Eclipse_images | E+ | Getty Images Many near retirees expect Social Security to be their largest source of income when they stop working. Yet, those who are on the brink of their so-called golden years fall short when it comes to knowledge about the program’s rules and what they can personally expect, according to a … Read more
How the FAFSA’s grandparent ‘loophole’ works The simplified FAFSA form now uses a new calculation called the “Student Aid Index” to estimate how much a family can afford to pay. Previously, many factors went into how much aid students receive, including the total number of people in the household and the number of children in … Read more
Witthaya Prasongsin | Moment | Getty Images If your tax refund or bill is bigger than expected, it could be time to adjust your paycheck withholding — and a simple calculation could help, experts say. Typically, you get a refund when you overpay taxes throughout the year, and you owe money when you don’t pay … Read more
Skynesher | E+ | Getty Images New government data shows a surprisingly strong job market for the month of January. But there are signs of weakness in the labor market, based on tens of thousands of workers who have been laid off since 2024 started. U.S. employers announced 82,307 job cuts in January, up from … Read more
D3sign | Moment | Getty Images Tax season has kicked off and the IRS has started to process 2023 returns. If you’re expecting a refund, there are a few ways to get the money faster, experts say. Often, “self-inflicted mistakes” cause refund delays, according to Mark Steber, chief tax information officer at Jackson Hewitt. The … Read more
By many measures, Generation Z is doing well. Compared with their parents at this age, young adults are more likely to have a college degree and work full time — particularly women, who are not only achieving increasing levels of education but also earning more. However, Gen Z adults are also less likely to own a … Read more
Gen Zers are having a harder time making ends meet, let alone building wealth. Roughly 38% of Generation Z adults and millennials believe they face more difficulty feeling financially secure than their parents did at the same age, largely due to the economy, according to a recent Bankrate report. Gen Z is generally defined as those born between 1996 and … Read more
Simpleimages | Moment | Getty Images Higher interest rates were good news in 2023 for savers who were able to earn the best rates on their cash in years. Even with the possibility of looming rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, 2024 still stands to be a great year for returns on cash. “Yields are … Read more
When employees who contribute to a 401(k) plan leave a company, they have options for what to do with that money. Depending on what the employer retirement savings plan allows, exiting employees may be able to keep the money in the current plan, roll it over into an IRA, or buy an annuity. In some cases, … Read more
Recep-bg | E+ | Getty Images The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday approved the first U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds. But experts urge caution before piling into the long-awaited ETFs. The agency signed off on 11 bitcoin ETF applications, including funds from BlackRock, Fidelity, Ark Invest, WisdomTree and Grayscale. The new investment provides … Read more
