Personal finance

In this article WMT TGT A woman pushes a shopping cart through the grocery aisle at Target in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 16, 2022, as Americans brace for summer sticker shock as inflation continues to grow. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images Many Americans feel anxious about money, especially when inflation is high, interest

Eakgrunge | Istock | Getty Images Many people who have dialed the Social Security Administration’s toll-free number during the Covid-19 pandemic have faced long wait times. In an effort to alleviate the customer service issues, Congress this week held a hearing to identify ways in fix the problems. The issues are something leaders on both

MoMo Productions | DigitalVision | Getty Images If you’re chasing portfolio income, you may be eyeing high-yield bonds, also known as junk bonds, which typically pay more interest but carry greater risk. Since interest rates and bond prices move in opposite directions, U.S. junk bond values have dipped to the lowest levels since May 2020.

Nosystem Images | E+ | Getty Images Amid market turmoil, there’s a term that analysts often start throwing around: investor or market capitulation. It generally means a point at which investors throw in the towel and sell, basically giving up on the asset and the hope of recouping lost gains. Generally, capitulation happens at a

DusanManic | iStock | Getty Images Multiple days of losses may tempt some stock investors to sell and run for cover. But that is exactly what you should not do. The reason: Days when stocks suffer big losses are often followed by days when they recoup. If you sell, you may miss the upside —

SDI Productions With soaring prices and record home equity, you may expect a profit from selling your property. But the windfall may trigger an unexpected tax bill next April.  While home profits dipped slightly, the typical single-family seller still scored a $103,000 gross profit during the first quarter of 2022, according to ATTOM, a nationwide

Moyo Studio | E+ | Getty Images Many investors who pulled money out of the stock market in the last year now regret their decision. Some 38% of investors said they sold stocks last year due to a current event, according to a study from MagnifyMoney. Of that group, 40% said they wish they’d kept

Blackcat | E+ | Getty Images Retirees on Medicare who are heading back to the workforce may discover they have choices when it comes to their health-care coverage. That is, depending on the size of your new employer, you might be able to pick up the company health plan and drop Medicare — and then

Drakula & Co. | Moment | Getty Images When it comes to retirement planning, earlier is generally better, but several factors affect how much young women are saving, according to financial experts. For retirement planning purposes, the demographic termed “younger women” may include Gen Zers, millennials and some Gen Xers with 20 years or more

Steve Debenport | E+ | Getty Images When it comes to negotiating a job offer, if you don’t ask — you won’t receive. It turns out many don’t ask, according to a survey from Fidelity Investments. Some 58% of Americans accepted the initial offer at their current position without negotiating, the survey found. Yet negotiating

Getty Images Interest rates are set to rise again, making it a good time to pay off high-cost credit card debt as soon as possible. Annual percentage rates on credit cards are currently just over 16%. Because the Federal Reserve is in a rate hiking cycle, with half-point increases on the table for every remaining

Astra Taylor Source: Isabella De Maddalena Astra Taylor took out her first student loan at 17. She attended Brown University and The New School, and owed tens of thousands of dollars when she defaulted on her debt during the 2008 financial crisis. “Overnight, they added 19% to my principal,” Taylor, 42, said. “Like millions of

Inflation dropped slightly in April, yet it’s still close to a 40-year high, with consumer prices rising at an annual rate of 8.3%. Rising costs for housing, food, airfares and new cars were the biggest contributors to that key gauge of inflation. The typical American family is spending about $450 more per month for goods

Chris Ryan | Getty Images I bonds have surged in popularity as riskier assets slip. The bonds are backed by the federal government, the principal doesn’t lose value and the bonds earn monthly interest through two parts, a fixed rate and a variable rate. Currently, the variable component will pay a record 9.62% annual rate

Gorodenkoff | Istock | Getty Images If you’re happily saying “I do” this year, be aware that the IRS can be a real buzzkill. While many couples end up paying less in taxes after tying the knot, some face a “marriage penalty” — meaning they end up paying more than if they had remained unmarried

alfexe | iStock | Getty Images Filers won’t be affected by the IRS decision to destroy data for millions of taxpayers, the agency said in a statement Thursday. The IRS tossed an estimated 30 million so-called paper-filed information returns in March 2021, according to an audit by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The

A shopper at a San Francisco grocery store on May 2, 2022. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Inflation is a growing concern as Americans spend hundreds more every month. But some retirees may avoid the sting of price hikes for gasoline, groceries and other costs.   Annual inflation rose by 8.3% in April,

In this article PTON Most people love the convenience of buy now, pay later. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, installment payments have exploded in popularity along with a general surge in online shopping. Initially, spreading out the cost of a big-ticket purchase — like a Peloton, for example — just made financial sense, especially at

Piksel | Istock | Getty Images Older Americans lose an estimated $2.9 billion per year to financial scams. The House of Representatives is moving forward with an initiative aimed at helping stem those losses. On Wednesday, the chamber passed the Empowering States to Protect Seniors from Bad Actors Act by a vote of 371-48. The

Win McNamee | Getty Images As spring warmth takes hold, homeowners may want to make sure they’re prepared for the severe weather that will likely soon follow. That preparation should include checking your insurance coverage. Whether you live in an area prone to hurricanes, tornados, flooding, hail, wildfires or severe storms — all of which