Personal finance

The Good Brigade | Digitalvision | Getty Images Health savings accounts can be a powerful way to build wealth and prepare for medical costs in old age — if they’re used the right way. HSAs carry a three-pronged tax benefit. Contributions and investment growth are tax-free, as are withdrawals if used for qualified health expenses.

President Joe Biden boards Air Force One on May 22, 2022. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images At the pump, in the supermarket, with his landlord — all of Ryan Tucholski’s bills are going up lately. But there’s one expense he hopes will soon go down or maybe even disappear: his monthly student loan

PeopleImages | iStock | Getty Images For investors nearing retirement or already retired who need the certainty of cash but want to squeeze out a bit more yield, a certain investment in your 401(k) plan may fit the bill. It’s called a stable value fund (or something similar) and typically is available only through defined

mdphoto16 | E+ | Getty Images It’s a scary time for new retirees. Stocks have plunged this year. Bonds, which traditionally serve as a ballast when stocks falter, have also been pummeled. Both trends are worrisome for seniors who rely on investments for their retirement income. High inflation also means retirees need to draw more

A mobile billboard calling for higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy depicts an image of billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos, near the U.S. Capitol on May 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer | Getty Images A new billionaire was created on average about every 30 hours during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report by

In this article .VIX Thianchai Sitthikongsak | Moment | Getty Images The stock market’s roller-coaster ride isn’t inspiring confidence in investors. Still, a small portion do plan to take advantage of recent price dips. About 18% of Americans are willing to put more money into stock market investments this year, including retirement accounts, according to

Kool99 | Istock | Getty Images Earlier this month, President Joe Biden said that he was in the process of considering whether to forgive student debt, and that he’d have an answer in the next couple of weeks. Those weeks have passed and millions of borrowers are on edge — though they might not be

Michelle and Jeremy Warren’s recent trip to the Galapagos Islands was paid for, in part, by her company, FullContact. Michelle Warren When Michelle Warren traveled to the Galapagos Islands for 10 days this spring, her bosses helped foot the bill. It’s one of the many benefits offered by her employer, Denver-based tech company FullContact. Warren’s

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 It appears emergency savings are another casualty of high inflation. About one-third of adults are contributing less

Michael Martinez wanted to be an airline pilot. But as he got older, Martinez, now 18, decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a professional welder instead. In fact, the senior at Brazoswood High School in Clute, Texas, has already landed a job that will start immediately after graduation. “My dad always wanted

Phonlamaiphoto | Istock | Getty Images The S&P 500 Index fell into a so-called bear market on Friday. But just what does that mean? “Bear market” is a term used by investors to describe a steep and sustained market downturn. Technically, it’s a drop of 20% or more from recent highs. Investors commonly apply the

Westend61 | Getty Images Side hustles have become an increasingly popular way to boost income. But are they necessary to reach financial freedom? “The answer is no,” said Gorick Ng, author of “The Unspoken Rules,” adding that there are plenty of people who don’t have side hustles and have achieved success. Still, Ng is in

By nearly every measure, the U.S. economy made a stunning recovery after the coronavirus pandemic spurred mass shutdowns and layoffs nationwide. The labor market has added back millions of jobs and wages have gone up substantially, even among lower-paying positions. But soaring inflation and rapidly rising interest rates have most Americans worried that the good

FG Trade | E+ | Getty Images The recent volatile price action in the stock market has been scary for some investors, especially younger ones just dipping their toes into putting money away for the long-term. Still, financial experts say that now is a good time for people to start investing or to continue to

skynesher Days of record market losses may inspire 401(k) investors to take action. Yet most experts caution against doing just that. The reason: Days when the markets are down tend to be closely followed by days when the market is up. If you sell and run for cover now, you may miss the upside. “The

As the summer driving season nears, gasoline prices show no signs of slowing down. The national average for unleaded gas hit a new high of $4.59 per gallon Thursday, according to AAA. For the first time ever, the average price was $4 per gallon or above in all 50 states this week, AAA data shows. Last year at

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