Personal finance

Prospective buyers visit an open house for sale in Alexandria, Virginia. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters With record-high home prices and soaring mortgage interest rates, homeownership has become increasingly unaffordable — and hidden costs can surprise first-time buyers, experts say. Indeed, everyday home expenses, including utility bills, property taxes, insurance and home maintenance, cost the average

In this article LUV Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Whenever you’re traveling somewhere by plane, you have to pack, get to the airport, go through security, find your gate and — in the last step before you can finally relax while being taken to your destination —board the aircraft. “Boarding is one of the

Artistgndphotography | E+ | Getty Images Most Americans see climate change as a major threat. But income level seems to guide one’s willingness or ability to live a greener lifestyle. Fifty-nine percent of high-income consumers always or often choose sustainable products, whereas that’s true for only 44% and 42% of mid- and low-income households, respectively,

Drazen Zigic | Istock | Getty Images Navigating the public service loan forgiveness program has been famously difficult. Fortunately, student loan borrowers may find that the process is getting a little easier. The U.S. Department of Education announced this summer that the PSLF application can now be done completely online, including the required signatures by

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Supreme Court’s decision on the Administration’s student debt relief program at the White House on June 30, 2023. The Washington Post | The Washington Post | Getty Images After the Supreme Court struck down the original White House federal student loan forgiveness plan earlier this year, legal historian

Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images Hoping to invest in artificial intelligence? Today’s “niche” companies and those seen as AI leaders are unlikely to be the biggest winners for long-term investors, said Barry Glassman, a certified financial planner and member of CNBC’s Advisor Council. “I’ve been through this enough to see that the niche players early

In this article GSBD Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Morsa Images | Digitalvision | Getty Images Most workers are hoping that flexible Covid-era work policies will stay in place. A new survey from Bankrate found 89% of full-time workers, or those looking for full-time work, are in favor of remote and hybrid work or

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images Nearly 1 in 3 investors would use artificial intelligence as their financial advisor, a new survey suggests — and that has the potential to lead to flawed advice, experts said.   Specifically, 31% of investors queried would be comfortable implementing financial advice from a generative AI program without first verifying

Scott Olson | Getty Images Eight candidates will take the stage for the first Republican presidential debate on Wednesday night — and experts are watching closely for comments on key tax policy issues. “The 800-pound gorilla in the room is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the expiration of all the individual income tax

Dikushin | Istock | Getty Images Federal student loan borrowers can now officially sign up for the Biden administration’s new loan repayment plan. The option is expected to dramatically shrink many people’s bills. In fact, under the new Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan, some will see their monthly obligation fall to zero

Peter Dazeley | The Image Bank | Getty Images The price of getting married has ballooned amid sticky inflation, and some couples are footing the bill with personal loans – which may be a costly mistake, experts say. Driven by inflation, the average cost of a ceremony and reception was $30,000 in 2022, up from

Thanks to “tipflation,” a 20% gratuity isn’t what it used to be. With more opportunities to tip and pre-determined point-of-sale options that now range from 15% to 35% for each transaction, tip expectations are growing, whether consumers like it or not. And most don’t: Two-thirds of Americans have a negative view about tipping, according to