Why saving in a 401(k) plan may be tough for frequent job switchers

Damircudic | E+ | Getty Images Saving in a 401(k) plan may be tough for workers who switch jobs frequently — a dynamic that’s come into greater focus amid the Great Resignation. In 2021, 14% of ...

Annuity sales buoyed by fear, higher rates. What to know before buying

Svetikd | E+ | Getty Images Annuities are on track for a banner year as consumers flee stock volatility and insurers offer more attractive rates. Limra, an insurance industry group, forecasts annuity ...

Tax-loss harvesting turns losses into gains. Here’s when to skip it

When the stock market dips, a strategy known as tax-loss harvesting can be a silver lining. But it doesn’t make sense for all portfolios, financial experts say.   Here’s how tax-loss harve...

Your next quarterly 401(k) statement may be alarming. Here’s why

Your internal alarm bells may ring when reading your next 401(k) plan statement — at first blush, at least. Traditional 401(k) statements — regular notices that arrive by mail or online — show investo...

House Democrats push for repeal of rule blocking SALT cap workaround

Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference announcing the State and Local Taxes (SALT) Caucus outside the U.S. Capitol on April 15, 2021. Sarah Silbiger | Bloomberg | Getty Images Three ...

IRS working to boost audit rates for higher earners

Jeffrey Coolidge | Photodisc | Getty Images The IRS is working to boost its audit rates for the wealthiest Americans, according to a statement recently released with the agency’s annual Data Boo...

Investors revisit muni bonds amid higher yields and strong credit

David Jakle | Image Source | Getty Images It’s been a tough year for municipal bonds, with investors cashing out amid rising interest rates. However, higher yields and strong credit may be spark...

Need to tap your 529 college savings? How to handle a market downturn

Klaus Vedfelt | DigitalVision | Getty Images Months of stock market volatility may deliver a costly surprise to parents sending children to school this fall: smaller-than-expected 529 college savings ...

This advisor started a financial non-profit to empower women

Stacy Francis Source: Stacy Francis Stacy Francis never planned to become a financial advisor, especially one for women going through divorce. But a candid talk with her grandmother shifted her career...

Capital gains may have triggered more individual taxes for 2021

The U.S. Department of the Treasury building Julia Schmalz | Bloomberg | Getty Images Some investors may be grappling with the sting of higher-than-expected capital gains for 2021 and losses in 2022. ...

That vacation rental listing could be a scam. Watch for warning signs

Ozgurcankaya | E+ | Getty Images Biggest warning sign The biggest red flag that a listing is a scam is when you are asked to leave a listing platform such as Vrbo or Airbnb in order to provide a payme...

Still missing your tax refund? You’ll soon receive 5% interest

Bill Oxford | E+ | Getty Images If you’re still waiting for a tax refund, there’s a silver lining: it may be accruing interest, and the rate jumps to 5% from 4% on July 1, according to the...

Tax breaks aren’t prime reason for high-net-worth philanthropy

Maria Teijeiro | OJO Images | Getty Images Tax breaks aren’t the primary incentive for philanthropy among the ultra-wealthy, according to BNY Mellon Wealth Management’s inaugural Charitabl...

Former Miami Heat all-star Dwyane Wade shares his advice on managing money

Dwyane Wade still moves fast but this time it’s off the basketball court. The retired three-time NBA champion for the Miami Heat has investments in media companies and consumer products. Wade, 4...

Why it’s a good time for young investors to put money in the market

FG Trade | E+ | Getty Images Opportunities in the dip For young investors with the longest time horizons to plan for retirement, today’s market downturn also provides an opportunity, according t...

House Democrats push for SALT relief in appropriations bill

Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference announcing the State and Local Taxes (SALT) Caucus outside the U.S. Capitol on April 15, 2021. Sarah Silbiger | Bloomberg | Getty Images Despit...

Women are still paid 83 cents for every dollar men earn. Here’s why

Hinterhaus Productions | Stone | Getty Images The “gap” between how much money men and women are paid has long been a feature of the U.S. economy. While that pay differential has narrowed ...

Americans are stressed about money and finances, hurting mental health

Americans are more stressed about money than they’ve ever been, according to the American Psychological Association’s latest Stress In America Survey. “Eighty-seven percent of Americ...

Inflation is the ‘top problem’ facing America, survey shows

A worker stocks items inside a grocery store in San Francisco, California, May 2, 2022. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Meanwhile, President Joe Biden also has faced blowback over continu...

Here’s why inflation may be less costly for some retirees

A shopper at a San Francisco grocery store on May 2, 2022. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Inflation is a growing concern as Americans spend hundreds more every month. But some retirees m...

IRS insists destruction of taxpayer data won’t affect payers

alfexe | iStock | Getty Images Filers won’t be affected by the IRS decision to destroy data for millions of taxpayers, the agency said in a statement Thursday. The IRS tossed an estimated 30 mil...

Buy now, pay later is not a boom, it’s a bubble, Harvard fellow says

Most people love the convenience of buy now, pay later. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, installment payments have exploded in popularity along with a general surge in online shopping. Ini...

Tax pros ‘horrified’ by IRS decision to destroy data on 30 million filers

courtneyk | E+ | Getty Images An audit by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration revealed the IRS has tossed data for millions of payers, sparking anger from the tax community. The mate...

Nearly seven in 10 Americans want to live to 100, study finds

Despite fears of outliving savings, most Americans still want to live longer, a study on longevity and retirement shows. Nearly 70% of Americans want to live to age 100, with 29 years as the “id...

How fast does inflation cut buying power? Here’s a simple guide

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images Inflation is hovering near 40-year highs. The Consumer Price Index, a key inflation metric, increased 8.3% in April from a year ago, the largest jump since ...

Here’s why a Roth IRA conversion may pay off in a down market

Morsa Images | E+ | Getty Images Soaring inflation, interest rate hikes and the war in Ukraine have sparked ongoing stock market volatility. But there may be a bright spot: the chance to save money on...

Your cash savings may get a higher return but only at certain banks

Guido Mieth | DigitalVision | Getty Images Banks are starting to pay a higher return on your cash — good news for savers who’ve seen their stockpiles languishing from a gruesome combination of l...

Worried about a recession? Here’s how to prepare your portfolio

FG Trade | iStock | Getty Images More from FA Playbook: Here’s a look at other stories impacting the financial advisor business. “We all understand that markets go through cycles and reces...

Over 60 million tax returns could be completed automatically, study says

Tom Werner | DigitalVision | Getty Images The IRS may have the ability to automate nearly half of tax returns, according to a working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The agency co...

How to get free Nike sneakers, save money at Apple & other life hacks

Reading the fine print or understanding available offers means you could be saving money or taking advantage of refunds or freebies that you might not have otherwise known about, like a brand-new pair...

Here’s how much cash retirees need to weather a stock market downturn

Luminola | E+ | Getty Images Amid high inflation and rising interest rates, there are fears of a prolonged stock market downturn, and some retirees may be vulnerable without a cushion of cash, financi...