Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I am 60 years old, single and don’t have any children. I am well into seven figures with retirement savings, made up of three 401(k)s, two mutual funds and a $350,00...
Tag: Personal finance
Have a case of buyer’s remorse? Why high inflation may be to blame
Shoppers are seen inside a shopping mall in Bethesda, Maryland on February 17, 2022. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images Inflation is pushing up prices everywhere, from grocery store shelves to gas pumps...
The 10 stock and bond funds with the biggest Russia exposure
Nitat Termmee | Moment | Getty Images Americans who invest in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds have largely been insulated from financial exposure to Russia amid its conflict with Ukraine. The r...
Here’s exactly how much money is in the average savings account in America
But whatever the rules, one thing is clear: Americans who do save are saving more than they used to. Getty Images/iStockphoto While there’s no magic number as to the amount of money someone should hav...
how it affects your tax return
Your filing status is the backbone of your tax return, and checking the wrong box can be costly. Yet many filers still confuse single and head of household, financial experts say. “Most people a...
‘They all promise to help’ but no financial adviser seems to offer what I need. I have two 401ks, Roth accounts and real estate, and want a one-time plan for managing my money myself. Can you help?
Looking for a financial planner who works for a flat fee? Here’s some advice on how to do it. Getty Images Question: I have done a lot of research to find a fiduciary, but the bottom line is I have ye...
What to know before filing business taxes for the first time
In 2021, amid the ongoing pandemic and “Great Resignation,” Americans filed a record 5.4 million applications for new businesses, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That means ...
Should you consider a Roth IRA conversion when the market drops?
If you’re considering a Roth conversion, stock market drops may make the strategy more appealing, according to financial experts. While the popular move, allowing higher earners to bypass inco...
Homeowners hold record equity. What to know if you want to borrow
New homes under construction by CastleRock Communities in Kyle, Texas, in November 2021. Matthew Busch | Bloomberg | Getty Images Record increases in home prices are also pushing up the amount of equi...
3 simple rules for cushioning yourself against inflation
This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet. Inflation — the rise in consumer prices — is a slow erosion of your money over time. Before 2021, the U.S. hadn’t seen annual core inflation m...
Opinion: This market-timing model says you probably have too much money in stocks
If you follow a traditional 60%/40% stock-bond portfolio allocation, you currently should be just 38% invested in equities — 63% of 60%. If your target equity allocation instead is 80%, you should cur...
Is Now the Time to Buy or Sell? 7 Stocks to Consider During Turbulent Times.
I asked two market strategists whether U.S. investors should buy stocks here despite the pall of war in Ukraine. One says definitely, and the other says to hold off. Both are convincing. This is why I...
Proposed LIFE Act Would Boost Annuities’ Role in Retirement Plans
The passage of the Secure Act in 2019 has led to some dramatic shifts in retirement plans. Of particular note, the law allowed for annuities providing guaranteed lifetime income to be incorporated int...
My mom cosigned student loans for my now-disabled sister. How can we repay them?
How to get out of student loan debt. Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: My mom cosigned my sister’s student loan for her online school, but life got in the way for my sister and because of her mental ...
This company offers its contract workers benefits and job security
Harriet Talbot quit her full-time job at Unilever to take part in its U-Work program in London. Courtesy: Harriet Talbot Millions of Americans are quitting their jobs and rethinking what they want whe...
Low earners hit hardest by inflation as savings and pandemic aid dwindle
Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Inflation Consumer prices in January rose 7.5% from a year earlier, the fastest annual pace in 40 years. However, households don’t feel those price shock...
Consumers lost $5.8 billion to fraud last year — up 70% over 2020
krisanapong detraphiphat | Moment | Getty Images American consumers reported losing more than $5.8 billion to fraud last year, up from $3.4 billion in 2020 (an increase of more than 70%), the Federal ...
Don’t panic. How to control emotions during stock market volatility
Peopleimages | Istock | Getty Images The ups and downs of the stock market may have you tempted to make changes to your portfolio. Yet time and again experts will tell you to never let emotions drive ...
‘She had a will, but it was null and void’: My friend and her sister are fighting over their mother’s life-insurance policy and $32,000 bank account. Who’s right?
Dear Quentin, My friend’s mom passed away about a year ago. She had a will, but it was null and void because there was only one witness signature. She has two daughters. One of the girls, Mary, moved ...
Here are the 5 most valuable airline and hotel rewards programs
An Alaska Airlines jet lands at Los Angeles International Airport on Feb. 7, 2022. Alaska’s Alaska Miles topped NerdWallet’s ranking of airline programs for 2022. George Rose | Getty Image...
Warren Buffett’s Preferred Equity Allocation Is 100%
Warren Buffett’s preferred equity allocation is 100%, and he has adopted that strategy both personally and at Berkshire Hathaway in a way that is radically different from other companies in the insura...