Interactive Library

Become an expert

Tru Direction has brought you clear, in-depth lessons from Banzai that help you dive into the financial topics you care about most.

Insurance

5 min read

Planning for Your Health

Know your choices before you pick an insurance policy.

4 min read

Renter's Insurance

If you're renting, it's always a good idea to protect your possessions from disaster.

4 min read

Insuring Your Home

If you’re buying a home, you’ll want to protect your investment. Insuring your home is the only way to really protect yourself from the unpredictable events in life.

3 min read

Auto Insurance

Auto insurance is like ordering fast food—you have a lot of options.

4 min read

Life Insurance

If anyone depends on you for financial security, life insurance is something you can't afford to ignore. And even if you're not at that stage in life yet, it's still smart to know what's at stake so you can make the right decision when the time does come.

6 min read

Health Insurance

Your health can be unpredictable, and no one knows when health problems could befall them. Learning how to navigate health insurance will help you protect yourself in the future.

5 min read

Health Savings Accounts

If you have a high-deductible plan, you can allocate tax-free income toward your health with a health savings account.

Retirement

5 min read

Transitioning to Retirement

When you’re mapping out the best route to collecting retirement income, there’ll be several forks in the road. But you can arm yourself with knowledge to make informed decisions.

4 min read

Portfolio Building

Variety isn’t just the spice of an investor’s life. It’s an essential ingredient.

6 min read

Critical Retirement Choices

You’ll have the answers you need down the road if you ask the right questions now.

3 min read

Meet Your 401(k)

If you’re lucky enough to be introduced to a 401(k), you’ll make a friend for life.

6 min read

Disability Insurance

Even if you feel your job is secure and you're in perfect health now, it's smart to plan for the unexpected; acquired disabilities may be more common than you think.

5 min read

Social Security Basics

If retirement and Social Security seem one and the same to you, there’s good reason. More than 90% of US households with someone over 65 are part of the system. And the monthly benefits check is the primary source of income for almost 67% of those households.

6 min read

Individual Retirement Accounts

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can look intimidating and cryptic when you begin planning for retirement, but there are some foundational lessons to learn so you plan wisely.

Buying a House

4 min read

Buying a Home

Buying a home may be one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make.

4 min read

Selling Your Home

Selling your home and buying a new one when you retire can be a taxing experience.

7 min read

To Buy or Not to Buy?

There are some compelling reasons to buy real estate, but it's not a clear-cut situation for everyone.

5 min read

Dealing with a Lender

Finding a mortgage lender isn't as hard or scary as it seems.

4 min read

The Cost of a Mortgage

The cost of a mortgage depends on the amount you borrow, the APR, and how long you take to repay.

Taxes

5 min read

Completing a Return

Your tax return tests you much like a standardized test, but it doesn't have to be as complicated as it seems.

5 min read

Tax Planning

Look ahead to the tax consequences of your financial decisions, so you can legitimately meet your minimum tax obligations.

5 min read

Checking Out Charities

You've heard people say that it's better to give than to receive. But what does that really mean?

4 min read

Paying Taxes

When tax season comes around, you need to be thorough to make sure you pay what you owe and save where you can.

Life Changes

4 min read

Out of Work?

Unemployment can throw a curve ball at your financial plans, but you can mitigate the damage.

4 min read

Filling Out the FAFSA

If you're considering going to college, you have nothing to lose by applying for federal student aid.

5 min read

Government Assistance

Understanding more about government assistance ensures that you’ll know where to turn if you ever need financial aid for the basic stuff you need.

5 min read

Property and Divorce

Divorce law varies throughout the United States, but there are some principles you can follow to protect your financial security.

5 min read

Identity Theft

Staying alert is the best defense against fraud.

5 min read

Wills

Having a will to allocate your estate after you die is essential, so make sure it's done formally and legally.

4 min read

Dealing with Illness

Illness can befall anyone, but if you have a plan in place for those circumstances, you can rest easier.

Borrowing and Credit

9 min read

Repaying Student Loans

Student loans account for a lot of personal debt and often seem too daunting to handle. Learn how to start repaying.

4 min read

Interest

A brief overview of what you need to know about interest.

3 min read

Credit Scores

Every single time you use credit, the details of the amount you spend and how you repay is added to your credit report and influences your credit score.

