Personal Finance

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images The stimulus stalemate has pitted Democrats and Republicans against each other on Capitol Hill. But another issue — Social Security and its ability to pay retirement, disability, survivor and other benefits into the future — has also created a rift between leaders of the two parties. Congressional lawmakers gathered

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images With so many companies seeking to cut costs to survive the Covid-19-induced economic downturn, many corporate executives are now weighing the answer to a simple question: “Does it make sense to take an early retirement?” I work closely with corporate executives from a wide range of Fortune 500 companies.

Phil Murphy, governor of New Jersey, speaks during a fiscal year 2020 budget address at the New Jersey State Assembly chamber on March 5, 2019. Ron Antonelli | Bloomberg | Getty Images Millionaires in New Jersey may not have many options to duck a new tax hike on their income. Earlier this month, Gov. Phil

10’000 Hours As employee benefits enrollment season rolls in, companies are weighing new ways to accommodate working parents. About 4 out of 10 large companies polled by benefits consultancy Willis Towers Watson said they believe the programs they currently have in place do an effective job of supporting these employees. The firm surveyed 553 U.S.

A health worker injects a person during clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine at Research Centers of America in Hollywood, Florida. Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images If you’re on Medicare and hope to get a coronavirus vaccine as soon as it’s available, it may take an act of Congress for it to

Oliver Rossi | Stone | Getty Images Once you hit your 50s, retirement is no longer something happening far off in the future. Whether you have been a super-saver your entire career or are just starting to think about retirement, it’s time to take a serious look at what you expect your golden years to

People gather outside of an apartment complex with the intention to stop the alleged eviction of one of the tenants in Mount Rainier, Maryland, U.S., August 10, 2020. Leah Millis | Reuters The stimulus stalemate has left lawmakers at odds over how to get more relief to millions of Americans who need it. Earlier this

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Sept. 21 as he departs Washington for campaign travel to Ohio. Tom Brenner | Reuters The future of Social Security could be a big issue in the next presidential term, no matter which party wins the Oval Office in November. The program’s funds,

Scott Heins | Getty Images News | Getty Images Mom-and-pop landlords are in a worse financial position relative to their higher-earning peers as unemployment remains elevated and Americans continue to struggle to pay rent, according to a new analysis. Roughly a third of individual landlords who own residential property are from low- to moderate-income households

Trying to pick stocks can be risky. Especially these days. Tatsiana Volkava | iStock | Getty Images Bored at home, many people are turning to the stock market and dabbling in day trading for entertainment and profits.  However, most individual investors do not have the wealth, the time, or the temperament to make money and

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden reacts while giving a speech during a campaign event at Tougaloo College on March 08, 2020 in Tougaloo, Mississippi. Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images The 2020 presidential election could be a make it or break it moment for Social Security. The reason: Social Security’s funding, already on

Getty Images Saving for retirement is crucial. Yet trying to figure out the best retirement plan may leave many people confused. You may have the option to contribute to an employer-sponsored plan, like a 401(k) plan. There are also individual retirement accounts: the traditional, into which contributions are made pre-tax, and Roth IRAs, in which

Miami resident Willie Mae Daniels, with granddaughter, Karyah Davis, 6, was laid off from her job as a food service cashier at the University of Miami on March 17. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images In just the past six months, more than 22 million American jobs have been lost, and fewer

With the fall semester just underway, and cases of coronavirus rising at colleges across the country, one school after another is pivoting to distance learning. That doesn’t sit well with students who signed up for — and paid for — on-campus instruction. Although Virginia Commonwealth University adopted a hybrid approach with a combination of in-person and

Getty Images If you’ve thought about refinancing your mortgage, be aware that it may soon be a more expensive proposition. Due to a 0.5% “adverse market” fee, effective Dec. 1 and imposed on lenders by mortgage backers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, many homeowners are expected to absorb at least some of the cost when

