reprinted and used in books and movies [...]
A Recent History of Federal Reserve Policy
The past quarter century has held times of economic prosperity and crisis in this country. Because your retirement hinges on your financial options and decisions, the economic health of certain parts of the financial world can dictate [...]
Five Books on the History of Finances
In the intricate web of human history, the evolution of finance has been a driving force, shaping economies, cultures, and societies. From the origins of money and debt to the mechanisms of modern financial systems, the interplay [...]
This Week 20 Years Ago: Pete Sampras Triumphs over Todd Martin at the Australian Open 1994
It was a hot summer's day in Melbourne, Australia, as the world's top tennis players descended upon the prestigious Rod Laver Arena for the Australian Open in 1994. Amongst the sea of spectators, anticipation hung in the [...]
Ancient Money: The History of Banking and Currency
The history of financial tools is a fascinating topic that takes us back to the earliest civilizations. It reveals a remarkable continuity in financial technology across cultures and epochs, highlighting the importance of these systems in societal [...]
