Personal finance

Tim Kitchen | The Image Bank | Getty Images It’s becoming harder to afford a home. Prices are up almost 20% year over year, and mortgage rates are soaring. The rate for a 30-year fixed loan is now 5.57%, according to Mortgage News Daily, up from 3.29% at the start of the year. At the

Guido Mieth | DigitalVision | Getty Images Catch-up contributions for retirement savers could get more generous for certain savers, if legislation proposed in Congress becomes law. But the benefits of the increased limits will likely be concentrated among higher-income plan participants. Today, preretirees ages 50 and up can put away an extra $6,500 toward retirement

JohnnyGreig | E+ | Getty Images When stocks gyrate, stock investors invariably hear this advice: “Stay the course.” In other words, don’t sell in a gut reaction; stick to your financial plan. This counsel generally makes sense for long-term investors. Stocks are likely to recoup losses by the time owners need the money many years

Peter Dazeley | The Image Bank | Getty Images The pandemic-era trend known as the “Great Resignation” is still red-hot, as workers enjoy the perks of record-high demand for their labor. However, economic headwinds mean those benefits may not last much longer, according to economists. A record 4.5 million workers quit their jobs in March,

Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) questions Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Federal Reserve Chairman Powell during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on the CARES Act, at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, September 28, 2021. Kevin Dietsch | Pool | Reuters A bill to change Supplemental Security Income benefits for

Beyond highlighting the overwhelming burden of student loan debt, the pandemic has also shed light on the sky-high cost of college. Average tuition and fees for the 2021-2022 academic year increased by 1.6%, to $10,740, for in-state students at four-year public colleges, according to the College Board, which tracks trends in college pricing and student aid. The

President Joe Biden returns to the White House from a day trip to Minneapolis on May 1, 2022. Stefani Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images President Joe Biden recently said that he’d be making his decision around student loan forgiveness within weeks. That means borrowers uncertain of the future of their debt, who’ve been hearing

Camille Tokerud Photography Inc. | Stone | Getty Images A federal benefits program for blind, disabled and elderly individuals could get a long-overdue update if a proposal in Washington is approved. Two Ohio senators — Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican Sen. Rob Portman — have teamed up to introduce a bill to update the

Choreograph | iStock | Getty Images For Medicare beneficiaries wondering whether their Part B premiums could be reduced, the waiting continues. More than three months after Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra ordered a reassessment of this year’s $170.10 standard monthly premium — a bigger-than-expected jump from $148.50 in 2021 — it remains uncertain

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images The surge in worker pay that was a key feature of the 2021 labor market showed signs of fading early this year, as businesses’ demand for workers has moderated a bit from last year’s record levels. Wages and salaries in the private sector grew by 5% in the

Golibtolibov | Istock | Getty Images Taxing the wealthy is a big topic in Washington these days. President Joe Biden recently proposed in his 2023 annual budget a so-called billionaire minimum income tax that would increase levies on the country’s wealthiest households. Under the plan, people with a net worth of $100 million or more

Lifestylevisuals | E+ | Getty Images Adjustable-rate mortgages are making a comeback. With interest rates surging, more buyers are turning to ARMs, which offer lower initial rates than fixed-rate loans. However, after a certain period, the rate on the ARM adjusts to reflect current market conditions. “You have double the number of borrowers out there

miodrag ignjatovic | E+ | Getty Images If you have a Medicare supplement plan — aka, Medigap — there may be times when it’s worth making sure it’s still the best fit for you. Medigap policies are standardized — same-named plans offer identical benefits no matter which private insurance company sells it — but the

Getty Images If you’re eligible for health savings account contributions, you can deposit more money starting in 2023, thanks to an inflation adjustment from the IRS. In 2023, you can save up to $3,850 with an individual health insurance plan, up from $3,650 in 2022, the IRS announced Friday. And you can soon contribute up

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp makes remarks during a visit to Adventure Outdoors gun shop as he pushes for a new state law to loosen requirements to carry a handgun in public, in Smyrna, Georgia, January 5, 2022. Alyssa Pointer | Reuters High school students in Georgia will soon have guaranteed access to a personal finance

Mint Images | Mint Images Rf | Getty Images Americans may be getting more information about a big financial choice regarding pension benefits. Pension plans traditionally pay retirees monthly streams of income that last for the rest of their lives. Companies may also offer a lump sum to current and former employees, allowing them to

U.S. President Joe Biden announces additional military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine as well as fresh sanctions against Russia, during a speech in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, April 28, 2022. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters President Joe Biden said on Thursday that he’ll have his answer on student loan forgiveness within

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the jobs report for the month of March from the State Dining Room of the White House on April 1, 2022 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images News | Getty Images The tens of millions of Americans saddled with student loans may finally hear soon what the

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images If you play Powerball, there’s a good chance you’ve daydreamed about how you would spend the money if you hit the jackpot. With the lottery game’s top prize at an advertised $454 million for Wednesday night’s drawing, you may also want to give thought to what you’d actually do if

Consumers are putting more purchases on plastic — and paying more for the privilege. Rising prices have caused many Americans to feel suddenly cash-strapped and more dependent on credit cards to make ends meet. After consumers paid off a record $83 billion in credit card debt during the pandemic, helped by government stimulus checks and fewer opportunities