Personal finance

Photo By Rafa Elias | Moment | Getty Images The IRS is still working on plans to avoid increased audits on taxpayers making less than $400,000 — but certain particulars of your tax return can invite scrutiny, regardless of income level, experts say. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, or TIGTA, last week reported

George Kinder Kinder Institute George Kinder wants everyone to be free. At first blush, that concept of personal fulfillment or enlightenment may seem better suited to the realms of religion or spirituality than personal finance. But Kinder, who’s recognized as the father of the “life planning” branch of financial advice, has preached the interconnection of

Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at Portsmouth International Airport in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Sept. 4, 2024. Joseph Prezioso | AFP | Getty Images Vice President Kamala Harris is calling for a higher capital gains tax rate, and financial advisors have tips for top earners who could be affected. The Democratic presidential nominee

Carol Yepes | Moment | Getty Images In Stacey D’Erasmo’s new book, “The Long Run,” she interviews artists who are late in their careers. There’s dancer and performer Valda Setterfield, who performed through her 80s despite serious injuries from a car accident in her 40s. There’s writer Samuel Delany, now 82, who has published more

Coupons have come a long way from Sunday circulars. And for consumers stretching to make ends meet, they are as indispensable as ever. Now, with online codes, browser extensions and money-saving apps, there are more ways to find significant discounts at any time — but how good the deals are still depends on the day.

A “Now Hiring” sign is seen at a FedEx location on Broadway on June 07, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images The U.S. job market is cooling at a worrisome rate but not to an extent that warrants panic — at least, not yet, according to economists. Their concern lies

Democratic presidential candidate US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally at Enmarket Arena during a two-day campaign bus tour in Savannah, Georgia, on August 29, 2024. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images As Vice President Kamala Harris outlines her economic agenda, the Democratic presidential nominee has called for higher taxes on

Thomas Barwick You’d think earning more would make it easier to boost retirement savings. But high earners may find it tricky to access tax breaks in individual retirement accounts. U.S. tax law imposes income limits on breaks related to certain tax-preferred accounts like Roth and traditional (i.e., pretax) IRAs. Those rules may pose a challenge

College still pays off, but the return on investment largely depends on your choice of major. College graduates earn 37% more than those with only a high school diploma, according to a new report by Payscale. But as the cost of a degree rises, it is increasingly important to consider both your area of concentration and future earnings

Afternoon commuters sit in traffic on southbound Interstate 5 near downtown San Diego on March 12, 2024. Kevin Carter | Getty Images “Rush” hour isn’t what it used to be. As more commuters settle into flexible working arrangements, fewer workers are making early morning or early evening trips compared to pre-pandemic traffic patterns The traditional

Cooper Union’s Foundational Building, left, and 41 Cooper Square facility, right, in New York’s Greenwich Village. Image source: Mario Morgado In a move years in the making, the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science announced Tuesday a return to full-tuition scholarships for all graduating seniors. The New York City-based private college, founded in 1859,

The U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Caroline Brehman | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images Seven Republican-led states have sued the U.S. Department of Education to block the Biden administration from carrying out its sweeping new student loan forgiveness plan. In the lawsuit, the states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Dakota

In this article PRU Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Mario Martinez | Moment | Getty Images Seniors looking to reduce expenses while also boosting their quality of life may find the idea of settling abroad appealing, financial experts say. To that point, nearly one-third of retirees have relocated either domestically or outside the country

President Joe Biden announces a new plan for federal student loan relief at Madison Area Technical College Truax Campus, in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 8, 2024. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters President Joe Biden may try to forgive student debt again as early as next month, in a sweeping redo effort that could impact tens of

Hero Images | Getty Images Since most Americans aren’t eligible for Medicare before age 65, many younger retirees rely on Marketplace health insurance, which offers lower monthly premiums through the end of 2025 thanks to boosted tax breaks. But retirees can face a costly tax surprise without proper planning, experts say. As of open enrollment

Hinterhaus Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images Travel spending among American households continues to outpace its pre-pandemic levels, a trend underpinned by a zeal for international trips, according to new Bank of America research. “A key part of travel momentum lies within vacationing abroad,” Taylor Bowley and Joe Wadford, economists at the Bank of America

Ascentxmedia | E+ | Getty Images With the Federal Reserve poised to start cutting interest rates, experts are divided on what’s ahead for the U.S. economy. While some worry the economy could be in for a broad decline, or recession, others hope the central bank can effectively avoid a downturn and execute a “soft landing.”

Morsa Images | Digitalvision | Getty Images Retirees who are worried about the high costs of prescription drugs are set to get new relief starting in 2025. Starting in January, Medicare drug plan enrollees will have their annual out-of-pocket drug costs capped at $2,000. Between 2025 and 2029, on average, about 1.4 million participants in

Jamie Grill | Getty Images It may not be the season’s new hot toy, but gifting a child money toward college could have a more lasting impact. Daniel Trujillo, 39, a certified public accountant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said he was blown away when his friend suggested putting money into a college savings account in

Piranka | E+ | Getty Images The season of fall foliage and pumpkin spice lattes is approaching. Meanwhile, the job market might also turning over a new leaf. A “September surge,” or the idea that more job postings become available after Labor Day, is tied to an end of a summer slowdown as job recruiters