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Articles by Robert Michelin
How Accurate Is Credit Karma? What Your Scores Really Mean
If you’ve ever checked your credit and wondered, “How accurate is Credit Karma?”, the short answer is that Credit Karma can accurately reflect the credit information in the reports it uses (TransUnion and Equifax) and provides real credit scores (VantageScore 3.0) based on that information.
What Is PMI? Private Mortgage Insurance Explained
Anyone who’s ever thought about buying a home has heard the same financial advice: have a 20% down payment ready. That rule has been imprinted into borrowers’ psyches for nearly 100 years, and while it’s still sound advice, it’s not a strict requirement. You can still buy a house with less than 20% down. In fact, the median downpayment for U.S. home buyers was 15% in 2025, but be prepared to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI).
The Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds may be small, but they pack a lot of nutrition into each bite. These edible seeds are a popular snack and an easy addition to meals. Interest in pumpkin seed nutrition continues to grow because they provide protein and a host of other important nutrients. Research suggests the benefits of pumpkin seeds may include support for heart health, blood sugar management, sleep support, immune function and digestive wellness.
Dangerous Types of Bruises: When to Worry and Seek Medical Attention
Most bruises are harmless reminders of bumping into a table corner or missing a step. They may look dramatic, but they usually heal on their own within a couple of weeks. However, there some more dangerous types of bruises that can signal an underlying medical condition, medication side effect, or even a serious injury that requires prompt medical attention.
What is Gait? Understanding How You Walk, Common Disorders and Practical Solutions
The way a person walks varies across their lifespan and where they are walking. A baby toddles while learning to walk. The way you stroll on a sandy beach is different from how you walk on a sidewalk with a dog or while walking for exercise. Your gait, or the way you walk, can offer clues about your demeanor—think of the purposeful stride of a confident individual or the more relaxed gait of a carefree person.
How Long Does Caffeine Stay in Your System? Understanding Duration, Effects, and Key Factors
Caffeine is one of the most widely used stimulants in the world. Found in coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, energy drinks, and some supplements, it is part of many people’s daily routines. Some people enjoy the ritual of a morning cup of caffeinated coffee or tea, while others rely on it for energy and focus. But caffeine doesn’t act the same way for all people. How Long Does Caffeine Stay in Your System?
Understanding Mitral Regurgitation: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
The heart has four valves that help control the direction of blood flow. One of these is the mitral valve, which sits between the left atrium and left ventricle. Oxygenated blood flows from the lungs into the left atrium. When the left atrium contracts, the mitral valve opens, directing blood into the left ventricle. When the left atrium relaxes, the mitral valve closes. If the two flaps (leaflets) of the mitral valve fail to close tightly, blood can leak backward into the left atrium.
Direct Primary Care: A Clear Guide to Costs, Benefits and What to Expect
Direct primary care, or DPC, is a health-care alternative that’s gaining traction in the US with close to 3,000 practices in all 50 states and Washington, DC. This is a less expensive choice than concierge medicine that still promises a better relationship between patient and doctor…cuts waiting times for appointments…and offers longer visits during which your health needs can be better met. Is direct primary care right for you?
When Is Fatigue a Cause for Concern? Signs, Causes, and When to Seek Help
Fatigue is a problem faced by many older adults, but it frequently goes unreported because—much like pain—it tends to be accepted as just another sign of aging. In fact, chronic fatigue can be a sign of numerous health issues, many of them serious. So, when is fatigue worrisome? “Fatigue definitely shouldn’t be considered a normal part of aging,” emphasizes Mount Sinai geriatrician Patricia Bloom, MD.
Risk Tolerance: How to Evaluate How Much Investment Risk You Can Handle
How do you decide how much investment risk you are comfortable taking in your portfolio? Many people start by taking an online risk-tolerance questionnaire from their advisor or brokerage firm—you know, the ones that ask a series of questions like, “Could you accept a 30% loss in a one-year period and still sleep at night?”…and then tell you how aggressive your approach should be and recommend your ideal stock-and-bond allocation.
