Tanya Constantine | Getty Images Once you start Social Security retirement benefits, you are generally guaranteed to receive monthly checks for life. But that will stop once you die — with some exceptions for your loved ones. A one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 may be available, provided your survivors meet certain requirements. For example, … Read more
Klaus Vedfelt | Getty Images To live your best life in retirement, it helps to make the most contributions while you’re working. Employees who participate in 401(k) plans can put up to $23,000 in pretax or post-tax Roth contributions in 2024. But there’s another limit, $69,000, including employee and employer contributions, that may let workers … Read more
Adamkaz | E+ | Getty Images If you’re a retiree who relies on Social Security benefits for income, you will see some changes in 2024. You will get a benefit boost to adjust for inflation. But just how much extra money you see will depend on the size of your Medicare Part B premiums and … Read more
This year, 40% of Americans said they do not make financial resolutions for the new year and 68% said they do not have written financial plans at any point in the year, according to research from BMO Financial Group. However, setting a budget goes a long way in managing your personal finances. “Many people spend … Read more
Xavier Lorenzo | Moment | Getty Images If you’re looking for a new job, get ready for more competition in the new year. “We see many more job seekers come and use our site in mid- to late-January,” said Scott Dobroski, career trends expert at Indeed. “It aligns to that new year, new you mentality,” … Read more
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
Grocery items are offered for sale at a supermarket on August 09, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson | Getty Images Heading into 2023, the predictions were nearly unanimous: a recession was coming. As the year comes to a close, the forecasted economic downturn did not arrive. So what’s in store for 2024? An economic … Read more
Clemens Porikys | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images If you’re in your 40s, you probably have seen articles on how much you should have saved by now to comfortably retire. One guideline from Fidelity Investments calls for having three times your starting salary saved by 40, with the aim of growing that to six … Read more
Betsie Van der Meer | Getty If you’re a last-minute holiday shopper still checking off the remaining gifts on your list, beware: You could be putting yourself at risk for fraud. “Procrastination is, quite frankly, one of the keys to success for crooks,” Paul Fabara, chief risk officer at Visa, recently told CNBC. “They assume that … Read more
Srdjanpav | E+ | Getty Images When it comes to the holidays, there’s one thing most workers don’t want to receive: a pink slip. But that’s exactly what some employees are getting this year. Citigroup is in the midst of layoffs as part of a corporate overhaul. Other companies to recently shed workers include e-commerce … Read more
