“The government has about 48 hours to fix a-soon-to-be-irreversible mistake”: Bill Ackman warns some businesses may not be able to meet payroll after SVB’s failure

“The government has about 48 hours to fix a-soon-to-be-irreversible mistake. By allowingSVB Financial to fail without protecting all depositors, the world has woken up to what an uninsured deposit is ...

Silicon Valley Bank collapse: What should you do if your bank closes down?

Silicon Valley Bank, which helps fund technology startups backed by venture-capital firms, has closed its doors. The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation made the decision to c...

Biden’s budget wants tax hikes, but expiring Trump tax cuts are the big showdown

For five years, most Americans have seen lower income-tax rates and tapped a bigger standard deduction, but without congressional action before the end of 2025, the rules could still revert to levels ...

‘I’m not at rock bottom yet’: I have a serious gambling addiction. I’ve maxed out my credit cards and racked up $100K in debt. Can you help?

I’ve gotten to a point where I need serious help for my gambling addiction, though I’m not at rock bottom yet. I am a journeyman-level employee with about 20 years’ experience at my current job. I am ...

Opinion: At last — somebody is trying to ‘save’ Social Security

Rude Europeans used to tell stories, possibly apocryphal, about American tourists who would ask for directions to a famous landmark while actually standing right in front of it. The Parisian would loo...

Altria to Buy Vaping Company NJOY for $2.75 Billion

Altria agreed to buy e-cigarette maker NJOY for $2.75 billion in cash as the Marlboro maker looks to strengthen its portfolio of smoke-free products. The deal for privately held NJOY, one of the few e...

‘I don’t think I can wait until 70’ — I’m still working at 66, so should I wait for Social Security or claim now? 

My wife and I turned 65 last year, and applied and received Medicare. She chose to receive her Social Security benefits now. I myself am still working. I was thinking to get Social Security at 66 ½, w...

Exxon Mobil sued over 5 nooses displayed at Louisiana facility

Exxon Mobil Corp. violated federal law for failing to take sufficient action as five hangman’s nooses were displayed at its facility in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the U.S. government said in a lawsuit. A...

‘I’m holding my breath’: What will happen if the Supreme Court blocks Biden’s student-loan forgiveness plan?

As the Supreme Court debates President Joe Biden’s student-loan forgiveness plan, Americans’ consumer debt continues to rise — and more of it is past due. For Shanna Hayes, 34, who was recently laid o...

The Only 401(k) Savers Who Didn’t Lose Money in The Past Year

The only workers whose 401(k) balances grew in 2022 were the Gen Z savers still decades away from retirement, according to new data from Fidelity Investments.  While the average nest egg among Fidelit...

‘I don’t use cash’: I’m 70 and my home is paid off. I live off Social Security, and I use a credit card for all my spending. Is that risky?

I am now 70 years old and partially disabled. I am fully retired, living on Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. Obviously, I have limited income. I am financially stable. I have no debts...

Opinion: Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren’s bold tax hike to shore up Social Security

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders want to shore up Social Security by raising the top rate of income tax by a third, and the top rate of capital-gains tax by more than a half. The Democratic senator...

Text messages show Fox News hosts skeptical of 2020 stolen-election claims but fearful of alienating Trump faithful

“Sidney Powell is lying” about having evidence for election fraud, Tucker Carlson told a producer about the attorney on Nov. 16, 2020, according to an excerpt from an exhibit that remains under seal. ...

My fiancé and I are 60. His adult daughter is opposed to our marriage — and insists on inheriting her father’s $3.2 million estate. How should we handle her?

What advice would you give to a widow and widower considering marriage on how to manage finances — and deal with adult children? We are both 60 years old and plan to work a few more years, mostly for ...

‘A complete nut’: Fox News hosts didn’t believe 2020 election fraud claims

WILMINGTON, Del. — Hosts at Fox News had serious concerns about allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election being made by guests who were allies of former President Donald Trump, acco...

For a better retirement, you should work longer — but is that realistic?

Financial advisers and retirement coaches often have two words for people in their 50s and 60s concerned about retirement: Work longer. Doing so, they say, can boost their savings, help them receive l...

I’ll inherit $40,000 from my grandmother. Should my husband and I boost our kids’ college savings accounts, or pay off credit cards and student loans?