Healthiest Fast-Food Choices: How to Eat Well on the Go
Fast food is designed for speed and cravings—not necessarily for health. Many popular combos can deliver a full day’s worth of calories, sodium and saturated fat in one sitting. Yet with a bit of strategy, you can absolutely eat at the biggest chains without blowing up your health goals.
Stock Market and Economic Forecast for the Rest of 2026…From Dr. Allen Sinai
The most shocking surprise during the first half of 2026 wasn’t the US Supreme Court striking down Trump-era tariffs…the war in the Persian Gulf…crude oil breaking $100 a barrel…or the disruptive nature of US politics. It was the remarkable resiliency of the stock market, which has shrugged off so many external shocks and chaos to hit all-time highs more than a dozen times. “The equity bull market will keep rolling,” says top economist Allen Sinai, PhD.
How to Clean an Oven: Expert Tips for a Sparkling, Odor-Free Kitchen
Cleaning your oven is about more than just getting your home ready for guests or part of your annual spring cleaning—it is for your safety as well. Lingering grease, dirt and food particles left in your oven can put your home at risk, and according to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is one of the leading causes of house fires.
Understanding Cardiac Biomarkers: Essential Tests for Heart Health, Heart Failure, and Heart Attack Diagnosis
Cardiac biomarkers play a central role in modern cardiovascular care. These blood-based tests help clinicians quickly detect heart injury, diagnose acute coronary syndrome (ACS, which includes unstable angina and heart attack), evaluate heart failure, and guide treatment decisions.
Vertigo: What You Should Know About this Dizzying Disorder
Vertigo, that head-spinning, disorienting sensation that affects an estimated one in five people around the world at some point in their lives, is an often-misunderstood condition. It’s commonly confused with dizziness, and it’s also thought of as a disorder of its own, rather than a symptom of a potentially more serious medical concern.
Best New Side Hustles for 2026
It seems like everybody’s got a side hustle these days. Laura Olert, senior coaching manager at the talent mobility firm Randstad RiseSmart, frequently hears about these side jobs so we asked her to tell us about some of the best side hustles now—including some that are not online and some attractive app-based gigs. Why side jobs are still hot People have always taken side jobs to make money.
Recasting a Mortgage: What Is It and Is It Worth It?
Refinancing isn’t the only way for homeowners to lower their monthly mortgage payments—a lesser-known strategy called mortgage recasting can accomplish that goal as well. But: Mortgage recasting isn’t an option for every homeowner—it is not available with every mortgage, and it requires a hefty lump-sum payment. Bottom Line Personal asked mortgage expert Keith Gumbinger for details… What Is Recasting a Mortgage? The payment schedule laid out in a mortgage loan isn’t necessarily set in stone.
Foods That Lower Cholesterol
To help lower cardiovascular risk, dietary guidelines recommend healthful eating patterns like the Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets partly because of their beneficial effects on cholesterol. Certain foods that lower cholesterol can promote a more favorable lipid profile, helping you to optimize low-density lipoprotein (LDL “bad”) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL “good”) cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Magnesium Glycinate: Benefits, Side Effects, Uses and More
Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in hundreds of processes in the body, from muscle and nerve function to blood sugar regulation and bone health. Although magnesium is available in a wide range of foods—such as pumpkin seeds, almonds, dark chocolate, spinach, and quinoa—more than half of Americans do not meet the recommended intake—320 milligrams (mg) per day for women and 420 mg for men. If necessary, supplements like magnesium glycinate can help make up for any dietary shortfalls.
How to Choose a Mattress: Expert Tips for Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Sleep Needs
Purchasing a new mattress can be daunting given the number of styles, sizes and features available today. And studies consistently underscore the importance of sleep as a foundation of human health, so it is critical to find the mattress that will give you the best night’s sleep. Bottom Line Personal turned to Derek Hales, founder and editor-in-chief of the mattress-testing company Naplab.com, for a guide on how to choose a mattress.
Appendicitis: How to Spot the Signs and What to Do Next
For more than a century, appendicitis has been treated as a surgical emergency. But groundbreaking research led by David Talan, MD, a UCLA Health emergency medicine/infectious disease specialist, is reshaping that long-held belief. In many cases, particularly when the appendix has not ruptured, appendicitis can be treated safely with antibiotics alone, giving patients an alternative to surgery.
Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Tests: What You Need to Know
Cancer death rates dropped by 34% from 1991 to 2023. Nevertheless, more than 626,000 people in the United States will die from the disease in 2026, according to American Cancer Society (ACS) projections. To reduce cancer mortality even further, researchers are studying multicancer early detection tests (MCEDs), which can screen for dozens of cancer types in a single blood test.
What Is Costco Next? A Complete Guide to Costco’s Exclusive Member Shopping Perk
In 2017, without much fanfare, Costco rolled out a new membership perk called Costco Next, giving members access to exclusive pricing on merchandise from select manufacturers and suppliers. Today, it remains a lesser-known benefit of Costco membership, sometimes even referred to as a “best-kept secret.” So exactly what is Costco Next…and how does it work? For answers, Bottom Line Personal turned to Kevin Brasler, executive director of the Washington, DC-based nonprofit Consumers’ Checkbook.
How to Understand and Avoid Common Bank Fees
Banks often emphasize relationships in their advertising…but are they really in their customers’ corner? Don’t bank on it. Many banks thank their customers for depositing their hard-earned dollars by nickel-and-diming them with bank fees. Bottom Line Personal asked Bankrate financial analyst Stephen Kates what consumers need to know about savings and checking account fees and for his tips for reducing bank fees. What Are Bank Fees?
Understanding Frailty: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Practical Ways to Manage or Prevent It
Many people assume frailty is just another word for aging or general weakness, but it is a distinct medical condition that affects how well the body can handle stress, illness, and everyday challenges. Recognizing it early can make a meaningful difference in quality of life, independence, and long-term health outcomes. According to UCLA geriatrician David Richard Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, frailty isn’t inevitable, and it isn’t static.
Statin Side Effects: What You Need to Know About Risks, Symptoms, and Solutions
Statin medications remain the cornerstone of pharmacological cholesterol management. Numerous studies support the drugs’ ability not only to lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL “bad”) cholesterol, but also to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, including heart attack and stroke. Despite these benefits, less than half of people who are eligible for statin therapy based on current guideline recommendations actually take the medications.
Mushroom Coffee: Health Benefits, Risks, and What You Need to Know
Mushrooms are a versatile ingredient used in a broad range of dishes. They’re a common component of stir fries and Asian cooking, pasta dishes, soups, and stews, as well as a popular pizza topping and omelet ingredient. You might have enjoyed stuffed mushrooms or munched on a mushroom burger. Today, mushroom coffee is all the rage, fueled by anecdotal reports that infusing coffee with medicinal mushrooms can reduce stress, improve sleep, and provide an array of other health benefits.
Top 10 Signs of Anemia: How to Recognize Symptoms and What to Do Next
Are you cold even though your environment isn’t? Do you frequently feel fatigued? You might think you’re feeling under the weather because of a cold or flu. Fact is, the problem might be originating much deeper in your body, at a cellular level—red blood cells, to be exact. You could be exhibiting signs of anemia. “Anemia is hugely common,” says Alan Lichtin, MD, a Cleveland Clinic hematologist. “Anemia is a symptom. A lot of disorders can cause anemia, and they need to be evaluated.” What Is Anemia?
Time-Restricted Eating: Expert Tips, Benefits, and How to Get Started Safely
Time-restricted eating (TRE) and other intermittent fasting approaches have gained in popularity over the last five to 10 years. These dietary strategies have been shown to help with weight loss and confer a number of potential benefits. Yet, a recent analysis finds that the key to gaining the benefits of TRE isn’t just when you eat, but also what you eat and how much.
10 Practical Landscaping Ideas to Transform Your Outdoor Space
If you want to refresh and beautify your yard but you aren’t sure how to begin, “think broadly,” advises gardening expert Teri Dunn Chace. “Landscaping involves more than plants—it’s also context.” Try some or all of the following practical ideas to make a change for the better. In the process, you’re sure to create curb appeal and raise your property value. 1. Start with a plan Assess your yard first.
