Personal finance

Oliver Contreras/Bloomberg via Getty Images Taxpayers will have another shot at a package of tax breaks that would have otherwise expired at the end of 2020. That’s because when lawmakers hammered out the 5,593-page Covid relief act, they resurrected a basket of deductions and credits — known as tax extenders — that were about a

Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images PUA fraud Most of the theft has focused on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a temporary program created by the federal CARES Act in March. It offers unemployment benefits to workers who don’t ordinarily qualify, like the self-employed, gig workers, freelancers, contractors and part-timers. Con artists are attracted

Cavan Images | Cavan | Getty Images Maybe you’re familiar with a common quirk of health insurance coverage: Not knowing the cost of services until after the fact. A new price transparency rule that took effect Jan. 1 is an effort to change that. Basically, hospitals are now required to post online, in a consumer-friendly

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks as he campaigns on behalf of Democratic U.S. Senate candidates from Georgia Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, ahead of their January 5 run-off elections, during a drive-in campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia, January 4, 2021. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters The outcome of the two contests for U.S. Senate seats in

Hispanolistic The latest round of $600 stimulus checks is on the way, but for people who either changed their bank account information or moved recently, the next payment may be delayed. The IRS has already started the process of issuing the checks through direct deposit, and some people have already noticed the payment pending in

The government’s stimulus response to the pandemic may accelerate the trend of companies offering student loan assistance as a benefit. Mark Chilton | iStock | Getty Images Student loan assistance, which started as a niche offering by a handful of companies, was already finding its way into the mainstream menu of workplace benefits before Covid

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in lower Manhattan. Spencer Platt | Getty Images The legacy of 2020 will endure in America’s collective memory for many reasons: a deadly pandemic, a vicious presidential election. It also brought the most severe recession in almost a century, which hurtled millions into poverty and joblessness and created burgeoning

mphillips007 | iStock Unreleased | Getty Images The Mega Millions jackpot has surged higher. After no ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Friday, the top prize is now $432 million for the next drawing on Tuesday night. Powerball’s jackpot is at $384 million for Saturday night’s drawing. While the chance of a single ticket

Mary Alexander Source: Mary Alexander Mary Alexander doesn’t make New Year’s resolutions. Instead, the 40-year-old looks back at the past year to help guide her forward. “I hope to have revelations about what’s happened in the year,” said Alexander, who is mom to three kids ages 7 to 17 and lives in Red Hook, New

Hill Street Studios | DigitalVision | Getty Images Estate planning isn’t only for the wealthy — yet the majority of Americans don’t have a plan in place. Plans may include a will, powers of attorney and a living will — also known as an advance directive. Less than one-third of Americans have one or more

Around 60% of the workforce has become remote amid the coronavirus pandemic. champja The coronavirus upended the way many workers do their job — whether in person or from home — and increased the time they spend doing it.  In 2020, the average workday lengthened by nearly an hour, according to a working paper published by the National

MARK RALSTON | AFP | Getty Images There’s a chance that at least a couple of people will end 2020 far wealthier than most of us. With no ticket matching all six numbers drawn Tuesday in Mega Millions, the jackpot has jumped to $401 million for Friday night’s drawing. Powerball’s top prize isn’t far behind,

Oranut Fankhaenel / EyeEm | EyeEm | Getty Images Sustainability ratings are useful tools for assessing the environmental, sustainability and corporate governance-worthiness of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. But how do you navigate between different ratings providers, especially when they can have different results for the same fund? CNBC looked under the hood at some

A student outside the closed Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Aug. 18, 2020. Melissa Sue Gerrits | Getty Images Despite a rocky attempt at reopening this past fall and a record number of coronavirus cases nationwide, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has announced plans to bring

Federal stimulus checks are prepared for printing at the Philadelphia Financial Center May 8. Jeff Fusco | Getty Images News | Getty Images Another round of stimulus payments is on the way for the millions of Americans financially struggling because of the public health crisis. President Donald Trump on Sunday night signed a $900 billion

aluxum | E+ | Getty Images Sustainable investing incorporates environmental, social and governance considerations. But how exactly do these factors fit into the analytical process, and how do they add value? CNBC consulted with several experts to find out. In general terms, “we look at a company’s business models and where they operate geographically and

A drive-in “Let’s Feed LA County” food distribution event hosted by the Los Angeles Food Bank on Dec. 4, 2020 in Hacienda Heights, California. FREDERIC J. BROWN | AFP | Getty Images However, states must wait to begin issuing the funds. The president’s signature starts a chain reaction that will likely end with workers getting

A view of Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University on July 08, 2020 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer | Getty Images Getting into college has always been a numbers game. This year the math is trickier. With early admissions largely decided, high school seniors face a grim reality: Covid-19 is making it harder

People wait in line at the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen on Dec. 15, 2020 in New York City. Robert Nickelsberg | Getty Images Finally, there’s some good news for the millions of people on two key unemployment programs that expired before President Donald Trump signed the latest Covid relief bill — they likely will not

Ty Wright | Bloomberg | Getty Images For car buyers, the end of the year typically marks the best time to get a great deal. Things look a bit different this time around. While there are still discounts and special financing on certain makes and models, those incentives generally are not as generous as in