Personal finance

10’000 Hours | Getty Images Nearly two-thirds of the country’s outstanding student debt is held by women. Women graduate college owing $2,700 more, on average, than their male counterparts, according to the American Association of University Women. Among undergraduate students in bachelor’s degree programs in 2019-2020, 54% of men graduated with student loans, compared to 66%

Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman | Moment | Getty Images When it comes to investor maladies, fear of missing out, or FOMO, is the clinical term for buying a security after a meteoric price increase because you don’t want to be left behind. There is no known cure for this condition, which has been linked to

As problems with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid persist into the spring, harsh words are being directed at the U.S. Department of Education. Former top student loan official Wayne Johnson accused the Education Department of “malicious negligence” in a recent letter written to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and other senior officials and

Urbazon | E+ | Getty Images The tax deadline is approaching and the IRS has already issued more than 43 million refunds worth nearly $135.3 billion. As of March 8, the average refund was $3,145, up from $2,972 the same week in 2023, the agency reported last week. However, the average refund could change as

Fatcamera | E+ | Getty Images We’ve all been told that following a routine is important in many aspects of life — for physical fitness, good eating habits, solid work patterns and so on. But many experts are telling us that establishing a routine is also necessary for successful investing and building wealth. At an

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images After a year full of supply shortages and climbing borrowing costs, 2024 is shaping up to be a better time to buy a car. The average transaction price for a new car in the U.S. last month was $47,244, down 2.2% from February 2023. That’s also down 5.4% from

Female firefighter putting on her protective equipment inside the fire station in response to an emergency Trevor Williams | Digitalvision | Getty Images The Biden administration’s latest student loan forgiveness announcement contained good news for more people than the 77,700 borrowers eligible for this round of aid. Starting next week, the administration said, President Joe

Fangxianuo | E+ | Getty Images There can be ample roadblocks during a job hunt, including so-called “ghost” jobs. These can be phantom listings for jobs that don’t exist, or those posted such a long time ago that it seems the job may not be available. Luckily, there are ways for job seekers to sidestep

South_agency | E+ | Getty Images House Republicans unveiled a plan this week that calls for raising the Social Security retirement age. Meanwhile, Democrats and advocates for the program are ramping up their calls to tax the rich to enhance benefits. “On the right, there is a line in the sand against tax increases,” said

Laylabird | E+ | Getty Images Breaking up in old age can be costly, especially for women. The rate of “gray divorce” — a term that describes divorce at age 50 and older — doubled from 1990 to 2019, according to a 2022 study published in The Journals of Gerontology. It tripled for adults over

For decades, research showed that earning a degree is almost always worthwhile. Recent college graduates working full-time earn $24,000 more a year than those with just a high school diploma, according to newly released data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Additionally, finishing college puts workers on track to earn a median of $2.8 million over

Margot Robbie as Barbie in a movie from Mattel and Warner Bros. Mattel | Warner Bros. In the “Barbie” movie, the narrator says, “Barbie has a great day every day.” It might be because she gets to be what her heart desires. The film’s Barbies participate in a wide range of roles and professions, from

In this article COST WPM-CA Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images Among the cans of tuna and flashlights in doomsday preppers‘ closets, there is an increasingly popular staple — gold bars. The recent rise in value of the yellow metal is not just another chapter of favorable economic

Cavan Images | Getty Images The federal tax deadline is officially one month away for most filers — and experts say there are some key things to know this season. As of March 1, the IRS received roughly 54 million individual returns, which is less than 40% of the 146 million expected this season, according

President Joe Biden announces the cancellation of an additional $1.2 billion in student loan debt for about 153,000 borrowers, at meeting with community at Culver City Julian Dixon Library in Culver City, CA. Irfan Khan | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images The White House is talking up its actions to reduce the expenses burdening

Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Choosing when to claim Social Security is a decision that can carry big financial stakes for all older Americans, but it’s especially important for women. “It all comes down to longevity,” Mary Beth Franklin, a certified financial planner and Social Security expert, said

Peopleimages | Istock | Getty Images High inflation has prompted higher Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. But as the rate of price growth subsides, the annual increases for Social Security may fall in 2025 and beyond, predicts Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst at The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior group. In 2024,

In this article BTC.CM= Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Chesnot | Getty Images The price of bitcoin notched record highs this week, and experts have tax tips for investors flocking to the flagship digital currency. Fueled by demand for newly approved spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, bitcoin set a fresh record of $73,000 on Wednesday.

Pixelseffect | E+ | Getty Images Some grocery store products are providing less for your money. And everyone from President Joe Biden to Cookie Monster has noticed. Blame shrinkflation. The term — which is increasingly used in conversation — refers to products becoming smaller in size, weight or quantity as their prices stay the same

The author, Bola Sokunbi Credit: Bola Sokunbi When it comes to managing money, women commonly use the word “fear” to describe what stands between them and the life they want. But achieving financial success means stepping out of our comfort zone, said Bola Sokunbi, founder of Clever Girl Finance and author of “Choosing to Prosper” —