Personal finance

The Federal Reserve is expected to announce it will leave rates unchanged at the end of its two-day meeting this week, after recent reports showed the economy grew at a much more rapid pace than expected and inflation eased. “In many ways, we already have a soft landing,” said Columbia Business School economics professor Brett House.

Fotostorm | E+ | Getty Images Millions of American workers are paying for early access to their paychecks. In some cases, it can come with a steep price. So-called “earned wage access” programs, which operate either directly to the consumer or through employers, let workers tap a portion of their wages before payday, often for

Kseniya Ovchinnikova | Moment | Getty Images The opening of tax season is approaching — and experts have a few reminders before you file. The IRS expects to receive more than 128.7 million individual tax returns before the deadline for most filers, which is April 15. Generally, the best way to avoid a delayed refund

By many measures, Generation Z is doing well. Compared with their parents at this age, young adults are more likely to have a college degree and work full time — particularly women, who are not only achieving increasing levels of education but also earning more.    However, Gen Z adults are also less likely to own a

Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images After the loss of a family member or close friend, one of the last things someone wants to think about is their job. Unfortunately, they often have to. The U.S. has no federal bereavement leave policy, meaning workers aren’t guaranteed time off after the death of a loved

Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., at the UK Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court Palace in London, UK, on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.  Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images When filing tax returns this season, low- to middle-income families may have money coming back to them, thanks to the

In this article CASS Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Alvaro Gonzalez | Moment | Getty Images If you’re looking for an accountant to help you with your taxes this year, good luck. As fewer college students graduate with accounting degrees, the number of accountants and certified public accountants has been declining. That can make

In this article GOOGL AMZN EBAY MSFT Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Skynesher | E+ | Getty Images Microsoft joined a list of big tech companies that announced major layoffs at the start of 2024. The technology company plans to cut about 9% its Gaming Unit headcount, amounting to 1,900 laid off workers, according

Ascentxmedia | E+ | Getty Images High inflation has prompted even well-to-do Americans to rethink their spending habits. But one group — affluent millennials — are more likely to lie or exaggerate their finances to appear financially successful, according to a recent survey from Wells Fargo. That goes for 34% of affluent millennials versus just

The U.S. Department of Education says it plans to update a key part of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid formula, which will result in $1.8 billion more in aid for college-bound students this year. The announcement comes weeks after the simplified FAFSA soft launched Dec. 30 after a monthslong delay. Since then, the 2024-25 form

U.S. President Joe Biden talks to reporters as he departs the White House on June 28, 2023 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The Supreme Court’s conservative majority in June ruled that President Joe Biden didn’t have the authority to cancel student debt for millions of Americans. He’s still trying. In what one

Brand X Pictures | Stockbyte | Getty Images When faced with an unexpected $1,000 expense, more than one-third of Americans would borrow the money, according to a new Bankrate survey. That may include tapping their credit cards, seeking money from friends or family or taking out a personal loan. Most would not turn to cash

In this article ZG Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Maskot | Digitalvision | Getty Images With high mortgage rates and home prices, would-be buyers are understandably looking for deals — even if they have to move to a different city, state or region to find them. Last year, consumers moving interstate tended to pick

In this article ZG Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Grace Cary | Moment | Getty Images The top 10 hottest housing markets are expected to be spread across the South, Northeast and Midwest this year, according to an analysis by real estate marketplace Zillow. But a “hot” market isn’t always great for would-be buyers.

In this article INTU Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images As the opening of tax season approaches, the Federal Trade Commission has cracked down on “deceptive advertising” from Intuit, maker of tax filing software TurboTax. The FTC on Monday upheld a September ruling that found Intuit violated federal

A caucus worker checks in voters at a caucus site at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa, on Jan. 15, 2024. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images Former President Donald Trump won the Iowa caucus by a landslide, due in part to strong turnout by older voters. “While the turnout overall was low, 70% of

People walk through the Financial District by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the last day of trading for the year on December 29, 2023 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images The S&P 500 stock index climbed to a new all-time high on Monday. A bull market — by two definitions

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images Federal student loan bills resumed in the fall after a pause of more than three years. Borrowers should monitor how that financial change affects their credit, experts say. Here’s what to know. On-ramp period should protect your credit Generally, failing to make timely payments on debts, including your student

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images While rent payments do not traditionally affect your credit, a growing number of so-called rent-reporting services are trying to change that. These services track users’ rent-paying habits and report them to one or more of the big credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — with the aim

GlobalStock | Getty Images When you invest toward retirement, experts often like to say you are letting your money work for you. But how much can you realistically expect to earn on your money? The annual rate of return — defined as the percentage change in an investment’s value — is an estimate of the