Advisors

Stephen Swintek | DigitalVision | Getty Images As families try to offset the increasing cost of college education, many have turned to 529 college savings plans as a strategy.  These accounts let families set aside money toward college expenses while taking advantage of tax breaks and compound interest, according to certified financial planner Preston D.

Sdi Productions | E+ | Getty Images Homeownership has long symbolized the American Dream, embodying stability, wealth creation, and community investment. Yet, for millions of Americans, especially younger generations and first-time homebuyers, that dream is slipping away. Rising home prices, stagnant wages, and restrictive mortgage terms have made it increasingly difficult to take that crucial

Jj Gouin | Istock | Getty Images Most Americans rank Social Security as “one of the top” issues or a “very important” issue determining who they will vote for in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, according to a new CNBC poll. Social Security reform is also a top concern, according to a separate survey from

Housing is the most considerable expense for U.S. consumers — and while high rents and home prices are obstacles to saving for potential homebuyers, access to affordable credit is another significant roadblock.  An estimated 50 million Americans are “credit invisible,” according to a 2022 fact sheet from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s

Young family with a baby boy going over finances at home. Pekic | E+ | Getty Images Inflation is still causing financial stress for most Americans, and surveys show that many people also blame a lack of savings and mounting credit card debt for their anxiety over their finances.  Earning greater income to cover your

Tanaonte | Istock | Getty Images The future of a Federal Trade Commission ban on noncompete agreements, scheduled to take effect this fall, is unclear after a preliminary ruling from a federal court last week. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans, an estimated 30 million people, are subject to a noncompete agreement, according to the FTC.

Hill Street Studios | Digitalvision | Getty Images The perceived benefits of financial education are so great that in a 2022 survey from the National Endowment for Financial Education, more than 85% of Americans polled said learning about personal finance should be a requirement to graduate from high school. Lawmakers have responded to this need

Poor performance may drive some people to break up with a financial advisor, but judging an advisor’s results is not only about the profits, or lack thereof, on your investments. Often, it is about trust, some experts say. “The No. 1 reason people tend to go with an advisor is that they like them and

Civilians board a train as they flee Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Odessa, Ukraine, March 9, 2022. Alexandros Avramidis | Reuters Within hours of Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022, the country’s financial system began to show signs of strain. As banks swiftly shut down, the Ukrainian economy quickly spiraled into wartime mode and civilians

The U.S. economy has remained remarkably strong. Boosted by a strong labor market, the country has continued to expand since the Covid-19 pandemic, sidestepping earlier recessionary forecasts even after a series of Federal Reserve interest rate increases. And yet, consumer sentiment recently sank to a six-month low. That disconnect is what Joyce Chang, JPMorgan’s chair of global research, calls a “vibecession.”

Joe Biden and Donald Trump 2024. Brendan Smialowski | Jon Cherry | Getty Images The stock market has yet to price in a potential outcome in the presidential election, a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. In general, election years are not great for the stock market leading up to voting day,

Sean De Burca | The Image Bank | Getty Images There’s a growing debate over how higher taxes on the wealthy affect interstate migration trends — and some experts say millionaire tax flight is underway. “Taxes are an important part of this puzzle,” said Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects for the Tax Foundation,

Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images The U.S. stock market has been swooning. But there are risks that threaten to put a lid on the euphoria. The three “primary” risks are Federal Reserve policy, a surprise recession and lower-than-expected results on companies’ earnings, David Rosenberg, founder and president of economic consulting firm Rosenberg Research &

People walk outside of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on July 25, 2022. Spencer Platt | Getty Images The S&P 500 climbed to yet another record close on Tuesday. The index, which tracks the performance of about 500 of the largest U.S. company stocks, has jumped 53% since inflation peaked in 2022,

Greg Hinsdale | The Image Bank | Getty Images For registered investment advisors, advancements in artificial intelligence have brought to the surface lingering feelings of unease that many advisors have had since the robo-advising boom of the early 2010s. The AI explosion has dovetailed with Thomas Moore’s time as the director of Betterment for Advisors.

Eva-katalin | E+ | Getty Images It is common folklore, a fairy tale of sorts, that middle-class Americans received perpetual relief in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. First, property taxes generate 32% of state and local income, and U.S. median single-family home property taxes have risen by more than 25% since 2019.

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images Supporting aging parents is an extremely difficult situation that comes with both emotional and financial complications. The cost of long-term care insurance is a prime example. This insurance, essential for covering costs not typically included in standard health insurance or Medicare, such as nursing home stays or in-home

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 29: A fan trades a baseball card on the trade wall during the 2023 Topps Truck Tour promotion outside of Comerica Park during game one of a doubleheader between the Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 29, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Orioles

In this article UAA Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Thomas Barwick | DigitalVision | Getty Images It’s tempting to follow the crowd when it comes to investing. While that may not always be wise, experts say one investment vehicle — exchange-traded funds — might be worth a second look now. “It’s been a huge

Getty Images Exchange-traded funds came in third among the top 10 investment products to grow in popularity with U.S. households from 2020 to 2022, according to a new survey. While individual stocks were the most commonly owned investment product, held by 43% of households in 2022, 18% of households invested in ETFs in the same