Marko Geber | DigitalVision | Getty Images Open enrollment for health insurance is around the corner. That means if you’re shopping on your own for medical coverage, be on guard. New research from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that some insurance agents engaged in potentially deceptive sales practices when marketing health care coverage. From

Sarah Casillas | DigitalVision | Getty Images The IRS has a message for about 9 million Americans: You could still be eligible for a $1,200 stimulus check. The government has sent out about 160 million stimulus checks since legislation authorized those payments in the spring. Still, millions of Americans have yet to receive any money

A Utah County Election office employee puts mail-in ballots into a container to register the vote in the Nov. 6, 2018 midterm elections in Provo, Utah. George Frey | Getty Images News | Getty Images As we approach the Nov. 3 presidential election, Americans living overseas question if they can vote and whether they should

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it would keep its benchmark interest rate near zero for as long as it takes to help the economy bounce back from the coronavirus crisis. The Fed said the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will “weigh heavily” on the near-term outlook and poses “considerable risks” for the medium term. In addition to holding rates near rock bottom, the

Thomas Barwick | Getty Images The Aug. 31 deadline for reversing mandatory withdrawals from retirement accounts has passed, but a lucky few may still be able to return the money and save on taxes this year. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act into law. The law contained a provision that would

Hundreds of jobless people wait outside the Kentucky Career Center for help with their unemployment claims on June 19 in Frankfort, Kentucky. John Sommers II/Getty Images Americans who are hoping for more financial assistance may have to wait until after the November election before Congress can strike a deal. Yet experts say continued financial assistance

There’s still about one month to go before the Social Security Administration announces its cost-of-living adjustment to benefits for 2021. And seniors who rely on those monthly checks in retirement might be in for disappointment, based on recent data. New estimates indicate the Social Security COLA for 2021 could be about 1.3%, which is among

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Smith Reynolds Regional Airport in Winston-Salem, N.C., September 8, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters It’s been nearly two weeks since President Donald Trump’s payroll tax deferral took effect – and large employers so far seem to have little appetite for the holiday. Starting on Sept.

kali9 | E+ | Getty Images When it comes to retirement savings, most people think it’s mainly a matter of building up healthy account balances through their working years. But spending down that money safely once you’ve left the workforce is just as big a concern. In fact, more Americans worry about running out of

Hero Images | Hero Images | Getty Images Retirees with a heavy reliance on U.S. Treasury bonds for income may want to rethink their investment strategy. With yields on Treasurys at historically low levels, these stalwart income-producers may be doing less for you than you intend. While they still provide the safety you might seek,

Drew Angerer | Getty Images News | Getty Images Most unemployed workers will get up to $1,800 in extra jobless benefits through the Lost Wages Assistance program created last month by the Trump administration. The program pays a $300-a-week federal subsidy on top of the unemployment benefits workers currently receive. It follows the lapse of

Thomas Barwick | DigitalVision | Getty Images A key tax deadline is just around the corner, and small-business owners who are in distress are still uncertain of what they’ll owe the IRS. For taxpayers who pay quarterly estimated taxes, Sept. 15 marks the due date for this year’s third-quarter payment. As if that weren’t stressful

Events and entertainment workers protest unemployment on Aug. 19 in Las Vegas. BRIDGET BENNETT/AFP via Getty Images) It’s a hard time to try to plan your finances. Unemployment benefits and another round of stimulus checks are up in the air. Evictions are banned, but only temporarily.  Much of the uncertainty is due to the fact

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., holds her weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill on Aug. 13, 2020. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images The U.S. House of Representatives won’t be rolling out the payroll tax deferral to its employees. Sept. 1 was the first day of President Donald Trump’s order deferring the 6.2% employees pay

Maybe you know a “super saver.” It’s the person who somehow manages to follow a budget, has emergency savings and puts away a ton for retirement. Although this type of financial discipline may be enviable, it can also mean making some sacrifices, based on the findings in a recent report from Principal Financial Group.  These