Personal finance

Mint Images | Mint Images RF | Getty Images People in Gen X, the forgotten generation, require a great deal of financial strength and resolve to handle being “sandwiched” between several generations. Gen Xers, rightfully, suffer from middle child syndrome. The two older living generational cohorts, baby boomers and the Silent Generation, generally are lauded

Nils Hendrik Mueller | Cultura | Getty Images Stocks had a rocky close to 2018. That doesn’t mean your required minimum distribution from retirement accounts will be lower this year as a result. RMDs, as they are commonly known, are the minimum amount individuals who are age 70½ and older must take out of their

Stephanie McKire, 60, knows how expensive cancer can be. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2012, McKire, now retired and living in Detroit, was a quality engineer with employer-sponsored health insurance. She soon found that, even with insurance, the copays and costs of medication and therapies added up to thousands of dollars.

When you’re just starting out, life insurance may not be your first concern. Putting it off may cost you. Research shows that millennials, who are saddled with hefty student loan bills, have struggled to set money aside for other purchases — from life insurance to buying a home. On average, about 7 in 10 seniors

The Washington Post | Getty Images This month, thousands of high school students will submit their early action and early-decision applications to colleges. By demonstrating a preference to a particular school, studies have shown, an early application can give you a leg up, which goes a long way with competition that’s as fierce as it has

Jupiterimages | Photolibrary | Getty Images One-quarter of Americans plans to vacation outside the U.S. in the next 18 months, according to a new AAA survey, while 80% have already taken a foreign trip and 2 in 5 — nearly 77 million adults — have rented or used a vehicle while abroad. Sales of international

Kenneth Fisher, chief executive officer of Fisher Investments, speaks at the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010. Gillianne Tedder | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Iowa Public Employees Retirement System is terminating its relationship with Fisher Investments, pulling $386 million from the asset manager. The Iowa plan, which holds

Social Security is a central pillar in retirement security for current retirees and baby boomers. Younger generations are predicting a different outcome. More than 60% of current retirees say their monthly Social Security checks are the primary way they cover their expenses, while just 13% of millennials expect that to be their situation, according to

John Lund | Getty Images Despite the red flags flapping for the economy, many Americans say they’re not financially prepared for the next recession. Two in 5 people say they’re not ready for an economic downturn in the next year, according to a new Bankrate poll. (Some 2,600 people were interviewed at the end of

Hero Images | Getty Images Even if Medicare’s open enrollment period sounds like a big snore fest, you might sleep better next year if you take advantage of it. For the program’s 60 million beneficiaries, that yearly fall window — Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 — offers the chance to make changes that take effect

If retirement legislation now under consideration in Congress becomes law, your 401(k) plan might have a new look. The Secure Act, which passed the House in May and awaits Senate action, includes a provision that would make it easier for companies to include annuities in their retirement plans. And while people may be drawn to

Alliance | Getty Images If you’re thinking of tidying up your balance sheet by taking out a personal loan, consider doing some research first. It could save you thousands of dollars. That’s because the interest rates lenders charge on personal loans can vary significantly, even if you have pristine credit, according to an analysis by

Kenneth Fisher, chief executive officer of Fisher Investments, speaks at the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010. Gillianne Tedder | Bloomberg | Getty Images The City of Boston is ending its relationship with Fisher Investments, pulling $248 million in pension assets from the firm. Mayor Martin Walsh announced on

Peter Dazeley | Photographer’s Choice | Getty Images Here’s an awkward question for your spouse: Would you be willing to get divorced to save a few dollars? Proposed wealth taxes from presidential candidates Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are stirring up chatter around so-called strategic divorce to avoid the levy. The Tax Cuts and

A man fishes in a lake. Twenty20 With some experts warning that $1 million in retirement savings might not even do the trick these days, it’s understandable if you’re kept up at night wondering: Will I have enough? Here’s another question worth asking: How should I spend what I have? A good answer to the

If you’ve settled an arbitration case with your broker at some point, there’s a chance it isn’t showing up in the popular database used by consumers to check financial advisors’ backgrounds. A new report from an investor advocacy group claims that some brokers and brokerages — with the aid of a handful of law firms

Martin Barraud | Getty Images It’s the time of year for people on Medicare to give their coverage a checkup. The program’s annual enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, which is when you can make changes to your coverage that will take effect Jan. 1. During this window, you can: • Switch

Fertnig | E+ | Getty Images When Aaron Shapiro dug through the workplace benefits his mother was entitled to as a 30-year employee at United Healthcare, he noticed a big missed opportunity. The health insurer’s employee stock purchase plan gave her the ability to buy shares at a 15% discount with a feature called a

Terry Vine | DigitalVision | Getty Images No one likes to think about needing long-term care. Yet the reality is that many people will at some point in their life. About 60% of those turning 65 can expect to use some form of long-term care in their lives, according to the U.S. Health and Human

Towfiqu Photography | Moment | Getty Images If you can find your husband or wife online, why not your financial advisor? That’s why Andres Garcia-Amaya launched Zoe Financial, an online matchmaking engine that hooks up investors with registered investment advisors. A recent Stanford University study found that 39% of people surveyed met their spouse through