What Walmart’s new focus on employee stock means for the labor market

What Walmart’s new focus on employee stock means for the labor market

Friday’s huge jobs number showed that the labor market remains highly competitive, with wage increases outpacing expectations, and the retail industry third among those with net job gains. It’s no surprise then that the biggest retailer, Walmart, is increasing its efforts to attract and retain workers. But what’s interesting is a new carrot that it … Read more

How the generations stack up financially

How the generations stack up financially

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

Best states to retire in 2024

Best states to retire in 2024

Florida has regained its status as the best state for retirees in 2024. That’s according to WalletHub’s latest “Best and Worst States to Retire” study. In 2023, Virginia took the top spot and knocked Florida down to No. 2. WalletHub used three main categories to rank the retirement friendliness of all 50 states: Affordability, which … Read more

Here’s the rate of return to expect on your retirement portfolio

Here’s the rate of return to expect on your retirement portfolio

GlobalStock | Getty Images When you invest toward retirement, experts often like to say you are letting your money work for you. But how much can you realistically expect to earn on your money? The annual rate of return — defined as the percentage change in an investment’s value — is an estimate of the … Read more

Gen Z says they have it harder than their parents did

Gen Z says they have it harder than their parents did

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

Why 2024 will be ‘a very good year for savers,’ particularly with CDs

Why 2024 will be ‘a very good year for savers,’ particularly with CDs

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

How much money you need to retire in every U.S. state

How much money you need to retire in every U.S. state

The cost of retirement can vary by as much as $1.36 million depending on where you live in the U.S., according to an analysis by personal finance website GOBankingRates.com. To determine the amount of money needed to retire, GOBankingRates calculated the annual expenses for housing, food, utilities, transportation and health care in each state for … Read more

What to know about financial advice as lawmakers debate rule changes

What to know about financial advice as lawmakers debate rule changes

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

How Laguna Beach, California, is helping residents age in place

How Laguna Beach, California, is helping residents age in place

Laguna Beach, California Luciano Lejtman | Moment | Getty Images When most people think of Laguna Beach, California, they think of its scenic coves and beaches. But the small coastal city — with a population of around 22,600 — is also pioneering a new model for elder care. About 77% of adults ages 50 and … Read more

5 levels of financial freedom, from married money coaches

5 levels of financial freedom, from married money coaches

It’s not hard to see why people find the concept of FIRE — short for financial independence, retire early — alluring. Adherents to the movement aim to stash away as large a portion of their income as possible in investment accounts. The more aggressively they save, the sooner they can reach their so-called FIRE number, … Read more