Today’s column addresses questions about whether previous cost of living allowances (COLAs) apply to spousal benefits taken later, whether earlier COLAs apply to widow’s benefits and taking disability benefits before widow’s benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc. See more Ask
An upcoming virtual auction for 34 acres of some of Hawaii’s most desirable land has been announced for this coming September. Situated on Kauai’s North Shore, this lush expanse is a rare development opportunity in a state known for highly-coveted land, elements reflected in the property’s $50-million asking price. The sale will come at an
In this article WMT A shopper wearing a protective mask shops in a Walmart store on May 18, 2021 in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images Walmart is set to report its fiscal second-quarter earnings before the bell on Tuesday. Here’s what Wall Street is expecting: Earnings per share: $1.57, according to Refinitiv
The internet can be quite a useful yet massively confusing place. Searching for instructional videos on saving for retirement with an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) generates more than 450,000 hits. That is a lot of information. It is also way too much information for people who have regular jobs as hair dressers, dentists, home care
It’s no secret that the IRS is after crypto in a big way, with warnings, a series of cryptocurrency John Doe Summonses served on exchanges and even a crypto question on every tax return. Selling crypto can obviously trigger taxes, but even buying something with crypto can trigger taxes. In fact, even paying taxes in crypto can
Founder and CEO, Visual Lease. The financial world has a never-ending list of new standards and practices to adhere to, many of which intersect with the world of corporate real estate. New lease accounting standard ASC 842 requires businesses to represent their real estate and equipment leases on their balance sheet. While this may sound like
Retail is in full focus this week. In earnings reports Tuesday morning, Walmart and Home Depot beat estimates. Major players such as Target, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Foot Locker will release results in coming days. July retail sales are also out Tuesday. All that data should reveal whether pent-up demand from the consumer was enough to
Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket: Home Depot (HD) – Shares of the home improvement retailer fell 3.2% in the premarket following its second-quarter results. Home Depot earned $4.53 per share, 9 cents a share above estimates. Revenue also topped forecasts. Comparable-store sales fell short of forecasts, however, rising
Sawitree Pamee / EyeEm | EyeEm | Getty Images When a financial advisor discusses the appropriate asset allocation for a portfolio, they are essentially trying to construct a plan that maximizes expected returns based on a given level of risk. The advisor pays less attention to the behavior of an individual security and instead focuses
ALEAIMAGE | iStock | Getty Images The Biden administration approved on Monday the biggest boost to food assistance benefits in the history of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a reform that could impact as many as 42 million Americans. Starting in October, SNAP benefits will increase by an average of 25% above pre-pandemic levels. That
Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes exits a status hearing for her upcoming criminal fraud trial. SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Elizabeth Holmes’ attorneys on Monday requested that they be allowed to ask jurors about bias and exposure to Holmes’ “profession and celebrity” when jury selection begins later this month in her criminal fraud trial. “When there
The FBI’s investigation into alleged false investment performance at the $67 billion Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System may suggest law enforcement is finally focused upon public pension shenanigans. That’s not likely. If you want to understand how pension looters and high-level investment scammers frequently escape prosecution, begin with studying the legal and regulatory structure
The law on the limits of state tax and regulatory authority regarding Native American tribes is complicated. The law may seem clear, yet there are instances in which a different interpretation is applied, as with the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Big Sandy. Setting the Scene California has comprehensive regulations designed to reduce illegal trafficking in cigarette and
After months of mayhem, the housing market is finally cooling off a bit. While July’s bidding-war rate was the lowest since January, it was still more intense than the 57.9% bidding rate in July 2020, when the housing market was recovering after a shutdown caused by pandemic restrictions, according to Redfin, a technology-powered real estate
When husband-and-wife duo Chris Halim and Raena Lim quit their jobs in 2016 to start their own sustainable fashion business, they had little idea of the success it would become. But they knew one thing for sure: get a basic product to market as soon as possible — that’s the advice they stand by today.
There are two risks high on Invesco’s radar, but the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan isn’t one of them. Kristina Hooper, the firm’s chief global market strategist, sees a Federal Reserve policy mistake and the Covid-19 delta variant as bigger threats to the U.S. economy and stocks. “This [Afghanistan] is certainly a human tragedy. It’s a
katleho Seisa With inflation fears high and interest rates at rock-bottom lows, retirees may wrestle with how much cash they need during their golden years. The consumer price index, a key measure of inflation, increased by 5.4% in July from the previous year, and the average savings interest rates are still 0.06%, making cash reserves
A company advertises a help wanted sign on April 09, 2021 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Spencer Platt | Getty Images Employment among the lowest-paid Americans has flatlined at a level well below its pre-pandemic baseline — even as mid- and high-wage workers have more than recovered. Jobs for workers who earn less than $27,000 a
Meme-inspired cryptocurrency dogecoin surged on Monday morning, hitting 35 cents. It’s now trading at around 33 cents and is up 10% in the last 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap. This boost came after billionaire investor Mark Cuban told CNBC Make It last week that “the community for doge is the strongest when it comes to
Billionaire American businessman Jeff Bezos walks with Blue Origin’s President and CEO Bob Smith after Bezos flew on the company’s inaugural flight to the edge of space, in the nearby town of Van Horn, Texas, U.S. July 20, 2021. Joe Skipper | Reuters Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin filed a complaint in federal court