Personal finance

A woman pushes a shopping cart through the grocery aisle at Target in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 16, 2022, as Americans brace for summer sticker shock as inflation continues to grow. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images It appears emergency savings are another casualty of high inflation. About one-third of adults are contributing less

By nearly every measure, the U.S. economy made a stunning recovery after the coronavirus pandemic spurred mass shutdowns and layoffs nationwide. The labor market has added back millions of jobs and wages have gone up substantially, even among lower-paying positions. But soaring inflation and rapidly rising interest rates have most Americans worried that the good

Michael Martinez wanted to be an airline pilot. But as he got older, Martinez, now 18, decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a professional welder instead. In fact, the senior at Brazoswood High School in Clute, Texas, has already landed a job that will start immediately after graduation. “My dad always wanted

Phonlamaiphoto | Istock | Getty Images The S&P 500 Index fell into a so-called bear market on Friday. But just what does that mean? “Bear market” is a term used by investors to describe a steep and sustained market downturn. Technically, it’s a drop of 20% or more from recent highs. Investors commonly apply the

Westend61 | Getty Images Side hustles have become an increasingly popular way to boost income. But are they necessary to reach financial freedom? “The answer is no,” said Gorick Ng, author of “The Unspoken Rules,” adding that there are plenty of people who don’t have side hustles and have achieved success. Still, Ng is in

JGI/Jamie Grill As inflation soars and markets slide, many investors are wondering what’s coming next. Traditional advice dictates that long-term investors — those who are focused on retirement dates further down the road — should stay the course in the markets. But those with shorter time horizons of three- to five-years for a closer goal,

FG Trade | E+ | Getty Images The recent volatile price action in the stock market has been scary for some investors, especially younger ones just dipping their toes into putting money away for the long-term. Still, financial experts say that now is a good time for people to start investing or to continue to

skynesher Days of record market losses may inspire 401(k) investors to take action. Yet most experts caution against doing just that. The reason: Days when the markets are down tend to be closely followed by days when the market is up. If you sell and run for cover now, you may miss the upside. “The

G-stockstudio | Istock | Getty Images Annuity rates are starting to increase after having bottomed out for most of the Covid-19 pandemic. That means buyers, who are generally retirees or those near retirement age, may find payouts better now than they were just a few months ago. The trend will likely continue if the Federal

Sod Tatong | Moment | Getty Images Scammers are exploiting a nationwide baby formula shortage, tricking consumers into paying hefty prices through fraudulent online stores, the Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday. The con artists lure “desperate parents and caregivers” via fake websites or social media profiles with images and logos of recognizable formula brands, according

In this article WMT TGT A woman pushes a shopping cart through the grocery aisle at Target in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 16, 2022, as Americans brace for summer sticker shock as inflation continues to grow. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images Many Americans feel anxious about money, especially when inflation is high, interest

Eakgrunge | Istock | Getty Images Many people who have dialed the Social Security Administration’s toll-free number during the Covid-19 pandemic have faced long wait times. In an effort to alleviate the customer service issues, Congress this week held a hearing to identify ways in fix the problems. The issues are something leaders on both

Nosystem Images | E+ | Getty Images Amid market turmoil, there’s a term that analysts often start throwing around: investor or market capitulation. It generally means a point at which investors throw in the towel and sell, basically giving up on the asset and the hope of recouping lost gains. Generally, capitulation happens at a

DusanManic | iStock | Getty Images Multiple days of losses may tempt some stock investors to sell and run for cover. But that is exactly what you should not do. The reason: Days when stocks suffer big losses are often followed by days when they recoup. If you sell, you may miss the upside —

SDI Productions With soaring prices and record home equity, you may expect a profit from selling your property. But the windfall may trigger an unexpected tax bill next April.  While home profits dipped slightly, the typical single-family seller still scored a $103,000 gross profit during the first quarter of 2022, according to ATTOM, a nationwide

Moyo Studio | E+ | Getty Images Many investors who pulled money out of the stock market in the last year now regret their decision. Some 38% of investors said they sold stocks last year due to a current event, according to a study from MagnifyMoney. Of that group, 40% said they wish they’d kept

Blackcat | E+ | Getty Images Retirees on Medicare who are heading back to the workforce may discover they have choices when it comes to their health-care coverage. That is, depending on the size of your new employer, you might be able to pick up the company health plan and drop Medicare — and then

Xander Miller, 18, will graduate from Hastings High School in Hastings, Minnesota, this June, and he has big plans for his future. Rather than attend Minnesota State or get a liberal arts degree like his older brother, Miller is enrolled in Dakota County Technical College with a guaranteed job through Waste Management’s apprentice program. “I

Steve Debenport | E+ | Getty Images When it comes to negotiating a job offer, if you don’t ask — you won’t receive. It turns out many don’t ask, according to a survey from Fidelity Investments. Some 58% of Americans accepted the initial offer at their current position without negotiating, the survey found. Yet negotiating

Getty Images Interest rates are set to rise again, making it a good time to pay off high-cost credit card debt as soon as possible. Annual percentage rates on credit cards are currently just over 16%. Because the Federal Reserve is in a rate hiking cycle, with half-point increases on the table for every remaining