Advisors

Stephen Swintek | DigitalVision | Getty Images As families try to offset the increasing cost of college education, many have turned to 529 college savings plans as a strategy.  These accounts let families set aside money toward college expenses while taking advantage of tax breaks and compound interest, according to certified financial planner Preston D.

Sdi Productions | E+ | Getty Images Homeownership has long symbolized the American Dream, embodying stability, wealth creation, and community investment. Yet, for millions of Americans, especially younger generations and first-time homebuyers, that dream is slipping away. Rising home prices, stagnant wages, and restrictive mortgage terms have made it increasingly difficult to take that crucial

Jj Gouin | Istock | Getty Images Most Americans rank Social Security as “one of the top” issues or a “very important” issue determining who they will vote for in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, according to a new CNBC poll. Social Security reform is also a top concern, according to a separate survey from

Adamkaz | E+ | Getty Images Stock market volatility could increase in the run up to the U.S. presidential election, strategists predict. That’s making some investors more anxious about what the election outcome could mean for their money.  In a survey by the American Psychiatric Association this spring, 73% of people said they felt anxious

Housing is the most considerable expense for U.S. consumers — and while high rents and home prices are obstacles to saving for potential homebuyers, access to affordable credit is another significant roadblock.  An estimated 50 million Americans are “credit invisible,” according to a 2022 fact sheet from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s

Young family with a baby boy going over finances at home. Pekic | E+ | Getty Images Inflation is still causing financial stress for most Americans, and surveys show that many people also blame a lack of savings and mounting credit card debt for their anxiety over their finances.  Earning greater income to cover your

Tanaonte | Istock | Getty Images The future of a Federal Trade Commission ban on noncompete agreements, scheduled to take effect this fall, is unclear after a preliminary ruling from a federal court last week. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans, an estimated 30 million people, are subject to a noncompete agreement, according to the FTC.

Hill Street Studios | Digitalvision | Getty Images The perceived benefits of financial education are so great that in a 2022 survey from the National Endowment for Financial Education, more than 85% of Americans polled said learning about personal finance should be a requirement to graduate from high school. Lawmakers have responded to this need

Americans with about 10 years to go before reaching retirement age are “critically underprepared,” according to a new study by Prudential. The study found that 67% of 55-year-olds surveyed said they fear they will outlive their savings, compared with 59% of 65-year-olds and 52% of 75-year-olds. To that point, with just a decade until retirement,

Moyo Studio | E+ | Getty Images With half of 2024 in the rearview mirror and the second half on the horizon, you may be able to give yourself a pat on the back for sticking to the financial goals you set at the start of the year — or, maybe, discover that you’ve veered

Stacey Hachenberg, left, and her partner, Sharon Fleming, right, review long-term care options with the help of Fleming’s daughter, Alexa Fleming, center. Van Applegate, CNBC Almost three-quarters — 70% — of people turning 65 will need long-term care in their lifetime, according to a report by the Urban Institute and the Department of Health and

Prostock-studio | Istock | Getty Images Poor performance may drive some people to break up with a financial advisor, but judging an advisor’s results is not only about the profits, or lack thereof, on your investments. Often, it is about trust, some experts say. “The No. 1 reason people tend to go with an advisor