4 min read

Credit Cards

Credit cards are useful tools but have their trade-offs. Learn more about how to handle them cautiously.

5 min read

Using Credit

This article is about using credit. Like credit cards, loans and stuff like that.

5 min read

What a Car Loan Costs

Gearing up to get a car loan is the key to getting wheels.

4 min read

Managing Debt

Most people have to borrow money at some point, and many struggle to pay it back. But debt is a burden that doesn't have to break the bank.

Smart Living

6 min read

Teaching Children About Money

Perhaps just as important as teaching kids about the birds and the bees is teaching them the value of money.

5 min read

Rules for Renting

Renting a home can be a walk on Easy Street or a tug of war with your landlord.

4 min read

Home Money Smarts

Wherever and however you live, use these practical tips to make your everyday living easier.

3 min read

Avoiding Inappropriate Investments

There's outright fraud and there are inappropriate investments. Stay away from both.

4 min read

The Rule of 72

Calculating compound interest can be tricky and intimidating. Here is a shortcut to estimate growth rates.

5 min read

Cyber Security

Whenever you’re online, you're sharing information, whether you mean to or not. It's up to you to protect your data, your privacy, and your identity.

3 min read

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net that everybody should have for life's unforeseen challenges.

4 min read

Find a Place to Rent

Picking the right house or apartment in a tight rental market can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Starting a Business

5 min read

Professional Help with Your Business

Your business can benefit from the help of experts.

6 min read

Health Benefits

Offering health insurance can benefit you and your employees.

6 min read

Attracting Employees

To draw new employees, it’s important to have a well-rounded incentive package.

5 min read

Documentation for SBA Loans

In order to apply for an SBA loan, you'll need to provide the correct documentation.

5 min read

Funds to Build Your Business

Growing a business requires a steady flow of money.

5 min read

Keeping Your Employees

Creating a strong team is key to your company’s growth.

Budgeting

2 min read

Budgeting

Figuring out how you will organize your finances, and to what degree you will have combined accounts, sets the groundwork for the main tool of money management—a budget.

7 min read

50/30/20 Rule

A simple, practical rule of thumb for individuals who want a budget that is easy to implement.

5 min read

Debit Cards

Cards are a convenient way to pay, and it pays to know the details of how debit cards work.

6 min read

Check It Out

Checking accounts take center stage in your day-to-day finances, and you can open one of several styles.

5 min read

Tracking Your Joint Expenses

When you share your life with a partner, you're sharing your finances too. It can be awkward, but it's possible to make good decisions together.

3 min read

The Cost of College Life

Going to college incurs a lot of expenses you might not have thought about.

3 min read

Income and Expenses

People spend money. But many people don't know how to track how much they're spending or how to prioritize it.

5 min read

Savings Accounts

Learning about different kinds of money accounts can help pave the way to financial security.

Interactive Library

Become an expert

Tru Direction has brought you clear, in-depth lessons from Banzai that help you dive into the financial topics you care about most.

Jump to

Insurance

5 min read

Planning for Your Health

4 min read

Renter's Insurance

4 min read

Insuring Your Home

3 min read

Auto Insurance

4 min read

Life Insurance

6 min read

Health Insurance

5 min read

Health Savings Accounts

Retirement

5 min read

Transitioning to Retirement

4 min read

Portfolio Building

6 min read

Critical Retirement Choices

3 min read

Meet Your 401(k)

6 min read

Disability Insurance

5 min read

Social Security Basics

6 min read

Individual Retirement Accounts

Buying a House

4 min read

Buying a Home

4 min read

Selling Your Home

7 min read

To Buy or Not to Buy?

5 min read

Dealing with a Lender

4 min read

The Cost of a Mortgage

Taxes

5 min read

Completing a Return

5 min read

Tax Planning

5 min read

Checking Out Charities

4 min read

Paying Taxes

Life Changes

4 min read

Out of Work?

4 min read

Filling Out the FAFSA

5 min read

Government Assistance

5 min read

Property and Divorce

5 min read

Identity Theft

5 min read

Wills

4 min read

Dealing with Illness

Borrowing and Credit

9 min read

Repaying Student Loans

4 min read

Interest

3 min read

Credit Scores

4 min read

Credit Cards

5 min read

Using Credit