Personal finance

Voters file down the hall as early voting begins for the midterm elections at the Citizens Service Center in Columbus, Georgia, on Oct. 17, 2022. Cheney Orr | Reuters Investment advisers say it’s not wise to try to time the market, but it does make sense to periodically adjust your portfolio. So with the midterm

Catherine Yeulet | Getty Images As investors brace for another interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve, many are closely watching signals about the future of the economy. This week, investors are expecting the fourth 0.75 percentage point increase, which may continue to affect government bond yields. As the Fed takes further action to fight

Lauren Bates | Moment | Getty Images If history is a guide, insurance claims for unexplained disappearances will jump this Halloween. Renters and homeowners insurance claims related to a “mysterious disappearance” increased by 5% on Halloween and 3% on Mischief Night, which is the night before Halloween, according to Travelers Insurance claims data from 2011

Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images A key federal program providing benefits to elderly, blind and disabled people — Supplemental Security Income — is turning 50 years old. The program, which currently serves nearly 8 million beneficiaries, was created by legislation signed by President Richard Nixon on Oct. 30, 1972. But even as Supplemental

Soaring prices are making it hard for many Americans to afford expenses each month. Costs are rising for nearly every major expense from housing and food to medical care. Employee wages aren’t keeping up. Having the money that’s coming in each month going out just as fast is becoming increasingly common.  Due to high inflation,

amriphoto Amid the nationwide flurry of tax cuts, two states are voting on whether to enact a “millionaire tax” on top earners in November. In California, Proposition 30 would add a 1.75% levy on annual income of more than $2 million, in addition to the state’s top income tax rate of 13.3%, beginning Jan. 1. 

Asia-pacific Images Studio | E+ | Getty Images After nearly a year of stock market volatility, high inflation and rising interest rates, a growing chorus of experts are warning investors about a recession. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon recently told investors there’s a “good chance” the U.S. economy is heading for a recession, and JPMorgan

Brandon Bell | Getty Images It’s no secret that higher prices are taking a bite out of household budgets. They also appear to have made some people change their retirement savings habits: Inflation has caused 54% of adults to either reduce or stop their contributions, according to a new report from Allianz Life. Additionally, 43%

Shapecharge | E+ | Getty Images Investors crashed the Treasury Department website for Series I bonds on Friday as they clamored to lock in a record-high interest rate before a key deadline. I bonds have proven to be a bright spot for investors amid declines in the broad stock and bond markets this year. They

Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards The average cost to attend a private college in 1970 was about $3,000 a year. Today, it costs more than $50,000. How we got to this point, and its seemingly endless consequences on families and U.S. society, are the issues explored in Will Bunch’s new book, “After the Ivory Tower

Fly View Productions | E+ | Getty Images For individuals or families that get — or could get — health insurance through the public marketplace, the opportunity to choose coverage for 2023 is nearing. Open enrollment, when you can pick a health plan for next year, runs Nov. 1 through Jan. 15 for the federal

In this article TRU Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT From credit cards to mortgages, it’s suddenly a lot more expensive to borrow money. The Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark short-term rate 3 percentage points since March in an effort to curb unrelenting inflation, with another rate hike likely on the way next week. “Borrowers are feeling

PeopleImages Federal regulators on Wednesday adopted rule changes intended to make it easier for consumers to understand what they’re invested in and how much it’s costing them. Under amendments approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, investment company ads will need to promote “transparent and balanced presentations” of fees and expenses. Additionally, shareholder reports from

nd3000 | iStock | Getty Images Despite signs of a cooling housing market, home prices are still relatively high, resulting in bigger down payments.  Over the past year, average down payments in the country’s 50 biggest metros have grown by more than 35%, according to a LendingTree report, based on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage data from

Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, testifies during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on April 26, 2022. Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images The nation’s consumer watchdog is upping its efforts to clamp down on so-called junk fees that some banks charge consumers. The Consumer

Mstudioimages | E+ | Getty Images Americans now expect they will need $1.25 million to retire comfortably, according to a new study from Northwestern Mutual. That figure represents a 20% increase from the $1.05 million respondents cited last year. That’s not necessarily good news for individuals who have seen their retirement savings decline in the

Insta_photos | Istock | Getty Images If you’re eager to secure 9.62% annual interest for Series I bonds for six months, the deadline is quickly approaching. You must purchase I bonds and receive your confirmation email by Oct. 28 to lock in the record 9.62% rate, according to TreasuryDirect. The rate is expected to drop

The Biden administration announced Tuesday it is making permanent changes to its public service loan forgiveness plan to make it easier for borrowers to have their loans forgiven. “Our team has worked to turn public service loan forgiveness from a promise broken into a promise kept,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said during a

Porquenostudios | Istock | Getty Images For those with student debt, the last few months may have given you whiplash. First, President Joe Biden said in August that he’d be forgiving up to $20,000 for millions of borrowers. But before much celebrating could happen, Republicans brought a slew of challenges to the policy, leaving it

BartekSzewczyk | Getty If you’ve already maxed out 401(k) plan contributions for 2022 and you’re eager to save more for retirement, some plans have an under-the-radar option, experts say. For 2022, you can defer $20,500 into a 401(k), plus an extra $6,500 for investors 50 and older. But the total plan limit is $61,000 per