88% of employers offer a Roth 401(k). How to take advantage

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images The ranks of employers offering a Roth savings option to 401(k) investors continue to grow, giving more workers access to its unique financial benefits. About 88% of 401...

This 529 plan myth is making college more expensive for families

Kevin Dodge | The Image Bank | Getty Images SEATTLE — For many families, paying for college is a financial burden, and experts say education-funding myths may be adding to the student loan debt crisis...

Why salaries in the United States don’t keep up with inflation

Inflation in the United States hit a record high in June 2022. Consumer prices soared by 9.1% compared with a year prior — the largest annual increase since 1981. While wages are rising, they’re...

When to submit your tax return in 2023 to avoid missing forms

If you’re eager to file your 2022 tax return in January or early February, the IRS has a warning: You’ll need to wait for “key documents” before filing in 2023. In a release la...

5 money moves to make now to ensure financial success in the new year

The end of the year is an important time for making financial decisions that can have an impact in the year ahead — and for years to come. From your work to your savings and investments to spending an...

Amid inflation and market volatility, just 12% of adults feel wealthy

Inflation, geopolitical uncertainty and fears of a recession have undermined financial confidence across the board, according to a new report by Edelman Financial Engines. Less than one-quarter, or 23...

Here are 3 ways Gen Z workers can start saving now for retirement

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images If you’re just out of college, you may be wondering when the right time is to get started with a retirement savings plan. The answer is now, experts s...

The biggest tax changes to know before filing your 2022 return

Tom Werner | DigitalVision | Getty Images Certain tax credits have been reduced  One possible reason for a smaller tax refund is the child tax credit and the child and dependent care tax credit have b...

35% of millionaires say they won’t have enough to retire, report finds

A cool $1 million is not what it used to be. There are more millionaires in the U.S. and globally than ever before, with nearly 24.5 million millionaires nationwide as of 2022, according to the latest...

Here’s why your tax refund may be smaller in 2023, the IRS says

If you’re expecting a tax refund in 2023, it may be smaller than this year’s payment, according to the IRS.  Typically, you get a federal refund when you’ve overpaid yearly taxes or ...

The fear of loss can cost investors big-time. Here’s how

The fear of loss is a powerful emotion for investors — and, if left unchecked, can cost them big bucks in the long term due to years of forfeiture of investment gains. That fear is a natural product o...

How the BlockFi bankruptcy, FTX collapse may affect your crypto taxes

It is thought the new U.K. government’s mini-budget may have made buying a house even more difficult. Photo by LanaStock via Getty Images Crypto firm BlockFi on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankr...

Lesser-known ways to reduce your 2022 tax bill or boost your refund

Charles Taylor | Getty Images 1. If your income is higher in 2022, defer your bonus into 2023 If you’ve had a strong year and expect lower earnings in 2023, you may try to defer a holiday bonus ...

Retailers roll out stricter return policies ahead of the holidays

The holiday shopping season is always closely followed by a spike in gift returning. But this year, it may be harder to bring things back for free or at a low cost. Roughly 60% of retailers said they&...

Reasons to say ‘no’ to a store credit card offer this Black Friday

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

President Biden decides on nomination for IRS Commissioner

The Internal Revenue Service building in Washington. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images New role a ‘challenging assignment,’ former IRS commissioner says Biden’s nomination comes at a cr...

What the ‘millionaire tax’ in Massachusetts means for the wealthy

If you make more than $1 million a year in Massachusetts, you may soon be subject to a “millionaire tax” approved by voters this week through a ballot initiative. The new law creates a 4% ...

Voters approve higher minimum wage in Nebraska and Washington, DC

Activists demonstrate in support of a $15-per-hour minimum wage and tips for restaurant workers in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 8, 2022. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images Voters in both Nebraska and the Di...

The best ways to pay for holiday gifts ahead of Black Friday

What you buy this holiday season is just as important as how you buy it. In fact, the payment method you choose at checkout can go a long way toward helping you stick to a budget, save money and stay ...

Consumers are cutting back on holiday gift buying amid higher inflation

Inflation is weighing heavily on the holidays this year. Roughly half of shoppers will buy fewer things due to higher prices, and more than one-third said they will rely on coupons to cut down on the ...

What 5 key personal finance issues mean for you

As Americans head to the polls, several key personal finance issues are weighing on voters’ minds and wallets. This week, the Federal Reserve enacted its fourth consecutive 0.75 percentage point...

Free returns may be over as retailers introduce stricter policies

Policy adjustments ‘deter the consumer from returning’ With rising costs squeezing margins, many retailers are rethinking their return policies, shortening the return window and even charg...

Affluent shoppers embrace secondhand shopping

Bargain hunting is certainly not new. But with the Covid pandemic came a surge in “thrifting,” or buying and selling pre-owned goods. At first, some families under financial pressure looke...

What ‘millionaire tax’ plans on California, Massachusetts ballots mean for taxpayers

How states plan to spend ‘millionaire tax’ revenue While the proposed taxes sound similar, there are differences in how each state plans to use the revenue.  In Massachusetts, assuming vot...

TreasuryDirect crashes as investors try to beat key I bond deadline

Shapecharge | E+ | Getty Images Investors crashed the Treasury Department website for Series I bonds on Friday as they clamored to lock in a record-high interest rate before a key deadline. I bonds ha...

How much money you actually need for a home down payment

nd3000 | iStock | Getty Images Despite signs of a cooling housing market, home prices are still relatively high, resulting in bigger down payments.  Over the past year, average down payments in the co...