Personal finance

kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images If you haven’t gotten your 2020 tax refund, you are in good company. At the end of the 2021 filing season in May, the IRS had a backlog of 35 million tax returns that still needed to be manually processed, according to a report released Wednesday by the National

Hill Street Studios | DigitalVision | Getty Images It’s now been more than a year that borrowers haven’t had to make a payment on their federal student loans. That break is currently scheduled to end in September. However, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told the Senate Appropriations Committee this month that he was involved in

Jason York | Getty Images State lawmakers around the country are increasingly tackling the retirement-savings gap head on. Maine has become the latest jurisdiction to enact a law to require most employers that don’t offer a retirement plan to automatically enroll their workers in an individual retirement account through a state-administered program. The New York

Jose Luis Pelaez | Getty Images Investors who want to capitalize on emerging trends — i.e., electric vehicles or remote work — may want to check out “thematic” exchange-traded funds. These ETFs provide a way for investors to engage in so-called thematic investing, which generally means buying stocks or other investments that may benefit from

In this article GBTC OBTC Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images As the Securities and Exchange Commission punts decisions on approving bitcoin exchange-traded funds, companies have created other options to meet the growing demand for cryptocurrency. One alternative, bitcoin trusts, holds the digital currency, making it easier for investors to add cryptocurrency to their portfolios. “You’re

Oxford | Getty Images Your emergency savings could be in danger of losing value due to one thing: inflation. Costs are rising on everything from gasoline, which has jumped 20% during the pandemic, to bacon, which is up 18.7%. Meanwhile, persistently low interest rates mean it’s tougher to earn a return on your cash and

Getty Images Some part-time workers who stay on the job may get faster access to their company’s 401(k) plan. As part of retirement legislation pending in Congress, workers who book between 500 and 999 hours for two consecutive years would generally be eligible for their employer’s plan. That would be a reduction from the current

The Covid-19 pandemic and economic shock that followed has made it more difficult for many parents and students to afford college. Yet even fewer families applied for financial aid this year. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, serves as the gateway to all federal aid money, including loans, work-study and grants, which are the most

VALERIE MACON | AFP | Getty Images A new bipartisan bill proposed in Congress would require the Social Security Administration to once again mail annual statements to everyone ages 25 and over who have paid into the system. The bill, called the Know Your Social Security Act, was proposed on Thursday by Republicans and Democrats

In this article CCF BAC PNC PYPL SQ COIN Hiraman | E+ | Getty Images There’s been a surge in consumer complaints about mobile payment apps and digital wallets, such as Venmo, Cash App, Coinbase and Zelle, as more Americans go cashless. That’s according to a new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group,

Marla Snead (right), with daughters Kelsie Dillard (left) and Carlee Turner. Marla Snead In just a few weeks, millions of families will start to receive monthly payments from the federal government through its new, expanded child tax credit. For Marla Snead, 52, the money will mean the world. Snead and her youngest daughter, Carlee, 14,

d3sign | Moment | Getty Images The Earth is heating up and the effects — droughts, hurricanes, wildfires, to name a few — are getting more common and severe. Yet consumers can do something about climate change — in simple ways that also save money. “It’s a bunch of little things that add up,” said

As high school graduation festivities come to an end, a new milestone is ahead for families of first-year college students — making the first tuition payment.  Invoices for the fall semester are often sent out at the beginning of July and payments are typically due the first week of August. Yet some families still may

In this article US10Y A view of an apartment building in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.  Drew Angerer | Getty Images Retirees who are worried about inflation eroding the value of their income may want to check out real estate investment trusts. REITs are companies that own and/or operate properties like shopping

FatCamera | E+ | Getty Images The push for a higher federal minimum wage could help those who are underpaid, particularly child-care workers. However, raising that minimum pay rate could also make child care unaffordable for many families. Such is the Catch-22 that policymakers now face as they look to rebuild the economy from the

MoMo Productions | DigitalVision | Getty Images Americans saving in a 401(k) plan may have money stashed in a robo-advisor — and they might not even know it. Robo-advice is basically professional money management guided by an algorithm (a robot, so to speak), largely allowing investors to be hands-off. Companies offering a retirement benefit are

Sometimes, it can seem like only rich people can benefit from the tax code. Some ultra-wealthy individuals have amassed hundreds of millions — or even billions — of dollars in tax-sheltered Roth individual retirement accounts, according to a report released Thursday from ProPublica, an investigative news outlet. However, the strategy is generally available to anyone

MoMo Productions | DigitalVision | Getty Images Individuals and families with questions on the new monthly child tax credit payments or missing stimulus checks now have the opportunity to get free, in-person tax help. The IRS announced on Wednesday that it is partnering with non-profit organizations, churches and community organizations in 12 cities to provide

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images Everyone should have an estate plan. For LGBTQ+ families, it may be even more critical. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are less likely to be married or they may have children where only one partner is the biological parent, said Gina Nelson, head of fiduciary services at Chilton Trust

Andrew Cleland Source: Andrew Cleland Andrew Cleland tries not to panic about his eviction hearing on July 6. Instead, the 75-year-old focuses on what he can do to keep himself and his 82-year-old wife, Carol, in their apartment. He’s applied for rental assistance. He’s planned how he’ll travel to the courthouse. A recent accident ruined