Many people don’t worry about retirement until a looming number acts as a lightbulb. In 2017, Wendy Mays was in her mid-40s and at the tail end of adopting several young children. “I was very scared,” said Mays, a former criminal defense attorney in San Diego who has a podcast on financial independence for families.
Personal finance
Meb Keflezighi, of the United States, reacts after winning the 118th Boston Marathon, April 21, 2014. John Tlumacki | The Boston Globe | Getty Images When Meb Keflezighi ran his first competitive race in the seventh grade, his motivation was simple: to get a t-shirt for his school’s running club that his older brothers also
When it comes to renovating your home, the last thing you want is surprises. So before you start swinging a hammer, it’s important to take steps that can help you avoid costly blunders, according to Drew and Jonathan Scott, the stars of HGTV’s “Property Brothers.” “[The] No. 1 common mistake that so many people make
If you’re changing your Medicare coverage during open enrollment and you plan to travel at some point, make sure you know whether your insurance will go with you. Coverage away from home depends partly on where you travel to, along with whether you’re on basic Medicare or get your benefits through an Advantage Plan. It
President Donald Trump addresses the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual convention at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on October 8, 2018. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images President Donald Trump is making his move to Florida official. His home state of New York may not let him go without
Tereza | Twenty20 As the Federal Reserve cuts rates, it’s a good idea to make sure your savings are still getting the biggest boost possible. The central bank slashed its benchmark short-term interest rate this week by a quarter point for the third time this year. As a result, some banks are pulling back their
The reporter’s kitchen in November 2017, shortly after she and her husband closed on their first home. Darla Mercado If you think bringing your garish 1960s-era kitchen up to date is just a matter of new paint and appliances, think again. Home renovations modernize your dwelling, potentially make it more energy-efficient and may enhance its
Former Massachusetts Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is interviewed at the Silicon Slopes Tech Conference on January 19, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. George Frey | Getty Images Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, is taking the lead on a new proposal aimed at fixing funding shortfalls for Social Security, Medicare and the nation’s
MACON, Ga. — At 5:01 a.m. on Thursday October 24, Dr. Wayne Johnson, who was hired by the Trump administration to oversee the country’s $1.6 trillion in student loan debt and its 44 million borrowers, submitted his resignation letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Around an hour later, Johnson made an announcement that hurled him
The Federal Reserve‘s decision to cut interest rates by a quarter point for the third time this year is meant to bolster the economy. Everyday Americans may lose some ground. On the one hand, lower rates often mean cheaper loans, which can impact your mortgage, home equity loan, credit card, student loan tab and car
If you hate paying taxes, at least it’s a reason to pretend you’re glad you never win big in the lottery. So far this year, the 12 winners who have hit Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots — worth an advertised $3.3 billion in all — have collectively fed roughly $505.5 million to the IRS. And
Hero Images | Getty Images As the S&P 500 reached new records this week, you might be tempted to ask: How high can the market go? You might even be thinking of paring back your equity exposure in anticipation that the 10-year bull market might finally be coming to an end. However financial experts warn:
Move over, pumpkin spice latte. You’re no longer the only budget-crusher in town. Unconscious spending is the next Starbucks-like personal finance cliché, says Chris Kampitsis, a certified financial planner at the Barnum Financial Group in Elmsford, New York. “An overuse or overreliance on subscriptions, everything from Netflix to different delivery services, like monthly boxes, all
If Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark holiday, Halloween was made for Instagram. When it comes to spending, nearly half, or 48%, of millennials said they purchased items strictly for the social media posts, compared to less than a third of those in Generation X, according to a new report from CompareCards by LendingTree. About 4
Medicare beneficiaries would get dental, vision and hearing coverage if several bills now before Congress pass. In addition, the government would get authority to negotiate prices with drugmakers and create a cap for Medicare out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs. All have cleared the necessary committees over the last couple of weeks and now await full
Getty Images ‘Tis the season to spend a lot of money. Between buying gifts, booking travel and attending holiday parties, there are plenty of ways to splurge in the months ahead, regardless of whether Americans can afford it. The National Retail Federation said it expects holiday retail sales to rise between 3.8% and 4.2% over
100 years old birthday cake to old woman elderly celebration funny humor MEDITERRANEAN | E+ | Getty Images You can never be too old for a surprise tax bill from the IRS. Whether you’re a business owner or an individual with an elaborate estate, you may use cash value life insurance to solve any complex
A. Wayne Johnson Mirco Lazzari gp | Getty Images A senior government official appointed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigned on Thursday, saying the current student loan system is “fundamentally broken” and calling for billions of dollars in debt to be forgiven. A. Wayne Johnson was hired as the chief operating officer of the Office
Hill Street Studios | Getty Images Even if you’re still deciding how you’re going to vote next Election Day, you could already be taking political sides with your investments. New research examines whether mutual fund managers put more money in companies that are led by executives who share their political ideologies or party affiliations. And
If you’re going to make Medicare coverage changes that include dropping or buying a supplemental plan — aka, Medigap — make sure you know the rules that come along with it. Medicare’s annual open enrollment period — now underway through Dec. 7 — allows you to switch various parts of your coverage for next year.