A customer pumps gas into their car at a gas station on May 18, 2022 in Petaluma, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Americans’ finances are being squeezed as inflation pushes up prices on things such as rent, groceries and gasoline. As a result, one-quarter of Americans will have to delay their retirement, according to
Personal finance
valentinrussanov | E+ | Getty Images The housing market is hot right now — if you’re a seller. Buyers, on the flip side, are having a harder time finding homes. Americans are aware of the struggles they face in buying a home. More than 70% of U.S. adults believe the housing market is currently in
Even though college enrollment has slid since the start of the Covid pandemic, many students still want to get a degree, and for some, free tuition programs are the only way to make higher education a reality. In 2017, the state of New York’s Excelsior Scholarship made headlines when it became the first in the nation to
Student loan borrowers gather near The White House to tell President Biden to cancel student debt – all of it with no means-testing on May 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Paul Morigi | Getty Images Advocates expressed anger and disappointment on Friday in response to news that the Biden administration is leaning toward forgiving $10,000
Fertnig | E+ | Getty Images Death and taxes are two certainties in life, as the saying goes. But many people may not realize their Social Security benefits they receive from the government are also subject to taxes. The way in which those levies are applied is unique. A recent MassMutual quiz found just 42%
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images Americans are dealing with a period of rapidly rising interest rates for the first time in years. The Federal Reserve on Wednesday released the minutes from its latest meeting, showing that the central bank plans to deliver more 50 basis
Jake and Deborah Anderson-Bialis, pictured with their children, started fertility education site FertilityIQ after spending about $70,000 to have their children. Melissa Schmidt, FertilityIQ’ As employers try to entice new workers and keep the ones they have, more are turning to fertility benefits. In fact, the trend has been moving upward for the past couple
Prathanchorruangsak | Istock | Getty Images Whether you’re a current employee or changing jobs, you may need to choose between pre-tax and Roth 401(k) contributions, and it may be trickier than you expect. Here’s the difference: Pre-tax 401(k) deposits reduce your adjusted gross income, and the money grows tax-deferred, meaning you’ll pay levies on withdrawals.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images One of the best car-shopping weekends pre-pandemic is more of a dud these days. Amid the auto industry’s manufacturing challenges due to persisting supply-chain issues, Memorial Day sales are generally minimal to nonexistent this year. “It’s looking pretty bleak, to be straightforward about it,” said Ivan Drury, senior manager
In this article BAC Ilkercelik | Istock | Getty Images The market volatility that’s gripped the markets for weeks has prompted some investors to ask, “Is this the bottom?” But waiting for the market low may prove elusive. “There’s no ‘the’ bottom,” said Chris Hyzy, chief investment officer at Merrill and Bank of America Private
Thomas Barwick | Digitalvision | Getty Images Retirees have rejoined the labor force at a steady clip in recent months, attracted by a hot job market and reduced Covid health risks. This “un-retirement” trend could help increase the available pool of workers and ease the hiring challenges businesses have reported. As of April, 3.3% of
President Joe Biden attends an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity launch event at Izumi Garden Gallery in Tokyo on May 23, 2022. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters President Joe Biden has said that he’ll soon be making an announcement about student loan forgiveness. In the meantime, the White House is trying to figure out what shape
MoMo Productions | Taxi | Getty Images In the last decade, a surge in home prices has built considerable wealth for the middle class. Total housing wealth grew by $8.2 trillion between 2010 and 2020, according to a March report from the National Association of Realtors. The coronavirus pandemic’s housing boom added even more value
Iryna Imago | Istock | Getty Images Many adult children are “boomeranging” and moving back in with their parents amid high rents and home prices, a new survey from financial services company Thrivent finds. About 40% of parents reported they currently have an adult child living with them. Meanwhile, 25% of parents said an adult
The Good Brigade | Digitalvision | Getty Images Health savings accounts can be a powerful way to build wealth and prepare for medical costs in old age — if they’re used the right way. HSAs carry a three-pronged tax benefit. Contributions and investment growth are tax-free, as are withdrawals if used for qualified health expenses.
Fotostorm | E+ | Getty Images Rising inflation has exacerbated an existing problem for millions of older Americans: They don’t have enough to live comfortably in retirement. Without enough savings, and the average Social Security check coming in at just over $1,500 a month, many retirees struggle to make ends meet. The good news is
Many Americans are worried that the U.S. economy is on feeble footing. As the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to combat the highest inflation in 40 years, tipping the U.S. into a recession is becoming an increasing concern. Still, it’s not likely that the U.S. economy will stop growing this year, former Federal Reserve vice
President Joe Biden boards Air Force One on May 22, 2022. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images At the pump, in the supermarket, with his landlord — all of Ryan Tucholski’s bills are going up lately. But there’s one expense he hopes will soon go down or maybe even disappear: his monthly student loan
PeopleImages | iStock | Getty Images For investors nearing retirement or already retired who need the certainty of cash but want to squeeze out a bit more yield, a certain investment in your 401(k) plan may fit the bill. It’s called a stable value fund (or something similar) and typically is available only through defined
Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images In this competitive housing market, buyers are willing to make some concessions to either cut costs or land their dream home. Some 58% of U.S. adults would be willing to take action to find housing that is more affordable, with Gen Z and millennials more likely to do so