Advisors

mphillips007 | iStock Unreleased | Getty Images There’s a whole lot of money up for grabs this week in two national lotteries. Powerball’s jackpot is an advertised $420 million for Wednesday night’s drawing. Mega Millions’ top prize is even more: $494 million for the next pull, set for Friday night. Of course, the chance of

Ridofranz | Istock | Getty Images Roth individual retirement account conversions may be alluring when the stock market dips. But it’s easy to make mistakes, financial experts say. The strategy, which transfers pre-tax IRA funds to a Roth IRA for future tax-free growth, may pay off when the market drops because you can buy more

Tetra Images | Tetra images | Getty Images After several months of soaring inflation, stock market volatility and interest rate hikes, many investors are feeling weary about their finances.  But the prolonged stock market downturn offers a silver lining for some investors: opportunities to reduce their tax bill. Here are some of the most popular

momcilog | E+ | Getty Images It’s almost the time of year for Medicare beneficiaries to give thought to their 2023 Medicare plan. The program’s fall open enrollment period, when you can make changes that take effect Jan. 1, starts Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. This window is for coverage related to prescription

Freshsplash | E+ | Getty Images The White House has repeatedly said that its application for student loan forgiveness, which is expected to go live within days, will be simple. Still, consumer advocates say that any red tape around the relief is likely to cause millions of borrowers to miss out on it. “Those who

At an individual level, sometimes a trade school makes the most sense for your or your children’s financial future. Tom Werner | Digitalvision | Getty Images While my parents never had the opportunity to attend college, they were indeed very successful. Their success afforded me the opportunity to pursue higher education, but ironically, I doubt

Investors have recently witnessed some of the worst trading days since 2020. Stocks took a dive in September over fears the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hike cycle will cause the economy to stall, but with more hikes to come, along with slowing growth, geopolitical unrest and persistent inflationary pressure, this could be a prolonged period

Ariel Skelley | Digitalvision | Getty Images Applications for financial aid are now available for the upcoming academic year. Although the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 2023-24 isn’t due until June 30, 2024, it’s wise to apply as soon as you can. For a growing number of families, financial aid is key when

fitzkes / Getty If you’re looking to meet the Oct. 17 tax extension deadline, make sure you don’t skip key forms as you’re rushing to the finish line, experts say. It’s critical to file a complete and accurate return to avoid processing delays, according to the IRS, including details from all the necessary forms. Furthermore,

Investors are rightfully worried about volatility. After stocks slumped in September, markets have had a strong start to the month and are now on track to notch the biggest two-day rally since March 2020. The key to navigating the recent ups and downs is “buying high quality stocks that pay dividends that tend to be a

George S. Farra (far left), co-founder and principal of Woodley Farra, and the team at Indianapolis-based financial advisory firm, which comes in at No. 1 on the CNBC FA 100 list for 2022. Portfolio manager George S. Farra is good at remembering his mistakes. More than a decade ago, he invested his clients in Hewlett-Packard,

Marko Geber | DigitalVision | Getty Images In times of uncertainty — turbulent markets, high inflation, geopolitical turmoil — we often write about what financial advisors are recommending to clients. This advice often boils down to “stay calm” and “don’t let short-term news lead to impulsive moves that have long-term consequences.” Many advisors also offer

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images With high inflation and rising interest rates fueling speculation that a recession is on the horizon, it may come as no surprise that financial advisors are hearing these concerns from their clients. Year-over-year inflation eased a bit in August to 8.3% from 8.5% in July, but it remains

Alexi Rosenfeld | Getty Images A more generous child tax credit provided qualifying parents with up to $3,600 per child last year. There’s good news for families who missed out on some or all of those payments: It’s not too late to file for the money. But to use a simplified tool — GetCTC.org —

Hero Images | Hero Images | Getty Images If you’re feeling deflated by high inflation and stock market losses, there’s still time to end 2022 on a positive financial note. Whether you’re sitting on losses, eager to take gains or eyeing gifts to charity, here are three real-life examples of financial advisors helping clients trim

Catherine Mcqueen | Moment | Getty Images It’s easy to transfer cash when a charity pulls at your heartstrings. But other giving strategies may provide a bigger tax break, financial experts say. Despite economic uncertainty, nearly 70% of Americans plan to donate a similar amount to charity in 2022 as last year, according to a

Srdjanpav | E+ | Getty Images The tax-extension deadline is approaching on Oct. 17, and a record 19 million Americans filed for more time to manage their 2021 returns, according to the IRS.  While unpaid tax balances for 2021 have racked up late payment penalties since April 18, filers with tax debt may have more

Shapecharge | E+ | Getty Images If you’re a higher-income Medicare beneficiary, you may be paying less in extra premium charges in 2023 than you were this year. So-called income-related adjustment amounts, or IRMAAs, which are based on your tax return from two years earlier, kick in next year at $97,000 for single tax filers

Source: Getty Images Retirement is a major goal many workers keep their eye on throughout their career. However, once people actually reach retirement age, they are often in store for some financial surprises — despite decades of preparation. For today’s retirees, that is compounded by new uncertainties brought by on by historically high inflation and

Leopatrizi | E+ | Getty Images As part of President Joe Biden’s historic student loan forgiveness plan, up to 8 million people could get automatic debt relief, according to the White House. Across the board, most people with federal student debt will be eligible for some forgiveness: up to $10,000 if they didn’t receive a Pell Grant,