Leaving a financial legacy to your kids can give them a significant leg up in life. Data from the Congressional Budget Office shows that 28% of families in the top third of the income distribution received an inheritance, compared to...
Is a mortgage rate in the 5% range the sweet spot for your home-buying budget? With mortgage rates remaining in the 6.5% to 7% range, most housing experts aren’t expecting rates to move much lower through the end of this...
Big changes are happening with Social Security, and you have questions. My recent columns drew thousands of comments, largely centered on three big themes: fear of delayed checks and crumbling customer service at the Social Security Administration, Roth conversions on...
Here’s how to read and interpret the dot plot. Want to know where interest rates are headed? During tumultuous economic times, it’s normal to search for answers about what’s to come for your finances. While there’s no way to predict...
Take these steps now to protect yourself from future financial hardship. 2025 has been off to a rocky start. Consumer confidence has plummeted thanks to persistent inflation, market volatility, and other challenges created by the new administration’s aggressive tariff policies....
Tax Day is upon us, and if you need more time to do your taxes, you’re not alone. Millions of taxpayers are granted extensions every year for all kinds of reasons, including that they just couldn’t get their paperwork together...
In 2021, the average 30-year mortgage rate fell below 3% — now it’s well over 6%. If you’re in the market for a mortgage loan, you may be wondering if you should wait until interest rates fall significantly before buying...
Determining how much of your income should go to your mortgage should start with your budget and long-term financial plan, but there are also some industry formulas you can use to help. One of the simplest is a rule of...
“The American dream of owning a house may be vanishing,” the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a research report, “because of higher housing prices and a decline in housing affordability.” “Many young, middle-income, and first-time home buyers can no...
If you need more time to do your taxes, you’re not alone. Millions of taxpayers are granted extensions every year for all kinds of reasons, including that they just couldn’t get their paperwork together in time. The good news is...
Should you itemize your taxes? Most taxpayers take the standard each year. The Tax Policy Center estimates that only about 10% of households itemize their taxes. This is in large part because the standard deduction is $15,000 per person for...
If you have access to a 401(k) plan, you should take advantage of it, as it is one of the best ways to save for retirement. To maximize your 401(k), it is important to make consistent and sufficient contributions —...
Social Security is the backbone of many seniors’ retirement budgets. More than two-thirds of senior citizens rely on the government program for at least half of their income, according to a survey from The Senior Citizen’s League. With inflation impacting...
Americans believe a net worth of $2.5 million makes you rich, according to one survey. When you think about what it means to be rich, specific images may come to mind. Perhaps you imagine someone on a yacht wearing a...
If you’ve ever stared down IRS tax brackets trying to figure out where you fit, you’ll notice filing status has an outsized impact on your federal income tax. Your filing status determines not only which tax forms you fill out...
