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  A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Money 101 newsletter with Sharon Epperson, an eight-week series to improve your financial wellness with monthly updates. Sign up to receive these editions, straight to your inbox.  Stocks soared in the days after President-elect Donald Trump won the 2024 election, and the Federal Reserve announced

Baona | E+ | Getty Images Many Americans haven’t saved enough for retirement. However, a big change to 401(k) plans could provide a boost for older workers. The IRS in November unveiled higher 401(k) contribution limits for 2025, with employee deferrals jumping to $23,500, up from $23,000 in 2024. While the catch-up contribution remains unchanged

Mixetto | E+ | Getty Images The share of Americans with credit-card debt in retirement has jumped considerably — a worrisome financial trend, especially for those with little wiggle room in their budgets, experts said. About 68% of retirees had outstanding credit-card debt in 2024, up “substantially” from 40% in 2022 and 43% in 2020,

Author Stephanie Dhue’s difficult-to-repair microwave. Courtesy Stephanie Dhue I bought a General Electric microwave oven in 2020 for $355. Recently, I noticed the interior light was out. I told my husband, since he’s the one who takes care of repairs in our house. He took a look, only to learn that this wasn’t going to

Steve Smith | Tetra Images | Getty Images Handling the estate of a deceased parent can be an emotional process for children already dealing with grief.  Those emotions can become more complicated if the estate plan doesn’t unfold as expected — say, if there is an uneven split of assets among children or a previously

Mike Spiering holds Francesca Spiering as he stands in the flood water around his home after record rains fell in the area on April 13, 2023 in Hollywood, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images The cost of insuring your most expensive assets has skyrocketed. While overall inflation has slowed, insurance costs are taking a bigger

Dowell | Moment | Getty Images Getting a credit card can be a smart financial move for college students, offering a range of benefits and opportunities to build a solid credit history early on. According to student loan provider Sallie Mae, about 57% of students have a credit card. Student credit cards facilitate financial approvals,

Voters wanting to cast an early vote line up outside the Elena Bozeman Government Center for a polling station to open in Arlington, Virginia, on September 20, 2024. – | Afp | Getty Images Decision-making around the November election isn’t limited to who voters plan to choose at the ballot box. Americans’ feelings about which

About 19 million U.S. taxpayers requested an extension to file back in April, according to the IRS, giving them an extra six months to submit their 2023 federal income tax returns. For many of those taxpayers, the October 15 final deadline is fast approaching. Taxpayers in federally-declared disaster areas, which currently cover all or parts

Brandon Copeland Copeland Media Brandon Copeland is a former NFL linebacker turned coach. But the type of coaching he gravitates to isn’t in the realm of sports — it’s in personal finance. The 33-year-old — who played for six teams across 10 seasons in the National Football League before retiring last year — started co-teaching

Andreswd | E+ | Getty Images Open enrollment season can be a whirlwind for anyone. Being in a relationship adds an extra layer of complexity, especially when your workplace enrollment windows don’t align. Conflicting deadlines, varying benefits options and differing risk appetites make it challenging for couples to coordinate their choices. However, you can make

Jj Gouin | Istock | Getty Images Most Americans rank Social Security as “one of the top” issues or a “very important” issue determining who they will vote for in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, according to a new CNBC poll. Social Security reform is also a top concern, according to a separate survey from

Sdi Productions | E+ | Getty Images Homeownership has long symbolized the American Dream, embodying stability, wealth creation, and community investment. Yet, for millions of Americans, especially younger generations and first-time homebuyers, that dream is slipping away. Rising home prices, stagnant wages, and restrictive mortgage terms have made it increasingly difficult to take that crucial

Stephen Swintek | DigitalVision | Getty Images As families try to offset the increasing cost of college education, many have turned to 529 college savings plans as a strategy.  These accounts let families set aside money toward college expenses while taking advantage of tax breaks and compound interest, according to certified financial planner Preston D.

Charday Penn | E+ | Getty Images Vibecession, quiet quitting, and now … the retirement disconnect? It’s not entirely surprising that the current workforce’s disillusionment with the status quo extends to even how they think about life after work. The days of dedicating half a century to a single company and retiring comfortably with a

Tanaonte | Istock | Getty Images The future of a Federal Trade Commission ban on noncompete agreements, scheduled to take effect this fall, is unclear after a preliminary ruling from a federal court last week. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans, an estimated 30 million people, are subject to a noncompete agreement, according to the FTC.

Young family with a baby boy going over finances at home. Pekic | E+ | Getty Images Inflation is still causing financial stress for most Americans, and surveys show that many people also blame a lack of savings and mounting credit card debt for their anxiety over their finances.  Earning greater income to cover your

Hill Street Studios | Digitalvision | Getty Images The perceived benefits of financial education are so great that in a 2022 survey from the National Endowment for Financial Education, more than 85% of Americans polled said learning about personal finance should be a requirement to graduate from high school. Lawmakers have responded to this need

Americans with about 10 years to go before reaching retirement age are “critically underprepared,” according to a new study by Prudential. The study found that 67% of 55-year-olds surveyed said they fear they will outlive their savings, compared with 59% of 65-year-olds and 52% of 75-year-olds. To that point, with just a decade until retirement,

Stacey Hachenberg, left, and her partner, Sharon Fleming, right, review long-term care options with the help of Fleming’s daughter, Alexa Fleming, center. Van Applegate, CNBC Almost three-quarters — 70% — of people turning 65 will need long-term care in their lifetime, according to a report by the Urban Institute and the Department of Health and