If a couple takes out a reverse loan, but then one spouse dies and the survivor remarries, it's time to give the lender a call. Even though reverse mortgages are nonrecourse loans, there are reasons to consider refinancing into a new loan.

Bullish sentiment is on the rise, but which investors are we talking about? A recent survey shows once again that people’s ability to handle market uncertainty hinges on what type of investor they are.

Almost half of large U.S. companies say they now use, or they plan to use, financial penalties against employees who don’t participate in certain health programs, according to survey cited by MarketWatch contributor Marla Brill in her story today.

The number of people applying for initial state unemployment insurance benefits fell 11,000 to 457,000 in the week ended July 24, the Labor Department reports.

Ever notice how the things you need most in sweltering heat -- a bottle of water, ice cream -- seem to be everywhere you turn?

The interest rates charged on fixed-rate mortgages inch down to a sixth straight weekly record low, according to Freddie Mac’s latest survey of conforming mortgage rates.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The number of people applying for initial state unemployment insurance benefits fell 11,000 to 457,000 in the week ended July 24, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected an initial claims level of 460,000. The four-week average of initial claims -- a better gauge of employment trends than the volatile weekly number -- fell 4,500 to 452,500, reaching the lowest level since early May. Continuing claims in the week ended July 17 rose 81,000 to 4.57 million. The four-week average of these continuing claims fell 18,000 to 4.55 million, hitting the lowest level since late December 2008. The total number of people collecting some type of unemployment benefits in the week ended July 10 was about 8.3 million, down about 82,000 from the prior week. Although Washington has approved extending some federal jobless benefits it will take some time before the weekly payments resume for some workers.

Life settlements are not wildly popular investments. But they are wild investments. And to that end, federal regulators and lawmakers are fast at work trying to tame these slippery products.

Employees have a new reason to drop the donuts and stop smoking before benefits enrollment season begins in a few weeks.

Yesterday I spent what felt like a very long time but was probably about 10 minutes on hold with my telephone and Internet-services company, in the hopes of finding out how to improve the range of my home network. After the long wait, someone picked up the line and then immediately hung up. Thanks, guys.