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Westend61 | Getty Images The now-volatile stock market may not be the ideal starting point for new investors, but it’s always a good time to begin investing. Millennial Americans — ranging in age from 22 to 40 — are famously wary of the financial markets. Market collapses like the dotcom bust of 2002 to 2004

High gas prices at stations in Garden Grove, California, on Monday, March 7, 2022. Jeff Gritchen | Medianews Group | Getty Images Inflation has continued to increase amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict and ongoing supply chain issues. But certain retirees may not feel the brunt of rising costs, financial experts say. Annual inflation rose by 7.9%

A “now hiring” sign is posted in the window of a restaurant in Los Angeles on Jan. 28, 2022. Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images The pandemic-era phenomenon known as the Great Resignation remained a hallmark of the labor market in early 2022, according to federal data issued Wednesday. Nearly 4.3 million people

Getty Images If you’re considering a Roth conversion, your timing and yearly planning can significantly reduce the tax bite, financial experts say.  The popular retirement savings strategy allows higher earners to skirt the income limits for Roth individual retirement account contributions. While the maneuver may kickstart tax-free growth, you’ll owe levies on pretax deposits. And

In this article LC As daily life gets more expensive, workers are having a harder time making ends meet. While wage growth is high by historical standards, it isn’t keeping up with the increased cost of living, which is growing at the fastest annual pace in about four decades. “Wages are up 5.1% over the past year,

DusanManic | iStock | Getty Images When it comes to handling money, couples have a choice: combine all of their accounts, keep them entirely separate or strive for something in between. But what is normal? About 43% of couples who are married, in a civil partnership or living together have joint assets, according to a

Getty Images If you’re one of the millions of Americans who gave to charity in 2021, you can still claim a write-off on this year’s tax return.  There’s a deduction for cash gifts up to $300 for single filers and couples filing jointly may score up to $600, according to the IRS. And it’s easier

andresr | E+ | Getty Images A recently introduced bill in Congress has its sights set on preventing a cost that some new Medicare beneficiaries face: late-enrollment penalties. The bipartisan measure, introduced in the Senate, would require the federal government to provide individuals with information about Medicare enrollment rules before they reach the Medicare-eligible age

Nosystem Images | E+ | Getty Images If the stock market’s volatility is worrying you because you’re edging closer to retirement, it may be time to re-evaluate your portfolio. One of the big risks you can face as a new retiree is a persisting market downturn just as you need to start tapping your savings.

Getty Images Your filing status is the backbone of your tax return, and checking the wrong box can be costly. Yet many filers still confuse single and head of household, financial experts say. “Most people are not fully aware of the differences,” said Rose Swanger, a certified financial planner and enrolled agent with Advise Finance

Tetra Images | Getty Images The IRS has already issued 22 million refunds, at an average $3,536 each.  That’s $700 more than last year, when the average refund was just over $2,800. For most people, a lump-sum payment of this size is rare. “The tax refund is often the biggest windfall households receive all year,” said

Getty Images If you’re considering a Roth conversion, stock market drops may make the strategy more appealing, according to financial experts.   While the popular move, allowing higher earners to bypass income limits for Roth individual retirement account contributions, was in peril as House Democrats passed Build Back Better, the spending package stalled in December. Nevertheless,

MoMo Productions Today’s workers are often tasked with juggling multiple financial goals. Between saving for retirement, paying off student debt and planning for your own children’s education, it can be difficult to know whether you are on track. Betterment is taking steps to try to make it easier for employers to help workers manage those

fizkes | iStock | Getty Images If you’re fretting about your 2021 tax bill, financial experts say there may be a chance to slash your balance before April 18, the deadline for most filers. With limited options after year-end, taxpayers may still have a few possibilities, said certified financial planner David Haas, president of Cereus

VALERIE MACON | AFP | Getty Images When Charlene Latsha calls the Social Security Administration, she’s placed on hold for so long that she hangs up. Latsha, 70, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, has been trying to reach the government agency about her husband’s application for retirement benefits. Though he has been disabled and unable to work

MoMo Productions | DigitalVision | Getty Images If you can afford to max out your 401(k) and there’s still wiggle room in your budget, your plan may have a special feature to save even more. Although the 401(k) deferral limit for 2022 is $20,500 if you’re under 50, you can use after-tax contributions to save

A Bitcoin ATM is seen inside a gas station in Los Angeles on June 24, 2021. CHRIS DELMAS | AFP | Getty Images Roughly 2 out of 3 “fund selectors” don’t think individual investors should own cryptocurrency in their portfolios, largely for reasons related to transparency and regulation, according to a Natixis Investment Managers survey.

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc Finding a competitive interest rate on your emergency savings has become even more difficult amid record high inflation. But there is good news. The Federal Reserve is expected to begin raising interest rates. When they do, that will kick up the interest you can earn on your cash. Some accounts may

Catherine McQueen | Moment | Getty Images Many Americans enter their retirement years with little or no savings. As a result, most or all of the money they receive comes from their Social Security check. Around 12% of men and 15% of women rely on the benefit for 90% or more of their income, according

In this article PRU Willie B. Thomas | DigitalVision | Getty Images Thought saving for retirement was hard? Spending that money — and ensuring it lasts through old age — is even harder. It may not sound tough at first blush. But consider all the unknowns: how long you’ll live; the need for costly health