The 401(k) is a popular retirement savings vehicle for a number of reasons, including its prevalence, potential for an employer match, and the income tax advantages — all of which are appealing to workers socking away wages for retirement. There was $5.6 trillion in...
After years of declining sales, annuities are hot again.
Part of the reason for the resurgence is that rising interest rates are increasing annuity payouts.
But much of the credit for the rebound goes to the...
Most stories about Americans and retirement contain words like “crisis, ” “poverty ” and “horror. ” Not this one.
While many people are still not saving enough for their golden years, many of them are getting better at doing...
As you’ve been reminded by nationwide grumbling and important-looking mail, it’s tax season — a time of financial reckoning. Whether you’re in a shame spiral about how little you saved last year or just have a vague inkling that there’s room to...
Startups have spent the past decade trying to reinvent everything from taxis (so far so good) to squeezing juice out of fruit and vegetables (facepalm). Lately, entrepreneurs have been giving consumer debt a digital makeover.
Fintech upstarts have turbocharged...
A diversified portfolio is one of the keys to a successful long-term investment strategy. But can your assets ever be too diversified?
Technically, no—there are always new avenues for investors to explore to spread out risk. That said, because...
Forget student loans. Insufficient income is the No. 1 hurdle keeping many people from buying a home.
More than half of the participants in a survey by Bankrate.com cited inadequate income as a barrier to homeownership.
Students exposed to personal finance courses in high school tend make better decisions in terms of paying for college, a Montana State University study shows.
In particular, it found that those who lived in states requiring financial literacy courses...
If you lost your job, faced a health crisis that prevented you from working, or had to pony up a large, emergency expense, would you be able to cover your expenses? Even if you have a well-stocked emergency fund, you may need...
You probably know by now that charitable deductions are tax-deductible. But how about the cost of caring for your pet? Or your kid’s clarinet lessons?
In select cases, the IRS has permitted taxpayers to deduct off-beat expenses on their...
