Personal finance

When Marie Villegas, 46, an IT project manager, was about to start a new position with the Department of Defense contractor she works for, she Googled “salary negotiation tips.” “I knew my responsibilities would increase, but I wasn’t sure how to actually ask for more money,” she said. That’s how Villegas learned about a free

Geber86 | Getty Images The cost of care has become so onerous that some people have ditched going to the doctor altogether. To save on health care, a third of people aged 25 to 45 avoided seeing a medical professional, hoping instead that their condition will eventually resolve, according to data from the Nationwide Retirement

Jill Fromer | E+ | Getty Images While you might feel numb to data breaches due to their increasing frequency, experts say you shouldn’t be indifferent to the possibility of one actually causing you harm. Two years after the announcement of the massive Equifax breach — a cyberattack that compromised the personal information of about

Just under a quarter of Americans are “very confident” they’ll have enough money to retire comfortably. And many expect to delay retirement at least until age 65, according to recent studies. So what’s a person who’s ready to call it quits at the office to do? Relocating to more affordable climes is one option. Personal

Even after a significant infusion of cash, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is doing little in the way of forgiveness. Just 661 out of about 54,000 applicants, or roughly 1%, of loans have been discharged under the expanded program, a government report has found. “It’s not surprising,” said student loan expert Mark Kantrowitz. “The

For tennis great Andy Roddick, there’s one important rule that works both on the court and in the world of investing. “Even if you’re intimidated by words like ‘volatility’ and you think the world’s going mad … be disciplined with what you put away monthly,” the one-time U.S. Open champ told CNBC’s “Fast Money: Halftime

If you feel like spending on your kids took a toll on your summer budget, you’re not alone. A new survey from TD Ameritrade finds that 52% of parents with children under 18 spent more than they intended to this summer. Hero Images | Getty Images The average summer debt for parents with children under

Joho | Cultura RM | Getty Images Looking for a college major that will help squash your student loan debt? Consider electrical engineering. Recent graduates in that field are earning the highest median annual salary: $72,600, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Longer term, electrical engineers earn a median salary of $99,070, according

For homeowners in Hurricane Dorian’s anticipated path, insurance claim preparation may be worth adding to your to-do list. The storm, which pummeled the Bahamas for 48 hours and left widespread devastation across the island nation, is churning northward and parallel to southeastern U.S. coastline with sustained winds of 105 mph as of Wednesday. While Dorian

Whether you’re a business owner, an employee with a side hustle or an investor with a hefty capital gain, a key tax deadline is coming up. Taxpayers who pay the IRS every quarter must make their third payment for this year by Sept. 16. For the 2019 tax year, the quarterly deadlines are April 15,

Gentle encouragement or financial incentives could result in more people setting aside at least some of their tax refund for emergency savings, a new study suggests. The research shows that among taxpayers who used a prepaid card from H&R Block to receive their 2017 refund, those who were sent messages about saving their refund were

PeopleImages | DigitalVision | Getty Images Students and their families are grappling with the cost of higher education, but here’s one expense that might be a surprise: health care. The default option for many college students — especially if they’re under age 26 — might be to remain on Mom and Dad’s insurance, yet that

New investors don’t know what they don’t know. When you don’t know much about a subject, sometimes the first advice you come across appears solid. Thoroughly research a company so you know if the stock would be a good investment for you. Don’t buy when stock prices are high. Think carefully before you make your

Image Source | DigitalVision | Getty Images For many minorities in America, it’s an all too familiar scene. An applicant who is a person of color and and applies for credit is either denied or gets much worse terms than a white borrower. In fact, an investigation by the National Fair Housing Alliance, a Washington

Author and investor Danielle Town used to be afraid of the stock market. Financial statements, numbers and spreadsheets all made her eyes glaze over. “I was such a reluctant investor,” said Town, co-host of the podcast “InvestED. “ “Yet, we can find a way to make this stuff become actually a joyful part of our

In the midst of a tit-for-tat trade war between the U.S. and China, Labor Day sales may be your best chance to avoid the impact of higher prices for some products you buy. Tariffs on goods traded between the two countries have already increased in several stages since early 2018 and recently escalated again. Just