Vanguard sees a recession in 2023 — and one ‘silver lining’ for investors

The last 12 months was a year of fast-rising inflation, fast-rising interest rates and fast-rising questions about a future recession. Prices went up while stock markets and savings account balances w...

Opinion: What’s the best way to take RMDs from retirement funds? Experts rate 3 options.

I’m a retired educator, and I’m just turning 72. I’m about to start taking my required minimum distributions. I don’t need the full amount, but I guess I have to take it anyway. I don’t know when the ...

The 4% Rule for Retirement Spending Makes a Comeback

Listen to article (2 minutes) Retirees walloped by high inflation and volatile stock and bond markets are getting some good news: The 4% spending rule—or something close to it—is back. The traditional...

Just 1 in 3 Americans understands this crucial component of planning smartly for retirement — and that lack of knowledge could prove very costly

Are you sure you’re ready to retire? No, really … are you sure? Although some 73% of American workers say they’re on track for a comfortable lifestyle in retirement, a recent report from Transamerica ...

How to prepare for a 1099-K for online payments and reduce your taxes

Charday Penn | E+ | Getty Images If you’ve accepted payments via apps such as Venmo or PayPal in 2022, you may receive Form 1099-K, which reports income from third-party networks, in early 2023....

I have $600K invested, but my financial adviser has only made one trade this year, and left $7,500 in cash in my Roth IRA. Is it time to get rid of him?

Question: My financial advisor has made one trade this entire year and has left $7,500 in cash in my Roth IRA since January. I had $600,000 in assets at the start of the year. Some minimal reallocatio...

Queen Latifah – worth an estimated $70 million – got this money savings advice from her mom. Pros say more of us should follow it, too: ‘The best part is it scales the more you make.’ 

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 22: Queen Latifah attends TheGrio Awards 2022 at The Beverly Hilton on October 22, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images) Getty Image...

I sold my late mother’s home for $250,000. I make $80,000 and have $220,000 in student debt. I want to buy a house. Should I use all my inheritance for a down payment?

My mom passed away, and left me her house, which I just sold and will net $250,000. I’m 41 years old with no real retirement savings. I make $80,000 a year, and I am maxing out contributions to my emp...

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...

I’m 53, just got laid off, and wondering what to do now. I have $425K saved for retirement, $10K in an HSA, and a property I could sell for an extra $200K in cash. Is getting professional help wise? 

Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I was laid off from my job of 12 years. I have a few questions about how to rearrange my future financial plan. I am 53 years old and I plan to go back to work once ...

This is the No. 1 source of income for millions of older Americans — and that may pose a problem

Just one in four retirees say they have not experienced any kind of shock event in retirement, according to a study from the Society of Actuaries. Getty Images/iStockphoto Where is the 65 and older cr...

Can you still retire on $1 million? That’s what today’s millionaires want to know.

OK, so a million dollars isn’t what it used to be. That’s the worry among a surprising number of America’s millionaires. So, at least, reports money-management giant Natixis, which owns bond shop Loom...

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...

If you’re over 72 with an IRA, make sure you do this before the year ends

If you’re 72 or older, you have a crucial financial deadline approaching. By year-end, owners of individual retirement accounts (IRAs) who are 72 or older must take their required minimum distribution...

I’m 56 and plan to retire at 62. I’ll have both a state retirement plan and Social Security — but I also have a child starting college, which I want to pay for. Do I need professional help?

Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I’m 56 years old and working for a state university, so I will have a state retirement plan. I previously worked full time and contributed to Social Security for 20 ...

This one great idea can make everyone better with money, older Americans say

Surveys regularly show that older Americans have regrets about lots of things — working too much, choosing the wrong partner, not taking care of their health, etc. There are often financial regrets to...

Tax deadlines for retirees: do this before the year ends

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for holiday cheer – and last-minute tax tips.  Retirement Tip of the Week: As we approach the new year, look for tax-advantageous strategies to cut your tax bi...

Why is portfolio balancing important? Because it’s not different this time.

Asset allocation is about dividing your portfolio among various investment asset classes like stocks, bonds and cash, and sub-asset classes like small, large and midcap stocks. Bonds and international...

Moving is not fun. When you’re older, it’s even worse.

Almost everyone who completes a move and settles into their new place sighs and says, “That’s the last time I’m moving.” There’s no research to prove that. But who doesn’t dread moving? It’s stressful...

Opinion: 4 numbers retirement savers need to know heading into 2023

The past couple of years have been challenging for almost everyone invested in stocks or bonds, including anyone saving for retirement through employer-sponsored plans. With markets down across the bo...

Dear Tax Guy: ‘I’ve accumulated a lot of junk.’ I plan to make $6,000 selling stuff on eBay. Can I put it into an IRA instead of paying income tax?

I am retired with Social Security and a state pension. Over the last 30 years I’ve accumulated a lot of “junk” from eBay EBAY, +0.17%. Now, I’m also trying to clean out my house, and sell it at cost o...

This is the No. 1 expense, by far, for retirement-age Americans — and pros say it shouldn’t be

Americans 65 and older spent nearly $1,000 more per month last year than they did just five years prior, according to government data. Getty Images/iStockphoto Average monthly expenditures for those 6...

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...

Hardship withdrawals from 401(k)s reach ‘concerning’ all-time high, Vanguard says

Amid stubbornly high inflation, a record-breaking share of Americans are turning their 401(k) accounts into emergency piggy banks, according to Vanguard. Dissecting data from a sample of the approxima...

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...

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 ...

How to Keep Your Retirement on Track in an Unpredictable Market

Retirees and investors on the cusp of retirement are under stress this year. Inflation has spiked to multidecade highs, stocks have tumbled, and bonds—a haven in normal times—have slumped. The traditi...

Opinion: Fidelity sticks with bitcoin 401(k) offerings despite crypto turmoil — but why?

I have to hand it to Fidelity. For their nerves of steel, at least. The company that runs America’s biggest 401(k) platform is sticking with its plans to offer bitcoin in retirement plans. This is des...

Most retirees and near-retirees are worried about the stock market and inflation. Here’s what they’re doing about it. 

The declines in the stock market, surging inflation and rising interest rates have eroded investors’ confidence about their retirement, according to a new report by Janus Henderson Investors. A total ...

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 ...