Tax-favored accounts like IRAs, 401(k)s and similar plans are essential for those who want to become ultimate retirement savers. To truly max out all of your retirement saving opportunities, it takes more money than you might think – but those...
The career of China’s biggest property tycoon can be divided into two stages. Xu Jiayin started slowly, focusing on Guangzhou, a southern city. Then came the global financial crisis and the government’s response, a giant economic stimulus, launched a decade...
Getting a college degree and buying a home are two milestones many Americans aspire to. But as student debt skyrockets, the burden can often make homeownership tougher to achieve. Almost one in four homebuyers this year had student loans, which...
The contest for control of Congress will come down to the outcomes in as many as 70 House and 11 Senate races spread across time zones from Maine to Alaska. Polls in the first series of bellwether House districts begin...
Each year, we assign Morningstar Analyst Ratings to college savings plans based on five key pillars: Process, People, Parent, Price, and Performance. We also consider if any plans convey unique benefits, such as local tax breaks, grants, and scholarships, though...
Plunging stock prices can even rattle the nerves of a veteran markets reporter who's been covering Wall Street's ups and downs for two decades. But through the years — after watching many nail-biting down days for the Dow and listening...
Oil tumbles to one-month low; Gold, yen rally on haven buying Stoxx Europe 600 slides toward the lowest level since 2016 U.S. stocks fell for a fifth day, with the S&P 500 touching the lowest level since May and the...
Like death, taxes remain uncertain. But they’re now on sale. Under the new tax laws, individual tax rates are broadly lower, and the standard deduction – which directly reduces your taxable income – is nearly double what it was. A...
Market Review My grandfather would always say that “a surprise is the result of one’s poor planning.” To some, this past quarter the market had its fair share of surprises. However, looking back at the headlines over the past several...
Medicare Part B premiums are heading higher next year because of increasing healthcare costs, and that could take a bigger bite out of your Social Security income. Roughly 70 percent of Social Security recipients have their Medicare Part B premiums...
If your employer offers free life insurance during open enrollment this fall, grab it. But if your workplace lets you buy additional coverage on top of that, ask some questions before spending any money. Buying group life insurance through an...
You may have stopped working, but Uncle Sam is still digging into your pocket. Though high-income retirees are looking forward to lower taxes once they've exited the workplace, they can still expect to pay stealth taxes in the form of...
Keeps central bank on track for gradual interest-rate hikes Central-bank chief calls recent wage increases ‘quite welcome’ Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell welcomed recent increases in Americans’ wages while expressing confidence that low unemployment won’t spur a takeoff in prices...
An individual retirement account, or IRA, can be a highly effective way to save and invest for retirement. The tax-deferred nature of these accounts can allow savers' money to grow and compound far more efficiently than in a standard taxable...
Not everyone defines being "well off" the same way. A struggling recent graduate may be comfortable with a few bucks in his wallet and food in the fridge while a working single mom may not be comfortable without a six-month...
