Personal finance

In this article AVD Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT People walk through the Financial District by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the last day of trading for the year on December 29, 2023 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images The S&P 500 stock index climbed to a new all-time

A caucus worker checks in voters at a caucus site at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa, on Jan. 15, 2024. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images Former President Donald Trump won the Iowa caucus by a landslide, due in part to strong turnout by older voters. “While the turnout overall was low, 70% of

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images Federal student loan bills resumed in the fall after a pause of more than three years. Borrowers should monitor how that financial change affects their credit, experts say. Here’s what to know. On-ramp period should protect your credit Generally, failing to make timely payments on debts, including your student

GlobalStock | Getty Images When you invest toward retirement, experts often like to say you are letting your money work for you. But how much can you realistically expect to earn on your money? The annual rate of return — defined as the percentage change in an investment’s value — is an estimate of the

A customer shops for eggs in a Kroger grocery store in Houston, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images News | Getty Images Egg prices are on the rise again, after having fallen from record highs in 2023. Average egg prices jumped 8.9% from November to December, following a 2.2% rise the prior month, according to

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images While rent payments do not traditionally affect your credit, a growing number of so-called rent-reporting services are trying to change that. These services track users’ rent-paying habits and report them to one or more of the big credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — with the aim

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images The cost to raise a child has become expensive for parents in the U.S. As tax season approaches, it’s smart to pay attention to tax breaks related to children and care expenses. Costs for child care have increased significantly due to inflation. Many child care centers also bumped their

Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., speaks during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee impeachment inquiry hearing into U.S. President Joe Biden on Sept. 28, 2023. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters House Republicans this week reintroduced legislation to permanently repeal what they’re calling the “death tax” — or federal estate tax, which is levied on inherited property above

US President Joe Biden speaks at Abbotts Creek Community Center during an event to promote his economic agenda in Raleigh, North Carolina, on January 18, 2024.  Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images The Biden administration announced Friday it would forgive $4.9 billion in student debt for 73,600 borrowers. The relief is a result of

Gen Zers are having a harder time making ends meet, let alone building wealth. Roughly 38% of Generation Z adults and millennials believe they face more difficulty feeling financially secure than their parents did at the same age, largely due to the economy, according to a recent Bankrate report. Gen Z is generally defined as those born between 1996 and

5M3photos | Moment | Getty Images As the start of tax season approaches, experts are warning filers about tax-related identity theft, an issue that often halts returns and delays refunds. Tax identity theft happens when criminals use your personal information to file a return in your name and claim your refund — and “it continues

Natasaadzic | Istock | Getty Images Artificial intelligence tools and sophisticated technology are making it harder for consumers to spot scams. Fraud cost U.S. consumers more than $7 billion during the first three quarters of 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Those figures are up 5% compared to the same period in 2022. “Fraud

Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images Growing up in the age of the internet and technology, online shopping is second nature for Gen Zers. One-third, 32%, of Gen Z consumers shop online at least once a day, according to data from marketing firm Tinuiti. Yet, 80% of Gen Z drivers prefer to shop for

Chris Tobin | Digitalvision | Getty Images Beginning in February, certain student loan borrowers who have spent a decade in repayment will get their federal student loan debt forgiven, the Biden administration recently announced. Most borrowers need to make payments for 20 years or 25 years on an income-driven repayment plan before their debt is

Pixdeluxe | E+ | Getty Images The Biden administration announced last week that it would fast-track its plan to deliver student loan forgiveness for certain borrowers in its new repayment plan. However, some people may have questions about the news, which was not exactly straightforward. For example, while the relief will be automatic for many,

Simpleimages | Moment | Getty Images Higher interest rates were good news in 2023 for savers who were able to earn the best rates on their cash in years. Even with the possibility of looming rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, 2024 still stands to be a great year for returns on cash. “Yields are

Hinterhaus Productions Senior lawmakers on Tuesday announced a $78 billion bipartisan tax agreement — including retroactive boosts to the child tax credit that could affect families filing this season. But the proposed legislation could still face hurdles, experts say. Retroactive to 2023, the plan would expand the child tax credit by broadening access, increasing the

Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images Rising inventory is helping push rent prices down. For young adults, building credit is a smart step to take as they prepare to enter the rental housing market. The median U.S. asking rent price in December was $1,964, a 0.8% decline from a year ago, according to real

When employees who contribute to a 401(k) plan leave a company, they have options for what to do with that money.  Depending on what the employer retirement savings plan allows, exiting employees may be able to keep the money in the current plan, roll it over into an IRA, or buy an annuity. In some cases,

Laguna Beach, California Luciano Lejtman | Moment | Getty Images When most people think of Laguna Beach, California, they think of its scenic coves and beaches. But the small coastal city — with a population of around 22,600 — is also pioneering a new model for elder care. About 77% of adults ages 50 and