Personal finance

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

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 —

“Segments of the health-industry should also perform better than most,” says Andrew Graham, founder and managing partner of Jackson Square Capital, pointing to Eli Lilly, in particular. Tetra Images | Tetra Images | Getty Images Today’s investment landscape appears bleak, seemingly plagued by a host of factors, including mounting inflation, rising interest rates, an economic

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

Families, parents and caregivers call on Congress to include paid family and medical leave in the Build Back Better legislative package during an all-day Nov. 2, 2021 vigil in Washington, D.C. Paul Morigi | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images When Delaware Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, signed new paid family and medical leave legislation

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

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

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

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