A new paper lays out the dangers of one-size-fits-all savings advice. What assumptions are you making? If you're relying blindly on hallowed personal finance averages—planning for 40 years of work, saving 15 percent of salary—you could be in for a...
If you buy health insurance on a state or federal marketplace, the arrival of fall means it’s almost time to pick a health plan. The Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, requires most Americans to buy health insurance. This year’s open...
Parents often have no idea which assets hurt their financial aid chances and which do not. This is an especially relevant question because parents are now filing for financial aid for the 2017–2018 school year. Here’s a quick rundown of...
Low level of jobless-benefit claims reflects factors including pullback in state aid The fewest Americans in 42 years are filing applications for unemployment insurance, which on the surface looks like a sign of a historically hot U.S. labor market. The real picture is more...
Salary potential shouldn't be the sole thing that attracts you to a major in college — things like passion, interest, and aptitude should also be considered. But it's still nice to know which degrees pay off the fastest. (And we can't blame...
It's hard to feel sorry for someone making six figures, but a new survey attempts to drum up some sympathy for the deflated bank accounts of these high rollers. Close to half of those who earn from $100,000 to $149,999 a year...
In the late 1990s, Americans started referring to the new tract-built luxury homes popping up in suburbs across America as McMansions, a biting portmanteau implying that the new structures were mass-produced and ugly, with added, implied snark that their denizens, however wealthy,...
Most investors probably don’t spend too much time thinking about their cash holdings. They most likely view their cash as a necessary evil: It earns next to nothing right now, but the trade-off is principal stability (or, for non-guaranteed investments,...
You'd think that, by the time you retire, you no longer have to do all the things you did when you were working — be responsible, pay attention to detail and respond to other people's demands. While it's true you...
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has said "borrowers should be able to refinance their student loans to take advantage of lower interest rates, the same way people refinance a mortgage." Actually, some borrowers, especially those with good credit and income, already have refinanced their...
A global retirement index measures 43 nations on income inequality, financial stability, happiness, and more. In the retirement security Olympics, it's a sweep for northern Europe. Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland won the top three spots in Natixis Global Asset Management's...
These are the basics of running your financial life. Just 8 percent of college students taking a recent survey gave themselves an A for how well they manage their finances. In a larger, 2014 survey of U.S. adults, 18 percent...
A friendly reminder to all Costco credit cardholders: You'll need to have your new Costco Anywhere Visa credit card on hand to shop at Costco stores and online starting June 20—the day the bulk retailer officially switches to the new...
For many Americans, Social Security benefits are the bedrock of retirement income. Maximizing that stream of income is critical to funding your retirement dreams. The rules for claiming benefits can be complex, and recent changes to Social Security rules created...
The IRS slapped Americans with an additional $34 billion in levies last year. It depends, in part, on how rich you are. Uh-oh. You messed something up on your tax return. What now? Audits alone found an additional $25 billion in taxes owed...
