Women face a retirement savings shortfall. Three ways to close the gap

Women face a retirement savings shortfall. Three ways to close the gap

What begins as a gender wage gap inevitably becomes a significant shortfall by retirement. In the U.S., women who work full time are typically paid about 80 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. That gap has persisted despite women’s increasing levels of education and representation in senior leadership positions. Women are also still more … Read more

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

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

How much to save monthly to retire with 5 million

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

What to know about the Dec. 31 deadline

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

The U.S. avoided a recession in 2023. What’s the outlook for 2024?

The U.S. avoided a recession in 2023. What’s the outlook for 2024?

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

4 must-know changes for your 2023 taxes

4 must-know changes for your 2023 taxes

Artistgndphotography | E+ | Getty Images 1. Tax brackets got wider When comparing tax year 2022 to 2023, there was a big adjustment to the federal income tax brackets, according to experts. While the rates didn’t change, there was roughly a 7% increase in the brackets, which expanded the amount of taxable income you can have … Read more

Why you still need a long-term retirement savings approach in your 40s

Why you still need a long-term retirement savings approach in your 40s

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

IRS is resuming automated collection notices. Here’s what to know

IRS is resuming automated collection notices. Here’s what to know

The Good Brigade | DigitalVision | Getty Images How IRS collection notices work Typically, CP14 is the first IRS notice for an unpaid tax balance, followed by three or four reminder letters, every five weeks, explained Darren Guillot, national director at Alliantgroup, who previously served as IRS deputy commissioner of the agency’s small business division. … Read more

IRS unveils employee retention credit voluntary disclosure program

IRS unveils employee retention credit voluntary disclosure program

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel testifies before the House Small Business Committee on July 17, 2013. James Lawler Duggan | Reuters The IRS has unveiled a “voluntary disclosure program” for businesses that claimed a pandemic-era tax credit in error and want to pay the money back. Worth thousands per employee, the employee retention tax credit, or … Read more

IRS offers $1 billion in penalty relief. What taxpayers need to know

IRS offers  billion in penalty relief. What taxpayers need to know

Jgi/jamie Grill | Tetra Images | Getty Images The IRS is waiving roughly $1 billion in late-payment penalties for millions of taxpayers with balances under $100,000 from returns filed in 2020 and 2021. Some 4.7 million individual taxpayers, businesses, trusts, estates and nonprofit organizations are eligible for the relief, which amounts to about $206 per … Read more