Cartoon via The Economist

Whether you work in the technology sector or want to invest, you need to know the signs of a tech bubble. This refers to an imbalance between the value of tech stocks and the actual value of the business. Recognizing a bubble isn’t an exact science, but there are some warning signs.

Mortgage rates are still hovering at historic lows, but incredibly low rates don’t lessen the importance of finding a lender you can trust.

Aurora Bank is a national lender with over 85 years of banking history, plus competitive rates and low-cost financing. If you’re ready to become a homeowner, secure a mortgage from Aurora Bank to ensure you get the most reliable and affordable loan possible.

If you’re part of the rising trend of Americans who paid down debt and swore off credit cards in 2010, you probably have a smaller cash budget set for back to school shopping this year. However, that doesn’t mean that moms and dads are exactly prepared to splurge this school year.

“Americans feel better about their credit situation this year but worse about their cash budget for back-to-school shopping,” says Britt Beemer of findings in his annual Consumer Track Back-To-School Shopping Survey.

By Erica Sandberg

Just like families and individuals, when the government is hard-up for cash, creative measures to scare some up are put on the table. Here are just five ways Uncle Sam is trying to save money and make ends meet right now.

Research released by Morgan Stanley earlier this week revealed that home ownership in the United States has dropped to the lowest level since 1965. According to the report, the large decline in home ownership has a lot to do with the foreclosure crisis that is wreaking havoc on the housing market.

Morgan Stanley Home Ownership Rate Lower than Census Bureau’s

The Dow Jones industrial average took a huge 512-point dive in the stock market on Thursday, making this the largest drop the index has taken since the financial crisis in 2008. Officials say the drop largely represented investors’ fears of problems plaguing the global economy, especially in Europe.

Stock Market Drops Erase All Gains for the Year

This post provided by our friends at Nerdwallet.com

Decoupled debit cards are a relatively recent financial innovation, but because of the Durbin Amendment, these consumer-friendly products are on their way out. Normally, a consumer has a debit card linked to his or her checking account–a third party can handle payments processing, “decoupling” the debit card from the corresponding bank account.

By Stacey Bumpus

Finding a job in this economy has been a challenge for the approximately 14 million who are still out of work. Currently, the unemployment rate is sitting at a high 9.2 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Unfortunately, thanks to an unspoken rule of many companies, it will be difficult for this rate to change any time soon. Why? Because many simply aren’t interested in hiring on a candidate who is currently unemployed.

For retired folks, generating the retirement income necessary to maintain their lifestyle is tricky these days. Because interest rates are so low, most retirees can no longer rely on traditional income-producing investments like CDs and U.S. treasury bonds to grow sufficient cash.

The United States is only a few days away from what could be the first traditional default in the nation’s history. Many have predicted the already struggling economy would be turned upside down if the government allowed the USA debt to default on Aug. 2.

However, while default has never occurred in the U.S., it has happened in other countries around the world. In fact, according to This Time Is Different by Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, in addition to the U.S., Australia, Canada and New Zealand are among the few that haven’t defaulted. So which countries have met this dreaded fate?