JAG Images | Getty Images There has been a seismic shift in the job market as more Americans turn to freelancing during the pandemic. Over the last 12 months, their ranks have swelled to 59 million across a wide swath of industries. They now account for 39% of the U.S. workforce, according to UpWork, a
IRA individual retirement account. Stack of money and calculator. getty The Covid-19 pandemic has left millions of people out of work, and while the extended unemployment benefits are helpful, they may not be enough for everyone. If you find yourself in a financial bind, you might be curious about tapping your individual retirement accounts for
getty If you’re like most employees, one of the most important decisions that will impact your financial future has already been made for you. In 2006, Congress passed the Pension Protection Act. Despite the law’s name, it represented a watershed event for retirement savers using a 401(k) plan. It allowed employers to change how employees
By Ralph Mroz, Next Avenue Contributor getty Surveys show that most people would prefer to grow older, and even die, in their own home. This desire isn’t hard to understand. While you may have already downsized to a more manageable home or condo, you won’t have to move again, which is emotionally straining, physically taxing
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 24: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on screen, provides his remarks to … [+] Steven T. Mnuchin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury (Photo by Toni L. Sandys-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Economy Is Looking Bad With the prospects of a stimulus package souring (see the tussle between Sherrod Brown and Steven Munchin yesterday), the
The most expansive legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act in the 10 year history of the law and an attack on the ability of the Federal Trade Commission to reimburse consumers for harm highlight the Supreme Court’s coming term for seniors, the AARP Foundation announced this week. The term starts October 5. The importance
Looking to an u unknown future getty Are you prepared to live a long time? You should be because many Americans are now living well into their 90s and 100s. If you are over 60, you can probably remember a time when a radio personality by the name of Paul Harvey used to wish a
getty Choosing to work with a financial planner is one of the bigger decisions many will face. The hard part starts when choosing what to look for in an advisor and firm. To start, there is not necessarily an agreed upon title when making your search. You could see titles such as financial advisor, financial
By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty The employer-sponsored 401(k) plan can be an excellent way to save for retirement when you’re working (if you’re offered one) and supplement your Social Security benefits when you’re retired. But investing in a 401(k) and managing it wisely can be agonizingly hard. Just a few of the
getty Will it keep blowing off bad news, or keep tracking like the year-2000 bear market? Some strange things are afoot in the stock market. The further we go into 2020, the more the market seems to think it’s 2000 all over again. The one big exception, of course, is that 2000 did not include
getty People often underestimate how much they will need to maintain their desired lifestyle in retirement. Most assume their expenses will go down when they’re no longer working, and the kids are out of college. While certain work-related costs, such as commuting, parking, clothing or uniforms, and even that daily latte may cease, other costs
Uniswap is a popular decentralized cryptocurrency exchange which has gained a lot of popularity in the past few months. On September 16th 2020, it distributed a governance token called, UNI, to reward early adopters of the platform. So far, over 150,000 addresses have claimed UNI tokens. UNI Tokens Are Taxable As Ordinary Income Per the
Photo taken in Athens, Greece getty It is hard to overestimate what a dismal fiscal future the Congressional Budget Office foresees. In its new long-term budget estimate, CBO projects that in just 30 years, the national debt will rise to nearly twice the US’s total economic output, from less than 80 percent last year. As
Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about receiving spousal benefits after receiving retirement benefits, whether it’s possible to reduce a benefit amount to remain under a limit and applying for disability benefits while working and receiving survivor’s benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president
Topline House Democrats are likely to release a smaller coronavirus relief package sometime next week if they don’t agree to a deal with Republicans before then, according to a report from Tax Notes on Thursday. House Democrats look set to introduce a smaller stimulus bill next week if an agreement can’t be … [+] reached
getty Beginning in January 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be expanding the voluntary Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) program. What Is An IP PIN? An IP PIN is a six-digit number assigned to eligible taxpayers to help prevent tax refund fraud on federal income tax returns. An IP PIN helps the IRS to
Disney’s new CEO Bob Chapek seen here at Hong Kong Disneyland. The company paid less than half a … [+] percent in federal taxes last year. ASSOCIATED PRESS Depending on who you ask, paying taxes contributes to the commonwealth of a nation. But if you can avoid it, it contributes to the company’s bottom line,
Committee for Greater LA report, “No Going Back,” calls for fighting inequality and racism as … [+] response to pandemic. Committee for Greater LA Six months into the Covid pandemic, many people are asking when we can “return to normal.” But a remarkable new report “No Going Back: Together for an Equitable and Inclusive Los Angeles” rejects that
There is no such thing as bad publicity. That may be what is proved by the continuing growth of the syndicated conservation easement industry in 2018 in the face of dire warnings from the IRS. According to a recent IRS report publicized by the Senate Finance Committee, the number of participants increased from 14,000 to
It’s nice to read a feel-good story like the one about an Arkansas man who found a massive 9-carat diamond in a public state park in Arkansas. Thirty-three year old Kevin Kinard found the 9.07 carat whopper in the Crater of Diamonds State Park on Labor Day. It is the second-largest ever found at the park,