Best ETFs to Invest In Now
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have taken over the investment world. Last year, investors poured $1.3 trillion into them…and more than 1,000 new ETFs were rolled out. Reason for their fast-growing appeal: ETFs generally offer lower fees, better tax benefits and greater liquidity than mutual funds. “The biggest drawback is trying to select from the thousands now available,” says Neena Mishra, CFA, ETF research director at Zacks Investment Research.
How to Give Your Semantic Memory a Boost
The colors of the rainbow. How to compute a percentage. The difference in the meanings of “overlook” and “oversee.” The importance of D-Day. Your mind is filled with facts, concepts, skills, and other types of knowledge, collectively known as semantic memory. Semantic memory is more than a random collection of trivia. It helps you learn about the world, use language to communicate with others, and equips you to respond to a variety of situations.
What Happens to Your 401(k) When You Leave a Job? Your Options and How to Make the Best Choice
Across the US, 75% of workers have access to employer retirement benefits. 401(k)s are among the most common plans available. Since a 401(k) retirement account is tied to a specific employer, you may wonder, What happens to my 401(k) when I leave a job?
Maximize Your Health and Fitness: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Improving VO2 Max
Runners and joggers are probably familiar with the term VO2 max. For a casual exerciser, that term might not ring a bell to you. But perhaps it should, especially if you’re interested in improving your aerobic workout and fitness. VO2 max is a measure of how effectively your heart, lungs, and cardiovascular system supply oxygenated blood to your muscles and how efficiently your muscles extract and use the oxygen from the blood (the V stands for “volume” and the O2 represents oxygen).
Cardiac Rehab: How a Comprehensive Program Supports Heart Recovery and Long-Term Health
If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition or need a heart procedure, your doctor may advise you participate in cardiac rehabilitation. It’s a program designed to help you recover and put you on the road to better heart health. “Cardiac rehab saves lives,” says cardiologist Leslie Cho, MD, a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist.
Unlocking the Power of Grip Strength: Why It Matters and How to Improve Yours
Body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. They’re considered the four vital signs used to measure your body’s basic functions and general physical health. These days, many experts suggest that this list is incomplete and that a fifth vital sign should be added to it: grip strength. Research suggests that hand grip strength is an important measure of muscle function and physical capability that closely correlates with overall health and longevity.
Best Home Water Filters: Expert Guide to Choosing the Right System for Your Needs
Is the water that comes out of your home’s faucets safe to drink? “There is a discrepancy between what is safe in tap water and what is legal,” says Sydney Evans, MPH, from the Environmental Working Group. “Drinking water from a utility is regulated, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any contaminants at all. Contaminants vary across the states, and different ones have different risks—many of which don’t go away even when water is boiled or used for cooking.” Why Consider a Home Water Filter?
What Is a Dangerous BNP Level? Understanding High BNP Results and What They Mean for Your Heart Health
If you have heart failure, you probably have regular blood tests for brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). The physician treating your heart failure uses the information to help manage your condition. However, there’s good chance you don’t know what BNP is or what role it plays in your heart health. And, importantly, what is a dangerous BNP level? What Is BNP, and Why Does It Matter?
Best Sunburn Relief: Expert-Backed Remedies to Soothe, Heal, and Prevent Further Damage
The sun brightens your mood and helps your body produce vitamin D. But spend too much time roasting in those rays and you risk sunburn and worse. Sunburn isn’t just reddened skin that might peel after a few days. It really is a burn, because that warm, bright sunshine you may love to bask in is composed of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, explains Ahuva Cices, MD, a Mount Sinai dermatologist.
Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure: Expert-Backed Strategies for a Healthier Heart
Whether or not you are aware of it, you may have high blood pressure (hypertension). Over time, the force of blood pushing against your artery walls will damage your arteries, greatly increasing your risk of stroke, heart attack, and many other serious events. You can prevent these outcomes, however, using natural ways to lower blood pressure.
Are Açaí Bowls Healthy?
