Personal finance

Jitalia17 | E+ | Getty Images Series I bonds will pay 4.28% annual interest from May 1 through October 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Tuesday. Linked to inflation, the latest I bond rate is down from the 5.27% annual rate offered since November and slightly lower than the 4.3% from May 2023.

Jamie Grill | The Image Bank | Getty Images Higher interest rates may be here to stay for a while longer, thanks to persistent inflation. That’s good news for cash savers, who have the best opportunity to earn returns on their money in 15 years. What’s more, prospective yields on those investments — whether through

urbazon Some student loan borrowers have until the end of Tuesday to take advantage of an opportunity to get their debt forgiven sooner than they would have otherwise. Borrowers with multiple student loans who request a so-called loan consolidation the end of the day on April 30 — a move that will combine their federal

In this article ZG Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Vitapix | E+ | Getty Images People looking to buy or sell a home this spring are paying close attention to mortgage rates. The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 7.17% for the week ended April 25, according to Freddie Mac data via the Federal

Aire Images | Moment | Getty Images Most Americans consider money to be a private topic, and women are among those most reluctant to engage in financial conversations. But not asking the questions they need help with can hold them back financially, experts say. One women-focused nonprofit has launched a new way to help them

Delmaine Donson | E+ | Getty Images Wedding and engagement season is right around the corner and that means many couples will embark on a path toward marriage. One of the most important conversations newlyweds will need to have is figuring out how and who will pay the bills. The goal is to ensure the

Taylor Swift accepts the Best Pop Vocal Album award for “Midnights” onstage during the 66th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 4, 2024. Kevin Mazur | Getty Images When Taylor Swift on April 19 surprised the world with “The Tortured Poets Department,” a double album complete with 31 self-composed songs, there

Johner Images | Johner Images Royalty-free | Getty Images A new U.S. Labor Department rule will significantly change the advice many investors receive about rolling money over from 401(k) plans to individual retirement accounts, legal experts say. The so-called “fiduciary” rule, issued April 23, aims to raise the legal bar for brokers, financial advisors, insurance

Viewstock | View Stock | Getty Images Last year, Americans’ confidence that they would have enough money to live comfortably in retirement fell the most since the global financial crisis. New research shows both workers’ and retirees’ confidence has not recovered. But some signs of optimism have emerged, particularly as wage growth now outpaces inflation

A man stands outside his flooded home after heavy rain in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 13, 2023. Chandan Khanna | AFP | Getty Images The warming planet is already proving expensive. U.S. weather and climate disasters cost more than $617 billion between 2018 and 2022 — a record figure, according to the U.S. Department

Demonstrators attend a rally asking Rep. Kean to “Stop MAGA Cuts! Protect Social Security!” on Feb. 24, 2023 in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Dave Kotinsky | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images Voters who show up at the polls this November may not just be choosing among Republicans, Democrats and third-party tickets — but also casting

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on the fiscal 2024 IRS budget and the IRS’ 2023 filing season, in the Dirksen Building in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2023. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images This season, more than 140,000 taxpayers successfully filed returns using IRS Direct

In this article ZG Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT While the spring housing market has been plagued with low supply, high prices and spiking interest rates, would-be homebuyers are focusing on new construction.  The reason? New homes have more incentives and availability than previously owned ones. “There’s more opportunity in new construction,” said Nicole

South Pointe Beach in Miami Beach, Florida. Greg Iacurci MIAMI — Daniel Habibian worries about climate change.  His clothing boutique in Miami Beach’s iconic South Beach neighborhood sits just a few blocks inland from the Atlantic Ocean.  Rising seas threaten to swallow much of the Miami metro area in the coming decades as the world

Patchareeporn Sakoolchai | Moment | Getty Images BlackRock, the largest asset manager, has launched a new product to help workers access their retirement savings through a regular income stream that mimics a paycheck they receive during their working years. Experts say that while the new choice could be helpful, its success will be defined by

Enes Evren When you receive equity compensation from an employer, it typically requires a comprehensive financial plan — and restricted stock units are no exception. In 2000, only 20% of public companies granted restricted stock or restricted stock units, primarily for senior executives or higher, according to the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. That percentage, however, has

Many U.S. adults are making financial decisions with a generally poor level of financial literacy, a new report finds. Part of the problem: People continue to believe common misconceptions about managing and investing their money. The TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index gauges an individual’s knowledge of their personal finances. The index, which has been conducted annually

If TikTok is any guide, more women are taking a traditional approach to romantic partnerships: Some say they are even opting out of the workforce entirely in favor of the so-called “soft life,” centered around their home, their family and their own wellbeing. (Re-)enter the “tradwife,” one of social media’s growing trends. It shows a

Morsa Images | E+ | Getty Images If you work for a publicly traded company, you may have access to discounted company shares via an employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP. While the benefit can be valuable, you need to know the rules and risks before opting into your company’s plan, financial experts say. In

The Good Brigade | Digitalvision | Getty Images Health care, long an ailing stock market sector, has recovered over the past six months, with currently robust vital signs and strong growth projections. The recovery comes after the sector failed to make good on positive expectations for 2022 based on estimates of pent-up demand for physician