Personal finance

FatCamera | E+ | Getty Images The push for a higher federal minimum wage could help those who are underpaid, particularly child-care workers. However, raising that minimum pay rate could also make child care unaffordable for many families. Such is the Catch-22 that policymakers now face as they look to rebuild the economy from the

MoMo Productions | DigitalVision | Getty Images Americans saving in a 401(k) plan may have money stashed in a robo-advisor — and they might not even know it. Robo-advice is basically professional money management guided by an algorithm (a robot, so to speak), largely allowing investors to be hands-off. Companies offering a retirement benefit are

Sometimes, it can seem like only rich people can benefit from the tax code. Some ultra-wealthy individuals have amassed hundreds of millions — or even billions — of dollars in tax-sheltered Roth individual retirement accounts, according to a report released Thursday from ProPublica, an investigative news outlet. However, the strategy is generally available to anyone

MoMo Productions | DigitalVision | Getty Images Individuals and families with questions on the new monthly child tax credit payments or missing stimulus checks now have the opportunity to get free, in-person tax help. The IRS announced on Wednesday that it is partnering with non-profit organizations, churches and community organizations in 12 cities to provide

Older couple meeting with a financial advisor Getty Images Rising inflation has alarmed many Americans worried about their cost of living.  The May consumer price index, representing food, housing, gasoline, utilities and other goods, spiked by 5% from the previous year, according to the Labor Department.  As day-to-day expenses creep higher, many investors are seeking

Renter advocacy groups have pressured the administration of President Joe Biden to extend the CDC eviction ban for at least another month. Carlos Barria | Reuters Struggling renters will likely have a little more time before they have to worry about eviction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to extend the national

FREDERIC J. BROWN | AFP | Getty Images Job hunting has been muted in 12 states that opted out of federal unemployment programs in recent weeks, suggesting the policy may not be working as planned, according to a new analysis. The states have ended the pandemic-era benefits — including an extra $300 a week —

As the economy quickly picks up steam in the wake of the Covid pandemic, some amount of inflation is inevitable. On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said price pressures have increased “notably” but could fade over time. The May consumer price index jumped 5% from a year earlier, according to a report by the Labor Department, the

kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images The IRS on Tuesday started an online tool that will allow families to tell the agency they don’t want to receive advance monthly payments from the enhanced child tax credit, scheduled to start next month. Using the new Child Tax Credit Update Portal, families can verify that they’re eligible

In this article IVZ Thiago Prudencio | LightRocket | Getty Images As the Securities and Exchange Commission defers signing off on bitcoin exchange-traded funds, some companies are exploring other ways to meet investors’ growing demand for cryptocurrency. The SEC on Wednesday pushed another decision to approve Van Eck’s bitcoin ETF, extending the review and asking

Amazon Prime Day is underway. But not every deal is too good to be true. The two-day shopping event, which started early Monday and runs through 3 a.m. ET Wednesday, is offering more 2 million deals — and some are better than others. “That is an incredible number,” said Dave Kender, the editor in chief

Choreograph | iStock | Getty Images For some Medicare beneficiaries, health-care coverage ends up costing more than it does for most of their peers — and it’s not by choice. While there are costs that individuals often are aware of — i.e., they purchase a supplemental policy or choose a more expensive plan — some

The word “taxes” is seen engraved at the headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 10, 2021. Andrew Kelly | Reuters Many in Congress want to fix the country’s crumbling roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. Lawmakers still haven’t agreed on how to pay for it. President Joe Biden has

Peter Cade | Getty Images Many people know about their 401(k) perks, but their plan may have a hidden feature that allows for even more savings. When someone maxes out their 401(k) — $19,500 in annual contributions for those under 50 in 2021 — some plans may permit them to stash more money into their

Image Source | Getty Images It’s not uncommon to want to return to work after retiring. Whether for financial reasons or personal fulfillment, many older Americans find that retirement isn’t working for them. Yet before you make the leap, it’s worth considering how that extra income could affect other parts of your financial life. Of

Tom Werner | DigitalVision | Getty Images Retailers are making it easier than ever to make purchases with “buy now, pay later” loans. Also known as point-of-sale installment loans, they are a type of short-term financing that allow you to divide your purchases into monthly installments. Services that offer them, like Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay and

Getty Images The other day I did something I haven’t done in over a year: I signed into my student loan account. Or, at least that’s what I tried to do. Turns out I’d forgotten my password and couldn’t get in. Instead of going through the steps to change it, I closed the browser and

ljubaphoto | E+ | Getty Images Like much of the travel and hospitality industry, travel agents took a huge hit when the pandemic struck in March 2020. However, after months of struggle and setbacks, a potential silver lining has emerged: Travel advisors’ effective advocacy for clients stranded or stymied during the global lockdown has now

Pedestrians wearing protective masks carry shopping bags in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images For many Americans, the post-pandemic normal is exciting. After more than a year stuck inside and forgoing travel, entertainment and more to curb the spread of Covid-19, many people are ready

Ungureanu Vadim | EyeEm | Getty Images In January, Anna Brekken had finally made 120 student loan payments, the number at which borrowers are supposed to get the rest of their debt cancelled under the public service loan forgiveness program. When she submitted her request for forgiveness, she looked forward to walking away from her