Personal finance

Aj_watt | E+ | Getty Images A recent Social Security report showed a strong economy has helped the program. Still, Social Security’s trust funds may be depleted in the next decade, if no changes happen sooner. Many Americans have a misplaced worry that benefits will disappear. “The biggest myth about Social Security is that when

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images As the affordable options and relief measures for federal student loan borrowers pile up, consumer advocates advise caution before refinancing your debt. “How’s this for a warning? DON’T!” Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, wrote in an email to CNBC. Refinancing your federal student loans turns

A voter casts her ballot in the Pennsylvania primary elections at the Rockledge Fire Company in Rockledge, Pennsylvania, May 17, 2022. Hannah Beier | Reuters Older women are the largest bloc of swing voters — and the biggest concern they have heading into the November election is their financial security, according to the AARP. Most

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Wildwood Beach on May 11, 2024 in Wildwood, New Jersey.  Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images Most Americans have paid lower income taxes since 2018 — and trillions in tax breaks will sunset next year without action from Congress. Enacted by

In this article NRDS UAL Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Klaus Vedfelt | Digitalvision | Getty Images If you plan to spend money on travel as the days get longer, sunnier and warmer, be careful: It could leave you with high-interest debt you will still be paying off through the fall and winter. Almost

Wagnerokasaki | E+ | Getty Images When the U.S. Department of Education released the new interest rates on federal student loans this week, there was some unpleasant news for parents. So called Direct PLUS loans for parents will come with a 9.08% interest rate for the 2024-2025 academic year — the highest rate for parents

JGI/Tom Grill May 17 is the last chance to file 2020 returns and claim your refund — which could include missed pandemic relief, experts say. As of May 6, there was still an estimated $1 billion in unclaimed refunds from tax year 2020, and the median possible payment was $932, according to the IRS. There

Oscar Wong | Moment | Getty Images Inflation is higher than policymakers would like across the broad U.S. economy. Yet, there are many sectors seeing the opposite dynamic: deflation. Deflation means prices are declining for consumers. Conversely, inflation measures how quickly costs are rising for goods and services. Consumers have largely seen prices deflate for

Riska | E+ | Getty Images Many Americans are earning more on cash after interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve — and that income can trigger a surprise at tax time. “So many people were shocked by their cash interest earned” and taxes owed, said Boston-based certified financial planner Catherine Valega, founder of Green

Simonskafar | E+ | Getty Images Incentives are coming back to the auto market, but high interest rates are weakening those deals for car shoppers. “Pre-pandemic, people would see a 0% financing for 60 months and think, ‘no big deal,’ because it was available everywhere,” said Jessica Caldwell, an insights analyst at Edmunds, an auto

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on canceling student debt on February 21, 2024 in Culver City, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images The U.S. Department of Education is giving borrowers more time to meet a key student loan forgiveness deadline. Those who request a so-called loan consolidation by June 30 —

Lourdes Balduque | Moment | Getty Images High inflation eased slightly in April, which may provide some relief to consumers who have been contending with elevated prices.   For retirees and people approaching retirement, higher than normal inflation poses unique challenges. Most retirees have access to one of the few inflation-adjusted sources of income —

Tetra Images | Tetra Images | Getty Images Consumers are putting down more money to buy a home — but the typical down payment is still much less than you might expect. The average down payment was 13.6% in the first quarter of 2024, according to a new report by Realtor.com. The median down payment

In this article AMC GME Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Traders walk the floor during morning trading at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on May 14, 2024 in New York City.  Spencer Platt | Getty Images Shares of AMC Entertainment and GameStop have surged once again in a new “meme stock” rally triggered

Joe Biden and Donald Trump 2024. Brendan Smialowski | Jon Cherry | Getty Images The next U.S. president will face trillions in expiring tax breaks. While President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have shared early proposals, the federal budget deficit could complicate plans, experts say. Enacted under Trump, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images As home values climb, more Americans owe capital gains taxes when selling property. But knowing how to calculate your home’s profit could reduce your bill, experts say. Most Americans don’t owe taxes for selling a primary residence because of a special tax break — known as the Section 121

Wand_prapan | Istock | Getty Images When it comes to spending money in retirement, there’s one rule of thumb — the 4% rule — that has persisted for decades. The 4% withdrawal rule calls for retirees to withdraw that portion from their investment portfolio in the first year of retirement. In each subsequent year, the

Those armed with a newly minted diploma are entering a job market that looks a little less promising than it did one year ago. Employers plan to hire about 5.8% fewer new college graduates from this year’s class than they hired from the Class of 2023, according to a report from the National Association of Colleges

I remember my first credit card. My parents added me to their Visa Gold card when I was around 13 years old.  My mom specifically told me that it was for emergencies, or if I had permission beforehand to use it. She thought it was a way to help her daughter in case she needed

Skynesher | E+ | Getty Images Fewer homeowners have been taking on remodeling projects, reports show. But don’t mistake it for a slow market. The Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, an outlook measuring home improvement and repair spending on owner-occupied homes, peaked at 17.3% in the third quarter of 2022. The LIRA has been declining