Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio While Americans may disagree on how the government spends their taxes, at tax time, many of us are looking for ways to pay no more than we owe — or ev...
Tag: Personal finance
Is a yield curve inversion a foreboding sign for mortgage rates? Does it really signal a recession? Economists weigh in.
For a moment this week, the bond market flashed a signal that some associate with impending recessions. Home buyers need not worry just yet, according to economists. On Friday, the 2-year rate, which ...
Opinion: This simple change in words can dramatically increase retirement savings
In today’s increasingly complex financial world, individuals are faced with many competing financial priorities — from student debt to emergency healthcare expenses, just to name a few. As a result, n...
Don’t burn bridges: Companies are welcoming back older workers
Chris Thorson, age 55, is very busy. He has a side hustle making Scandinavian knives; he’s a high school volunteer mountain bike coach in Minneapolis; and he’s board chair of the nonprofit National Ce...
Should I use a 401(k) or an IRA to save for retirement? A traditional account or the Roth version? Here’s what to know
You can save on taxes while saving for retirement by using an IRA or a 401(k). But deciding the best account is not always straightforward. There’s also the Roth option for both, meaning four choices,...
As the Fed Raises Interest Rates, and Other Central Banks Don’t, What Will That Mean for U.S. Stocks?
The Federal Reserve’s recent decision to begin raising interest rates stands in contrast to many other central banks around the world, which are keeping their baseline interest rates flat or lowering ...
Your 401(k) Statement Will Soon Have Lifetime Income Estimates. What to Know.
Participants in 401(k)s should begin seeing a “lifetime income illustration” on their statements this year, getting an estimate of how much guaranteed monthly income their current account balance woul...
Housing Market Faces a World of Pain
Several ominous signs face the housing market. First, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage soared to a three-year high of 4.67% in the week ended March 31, according to housing agency Freddie Mac. ...
I’m 67 and retired with $57,000 left on my mortgage and $600,000 saved for retirement — should I pay off my home now?
I am 67 years old, single and retired at 66. After taxes, I receive $3,100 per month from a pension. After taxes and my Part B Medicare payment, I receive $2,100 per month from Social Security. I have...
My husband and I bought a retirement condo in 2008, and he died two years later. The condo is worth $50,000 more than we paid. Should I sell it now or wait?
Dear MarketWatch, I have a condo in Palm Desert, Calif., that my husband and I were going to retire to. We also have another primary residence in nearby Riverside. We bought the condo in 2008 for $363...
My financial adviser seems deeply Republican, and I’m liberal. Does this matter?
Should you let differing political beliefs impact your choice of a financial planner? Getty Images Question: I’ve worked with the same financial adviser for about 10 years — and I feel like he’s done ...
What’s Holding Back Actively Managed ETFs
Text size Dreamstime Fidelity and T. Rowe Price run some excellent actively managed mutual funds. Chances are you will never see them in ETF form. Many new active exchange-traded funds have launched s...
Long-term unemployment tumbles in March as job market stays hot
A job seeker receives information from a recruiter during a job fair in Miami on Dec. 16, 2021. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images The ranks of the long-term unemployed fell again in March...
Biden’s plan to lower gas prices could take weeks. How to pay less now
Filling up at the pump comes with a hefty dose of sticker shock. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and global supply concerns have sent gas prices to record highs — hitting $6 in some parts of the co...
Opinion: How to retire well — even if you’re not rich
Unquestionably, the best time to retire is after you have saved up more money than you will ever need. But not everybody can do that. If you are one of those people, then this article is for you. In o...
Biden says latest Strategic Petroleum Reserve release could cut gas prices 10 to 35 cents per gallon — but some experts worry about long-term costs
President Joe Biden announced Thursday the daily release of 1 million barrels of oil from the country’s reserves for the next six months as a way to bring down gas prices that have been breaking recor...
Opinion: How to make your money last in retirement
Lots of research has been done on the best way to generate retirement income. It’s one of the most popular financial topics. I think this popularity is driven by two things: its obvious importance—and...
Why Biden’s billionaire minimum income tax may be a tough sell
Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., talks to reporters in Washington, Nov. 4, 2021. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters President Joe Biden has proposed a new tax on the ultra-wealthy as part of his 2023 federal budget, ...
The Great Resignation is still in full swing. Here’s what to know
A Now Hiring sign is displayed at a restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, on March 16, 2022. Stefani Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images The pandemic-era trend known as the “Great Resignation” rema...
Here’s who might not need 6-9 months in their emergency fund, pros say
Does everyone need emergency expenses in a savings account? Getty Images/iStockphoto Traditional advice suggests you need 6-9 months of expenses in an accessible savings account in case of emergency. ...
Senators Plan Bipartisan Retirement Package as House Poised to Pass Secure 2.0
Retirement experts urged lawmakers Tuesday to take action to expand the availability of workplace savings plans and to level some of the barriers that have kept workers from putting more money away fo...
I have $80K in student loans and work 60 hours a week. How can I deal?
How to get out of student loan debt. Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I’m strapped but want to be free. I have $80,000 in student loan debt. I work 60 hours a week in 12-hour shifts just to make en...
‘I can tolerate him for 7 months — at the most’: My husband and I live apart in the summer. Should I refinance my house and set up a joint savings account?
Dear Quentin, My husband of seven years owns a home in Minnesota, and has a mortgage. I own a home in Florida with no mortgage. We have no savings or retirement accounts. Should I pull my equity from ...
Robinhood extends trading hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. — 3 rookie mistakes when trading stocks after hours
At 7 a.m., it can be the time for a morning coffee while 8 p.m. can be time to have supper, watch your favorite television shows, or even enjoy a glass of wine. If you have a Robinhood account, it’s a...
Missed the Dip in Stocks? Where to Find Yields of 3% to 6%.
I sneezed, and missed the buying opportunity in stocks. The S&P 500 was down 13% at one point this year. It ended the first quarter with a loss of just 4.6%, including dividends. But all of the ba...