Personal finance

Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota was a top road trip draw over the July 4 holiday weekend, according to data from Arrivalist. Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin) Travel during the July 4th weekend was busier than predicted, but states’ Covid-19 infection rates impacted how much of an increase in activity they saw over

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images For many older folks, enrolling in Medicare leads to the conclusion that a supplemental plan — aka “Medigap” — is the best fit for their circumstances.  However, that decision generally isn’t the end of the process. Although Medigap policies are standardized in most places, regardless of which insurance company offers

Harvard University and MIT pushed back on Wednesday against a new rule that would require international students to take classes in-person this fall in order to stay in the country. The guidelines issued Monday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement said “students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the

People line up outside of the Social Security Administration office in San Francisco. Getty Images Prospective retirees often face one big question: How long can my funds last? Now, a mainstay for retirement — Social Security — is facing the very same question. Social Security relies on the money in its trust funds, from which it

Paul Hennessy | NurPhoto | Getty Images For Medicare beneficiaries who are eyeing a move to another state, be sure to consider what your coverage would look like once you get there. Whether you already were planning to relocate or the coronavirus pandemic has sparked the idea, it’s important to know the various Medicare rules

With a growing number of colleges planning to offer fall classes online, many international students will not be able to stay in U.S., according to new rules issued Monday. That could mean a significant hit to school budgets — and student aid. Under the guidelines issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, “students attending schools operating

Unemployed Kentucky residents enter the Kentucky Career Center for help with their unemployment claims on June 19, 2020 in Frankfort, Kentucky. John Sommers II/Getty Images Certain groups of workers, like the self-employed and those in the gig economy, are pulling in an increasing share of jobless benefits relative to others. Around 12.9 million Americans are

If you’re in the market for a house and are considering an “interest-only” mortgage, proceed with caution. With tightened lending standards amid ongoing economic uncertainty — coupled with continually rising home prices and persistent low interest rates — some borrowers may gravitate to these so-called interest-only loans, experts say. These are loans where you only

Nils Hendrik Mueller | Cultura | Getty Images The economic downturn prompted by the coronavirus has been harsh for many American workers. About 47.2% of Americans are jobless, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, many of those who are employed have had to abruptly pivot to remote work and may face pay

When Diane Pearson’s sons both attended Robert Morris University, buying a condo for them in the suburb of Pittsburgh made financial sense. Pearson, who is a certified financial planner, took out a home equity line of credit to purchase the property with cash in 2013.  Three years later, the family sold it at a $5,000

Tim Robberts Saving for retirement can be hard. Planning how to spend that nest egg — while ensuring the money doesn’t run out — is harder. But there’s good news: Americans can build a simple, low-cost retirement plan using just Social Security and savings, according to experts. From an academic standpoint, the “optimal” retirement strategy combines two

NYUestimates it will cost students more than $78,000 to attend the school in 2020-2021. That includes tuition, fees, textbooks and room and board. But that’s not the price you will pay in 18 years. CNBC ran the numbers, and we can tell you how much money you would need to save to send your child

kate_sept2004 Pandemic first-aid kit You need seven things, according to Jeff Weinstein, a paramedic and medical operations supervisor for Global Rescue, which provides medical and crisis response service to travelers.  It’s likely you already have three: masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Carry isopropyl alcohol wipes and use them to wipe down your phone. Major smartphone

One analysis found that more than 40% of CDFI’s loans and investments are in majority-minority communities. LeoPatrizi Consumers can push for racial justice – and it’s as simple as opening an account at a community bank or credit union that supports under-served communities. Netflix announced recently that it would transfer $100 million of its cash

Military veterans, like many Americans, are struggling to find work as the coronavirus pandemic stretches on. While vets’ June unemployment rate is lower than the overall number, at 8.6% compared to 11.1% for the general population, it is still at more than double the number reported in March, the Military Times said. The Labor Department survey

If you’re hoping to score a good deal on a new car during July Fourth sales events,  it will be a mixed bag. While manufacturers and dealerships are offering special deals on some models to prop up sales amid the pandemic, inventory is down due to coronavirus-related disruptions in manufacturing. “We’ve seen incentives continue to

swissmediavision The seemingly endless nationwide pandemic lockdown has resulted in a lot of pent-up travel demand. As the second major long holiday weekend of summer gets underway, people looking to celebrate Independence Day are getting in their cars and campers for road trips — deemed by many a safer bet than air or cruise travel. 

Sometimes, it comes as a surprise to older folks that Medicare is not free. Depending on the specifics of your coverage and how often you use the health-care system, your out-of-pocket costs could reach well into six-figure territory over the course of your retirement, according to a recent report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

President Donald Trump speaks to journalists in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House July 2, 2020. The president addressed reports that the unemployment rate fell to 11.1%. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The U.S. unemployment rate is at its lowest level in months and the economy added a record number of jobs in June.

Lawmakers are giving cash-strapped entrepreneurs more time to apply for emergency funding. But the effort might be insufficient to keep business owners afloat. The Paycheck Protection Program, the forgivable loan program that was established through the federal CARES Act, was originally intended to cover eight weeks of payroll costs, plus mortgage interest, utilities and rent