After a terrible battle with dementia, my grandmother died a few weeks ago. She did not leave much, but I will — along with my siblings — receive about $40,000 in life insurance. I am trying to figure...

This restaurant chain offers the worst bang for your buck, customers say

When it comes to dining out, customers say Shake Shack SHAK, +0.09% has gotten far too pricey for what it’s dishing out. And that’s despite the fact that it’s even not the most expensive of the fast-c...

‘I am trying to feverishly save for retirement’: My fiancé pays $1,700 a month to the IRS and owes student debt. We’re both 57. Should I marry him for his Social Security and pension?

Dear Quentin, My fiancé and I met at age 42 after being recently divorced. We have (now-grown) children from our previous marriages, but none together. We keep our finances separate. Neither one of us...

Where and how to charge an electric car for free, and will the IRS give me a tax break on my Super Bowl gambling losses?

Hi, MarketWatchers. Don’t miss these top stories. Skip the candy and flowers on Valentine’s Day for this valuable gift that won’t cost you a penny Your time and attention is much more meaningful and b...

IRS says people in most states who got inflation-relief payments don’t have to report it on their taxes. Here’s where.

The IRS is not going to tax payments from most of the states that cut checks to residents last year in order to help them defray rising living costs. This week, the IRS has been trying to determine if...

‘Cash is the cool kid on the block’: High-yield savings accounts, Treasury Bills, money market funds, and CDs — here’s where your cash can earn up to 4.5%

Cash isn’t just the dollar bills you put in your pocket — in this market, it might seem to be a patch of steady ground. There are multiple options: People can put their money in high-yield savings acc...

Tech Layoffs Hit H1B Visa Workers Hard

When she lost her job at Google last month, Jingjing Tan started worrying about her dog, an energetic, 75-pound German shepherd. As a foreign worker living in the U.S. on a temporary work visa, if she...

‘And then 2022 happened’: I borrowed $500,000 from friends and family to invest in the stock market, foolishly promising a 10% return. Can I avoid legal action?

Dear Quentin, I am a budding options/futures trader with my own sole proprietor investment business.  Heading into 2022, I took on a large cash infusion of $500,000 from friends and family under the g...

How to retire rich — even if you just got wiped out

The Wall Street Journal published an article over the weekend about all the millennials and Generation Z “zoomers” who have fled the markets after getting crushed in the 2022 rout. One was 25-year-old...

‘I am watching my inheritance evaporate’: My brother and sister constantly hit our parents up for money. What can I do to stop this?

I am 46 and single. I have a good job and own my own home but live modestly. I have been fortunate not to have had to ask my parents for anything over the years. My brother and sister, by contrast, ha...

Retiring in a bear market can be catastrophic — working one more year can make a huge difference

Timing, apparently, is everything. Especially when it comes to retirement. Retiring in a bear market can harm your portfolio for the long-term, even if the market eventually recovers, according to a n...

Dear Tax Guy: I just started renting my house out on Airbnb. What income-tax deductions can I claim on this property?

I just started renting my house out on Airbnb. I started a limited liability company to keep the expenses separate from personal ones. I am trying to figure out what would be considered tax deductions...

Eli Lilly and Novo Stock Sold Off. Don’t Blame Their Diet Drugs.

Stock in Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk outperformed last year, largely because of remarkable demand for new drugs that drive weight loss in patients afflicted with diabetes and obesity. Both stocks were ...

‘My stepmother has been less than ethical’: I suspect my stepmom removed me as beneficiary from my late father’s life-insurance policy. What can I do?

Dear Quentin, My dad passed away in March 2019. My stepmom told me I had an inheritance from my dad.  She ceased communication with me after my dad passed away. I reached out to the Department of Fina...

Want to be a homeowner in 2023 — or continue to rent and save for a down payment? Read this first.

If you’re a renter dreaming of homeownership in 2023, here’s the hard truth: It may be cheaper to remain a tenant, at least for now. Across the 50 largest metropolitan markets in the U.S., renters, wh...

Opinion: Why are my investments in a rut? That’s the way Wall Street wants it.

The Wall Street establishment doesn’t want you to read this article, and I’ll tell you why. If you’re an investor and not getting all the returns you deserve, there are lots of possible reasons. Perha...