Joe Biden and Donald Trump speak during the first U.S. presidential debate on Sept. 29, 2020. Kevin Dietsch/UPI | Bloomberg | Getty Images President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden have diverging views on the economic rebound that has played out after the coronavirus pandemic upended the country last spring. Trump and administration
Personal finance
Courtney Keating | Getty Images Even homeowners with poor credit scores may be able to take advantage of mortgage refinancing options to ease their financial burden amid the coronavirus pandemic. The housing market is one of the only parts of the economy that’s seen a solid rebound during the Covid-19 crisis, thanks in part to
izusek | E+ | Getty Images The Social Security Administration announced this week that the cost-of-living adjustment for benefits in 2021 will be 1.3%. For the average retirement benefit, that amounts to just a $20 increase per month. Now, two Congressional Democrats — Reps. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and John Larson, D-Conn. — plan to propose
AJ_Watt | E+ | Getty Images This year, don’t just cram your completed 2019 income tax return into a drawer. Use it as a guideline to help you save more money. Oct. 15 is the deadline for taxpayers who sought additional time to complete the prior year’s return. Bear in mind, the taxes you owed
Geber86 | E+ | Getty Images Americans who are concerned about the economy say the coronavirus pandemic is the No. 1 menace to the nation’s growth. Indeed, 44% of the people polled by Bankrate.com last month cited Covid-19 as a top threat to the economy in the next six months. The personal finance site surveyed
Amazon Prime Day, which was originally slated for July but postponed due to the pandemic, is turning into one of the biggest shopping events of the year. In fact, even I had to get in on the 48-hour extravaganza before it ends at 3 a.m. ET Thursday. Not surprisingly, Amazon devices, such as the Ring
Prisoners are getting a second chance at receiving the $1,200 stimulus checks the government sent this spring. Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California recently ruled that the government should not withhold those checks from people solely because they are incarcerated. There are roughly 1.5 million incarcerated
Getty Images Social Security beneficiaries will see a 1.3% increase to their monthly checks in 2021. The amount was announced on Tuesday by the Social Security Administration, and was in line with previous estimates. Last month, The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan advocacy group for older Americans, projected a 1.3% boost, based on available Consumer
Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images It’s now easier for older savers to continue socking money away for retirement. Just be aware that unintended consequences may follow — and they could cost you. That’s due to the Secure Act, legislation that was signed into law late last year and took effect in 2020. The measure
10’000 Hours | DigitalVision | Getty Images This fall, when employees sign up for next year’s workplace benefits, they should take a close look at the offerings. Odds are they’ll be changing in 2021. The coronavirus pandemic was hard on employers and workers, forcing them to adapt on the fly amid social distancing and efforts
Even as consumer spending slowed amid the coronavirus crisis, e-commerce sales have soared — and are about to go even higher, thanks to Amazon. Prime Day, which was originally slated for July but postponed due to the pandemic, starts at midnight PT (3 a.m. ET) on Tuesday, Oct. 13 and runs through Wednesday, Oct. 14. Over the course of
It’s that time of year again — open enrollment season is approaching, giving many Americans an opportunity to sit down and go over their employer-sponsored workplace benefits for next year. This year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, more than 70% of employees plan to spend more time reviewing voluntary benefit options offered by their employer, according
Millions of Americans are hoping another $1,200 stimulus check will make it to their bank accounts. Whether that happens or not depends on Congress. Republicans, Democrats and the White House still have not been able to strike a compromise on how much to spend and where to provide aid for the next coronavirus stimulus package.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law on Aug. 14, 1935. FPG | Archive Photos | Getty Images Many people think of Social Security as the program their parents and grandparents rely on for financial support in retirement. For James Roosevelt, Jr., it has a special significance. His grandfather created it.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris speaks during the vice presidential campaign debate with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence held on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 7, 2020. Lucy Nicholson | Reuters During the vice presidential debate on Wednesday night, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., had a
James M. Dahle, MD, founder of The White Coat Investor. James M Dahle, MD It has been recognized for years that our health can be affected by our wealth, or lack thereof. Stress is a major contributor to both mental and physical health, and financial issues are one of the biggest stressors around. In my
Online shopping is surging in the pandemic. martin-dm | E+ | Getty Images The other night, I was feeling a little more tired and burned out than usual. I smelled the candle on my desk to see if I could pick up its scent. What if I was coming down with Covid-19? I got a
Remote schooling remains a struggle for many families. Yet there is still a real risk in returning to the classroom. As of a recent tally, 87% of institutions have combined in-person and virtual learning in response to the public health crisis, according to a report by the Institute of International Education that was based on data collected
miodrag ignjatovic Taking steps to sort out your finances, including increasing your financial knowledge, can help alleviate money stress in times of uncertainty. Financial stress is nothing new for many Americans, and the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated anxiety for a lot of people. As many as 84% said in September that the Covid-19 crisis is
U.S. President Donald Trump waves upon return to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 05, 2020 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee | Getty Images News | Getty Images Millions of Americans have been waiting for Congress to pass another stimulus package that would deliver them financial relief during one