Prostock-studio | Istock | Getty Images In the rush at the store checkout this holiday season, you may be tempted to say yes when asked if you want to apply for a store credit card — especially if you...
Tag: Personal finance
Black Friday car deals are hard to come by even as prices soften
Newsday Llc | Newsday | Getty Images There was a time when Black Friday in the car-selling business meant a flurry of big sales events at dealerships whose lots were full of new vehicles. These days, ...
Opinion: Fidelity sticks with bitcoin 401(k) offerings despite crypto turmoil — but why?
I have to hand it to Fidelity. For their nerves of steel, at least. The company that runs America’s biggest 401(k) platform is sticking with its plans to offer bitcoin in retirement plans. This is des...
As TV prices dip 17%, Black Friday shoppers may find ‘excellent deals’
Artistgndphotography | E+ | Getty Images Televisions are among just a handful of consumer goods and services that have dropped in price in the last year — which may translate to steep discounts for sh...
‘My elderly relative determined she could no longer care for herself’: Are her assisted-living facility costs tax deductible?
I have an elderly relative in an assisted-living arrangement in Indiana. She was basically directed to go there from a rehabilitation post-surgery, because they determined that she could no longer car...
Berkshire Scores Big With Japanese Investments. Currency Hedge Is Key.
One of Berkshire Hathaway ‘s bigger investment scores in recent years was the purchase of a group of five Japanese trading companies that now are showing an estimated profit of about $4 billion on an ...
Most retirees and near-retirees are worried about the stock market and inflation. Here’s what they’re doing about it.
The declines in the stock market, surging inflation and rising interest rates have eroded investors’ confidence about their retirement, according to a new report by Janus Henderson Investors. A total ...
Here’s how to score a charitable tax break on ‘Giving Tuesday’
Ariel Skelley | Getty Images You must ‘itemize’ to claim the charitable deduction When filing your return, you reduce your taxable income by subtracting the greater of either the standard ...
Goodwill helps bring thrifting into the mainstream with online store
Whether consumers are looking to save or are hunting for a buried treasure, the resale business is booming. During the Covid pandemic, secondhand stores such as eBay, the RealReal and ThredUp thrived ...
How $10,000 now will help my newborn granddaughter have a better retirement
Earlier this month, my wife and I were delighted to welcome a new granddaughter into the world, and we wanted to give her the very best gift that we could. My readers won’t be surprised to learn that ...
Why Your Money May Not Go to the Heirs in Your Will
Text size If you have given power of attorney to someone, you may have to sign a separate agreement at your bank to ensure access to funds. Dreamstime When it comes to distributing assets to loved one...
Wells Fargo Tries Something New (and Customer Friendly)
For many Americans, living from paycheck-to-paycheck is a fact of life. Saving a bit of money at the end of the month in order to afford the next month’s rent is typically a significant financia...
Are you prepared for year-end 401(k) deadlines?
As we approach the end of the year, now is a great time to ensure you’re getting the most out of your 401(k) plan. There are several opportunities to expand your savings, potentially minimize your tax...
Opinion: How a ‘529 solution’ can give gig workers health care and retirement benefits and boost the U.S. economy
U.S. workers are increasingly combining multiple income streams, moving from job to job, starting businesses, and craving more independence and control over their time. Changes to worker benefits must...
Roubini Blasts Pretty Much Everything Cryptocurrency
You can’t accuse economist Nouriel Roubini of pulling his punches on the subject of cryptocurrencies. The man given the moniker “Dr. Doom” for correctly predicting the financial crisis of 2008 has com...
How to afford a mortgage as interest rates and home prices rise
It’s no secret that it’s a tough market for prospective home buyers. In October, U.S. buyers needed to earn $107,281 to afford the median monthly mortgage payment of $2,682 for a “ty...
History says inflation could persist for a decade
If you are a retiree, or even near to retirement, you are probably more vulnerable to inflation than most. Your cost of living is probably rising faster than your income. You’re lucky if any pension o...
FTX victims are setting up GoFundMe fundraisers to try to get their money back
People who say they have lost money in the collapse of crypto exchange FTX are turning to strangers to cover their losses by setting up GoFundMe fundraising pages. They include a man who says that he ...
Black Friday surprise: Jeff Bezos tells people not to buy cars, refrigerators and other big-ticket items. Critics call him out.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos, who founded the e-tail behemoth Amazon, has some spending tips as Americans gear up for the holiday shopping season — amid four-decade-high inflation and recession worries. Her...
How to buy on the secondary market
Taylor Swift accepts an award onstage during the MTV Europe Music Awards 2022 on Nov. 13, 2022 in Duesseldorf, Germany. Kevin Mazur | Wireimage | Getty Images Taylor Swift fans are not having a “...
Retirement savers seeking safe havens within 401(k) plans may rue it
Yongyuan | E+ | Getty Images Data suggests some retirement savers are seeking out safe havens within their 401(k) plans. But the move may hobble those investors in the long run; in fact, it may have d...
The secret to a happier retirement might be in your ‘retirement quotient’
You know all about IQ (intelligence quotient) and probably EQ (emotional quotient or emotional intelligence). But if you’re getting close to retirement or in retirement, you might also want to know ab...
Opinion: The new bull market will be led by stocks in these three industries.
We don’t know yet if the recent rally kicks off a new bull market in stocks. But here’s a safe bet: Once the new bull market is here, entirely different groups will lead. It’ll be out with the old — t...
How to reduce your cryptocurrency tax bill before year-end
After a rough year for cryptocurrency, taxes may not be a top priority for digital currency investors battered by steep losses. But the falling crypto market and the recent collapse of digital currenc...
Your 401(k) has had a wild year — how to know when it’s time to rebalance
After a roller coaster of a year, retirement accounts may need a little fine tuning and consultation. Retirement Tip of the Week: If you haven’t checked the allocation of your investments recently, d...
Dear Tax Guy: ‘What happens if I sell my existing house to pay off the loan on my new home? How much tax will I owe?’
Greeting, readers. I’m Andrew Keshner and I’m the tax reporter for MarketWatch. I write about the controversies, open questions and best strategies about taxes. For the purposes of this new column, th...
I got laid off by a big tech company. What’s my next career move?
Being let go from a job is hard, especially at a moment when the cost of living is rising and a recession is looming. This Thanksgiving, tens of thousands of recently laid-off tech workers will be ask...