Personal finance

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

Renter advocacy groups have pressured the administration of President Joe Biden to extend the CDC eviction ban for at least another month. Carlos Barria | Reuters Struggling renters will likely have a little more time before they have to worry about eviction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to extend the national

As the economy quickly picks up steam in the wake of the Covid pandemic, some amount of inflation is inevitable. On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said price pressures have increased “notably” but could fade over time. The May consumer price index jumped 5% from a year earlier, according to a report by the Labor Department, the

kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images The IRS on Tuesday started an online tool that will allow families to tell the agency they don’t want to receive advance monthly payments from the enhanced child tax credit, scheduled to start next month. Using the new Child Tax Credit Update Portal, families can verify that they’re eligible

In this article IVZ Thiago Prudencio | LightRocket | Getty Images As the Securities and Exchange Commission defers signing off on bitcoin exchange-traded funds, some companies are exploring other ways to meet investors’ growing demand for cryptocurrency. The SEC on Wednesday pushed another decision to approve Van Eck’s bitcoin ETF, extending the review and asking

Attendees at the Bitcoin 2021 Convention, a cryptocurrency conference held a June 4, 2021 in Miami. Joe Raedle | Getty Images A recent bitcoin conference in Miami drew a mix of professionals who have wholeheartedly embraced the cryptocurrency. Yet David Ramirez, chief investment officer at ForUsAll, said he was still able to surprise attendees with

Amazon Prime Day is underway. But not every deal is too good to be true. The two-day shopping event, which started early Monday and runs through 3 a.m. ET Wednesday, is offering more 2 million deals — and some are better than others. “That is an incredible number,” said Dave Kender, the editor in chief

Choreograph | iStock | Getty Images For some Medicare beneficiaries, health-care coverage ends up costing more than it does for most of their peers — and it’s not by choice. While there are costs that individuals often are aware of — i.e., they purchase a supplemental policy or choose a more expensive plan — some