Personal finance

Tony Anderson | DigitalVision | Getty Images Some people will do just about anything to buy their first home. Just under 10% of homeowners surveyed by Bankrate.com, a personal finance website, said they took out money from their retirement savings to help cover the down payment and closing costs on their first dwelling. The site

Donald Trump and Jerome Powell Getty Images Cutting interest rates to zero would throw savers under the bus. Greg McBride Bankrate.com Since the recession, rising rates have paved the way for pay raises and a better return on savings, despite the impact on borrowing costs. And still, interest rates are historically low, which leaves the

Photo by Troy Aossey via Getty Images While most of the nation’s youngest adults say they learn about money from Mom and Dad, they also think high schools should step up for future graduates. More than three-quarters (76%) of 18- and 19-year-olds say classes about managing finances should be required in high school, according to

Early retirement may sound like a dream. However, if today’s retirees are any indication, you may want to rethink how you plan financially. Photo taken in Big Island, United States Shawn Walters / EyeEm | EyeEm | Getty Images A new survey from NerdWallet finds that today’s retirees stopped working at 59, on average. That

Petri Oeschger | Moment | Getty Images One of the best ways financial advisors can bolster their credibility and reach potential clients is available for free. It’s called social media. However, merely joining Twitter and Facebook won’t cut it, according to Dasarte Yarnway, founder of Berknell Financial Group in San Francisco. He shared his views

Most people looking for better money skills turn to the money pros — certified financial planners or advisors. Yet sometimes a nonmoney maven can get you on the right track. Marija Jovovic | E+ | Getty Images Marie Kondo, the anti-clutter crusader, has some useful things to say about spare change (don’t let it sit

It’s a debate that typically comes up when discussing whether to delay Social Security benefits: Will that result in less total money over your lifetime? The longer you wait on those retirement checks — up until age 70 — the larger the monthly payments you’ll receive. Aimstock | Getty Images That’s why experts generally advise

If you signed up for the Equifax settlement to get $125 as a result of their massive data breach, you now have until Oct. 15 to verify your claim. Just remember you may get far less than that. The credit-reporting company’s $700 million settlement, announced in late July, gave consumers affected by its huge 2017

If you’re among the estimated 38 million adults expected to bet on NFL games this season, remember that good ol’ Uncle Sam expects a piece of your winnings — and, in some cases, will grab a slice without asking first. The NFL’s 100th season, which kicks off Thursday night on NBC in a game between

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images Chad Chubb, a certified financial planner, walked a 66-year-old client through four premium increases on her long-term-care insurance policy. In all, the retiree, who is single, has seen her annual premiums rise by more than 60% over the last six years. Her cost in 2018 was $2,721, up from

Women are more educated and successful than ever. Yet, when it comes to their money, they still tend to stand on the sidelines, according to financial experts. It’s something advocates are trying to change. “We still abdicate our money decisions to other people,” said certified financial planner Stacy Francis, president and CEO of Francis Financial.

Joseph Barbarito holds a sign as he waits for protesters to deliver a petition to Walmart in Danbury, Connecticut January 15, 2013. The petition was signed by about 300,000 citizens nationwide urging Walmart, the nation’s largest gun retailer, to halt sales of assault weapons and munitions nationwide. Michelle McLoughlin | Reuters Recent mass shootings have

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