Açaí bowls have become a staple of health cafés, fitness influencers, and social media feeds—often promoted as the ultimate “clean” breakfast or post-workout meal. But are açaí bowls healthy, or are they just smoothies served in a bowl with good marketing? The answer lies in how they’re made. What Are Açaí Bowls? Açaí bowls are made with the dark purple açaí berries, native to the Amazon rainforest.
How to Calculate Marginal Cost
If you’re an investor or business owner, you likely have encountered the term “marginal cost” and wondered what it means. To find out, Bottom Line Personal turned to Eric Amzalag, CEO of Peak Financial Planning. What Is Marginal Cost? Every unit that a company produces or manufactures incurs material, labor and other costs. Marginal cost is how much money a company would have to pay to generate one additional unit beyond current production levels.
How Excessive Aldosterone Ups Your Blood Pressure
Luke Laffin, MD, describes a 49-year-old male patient who had resistant hypertension, uncontrolled blood pressure despite taking multiple classes of antihypertensive medications. After some investigation, Dr. Laffin diagnosed the man with primary aldosteronism, which is characterized by excessive levels of the hormone aldosterone in the blood. He prescribed the man appropriate therapy, and now his blood pressure is controlled on one medication.
Why Is My Tax Refund Taking So Long? Common Causes, Solutions and What to Do Next
Who doesn’t love getting a tax refund? But when it feels like too much time has gone by without hearing from the IRS, a lot of us start grumbling, Why is my tax refund taking so long? Abbie Eisenkraft, EA, CEO of New York–based Choice Tax Solutions, takes us through the most common delayed-tax-fund reasons…how to check your tax refund status…and how to avoid an IRS refund delay in the future.
Understanding Melanoma: Symptoms, Risks, Treatment, and Prevention
Everyone loves getting out in the sunshine—after all, the sun brightens our mood and transforms skin made pallid by gloomy winter months into what is sometimes referred to as a “healthy color.” But that color isn’t healthy at all, and even though sun exposure does have some benefits for your health, it also raises the risk for skin cancer, including a particularly lethal form: melanoma. Here’s what you need to know about the disease. What Is Melanoma?
Estate Planning for Second Marriages
Second marriages inevitably create estate-planning complications, warns attorney Martin Shenkman, CPA. The need to update beneficiary designations, powers of attorney and other documents to name the new spouse (or not) is only a small part of the challenge—additional planning steps often are needed, and some of these are tricky enough that missteps are common even when working with an experienced estate planner.
Nonsurgical Success Against Peyronie’s Disease
Peyronie’s disease is a common problem that affects an estimated 10% of men at some point in their lives. The primary treatments for men with bothersome Peyronie’s disease have been injections of the drug collagenase clostridium histolyticum (Xiaflex) or surgery to correct the deformity and help straighten the penis. While surgery remains effective, our early experience with Xiaflex was underwhelming.
How to Calculate Your Discretionary Income
Discretionary income is an intuitive concept, but it is worth more than a passing thought. Understanding your discretionary income can help you align your thinking with your long-term financial goals. Bottom Line Personal asked Eric Amzalag, CEO of Peak Financial Planning, to help explain the concept and what it means to you… What is discretionary income? As the term suggests, discretionary income is the portion of your money over which you have control in terms of how it will be spent.
Sundowning: Causes and Treatment
Behavioral changes in the late afternoon and evening—commonly called sundowning or sundowning syndrome—can be one of the most distressing aspects of caring for someone with dementia. Yet, despite how frequently the term is used, there are persistent misconceptions about what it is, why it happens, and how best to respond. Better understanding can make a meaningful difference for both patients and caregivers, says Matthew Mulroy, MD, a UCLA Health internist who specializes in geriatric medicine.
Understanding Timeshares: Types, Costs, Risks and Alternatives
Timeshares are mysterious to many consumers, and they have questions about them—is a timeshare worth it?…what are some timeshare pros and cons?…what are the advantages of a timeshare? For guidance, Bottom Line Personal spoke with Brian Rogers, owner of Timeshare Users Group, which advises consumers on all matters concerning timeshares. What Is a Timeshare? Recently, the timeshare industry has stopped using the word “timeshare,” thanks to decades of bad press.
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