Personal finance

A majority of Americans, 95%, said they plan to look for a new job this year, according to a January 2024 survey by job site Monster. Money is a big reason, with 45% of workers saying they need a higher income. Data from the Federal Reserve shows that job switchers increase their salaries more quickly, on average, than

Eric Audras | Onoky | Getty Images If you miss a doctor’s appointment these days, you could get hit with a “no-show” fee of up to $100 — or more. This happened to me recently for the first time, and the charge was a steep $150. When I complained to friends and family, I learned

Zeljkosantrac | E+ | Getty Images The Social Security Administration has issued a final rule that will prevent food assistance from reducing payments to certain beneficiaries. The change applies to Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, which provides monthly checks to adults and children who are disabled, blind or age 65 and older, and have little

Harvard University’s Dunster House in Cambridge, MA Blake Nissen for The Boston Globe via Getty Images March 28 is “Ivy Day,” when the nation’s top schools release long-awaited admissions decisions. A fascination with the eight private colleges that comprise the Ivy League spans decades. It is only now, some say, that students are taking a more

In this article RDFN Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT   Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images The rate at which home prices grow is slowing down. U.S. home prices increased 0.6% from a month before in February, in line with the 0.6% average monthly gain in the roughly eight years leading up to

Tara Moore | Stone | Getty Images Katherine Dowling has an analogy that may be useful for investors thinking of buying cryptocurrency like bitcoin and wondering what amount is appropriate. It’s “like cayenne pepper,” said Dowling, general counsel and chief compliance officer at Bitwise Asset Management, a crypto money manager. “A little goes a long

A woman votes at the Royal Missionary Baptist Church polling location in North Charleston, South Carolina, on February 3, 2024, during the democratic primary.  Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images Almost half of all voters, or 48%, say canceling student loan debt is an important issue to them in the 2024 presidential and congressional

While the benefits of having children are shared between both parents, it is mothers who bear the brunt of the costs, according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Despite women’s increasing levels of education and representation in senior leadership positions at work, women are still more likely than men to take time out

10’000 Hours | Digitalvision | Getty Images There’s still time to lower your 2023 tax bill or boost your refund with a lesser-known retirement savings strategy for married couples. One requirement for individual retirement account contributions is “earned income,” such as wages or salary from a job or self-employment earnings. But there’s an exception for

Federal Reserve Bank Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the bank’s William McChesney Martin building on March 20, 2024 in Washington, DC.  Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images Slowly but surely, recessionary talk is dying down and confidence in the Federal Reserve is picking up. Last week, the central bank held its benchmark

Martinprescott | E+ | Getty Images Millions of older adults who are behind on their student loans could soon receive a smaller Social Security benefit. That was the warning from Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in a recent letter to the Biden administration. “When borrowers are in collections,

Filippobacci | E+ | Getty Images If your home boasts certain trendy outdoor features, you may be able to sell it for more in today’s market. At the top of the list is outdoor TVs, which may help home sale price to 3.1% more than expected, representing a $10,749 boost based on the average home,

Maria Korneeva | Moment | Getty Images The Biden administration has set a key deadline for student loan borrowers hoping to get forgiveness. Those with multiple federal student loans who request a consolidation by April 30 — which will leave them with one, larger loan — could benefit from the U.S. Department of Education’s overhaul

10’000 Hours | Getty Images Nearly two-thirds of the country’s outstanding student debt is held by women. Women graduate college owing $2,700 more, on average, than their male counterparts, according to the American Association of University Women. Among undergraduate students in bachelor’s degree programs in 2019-2020, 54% of men graduated with student loans, compared to 66%

Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman | Moment | Getty Images When it comes to investor maladies, fear of missing out, or FOMO, is the clinical term for buying a security after a meteoric price increase because you don’t want to be left behind. There is no known cure for this condition, which has been linked to

Laylabird | E+ | Getty Images Breaking up in old age can be costly, especially for women. The rate of “gray divorce” — a term that describes divorce at age 50 and older — doubled from 1990 to 2019, according to a 2022 study published in The Journals of Gerontology. It tripled for adults over

Fatcamera | E+ | Getty Images We’ve all been told that following a routine is important in many aspects of life — for physical fitness, good eating habits, solid work patterns and so on. But many experts are telling us that establishing a routine is also necessary for successful investing and building wealth. At an

South_agency | E+ | Getty Images House Republicans unveiled a plan this week that calls for raising the Social Security retirement age. Meanwhile, Democrats and advocates for the program are ramping up their calls to tax the rich to enhance benefits. “On the right, there is a line in the sand against tax increases,” said

Female firefighter putting on her protective equipment inside the fire station in response to an emergency Trevor Williams | Digitalvision | Getty Images The Biden administration’s latest student loan forgiveness announcement contained good news for more people than the 77,700 borrowers eligible for this round of aid. Starting next week, the administration said, President Joe

As problems with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid persist into the spring, harsh words are being directed at the U.S. Department of Education. Former top student loan official Wayne Johnson accused the Education Department of “malicious negligence” in a recent letter written to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and other senior officials and