Personal finance

The U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Caroline Brehman | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it was moving to make sweeping changes to the federal student loan system, including making it easier for public servants to get debt forgiveness and setting new limits on the accrual

designer491 | iStock | Getty Images With the threat of a recession looming, more financial experts are sharing how to prepare — including how much cash it may be smart to set aside.   The end of June marked a turbulent six months for the S&P 500 Index, which dropped by more than 20% since January,

Mixetto | E+ | Getty Images Workers are still reaping the benefits of a hot job market characterized by few layoffs, ample job openings and a high level of voluntary departures, according to U.S. Department of Labor data issued Wednesday. The numbers reveal that the pandemic-era trend known as the “Great Resignation” is still in

John Lund | Blend Images | Getty Images The end of June marked the worst first six months of a year since 1970 for the S&P 500 Index, which plummeted by more than 20% since January. But there’s a silver lining: the chance to turn losses into tax breaks — as long as you follow

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images Congressional leaders can agree on one thing — Social Security needs to be fixed before the program’s funds are unable to pay full benefits in 2035. But that is where the consensus ends. Leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties have each recently discussed the issue on Capitol

If you can even find a new car to buy, actually purchasing it is going to cost you. “It’s a really difficult time to buy a car,” said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights for Edmunds. Limited inventory due to a persistent shortage of computer chips, along with other supply-chain challenges, helped propel new car

For years, fewer teenagers were looking for summer jobs, opting instead to bolster their college applications with academic programs or unpaid internships. But as the economy bounced back from the pandemic, employers were almost begging for workers and some opportunities were too good to pass up. With more flexible work arrangements and better pay, the

Carol Yepes | Moment | Getty Images It’s right there on the U.S. Department of Education’s website: Student loan payments to restart after Aug. 31, 2022. Skeptical? It’s understandable. The Education Department has repeatedly set an end date for the payment pause on federal student loans, which began in March 2020, and then revised it

Emmanuel Faure | Getty Images Understanding the ins and outs of Social Security’s many rules around claims will help you make the best decisions when accessing retirement benefits. But a recent MassMutual poll given to people near or already in retirement shows that many have some brushing up to do on the program’s rules. The

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images For employees today, job satisfaction is about much more than just pay and benefits. New hires are increasingly looking for companies that affirm their values. Tyrese Thomas, who graduated from college in May with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, East Asian studies and business management, was careful in

Phonlamaiphoto | Istock | Getty Images Months of stock market volatility, surging inflation and rising interest rates have left many investors wondering if a recession is coming.  The stock market tumbled again on Thursday, with the S&P 500 capping its worst six-month start to a year since 1970. In all, it’s down more than 20%

miodrag ignjatovic | E+ | Getty Images If medical debt you’ve already paid has been lingering on your credit report, you may want to see if that has changed. As of Friday, the first phase of changes to when such debt will show up on credit reports takes effect. Specifically, the three large credit reporting

Valerie Macon | AFP | Getty Images Customer service wait times from Social Security may be improving, at least for mail correspondence. A new report from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General details the results of an investigation into deficiencies in the agency’s handling of U.S. mail during the Covid-19 pandemic. In

Stock trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Spencer Platt | Getty Images News | Getty Images The S&P 500 Index, a barometer of U.S. stocks, just had its worst first half of the year going back over 50 years. The index fell 20.6% in the past six months, from its high-water

andresr | E+ | Getty Images IRA rollovers — transfers from 401(k) plans to individual retirement accounts — are a common financial move when workers switch jobs or retire. But rollover IRAs can cost Americans billions of dollars in extra fees over decades, according to a study issued Thursday by The Pew Charitable Trusts, a

Justin Sullivan / Getty If you’re holding the winning ticket for Powerball’s $366.7 million jackpot, don’t forget about your silent partner: Uncle Sam. After rolling higher for about two months of three weekly drawings with no winner, the lottery game’s top prize was nabbed in Wednesday night’s drawing. The ticket was purchased in Vermont, which

Sdi Productions | E+ | Getty Images The student loan crisis has made it clear that many borrowers have gotten in over their heads, said Sheila Bair, who has served as both a bank regulator and college president. She blames the lack of transparency and confusion around this category of loan. About 44 million Americans

Anchiy | E+ | Getty Images Certain “junk” fees often levied by debt collectors are illegal under federal law, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday. Debt collectors charge so-called “pay-to-pay” fees, also known as convenience fees, when consumers make a payment online or over the phone, according to the federal agency. These fees violate

Ric Edelman, founder of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals. Heidi Gutman | CNBC Bitcoin’s recent rout — including its recent drop below $20,000 — has given some cryptocurrency naysayers an “I told you so” moment. “How do you make a million? Invest a billion in bitcoin,” one panelist joked at a conference for

In this article TREE Some shoppers say “buy now, pay later” may not be all it’s cracked up to be. After experiencing explosive growth during the pandemic — spending on BNPL in the U.S. soared 230% since the start of 2020 — the hype around installment buying is fading as costs for everyday items rise