Student loan borrowers won’t face penalties for missed payments

Miodrag Ignjatovic | E+ | Getty Images Borrowers don’t need to apply Borrowers do not need to enroll in the on-ramp period, the U.S. Department of Education says. If your loans were eligible for the pandemic-era payment pause, which mainly include those in the Direct program, then borrowers will also qualify for this relief. Loans … Read more

You can still lower your 2023 tax bill with these last-minute moves

The year-end is quickly approaching, but there’s still a chance to reduce your 2023 tax bill or boost your refund with some last-minute moves, experts say. Dec. 31 is the deadline for many tax-saving opportunities, which leaves limited time to take action. “It’s a little late to be super strategic,” but there’s still some “low-hanging … Read more

$7,500 EV tax credit may be easier — and harder — to get in 2024

Praetorianphoto | E+ | Getty Images The $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicles will be easier for many consumers to claim in 2024, but it may be more difficult for others. These opposing dynamics are due to federal policies taking effect at the same time. One policy kicking in Jan. 1 will allow car … Read more

How much to save monthly to retire with 5 million

Many young Americans hope to retire as millionaires — and they’re pretty optimistic about reaching that goal. Most Americans believe they’ll need to save over $1 million by the time they retire and that amount varies slightly by age group. Those in their 20s think they’ll need around $1.2 million saved for retirement while those … Read more

Millions of student loan borrowers still aren’t making payments

Student loan forgiveness advocates rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., after the nation’s high court struck down President Joe Biden’s student debt relief program, June 30, 2023. Kent Nishimura | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images Nearly a year before federal student loan payments restarted, the U.S. Department of Education warned … Read more

What to know about the Dec. 31 deadline

Tom Werner | Digitalvision | Getty Images As the calendar turns to a new year, you may be at risk for losing money if you have a flexible spending account. Many FSA owners have a Dec. 31 use-it-or-lose-it deadline to use the funds they have set aside for the year. The average forfeit of funds … Read more

Does the tax on your year-end bonus check seem high? Here’s why

Jgi/tom Grill | Tetra Images | Getty Images Does your year-end bonus look smaller than expected? Tax withholding is a likely culprit, but Uncle Sam may pay some back when you file an annual tax return, experts said. Bonuses are treated as taxable income, like wages in a typical paycheck. However, unlike wages, the IRS … Read more

Boston recently narrowed the city’s gender pay gap. Here’s how

Tomasz Szulczewski | Moment | Getty Images Women continue to make great strides in the workforce, achieving increasing levels of education, and advancing into senior leadership positions. However, the gender pay gap — the difference between the earnings of men and women — has barely budged in recent years. In the U.S., women who work full … Read more

Spot bitcoin ETF approval may be coming in January 2024

The price of bitcoin has surged in 2023 as investors await approval for the first U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund, which would be a milestone for cryptocurrency investors, experts say. In early December, the digital currency topped $44,000 for the first time since April 2022, and year-to-date gains were above 160%, as of Dec. 21, … Read more