Personal finance

Getty Images Many employers offer their workers benefits beyond just health insurance and retirement planning. These perks can range from mental health services to financial advice and can be used to grow your personal wealth. But many workers don’t know what benefits they’re eligible for. In fact, some 32% of employees said they are confused

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., speaks during a news conference announcing the State and Local Taxes (SALT) Caucus outside the U.S. Capitol. Sarah Silbiger | Bloomberg | Getty Images The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a challenge from New York and three other states to overturn the $10,000 limit on the federal deduction for state and

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden signed H.R. 55, the “Emmett Till Antilynching Act,” in Washingtonon March 29, 2022. Samuel Corum | Bloomberg | Getty Images President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have released their 2021 tax returns, and there are a few key takeaways for the average American, experts

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Powerball players may want to make sure they’re looking more closely at their numbers after each drawing. In about two weeks — on May 5 — a ticket purchased in Michigan a year earlier and worth $1 million will expire. And just last month in Maryland, no one came forward

Millions of student loan borrowers will be closer to debt forgiveness after a number of changes the U.S. Department of Education plans to make to the lending system. The Department made the announcement Tuesday, saying it plans to address “historical failures in the administration of the federal student loan programs.” Those changes include reassessing the

Lee Jimenez, a teacher at Indian Hill Elementary School in Cincinnati, Ohio, discusses credit cards and methods of payments with his 3rd grade class using online financial education curriculum SmartPath. SMARTPATH There’s momentum for personal finance education becoming law in many states across the country. Even more states could pass legislation this year to make

Steven Heap/EyeEm/Getty Images It’s finally here: April 18 is the 2021 federal tax filing deadline for most Americans. As of April 8, the IRS had received more than 103 million returns and sent 70 million refunds, totaling over $222 billion. But that still leaves millions to be filed with limited time remaining.  Doug Campbell, a CPA and

urbazon | E+ | Getty Images When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, many Americans felt the financial shock of a sudden drop in income. If the same kind of event were to happen today, many people would still struggle financially, according to a poll conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center, Funding Our Future coalition and Morning

Ahead of Tax Day, the IRS has issued more than 70 million refunds, at an average of $3,256. That’s over $400 more than last year, when the average refund was just above $2,800. For many Americans, a lump-sum payment of this size is rare and it’s tempting to squander it. Still, a growing number of tax filers

The Gray Bee Investors researching potential investments during a recent meeting. Mike Scanlan There’s real money on the line for the investing club at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey. This year, the Gray Bee Investors club — made up of about 15 high school students — is helping make investing decisions for

Woman working at home talks to virtual assistant Martin-dm | E+ | Getty Images Millions of Americans began working remotely or from home during the coronavirus pandemic. Others decided to take the leap amid the “Great Resignation,” start their own business and become their own boss in 2021. But who is able to claim the

Ronnie Kaufman | DigitalVision | Getty Images Some future retirees could end up getting more time to amass a heap of money that won’t be taxed when they or their heirs tap it. Under a provision in a federal retirement bill that cleared the House of Representatives last month, required minimum distributions, or RMDs, from

William F. Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at a press conference on Sep. 10, 2018. Galvin championed a state rule governing investment advice, which a judge invalidated in March 2022. Michael Swensen for The Boston Globe via Getty Images The fight to protect consumers from bad investment advice has been a multi-year saga.

Student loans remain a substantial hurdle for nearly everyone with a college degree. For those currently struggling under the weight of education debt, President Joe Biden used his executive powers to extend the pause federal student loan payments until September. Nearly 43 million federal borrowers are hoping massive student loan forgiveness might be Biden’s next major move. “We have an opportunity

courtneyk | E+ | Getty Images If you’re scrambling to finish your taxes, it’s easy to overlook the forms needed for a complete and accurate return. Such careless errors may delay your refund, according to the IRS. In most states, you’ll need to file your federal return and pay your bill by April 18 to

A person shops for groceries at Lincoln Market on March 10, 2022 in the Prospect Lefferts Garden neighborhood of Brooklyn borough in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images New government inflation data shows prices are surging in one key area – food. Now some states are looking at helping to reduce that

U.S. President Joe Biden. Drew Angerer | Getty Images The Biden administration is moving to make it easier for people who claim they’ve been defrauded by their colleges to get their federal student debt forgiven. Since President Joe Biden has been in office, the U.S. Department of Education has canceled around $2 billion in student

Eakgrunge | Istock | Getty Images Less risk often means lower returns. But that’s not the case with I bonds, an inflation-protected and government-backed asset, which may soon pay an estimated 9.62%. I bonds currently offer 7.12% annual returns through April, and the rate may reach 9.62% in May based on the latest consumer price index data. Annual

Peopleimages | Istock | Getty Images In just a matter of months, mortgage rates have surged from just over 3% for a 30-year fixed loan to just north of 5%. As potential homebuyers follow those figures, there is one thing they may be overlooking: their credit score. The three-digit number has a big impact on

Demonstrators in front of the White House on Sept. 25, 2021, call for the cancellation of rents, and mortgages and to prevent millions of evictions in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Olivier Douliery | Afp | Getty Images Billions of dollars in federal rental assistance is still available to struggling renters, though some states