Personal finance

Getty Images Inflation is cooling. Consumer spending continues to be at record highs, while consumer confidence has been trending up. And, after almost two years of rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve, investors are expecting at least a few cuts to interest rates this year. Their anticipation is understandable: The federal funds rate hasn’t

Jgi/jamie Grill | Tetra Images | Getty Images If you’re like most people, you may not have an emergency savings fund. It’s not necessarily our fault, experts say, as our brains are programmed to focus on our needs today. “We’re just not wired to save,” Brad Klontz, a certified financial planner and expert in financial

Tax filing season officially starts today, Monday, Jan. 29 — marking the first day that you (or your tax preparer) can submit your 2023 federal tax return for the IRS to accept and process.  To avoid being surprised by new IRS guidelines or how changes in your financial life will impact your taxes, here are

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images Tax season has kicked off and the IRS has started to process 2023 returns. If you’re expecting a refund, there are a few ways to get the money faster, experts say. Often, “self-inflicted mistakes” cause refund delays, according to Mark Steber, chief tax information officer at Jackson Hewitt. The

The Federal Reserve is expected to announce it will leave rates unchanged at the end of its two-day meeting this week, after recent reports showed the economy grew at a much more rapid pace than expected and inflation eased. “In many ways, we already have a soft landing,” said Columbia Business School economics professor Brett House.

Fotostorm | E+ | Getty Images Millions of American workers are paying for early access to their paychecks. In some cases, it can come with a steep price. So-called “earned wage access” programs, which operate either directly to the consumer or through employers, let workers tap a portion of their wages before payday, often for

In this article CASS Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Alvaro Gonzalez | Moment | Getty Images If you’re looking for an accountant to help you with your taxes this year, good luck. As fewer college students graduate with accounting degrees, the number of accountants and certified public accountants has been declining. That can make

By many measures, Generation Z is doing well. Compared with their parents at this age, young adults are more likely to have a college degree and work full time — particularly women, who are not only achieving increasing levels of education but also earning more.    However, Gen Z adults are also less likely to own a

Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images After the loss of a family member or close friend, one of the last things someone wants to think about is their job. Unfortunately, they often have to. The U.S. has no federal bereavement leave policy, meaning workers aren’t guaranteed time off after the death of a loved

Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., at the UK Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court Palace in London, UK, on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.  Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images When filing tax returns this season, low- to middle-income families may have money coming back to them, thanks to the

Kseniya Ovchinnikova | Moment | Getty Images The opening of tax season is approaching — and experts have a few reminders before you file. The IRS expects to receive more than 128.7 million individual tax returns before the deadline for most filers on April 15. Generally, the best way to avoid a delayed refund is

In this article GOOGL AMZN EBAY MSFT Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Skynesher | E+ | Getty Images Microsoft joined a list of big tech companies that announced major layoffs at the start of 2024. The technology company plans to cut about 9% its Gaming Unit headcount, amounting to 1,900 laid off workers, according

Ascentxmedia | E+ | Getty Images High inflation has prompted even well-to-do Americans to rethink their spending habits. But one group — affluent millennials — are more likely to lie or exaggerate their finances to appear financially successful, according to a recent survey from Wells Fargo. That goes for 34% of affluent millennials versus just

The U.S. Department of Education says it plans to update a key part of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid formula, which will result in $1.8 billion more in aid for college-bound students this year. The announcement comes weeks after the simplified FAFSA soft launched Dec. 30 after a monthslong delay. Since then, the 2024-25 form

U.S. President Joe Biden talks to reporters as he departs the White House on June 28, 2023 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The Supreme Court’s conservative majority in June ruled that President Joe Biden didn’t have the authority to cancel student debt for millions of Americans. He’s still trying. In what one

Brand X Pictures | Stockbyte | Getty Images When faced with an unexpected $1,000 expense, more than one-third of Americans would borrow the money, according to a new Bankrate survey. That may include tapping their credit cards, seeking money from friends or family or taking out a personal loan. Most would not turn to cash

Pekic | E+ | Getty Images Younger adults are less worried about financial fraud compared to older generations, a recent study found. Only 15% of Gen Z and 20% of millennials are concerned about falling victim to stolen money or assets through deceptive tactics, according to a Bank of America’s Better Money Habits survey of

Fatcamera | E+ | Getty Images Passport processing times are back to normal after big delays in 2023, making it less likely travelers will miss a trip because of a stalled renewal. However, another common passport snafu threatens to upend your trip overseas — and it involves passports that haven’t yet expired but are close

In this article INTU Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images As the opening of tax season approaches, the Federal Trade Commission has cracked down on “deceptive advertising” from Intuit, maker of tax filing software TurboTax. The FTC on Monday upheld a September ruling that found Intuit violated federal

A man walks past a barbershop in Los Angeles. Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images Inflation in the U.S. economy is on the retreat. But the road to ultimate victory may be harder than what’s come already, some economists argue. “The so-called last mile is going to get a lot trickier,” Mohamed El-Erian, chief