Personal finance

In this article ABNB Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Alexandrea Ravenelle, author of “Side Hustle Safety Net.” Courtesy: Alexandrea Ravenelle Alexandrea Ravenelle studies the decline of the one-job era. The sociologist chronicles the spread of the gig economy and the rise of “poly-working,” or working multiple jobs. Ravenelle points to research by the Federal

The United States Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C., United States on October 4 , 2023.  Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Congress took a step toward avoiding a looming government shutdown when it reached an agreement Sunday on top-line spending. Even if lawmakers fail to finalize an agreement by the necessary

Shapecharge | E+ | Getty Images If you’re itching to save more for retirement, there are higher 401(k) contribution limits for 2024. But there are a few things to consider before maxing out your plan, experts say. For 2024, you can defer up to $23,000 into 401(k) plans, up from $22,500 in 2023, with an

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on April 19, 2023. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The tax season officially kicks off Jan. 29, which marks the first day the IRS will accept and process 2023 tax returns, the IRS announced Monday. Most taxpayers must file federal returns and pay balances by

Harvard University President Claudine Gay’s resignation Tuesday is just the latest upheaval at one of the nation’s top colleges. For college applicants, the move adds more uncertainty to an admissions process that was already shifting in the wake of the Supreme Court‘s ruling against affirmative action. “I don’t expect Harvard to lose its crown as one of

South_agency | E+ | Getty Images Many people have a 401(k) plan and other retirement savings that may provide funds after they stop working, but there’s no denying it: The Social Security benefit is an important part of the retirement income stream as people enter the next chapter of their lives. However, there is much

Moyo Studio | E+ | Getty Images Roughly half of Americans don’t have access to a workplace retirement plan — but states are increasingly stepping in to fill that gap, both for residents’ wellbeing and their own. About 57 million people — 48% — don’t have access to a pension or 401(k)-type plan at work,

Klaus Vedfelt | Getty Images To live your best life in retirement, it helps to make the most contributions while you’re working. Employees who participate in 401(k) plans can put up to $23,000 in pre-tax or post-tax Roth contributions in 2024. But there’s another limit — $69,000, including employee and employer contributions — that may

A simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid is finally online after a significant delay. However, as part of a “soft launch,” the new FAFSA form has only been periodically available. It’s likely few, if any, of the millions of students applying to college for the 2024-25 academic year have been able to successfully submit an application,

A new Free Application for Federal Student Aid soft launched over the holiday weekend with much anticipation after a long delay. However, for now, the 2024–25 FAFSA form is only available for short periods of time as the U.S. Department of Education works to “resolve minor issues,” according to a department spokesperson. This soft launch period

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on the student debt relief plan as Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona (R) listens in the South Court Auditorium at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on October 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong | Getty Images After the Biden administration’s gigantic setback at the Supreme Court over its sweeping

Adamkaz | E+ | Getty Images If you’re a retiree who relies on Social Security benefits for income, you will see some changes in 2024. You will get a benefit boost to adjust for inflation. But just how much extra money you see will depend on the size of your Medicare Part B premiums and

Georgijevic | E+ | Getty Images With U.S. Federal Reserve officials expecting to cut interest rates in 2024, there are steps investors can take now to prepare. The central bank’s latest summary of economic projections, issued in December, indicates three cuts may be coming this year. (This assumes each is a quarter-percentage-point decrease.) The Fed

Gu Studio | E+ | Getty Images When Tracye Polson gets home from work, she pours herself a glass of Chardonnay. “It’s really about a ritual, and relaxing,” said Polson, 64, a social worker in Jacksonville, Florida. This month, she’ll need to find other ways unwind — she’s trying Dry January. Polson was largely motivated

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images U.S. Department of Labor data issued Wednesday suggests a two-tiered job market has emerged, in which workers enjoy strong job security while the unemployed may have trouble finding a new gig. “There’s a bifurcated labor market,” said Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter. “There are haves and have nots.”

Mark Edward Atkinson | Tetra Images | Getty Images Beneficiaries who rely on monthly checks from the Social Security Administration will get a 3.2% benefit increase now that the calendar has turned to 2024. Those who receive Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, are first in line to receive those enhanced benefit checks. About 7.5 million

Nancy Ney | Photodisc | Getty Images The new year has ushered in a big change to 529 college savings plans, which has made the accounts more attractive to some investors. But the adjustment may have unexpected downsides, experts say. Starting in 2024, families can roll unused 529 plan funds to the account beneficiary’s Roth

What begins as a gender wage gap inevitably becomes a significant shortfall by retirement. In the U.S., women who work full time are typically paid about 80 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. That gap has persisted despite women’s increasing levels of education and representation in senior leadership positions. Women are also still more

Miodrag Ignjatovic | E+ | Getty Images Over the last few months, millions of Americans have received their first student loan bill in over three years. If you can’t make the payments, there’s some good news. When the bills resumed in October, the Biden administration offered borrowers a 12-month “on-ramp” to repayment, during which they’ll

Young woman counting money. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc As the calendar turns to a new year, many Americans are vowing to change their money habits. To that point, 48% of investors recently surveyed by Allianz Life Insurance Company say they are more likely to make and keep a financial resolution in 2024 to either save