Personal Finance

This image provided by Jeopardy Productions, Inc. shows game show champion Amy Schneider on the set of “Jeopardy!” Schneider is the first trans person to qualify for the show’s Tournament of Champions. Jeopardy Productions | AP Amy Schneider has been on a “Jeopardy!” roll. The Oakland, California-based software engineering manager recently surpassed $1.1 million in

miodrag ignjatovic | E+ | Getty Images It’s not just retirees who need to think about Medicare. Anyone who plans to keep working when they reach the eligibility age of 65 should evaluate how — or if — Medicare will fit into their health-care coverage. The program’s general rule is that unless you meet an

In this article TROW Geber86 | E+ | Getty Images Saving for retirement can seem like a far-off goal when other priorities — from day-to-day expenses to managing debts — feel more urgent. But if you don’t consistently put money aside toward your so-called golden years, you could fall behind. There’s a $4 trillion difference

Aerial view of Manhattan and Hudson River in New York Karel Stipek | iStock | Getty Images Throughout most of the pandemic, New Yorkers have been shielded from eviction thanks to a statewide moratorium on the proceedings. That protection will come to an end on Saturday, and tenant advocates fear that many could be pushed

Getty Images The pension plans of big U.S. companies haven’t looked this good since before the 2008 financial crisis — and that’s good news for workers and employers. A pension’s “funded” status is a core gauge of its health. It’s a measure of plan assets relative to liabilities (how much money the plan needs to

A San Francisco grocery store. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images Inflation is taking a big bite out of workers’ paychecks, eroding many of the raises businesses have offered to attract and keep employees in a hot job market. But strong wage growth in certain sectors, such as hotels and restaurants, has eclipsed those consumer

Sinenkiy | iStock | Getty Images Social Security beneficiaries are receiving the highest cost-of-living adjustment in decades, thanks to rising inflation. That 5.9% increase went into effect in January. Prices have continued to climb higher since that change was announced in October. The Consumer Price Index, a government measure for price changes for certain goods,

Ed Jones | AFP | Getty Images Inflation is still rising, and while many notice the surge in day-to-day expenses, climbing prices may also affect your tax bill, experts say. The Consumer Price Index, a key inflation gauge, rose by 7% in December compared to the prior year, the fastest increase since 1982, according to

Damir Khabirov | iStock | Getty Images How high would you score yourself when it comes to feeling comfortable with your current financial situation? If you’re like most, you wouldn’t give yourself very high marks, according to a survey from TIAA. The financial services company set out to evaluate Americans’ financial wellness – defined as

SolStock | E+ | Getty Images During these hard times, at least one thing should should soon get easier: Getting tested for Covid-19. Starting Saturday, many people will be able to get free at-home tests, thanks to a new initiative by the Biden Administration. Here’s what you need to know. Who can get the free

Chesnot | Getty Images Major cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether have had a rough start to 2022. For some investors, it may be an opportunity to buy into the risky digital assets. Bitcoin slumped as much as 6% Monday, falling below $40,000 per coin for the first time since September, according to Coin Metrics.

Getty Images Many Americans are in the dark about one important aspect of their credit cards. Of those who carry a balance, 40% don’t know the interest rate they’re being charged on their primary card, a new survey from Bankrate found. That could wind up costing them a lot of money. “As much as we

NicolasMcComber | E+ | Getty Images Air travel continues to be disrupted this week by the national surge in Covid infections, and many worried Americans may be wondering whether or how to ensure — and insure — upcoming or planned trips. More than 2,221 flights nationwide were canceled Thursday alone, according to website FlightAware. That

Sarah Jessica Parker and Bridget Moynahan are seen on the set of “And Just Like That…” the follow up series to “Sex and the City” in Midtown Manhattan on July 27, 2021 in New York City. Raymond Hall | GC Images | Getty Images For many people, their last will and testament, a document that

bojanstory | E+ | Getty Images This year may be your chance to get a big raise. As employers try to retain talent amid the “Great Resignation,” many of them expect to pay more in salaries and/or bonuses. In fact, 51% of human resource leaders in the U.S. said their organization expects average merit increases

In this article KALU brightstars | E+ | Getty Images Beginning this month, a new law that was years in the making bans certain unexpected medical bills. However, advocates say it’s important for consumers to still be on the lookout for these charges and to know what steps to take if they get hit with

In this article CTRU An investing index that aims to track the most transparent companies in the world is changing its holdings for 2022. The index — called the Transparency Index — is adding 20 new companies to its list of 100 companies that exclude certain industries it deems harmful for people and the planet.

