Personal finance

Pedestrians walk in front of the IBM building in New York. Scott Mlyn | CNBC IBM, which decades ago helped lead the shift from defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans, recently told U.S. employees it will be scrapping its 401(k) match in favor of funding what it calls a “retirement benefit account.” Other companies

Antonioguillem | Istock | Getty Images It has been a frustrating and confusing time for many student loan borrowers. President Joe Biden promised millions of Americans up to $20,000 in debt forgiveness, but then the Supreme Court blocked the program, and the relief never came. As payments restarted in October after a three-year break, borrowers

AleksandarNakic | E+ | Getty Images Women have a complicated relationship with money. That may start with how they feel about their finances. While men most commonly say they are “hopeful” when it comes to money, women’s No. 1 word for their financial feelings was “stress,” according to a 2023 Fidelity Investments survey. “Women’s No.

Black Friday shoppers leave the Nike store as other shoppers wait in line to shop as retailers compete to attract shoppers and try to maintain margins on Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley, New York, U.S. November 24, 2023.  Vincent Alban |

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about administration plans to forgive federal student loan debt during remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 24, 2022. Leah Millis | Reuters Around 813,000 student loan borrowers will soon receive an email from President Joe Biden notifying them that their debt has been

Tooga | Digitalvision | Getty Images Long delays to get a new U.S. passport have eased from earlier in 2023 but haven’t yet returned to their pre-pandemic baseline. As of Nov. 6, the U.S. State Department is processing routine passport applications in seven to 10 weeks, the agency said. It’s processing expedited applications — which

After falling sharply last year, retirement account balances bounced back in the beginning of 2023 — but slumped again in the most recent quarter. The average 401(k) balance fell 4% to $107,700 in the third quarter, due, in part, to volatile market conditions, according to a recent report by Fidelity, the nation’s largest provider of 401(k) plans. The financial

Recep-bg | E+ | Getty Images Now that federal student loan payments have restarted after a three-year reprieve, some borrowers may be wondering if it’s a good time to refinance. And companies haven’t been shy in pushing the option, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. “Some lenders seem desperate for origination and refinancing volume, so they

Matthew Perry attends the GQ Men of the Year Party 2022 at The West Hollywood EDITION on November 17, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. Phillip Faraone | Getty Images A new foundation has been established in the late actor Matthew Perry’s name to help others who struggle with addiction. “Addiction is far too powerful for

Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images More investors are getting access to investments previously earmarked for the wealthiest members of society — but it may be risky for some to participate, experts said. Private investments — such as private equity funds, hedge funds, venture capital funds and stock in early stage companies — typically

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about administration plans to forgive federal student loan debt during remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 24, 2022. Leah Millis | Reuters President Joe Biden’s new plan to forgive student debt is likely to look much different than his first. After the Supreme

Eva-katalin | E+ | Getty Images Millennials are holding and buying bond exchange-traded funds with more gusto than older investors — and that’s likely not an ideal strategy, experts said. Millennial ETF investors — a cohort born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s — have 45% of their investment portfolios allocated to fixed income, on

Bill Varie | The Image Bank | Getty Images The job market is undeniably cooling. Though the Labor Department’s weekly jobless claims report released on Wednesday showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 209,000 in the week ending Nov. 18, figures for new and continuing claims remained near highs

Rear view of couple traveling through car. Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images A recall on your vehicle can derail your travel plans, depending on the issue at hand.  It’s an issue plenty of drivers have to consider this fall. Subaru, Volkswagen, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Honda Motor are among the vehicle manufacturers that

Kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images As mutual fund investors brace for year-end distributions, experts have tips to lessen the tax burden in future years. Certain mutual funds have capital gains payouts in November and December, which can trigger taxes in brokerage accounts, even if you haven’t sold shares. By comparison, most exchange-traded funds avoid

Aire Images | Moment | Getty Images Holiday shoppers won’t have to look far to find deals this season. While Covid-era supply chain strains have eased, consumer spending has declined, prompting many businesses to sweeten incentives to buy. “This is the best discounting season in years,” said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate and

A mother carrying her young son and looking down a suburban road in spring sunlight. Christopher Hopefitch | The Image Bank | Getty Images Single mothers face high rates of financial insecurity. Between 2021 and 2022, as pandemic-era aid dried up, the poverty rate for families headed by one woman soared to nearly 27% from

By most accounts, Black Friday and Cyber Monday promise some of the lowest prices of the season. And in 2023, more people than ever plan to take advantage of the five-day shopping event that begins on Thanksgiving Day and continues through the following Monday, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey. This year, holiday

Fatcamera | E+ | Getty Images A new law is poised to cap seniors’ prescription drug costs covered under Medicare, starting in 2025. But retirees may be in for a shock next year — significantly higher Medicare Part D premiums for prescription drug coverage. The cost of the average premiums will rise between 42% and

We all know divorces are not uncommon in the U.S. Some of the most public splits over the years have included those of celebrities such as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, and most recently, Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner. In 2021, there were nearly 700,000