High prices for everything from groceries to gas aren’t the only things making this year feel like a throwback to the 1980s. After almost a decade of gains, homeownership in the U.S. also has slipped ...
Tag: Personal finance
A prominent economist on how much inflation could be eating into your savings
What is inflation doing to your savings? Getty Images/iStockphoto Inflation stubbornly remains at a 40-year high, with the latest numbers showing that the U.S. inflation rate hit 8.6% in May, compared...
How to buy a carbon-conscious fund in wake of Supreme Court EPA ruling
The Supreme Court last week limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change — and that may leave eco-conscious investors wonder...
Luxury car buyers pay more than ever as prices and loan costs rise
If you can even find a new car to buy, actually purchasing it is going to cost you. “It’s a really difficult time to buy a car,” said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights...
Metropolitan areas with the most million-dollar homes
Historic row houses in Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington. amedved | iStock | Getty Images Million-dollar homes aren’t common in the U.S., but you’re more likely to find these pro...
My financial adviser mostly opts for index funds. Is he worth what I pay him?
Is your financial adviser worth the money you pay them? Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: If a manager is just putting my money into index funds that track the market, are they actually doing anythin...
Borrowers are on edge—will Biden cancel student debt or not? Here’s what’s going on.
The “he” is, of course, President Joe Biden. Some 43 million borrowers are hanging onto hope that Biden will take executive action to relieve at least some of their collective $1.7 trillion debt. Rumo...
I’m the director of forecasting for the National Association of Realtors. Here are 6 things you should know about the housing market now
As part of our series where we ask prominent economists and real estate pros their take on the housing market now, we talked to Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of forecasting at the Nat...
Car quality is slipping: These are the brands with the most and least complaints, study finds
New car owners are experiencing more problems in the first 90 days of ownership than ever before. Buick took the top spot in the 2022 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, but the headline isn’t the winne...
Gas prices edge down just in time for July Fourth travel — here’s why
It’s a cool breeze during a hot moment, but it’s not the summer weather. As record-breaking numbers of Americans pack their cars and travel to Fourth of July barbecues that will cost them more than la...
Will mortgage rates soon hit 7%? What economists and real estate pros say
Will mortgage rates rise? Getty Images/iStockphoto Mortgage rates have been on a steady climb upwards: While they started the year at around 3.5% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, they’ve since climb...
How to Minimize Your Heirs’ Tax Burden on Inherited IRAs and 401(k)s
The stretch-IRA strategy largely went away after the Secure Act of 2019, leaving heirs less maneuverability on taxes. Financial pros have some solutions. Illustration by Barron’s: Dreamstime(5) ...
S&P 500 had worst half in 50 years, but the 60/40 portfolio isn’t dead
Stock trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Spencer Platt | Getty Images News | Getty Images The S&P 500 Index, a barometer of U.S. stocks, just had its worst first half of the year ...
My account fell 20%, and my adviser couldn’t explain why. What’s the right move?
Should you ditch an adviser who can’t clearly communicate losses. to you? Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I went through a 20% loss with my investments at a big bank. I was told by the adviser that...
Should You Roll Over Your 401(k) to an IRA? It Can Cost You Tens of Thousands.
Text size Retirement savers would do well to check the fees on fund holdings in 401(k) accounts held at former employers before rolling over to an IRA. Workplace savings plans tend to have more favora...
Tax bill for Vermont winner of Powerball $366.7 million jackpot
If you’re holding the winning ticket for Powerball’s $366.7 million jackpot, don’t forget about your silent partner: Uncle Sam. After rolling higher for about two months of three wee...
Debt collectors’ ‘pay-to-pay’ fees ‘often illegal’: watchdog agency
Anchiy | E+ | Getty Images Certain “junk” fees often levied by debt collectors are illegal under federal law, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday. Debt collectors charg...
How to buy Series I savings bonds via TreasuryDirect
Eakgrunge | Istock | Getty Images There’s been record demand for federal Series I savings bonds, an inflation-protected and nearly risk-free asset, offering an eye-popping 9.62% annual return th...
This veteran money manager has seen it all. And these 19 dividend stocks pass his rigorous quality screen right now.
Lewis Altfest’s time in the finance industry spans seven decades. He has some words of advice for investors who aren’t used to stomach-churning stock-price moves. He founded Altfest Personal Wealth Ma...
A $1 million Mega Millions ticket is about to expire
It looks like a Mega Millions player is about to join the ranks of lottery winners who end up missing out on a windfall. A ticket purchased in Lewisville, North Carolina, and worth $1 million will exp...
How to save money on summer cooling bills as energy prices rise
A pedestrian uses an umbrella to get some relief from the sun as she walks past a sign displaying the temperature on June 20, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ralph Freso | Getty Images Tips for efficient en...
Opinion: Early retirement in 3 steps: Follow the ‘Cashing Out’ couple’s road map to financial freedom
A couple of months ago, our five-year-old son was relieved to find out that he could have two best friends. For weeks he’d been stuck in an innocent adolescent triangle where both kids wanted him to b...
Retirees traveling check Medicare coverage to avoid costly surprises
Tom Merton | Getty Images If you’re a retiree on Medicare and feel the itch to travel, be sure you know whether your insurance plan can go with you. Whether you want to hit the road for a U.S.-b...
3 big problems with Congress’ new retirement reforms
A new set of reforms to America’s retirement tax and savings plans passed a key hurdle in Congress last week. Variously known as the SECURE Act 2.0, the EARN Act and the RISE & SHINE Act, the meas...
These 10 stocks in the S&P 500 lost $4.2 trillion of investors’ money during the first half of 2022
The first half of 2022 is over, and good riddance for investors: The S&P 500 Index declined 20.6%. Below are two lists of the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 SPX, -0.88% this year. Firs...