Before you start counting all the ways you’d use the $211 million Mega Millions jackpot if you’re lucky enough to win, remember that a hefty chunk of the bonanza goes to Uncle Sam. The game’s top prize has been climbing since late July, when a single ticket sold in New Hampshire matched all six numbers
Personal finance
Moms may want to reevaluate their worth in the household. While the majority of fathers (78%) and mothers (79%) say their own death would have a “substantial” impact on their family’s quality of life, women cite a lower amount of life insurance needed for the family if they were to pass away, according to new
Self-made billionaire Warren Buffett has been called the greatest investor in the world. So it should come as no surprise that the Berkshire Hathaway CEO has scores of investors hoping to follow in his footsteps by adopting his investing principles. Former hedge-fund manager and Buffett follower Whitney Tilson attributes the 89-year-old’s success to his “off-the-charts
Source: Twenty/20 College graduates in 2018 are even deeper in debt than prior classes, signalling that the student loan crisis is swelling. Two in 3 college graduates in 2018 had borrowed for their education. The average graduate owed $29,200, up from $28,650 in 2017, according to a report by The Institute for College Access &
For consumers, lower rates do mean cheaper loans, which can impact your mortgage, home equity loan, credit card, student loan tab and car payment. On the flip side, consumers likely will earn less interest on their savings accounts, and in some cases, lose buying power over time. Here’s a breakdown of how it works: Credit
Tereza | Twenty20 As the Federal Reserve lowers rates, it’s a good idea to make sure your savings are still getting the biggest boost. The central bank cut its benchmark short-term interest rate by a quarter of a point. In July, the bank cut rates for the first time since the Great Recession. As a
Grandfather and grandson walking on the country road freemixer | E+ | Getty Images Apparently, your rich grandpa can’t donate his fortune to charity in peace. While handing off wealth to the next generation is a major component of estate planning, few people discuss their philanthropic goals with their heirs. Indeed, 8 out of 10
Many women are aware that a woman in the U.S. generally makes about 80 cents to each dollar a man earns. Much of that shortfall has been explained by criteria such as education and work experience — women are more likely to work part time and take time off over the course of their careers,
It’s the night before a school field trip, and your son or daughter suddenly remembers they need cash for the next day. Do you have the money in your wallet? Or do you need to make a light-night stop at an ATM or have another child temporarily lend them the money? Nicholas Prior | Getty
Personal finance website WalletHub has ranked 182 U.S. cities for their “fun” factor, weighing entertainment, recreation and nightlife options against local costs. Fun is no joke when it comes to household budgets. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spent $3,226 on entertainment in 2018, a 0.07% rise over 2017. From 2016
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Are you prepared to dig a little deeper into your wallet? If not, you may have to make some choices about the products you buy and your budget, thanks to the latest round of U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods that went into effect earlier this month, as well as
You know you need to put money away for retirement. But how much do you really need to save? It’s a question that confounds many individuals. And not knowing can contribute to one big fear: that they will run out of money in their later years. ATABOY | Getty Images A new tool aims to
Not every relationship lasts forever. And the one with your financial advisor doesn’t need to, either. If the market’s wild ride and your recent returns have made you rethink the advice you’ve been getting, it could be time to consider a switch. However, knowing when or how to break up with your advisor is difficult.
RgStudio | E+ | Getty Images You can get 50,000 bonus miles or a $100 statement credit. How about free checked bags or rental insurance? Sound good? Well, have we got a card for you. So goes the irresistible sales pitch of sexy rewards and perks that many credit card issuers make to an American
Carl Icahn at the 6th annual CNBC Institutional Investor Delivering Alpha Conference on September 13, 2016. Heidi Gutman | CNBC If you’re thinking of following Carl Icahn from high-tax New York to sunny Miami, you’ll need to do more than just change your driver’s license to make it official. The billionaire investor has told his
David Young-Wolff | Getty Images Generally speaking, the higher your credit score, the better off you are when seeking a loan. But the recovery time from a missed payment or financial setback of any kind differs for everyone. As many consumers know, your credit score plays a big role in daily life. It can determine
When John Sullivan’s aging mother needed to move, it was a challenging experience. Sullivan’s mother had macular degeneration and couldn’t drive anymore. Consequently, he and his brother looked for senior living communities. But they had many questions, many of which they didn’t know the answer to. Adding to those difficulties, they were trying to sell
The first monthly Social Security check was cashed in 1940 for a grand total of about $23. Fast forward to 2019 and the average retired worker gets almost $1,500 a month from Social Security. Nearly nine out of 10 people aged 65 and older receive benefits, making it an essential part of retiring in the
Ms. Monopoly game. Source: Hasbro The typical 8-year-old probably doesn’t know much about the gender pay gap. Now the topic could come up if she or he plays the new game, Ms. Monopoly. Some critics are skeptical, however, of how helpful those conversations will be. Toymaker Hasbro announced this week the rollout of the board
Equities. Shares. Dividends. Asset classes. Investing is filled with unfamiliar terms. You’ve heard how risky the stock market is. You know you have to put your money in the right places at the right time. “People can be paralyzed even before they start,” said David Wilson, a certified financial planner at Watts Capital in New