Personal finance

For some couples, this winter holiday will be unforgettable. December is the most popular time to pop the question and, for the recently engaged, 2020 will be the very beginning of a new life. However, weddings are expensive, and merging personal finances can get complicated. The average American wedding costs nearly $39,000, and more young

Paul Bradbury | Getty Images No debt is your goal for the new year. It’s a perennially popular resolution, says Lauren Anastasio, a certified financial planner at New York-based personal finance company SoFi. When people are coming off the holidays and holiday spending, they often have larger credit card bills coming due. “It tends to

Chances are, making better money choices is one of your goals for 2020. Almost 99 million people will make a financial resolution this year, according to a recent survey from personal finance website WalletHub. For many, there are two burdens they want to eliminate in 2020: low savings and high debt. Putting aside more money

Monthly student loan payments can dictate when people have children and how much they’ll retire with. Pat Greenhouse | Boston Globe | Getty Images Student loans have become a defining feature of American life. It was 10 years ago that education debt eclipsed credit card debt. The next year, in 2011, it exceeded auto debt.

Nakhorn Yuangkratoke / EyeEm | EyeEm | Getty Images Don’t underestimate that $20 bill your child got in a holiday card this year. Put to use, it can teach them a lot. The start of the new year – and this round, new decade – is a good time to teach your kids about the

Jason York | Getty Images It may be a better time than ever to save in a Roth retirement account. A Roth 401(k) plan or Roth individual retirement account allows savers to stash away money after it’s been taxed, meaning Uncle Sam won’t take a bite when retirees withdraw their funds later. Contributions to a

SDI Productions Student loan borrowers who want to repay the balance owed with their 529 college savings plan should think twice. President Donald Trump signed the Secure Act into law last week. It will take effect on Jan. 1. In addition to changing the way you save for retirement, the legislation also allows you to

Beau Lark/Corbis/VCG The #MeToo movement is forcing insurers who provide coverage for high-profile executives accused of sexual harassment and assault, such as disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, to rethink their business. A number of companies that sell so-called employment practices liability insurance are demanding higher deductibles, restricting coverage for businesses in high-risk industries such as

Dan Herron, CPA, at the New York City Marathon in 2013 Dan Herron, CPA Dan Herron, CPA, didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, yet there he was explaining to a couple why they owed the federal government approximately $10,000 in taxes on their 2018 return. “They were used to paying around $1,100,”

For most households, sticking to a budget is apparently far easier said than done. Even though most consumers (74%) say they have a budget, 79% of them fail to stick to it, according to research from crowd-sourced shopping platform SlickDeals.net. On average, the weekly amount that people spend — not including bills like mortgage or

Becoming an entrepreneur is a dream to which many of us aspire, and a worthwhile financial goal. Still, many first-time entrepreneurs — and even experienced pros — can sometimes sabotage their best efforts with some typical mistakes. When you’re ready to roll-up your sleeves and start your own business, keep your eyes open for these

It sounds like a great idea. To solve your financial woes, you temporarily change your habits and hope that will result in more cash and better habits. Problem is, it may backfire. At best, the key word is “temporary.” Just like with food or health diets, whatever you do to make some kind of change

President Barack Obama signs the the financial reform bill into law July 21, 2010. Getty Images To sum up the past decade, you could call it a tale of two presidents. For evidence of that, look no further than the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The financial overhaul legislation was signed into

With large gains and repeated record highs in the stock market, this year could be one for the record books. Yet it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At times, concerns about trade caused spikes in market volatility. Whether you want to jump in with both feet, feel you’ve missed the boat or want to run in

athima tongloom California officials proposed a rule on Tuesday that would cut discriminatory pricing practices being used by auto insurance companies in the state. The California Department of Insurance found in a recent investigation that many insurers have been selling higher-priced auto-insurance policies to people of color and low-income drivers in the Golden State, by

Holiday shopping doesn’t need to break the bank. As shoppers scramble to take advantage of seasonal deals, there’s one offer you probably don’t want to jump on. Store credit card deals may sound like a steal. However, beware the fine print that can cost you more than you bargained for, according to recent research from

Peter Cade | Getty Images To Roth or not to Roth? That may not be the question as William Shakespeare phrased it. But it is the question you should be asking yourself when saving retirement money in an individual retirement account. New research from TD Ameritrade finds that many individuals are confused when it comes

Kris Zaporteza / EyeEm The most significant retirement legislation in more than a decade is now law. Yet, it may fall short in one of its principal aims: expanding the pool of people who can save for retirement via a workplace plan. At least 25% of those working in the private sector can’t save in

SDI Productions There aren’t many days left in 2019. Yet it isn’t too late to make some moves to improve your finances before the new year starts. Instead of thinking of it as a resolution, use this time as an opportunity to form new, healthy money habits that will last throughout your life, said certified

There is such a thing as a gift that keeps on giving. While unwrapping a monetary present may not be as thrilling as getting this year’s hottest toy, it is not as unexciting as it sounds, according to Jill Fopiano, the CEO of O’Brien Wealth Partners in Boston. In fact, it’s what Americans hope to