Kirby Hamilton | Getty Images The Biden administration in December again extended the moratorium on student loan payments and interest, meaning most people with federal loans are off the hook until May 1. In the meantime, however, confusion about the pause, continued calls for broad-based forgiveness and changes to other aspects of student loan debt

Getty Images Money has piled into municipal bonds, known as muni bonds or “munis,” as investors aim to lower risk and reduce taxes. But some may worry about price drops amid rising interest rates. Investors funneled a record-breaking $96.8 billion of net money into U.S. muni mutual and exchange-traded funds in 2021, according to Refinitiv

Austin, Texas. Ryan Martinez | Moment | Getty Images Several states have stopped accepting applications for federal rental assistance. The programs in New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Texas, as well as Washington, D.C., are either closed or on hold, leaving many struggling renters cut off from their only hope of paying off their debt

New Yorkers queued for Covid-19 testing in Times Square on Dec. 26, 2021, as the omicron variant continued to spread. Andrew Kelly | Reuters  Omicron is wreaking more disruption on the American economy. That could prompt Washington lawmakers to revisit relief strategies from earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic. Conversations on Capitol Hill have turned to

A four-day workweek is now a permanent perk for employees of tech unicorn Bolt. The San Francisco-based e-commerce developer piloted the program last fall, and the results were overwhelmingly positive, said founder and CEO Ryan Breslow. “I couldn’t imagine running a company any other way,” he said. Productivity has increased, work has been streamlined and

An employee watches as checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia. William Thomas Cain | Getty Images The new year will usher in bigger Social Security checks for many beneficiaries starting this month. That’s as a record 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, takes effect. It marks the biggest

Prostock-Studio | iStock | Getty Images Like many things right now, the cost of auto insurance is rising. For 2022, the average national cost to insure a car is expected to jump 5% to $1,707 annually, up from $1,663 in 2021, according to Insurify. “Our prediction for 2022 is on par with projected inflation rates,

Oscar Wong | Moment | Getty Images Planning to save more this year? There’s a higher 401(k) employee deferral limit for 2022, and now’s the time to boost contributions, financial experts say. Employees may funnel $20,500 into 401(k), 403(b) and other plans for 2022, up from $19,500 in 2021, thanks to cost-of-living adjustments from the

The new year offers opportunities for many Americans in their careers and financial lives. The “Great Reshuffle” is expected to continue as employees leave jobs and take new ones at a rapid clip. At the same time, many workers have made a vow to save more this year, yet many admit they don’t know how

Ariel Skelley | DigitalVision | Getty Images Looking to be happier with your life and finances in 2022? The answer may be finding professional help. People who worked with a financial advisor were found to be nearly three times happier than those who didn’t, according to a study by Herbers & Company. Predictors of happiness

Flashpop | Stone | Getty Images Getting impatient waiting to hear if your student loans will be forgiven? Millions of other borrowers are in the same spot. The topic of loan cancellation has been floated for years now. On the campaign trail, President Joe Biden promised to forgive at least $10,000 of the debt for

MilosStankovic | E+ | Getty Images People have the best of intentions. At the start of a new year, millions make resolutions — goals they want to reach throughout the upcoming months. Getting a handle on money issues is usually near the top of many such lists. The most financial popular goals are paying down

One thing is for sure: 2022 is going to cost you. Between inflation and ongoing supply chain issues, prices are rising on consumer goods nearly across the board. “I really don’t think there’s any way to escape,” said Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst with DealNews.com. But that doesn’t mean you can’t shop smarter for the