Personal finance

David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images The end of the year doesn’t just bring autumn leaves and jack-o’-lanterns, then mistletoe and the chance of snow — it can also bring on financial distress. Nearly half of all consumers say their financial standing fluctuates seasonally, and December is the most cited month for experiencing

Brian Snyder | Reuters With competition at an all-time high and admissions practices increasingly unclear, it’s not an easy time for college applicants. As colleges are being forced to rethink their policies in the wake of the Supreme Court‘s ruling against affirmative action, more schools are also choosing to end legacy preferences, adding uncertainty to the process. “There’s

President Joe Biden holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Oct. 2, 2023. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he’d approve $9 billion in student loan forgiveness for 125,000 Americans. The relief is a result of his administration’s fixes to a number of programs, including the income-driven

An activist at the offices of Rep. Michelle Park Steel in Cypress, California, on Feb. 24, 2023 Araya Doheny | Getty Images Social Security is essential to older Americans’ financial security, yet there always seems to be a new headline about how the benefits are at risk. Douglas Boneparth, a certified financial planner and president

In this article ZIP Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Hinterhaus Productions | The Image Bank | Getty Images The job market remains strong despite gradual cooling from pandemic-era highs, according to labor economists — but workers don’t seem to share that outlook. Employee confidence fell last month to its lowest level since 2016, according

Visitors walk across the U.S. Supreme Court plaza on the first day of the court’s new session on Oct. 2, 2023. Bill Clark | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments Tuesday in a case with the potential to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a watchdog

In many cases, applying early to college can give you an edge. By demonstrating a preference for a particular college, studies have shown, an early application can boost your standing, which goes a long way in the hyper-competitive world of college admissions. “There is certainly an admissions strategy with applying early,” said Shannon Vasconcelos, senior

Taylor Swift performs onstage at Lumen Field in Seattle on July 22, 2023. Mat Hayward/tas23 | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images Taylor Swift fans forked out an average $2,183 for a resold ticket to a concert on the superstar’s The Eras Tour, according to resale research site TicketIQ. Now, ticket resellers may owe taxes

Image Source | Vetta | Getty Images Social Security retirement benefits provide guaranteed monthly income for the duration of your retirement. But when you die, your checks stop coming. “You only get Social Security while you’re alive,” said Bruce Tannahill, a director of estate and business planning with MassMutual. Surveys show retirees are tempted to

Student loan forgiveness advocates rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., after the nation’s high court struck down President Joe Biden’s student debt relief program, June 30, 2023. Kent Nishimura | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images Ryan Moran, a nurse in Jacksonville, Florida, hasn’t thought about his federal student loans in

If you’re making $65,000 per year, saving $1 million for retirement might seem out of reach. But with a little dedication and the right timing, it’s certainly possible — if you stick to a clear plan. As a rule of thumb, most financial advisors suggest that you save 10% to 15% of your salary for

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at Prince George’s Community College on September 14, 2023 in Largo, Maryland. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images The Biden administration announced on Friday the next step in its new plan to cancel people’s student debt after the Supreme Court struck down its original policy in June. The U.S. Department

Office communication is becoming far more casual, and Gen Z is leading the shift, new research has found. Aleksandargeorgiev | E+ | Getty Images Generation Z is embracing frequent job changes, or job hopping, as a career approach. In fact, 83% of surveyed Gen Z workers consider themselves job hoppers, according to ResumeLab, which polled

Increasingly, your earnings potential varies greatly depending on your choice of major in college. “Even more so than the school itself, choosing a major is key in determining what skills a graduate can perform out of school, and what types of professions they’re qualified for,” said Jackson Gruver, data analyst at Payscale. “Ultimately, the degree

Tim Robberts | Digitalvision | Getty Images When it comes to money, women tend to think of themselves as savers rather than investors. Having that perspective can affect women’s ability to grow wealth over time. “The biggest risk to women’s portfolios is that we don’t take enough risk,” said Nancy Tengler, CEO and chief investment

The one-year rule is an “archaic belief,” according to career expert Sarah Doody. Courtneyk | E+ | Getty Images PHOENIX — If you’re saving for retirement with a 401(k) or individual retirement account, it’s easy to lose money to taxes and penalties when moving money between accounts. A lot of investors make costly rollover mistakes

Customers browse in a used car lot on Feb. 15, 2023 in Glendale, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images As recently as 2019, used car shoppers could find a 3-year-old vehicle for about $23,000. That’s less likely today — in terms of both age and price. Pandemic-era manufacturing issues have since

Twenty/20 For many Americans, October is a time for seasonal decorating and pumpkin spice lattes. This year, it also marks the resumption of student loan payments at a point when U.S. households are already struggling to make ends meet amid high inflation and higher interest rates. And yet, just as millions of borrowers face their

President Joe Biden walks with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh before an event in the Rose Garden of the White House on Sept. 15, 2022. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images News | Getty Images A Biden administration ESG rule for workplace retirement plans survived a recent court challenge by 26 red states. But the most significant

After a prolonged period of high inflation and higher interest rates, Americans are just getting by. As of August, 60% of adults said they are living paycheck to paycheck, according to a new LendingClub report, unchanged from last year. Recent data is painting a mixed picture of where the economy stands. Inflation has shown some signs of cooling but the