Personal finance

Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president Joe Biden speaks at a campaign stop in Miami on Oct. 5, 2020. Roberto Schmidt | AFP | Getty Images Taxes could rise for the wealthiest households  in a Joe Biden presidency. However, you might want to think twice before making any dramatic moves. Indeed, Biden’s tax plan

Susan G. Komen’s More Than Pink Walk in Atlanta in 2018 Source: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Month is usually marked by galas, walks and other fundraising events. This year, it’s eerily silent.  The coronavirus pandemic has pushed those events online, or caused them to be cancelled. The impact could be devastating for nonprofits

Audience members listen as Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president Joe Biden participates in a CNN town hall event on Sept. 17, 2020 in Moosic, Pennsylvania. Drew Angerer | Getty Images Expanding the child tax credit Currently, families with qualifying children under age 17 may be eligible to claim a child tax credit of

The beginning of 2020 created a unique moment for retail trading: Increased market volatility, stay-at-home orders, and zero commission fees across all trading platforms created a surge in activity and an increase in first-time traders. These first-time traders, many in their 20s and 30s, found the stock market accessible. High prices had kept many on

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on October 1, 2020 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer | Getty Images It appears unemployed workers won’t get another boost in their weekly benefits any time soon, after President Donald Trump pulled officials out of negotiations on a fifth

“When student loan payments become mandatory again,that’s a scary thought,” said Cecilia Sena, 22. Source: Cecilia Sena In March, as it rapidly became clear that the coronavirus pandemic would upend our lives, the U.S. Department of Education offered student loan borrowers a break from their monthly payments.  They accepted.  Less than 11% of people with federal student loans are repaying them during the pandemic,

miodrag ignjatovic The recent disappearance of a financial advisor — and possibly client money — may serve as a cautionary tale for investors. Christopher Burns, owner of Dynamic Money in Atlanta, was reported missing by his wife on Sept. 25 after she couldn’t reach him, according to a Gwinnett County, Georgia, police report. His wife

David Rea, president of No. 1-rated financial advisor firm Salem Investment Counselors, said that, despite the pandemic, the firm’s “ability to manage stocks and bonds and to communicate with our clients is unchanged.” Salem Investment Counselors Stock prices are “OK” — neither cheap nor pricy — given prevailing interest rates and other factors like federal stimulus money

Finding the right financial advisor to help with your financial needs and goals can be complicated. There are so many things to consider. Many advisors use a big assets-under-management figure as a selling-point when marketing themselves to investors. However, AUM isn’t the whole story when a potential client is determining which firm is right for

For some college-bound students, free tuition programs are the only way to make higher education a reality. Now one of the bigger offers is in jeopardy, just when students need it the most. According to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, which runs the state’s Excelsior Scholarship, the coronavirus pandemic caused a dramatic reduction

Getty Images You’ve heard of buyer’s remorse when it comes to things people buy. But you may not know that people can experience those same regrets because of the way they choose to pay for their purchases. One frequent culprit: retail credit cards. Purchases made with those accounts will likely end up costing consumers more

kali9 | E+ | Getty Images The Covid-19 pandemic has produced a rise in estate planning. To that point, a survey conducted for LegalZoom.com found that 32% of young people ages 18 to 34 said they got a will because of Covid-19. What’s more, 21% of that age group also drew up a will specifically

A woman, of Lexington, waits in a line outside a temporary unemployment office established by the Kentucky Labor Cabinet at the State Capitol Annex in Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S. June 17, 2020. Bryan Woolston | Reuters As workers who were brought back to their jobs after furloughs and layoffs due to the Covid-19 crisis face additional

Siraj Ahmad | iStock | Getty Images Jasmine Johnson is constantly afraid of being evicted from her house in St. Paul, Minnesota. The single mother of five children, all under the age of 13, hasn’t been able to earn enough during the pandemic to stay caught up on her $1,350 rent.  First, the daycare where

kali9 | E+ | Getty Images If you’re retired and are thinking about downsizing or relocating, and it involves buying a home, you might want to look into how you would finance it. You may discover that qualifying for a mortgage is different from the last time you bought a house. Not only have lenders

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images With 74-year-old President Donald Trump testing positive for Covid-19, Medicare beneficiaries may be reminded of their own vulnerability. For the 62.7 million people enrolled in Medicare —  the majority of whom are age 65 or older —  the coronavirus generally poses a greater health risk. While Congress and regulators have

AJ Watt | Getty Images If you’re worried about Covid-19 and want to virtually check in with your doctor following news of President Donald Trump’s positive test, there’s good news: Many major insurance companies are still waiving fees for such visits. Telehealth, or doctor visits done by video or telephone, have surged in popularity amid

A man fills out paperwork while waiting for his number to be called at an unemployment event in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 15, 2020. Nick Oxford for The Washington Post | Getty Images Washington lawmakers say they are still optimistic that a coronavirus stimulus deal can go through. But if both political parties do not

katleho Seisa It’s fairly easy to be befuddled by Medicare. With different coverage options, confusing enrollment deadlines and disparate cost-sharing among beneficiaries, ending up with faulty assumptions isn’t hard. However, some mistaken beliefs can be more costly than others. A survey of 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries explored their knowledge and found several misconceptions — related to

More than six months into the pandemic, layoffs show no sign of abating any time soon. undrey | iStock | Getty Images 1. Apply for unemployment  You should file for unemployment as soon as possible, experts say. Amid the pandemic, wait times for your benefits can be longer than usual and you want to avoid