Personal finance

It’s been said that men come from Mars and women, Venus. It looks like they’re also headed in different directions when it comes to vacations here on Earth, according to insurer Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. Women, in general, tend to play it safer when it comes to travel planning in the age of Covid-19, according

People wait in line at a food bank in Van Nuys, California, on April 9, 2020. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images The economic crisis unleashed by the coronavirus pandemic may be over for some groups of Americans — primarily the wealthy and White — even as it lingers in other corners of the

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden reacts while giving a speech during a campaign event at Tougaloo College on March 08, 2020 in Tougaloo, Mississippi. Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images The 2020 presidential election could be a make it or break it moment for Social Security. The reason: Social Security’s funding, already on

Democrats and Republicans still haven’t reached a deal on another stimulus package. Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images It’s a scary time for millions of Americans as Congress is still unable to reach a compromise on a stimulus package that could include another round of direct payments and more unemployment benefits.  Jobless rates are still high,

Getty Images Saving for retirement is crucial. Yet trying to figure out the best retirement plan may leave many people confused. You may have the option to contribute to an employer-sponsored plan, like a 401(k) plan. There are also individual retirement accounts: the traditional, into which contributions are made pre-tax, and Roth IRAs, in which

Miami resident Willie Mae Daniels, with granddaughter, Karyah Davis, 6, was laid off from her job as a food service cashier at the University of Miami on March 17. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images In just the past six months, more than 22 million American jobs have been lost, and fewer

With the fall semester just underway, and cases of coronavirus rising at colleges across the country, one school after another is pivoting to distance learning. That doesn’t sit well with students who signed up for — and paid for — on-campus instruction. Although Virginia Commonwealth University adopted a hybrid approach with a combination of in-person and

Getty Images If you’ve thought about refinancing your mortgage, be aware that it may soon be a more expensive proposition. Due to a 0.5% “adverse market” fee, effective Dec. 1 and imposed on lenders by mortgage backers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, many homeowners are expected to absorb at least some of the cost when

Marko Geber | DigitalVision | Getty Images Open enrollment for health insurance is around the corner. That means if you’re shopping on your own for medical coverage, be on guard. New research from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that some insurance agents engaged in potentially deceptive sales practices when marketing health care coverage. From

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., announced a resolution Thursday that would broadly cancel federal student loan debt due to the coronavirus crisis.   The resolution calls on President Donald Trump to take executive action to forgive up to $50,000 in debt for borrowers. The economic aftermath from the pandemic, which

Sarah Casillas | DigitalVision | Getty Images The IRS has a message for about 9 million Americans: You could still be eligible for a $1,200 stimulus check. The government has sent out about 160 million stimulus checks since legislation authorized those payments in the spring. Still, millions of Americans have yet to receive any money

Ariel Skelley  The cost of investing in your 401(k) plan at work is hitting new lows. Too bad hidden fees can chomp away at your savings. Generally, it’s cheaper to invest in your retirement plan at work, versus going out on your own to shop for mutual funds. For example, the average expense ratio for

Getty Images Working parents are feeling the sting of the coronavirus pandemic — and it’s hitting women especially hard. School shutdowns have left many trying to juggle work, childcare and helping their kids with distant learning. Since the crisis began,  40% of working parents have had to change their employment situation, according to a new

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it would keep its benchmark interest rate near zero for as long as it takes to help the economy bounce back from the coronavirus crisis. The Fed said the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will “weigh heavily” on the near-term outlook and poses “considerable risks” for the medium term. In addition to holding rates near rock bottom, the

Thomas Barwick | Getty Images The Aug. 31 deadline for reversing mandatory withdrawals from retirement accounts has passed, but a lucky few may still be able to return the money and save on taxes this year. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act into law. The law contained a provision that would

A driver navigates along a flooded road as the outer bands of Hurricane Sally come ashore on Sept. 15 in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Joe Raedle | Getty Images If you’re a homeowner in Hurricane Sally’s anticipated path, you may want to add insurance-claim preparation to your pre-storm to-do list. The slow-moving Category 1 storm

Hundreds of jobless people wait outside the Kentucky Career Center for help with their unemployment claims on June 19 in Frankfort, Kentucky. John Sommers II/Getty Images Americans who are hoping for more financial assistance may have to wait until after the November election before Congress can strike a deal. Yet experts say continued financial assistance

There’s still about one month to go before the Social Security Administration announces its cost-of-living adjustment to benefits for 2021. And seniors who rely on those monthly checks in retirement might be in for disappointment, based on recent data. New estimates indicate the Social Security COLA for 2021 could be about 1.3%, which is among

These days, the idea of packing your bags and retiring to an exotic location might sound tempting. While coronavirus restrictions have put a damper on travel, people are certainly planning, or at least accessing their options, for when the pandemic passes, said Dan Prescher, senior editor at the expat website International Living. The site has

This year, Christmas might not be so merry for the travel industry. While Labor Day travel was down only slightly this year, the upcoming winter holidays could be a different story. That’s according to figures from vacation property management software firm Guesty. The firm found that Labor Day accommodations bookings were 5% lower than in