Personal finance

Gorodenkoff | Istock | Getty Images If you’re happily saying “I do” this year, be aware that the IRS can be a real buzzkill. While many couples end up paying less in taxes after tying the knot, some face a “marriage penalty” — meaning they end up paying more than if they had remained unmarried

A shopper at a San Francisco grocery store on May 2, 2022. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Inflation is a growing concern as Americans spend hundreds more every month. But some retirees may avoid the sting of price hikes for gasoline, groceries and other costs.   Annual inflation rose by 8.3% in April,

Win McNamee | Getty Images As spring warmth takes hold, homeowners may want to make sure they’re prepared for the severe weather that will likely soon follow. That preparation should include checking your insurance coverage. Whether you live in an area prone to hurricanes, tornados, flooding, hail, wildfires or severe storms — all of which

Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images Social Security beneficiaries could see another record cost-of-living adjustment in 2023, based on the latest government data showing persistent high inflation. But that increase may not be enough to pare the loss in buying power recipients have experienced over the years, according to a new analysis

Hero Images | Getty Images Deciding when to claim Social Security retirement benefits is a complicated decision. But when two people are in the mix — particularly a couple where one spouse is the primary breadwinner — the decision may be even more complex. New research from Lafayette College takes a look at how Social

Sam Edwards | Getty Images Those annoying required minimum withdrawals from retirement accounts that kick in at age 72 may come with a silver lining: helping you make your money last through your lifetime. Generally speaking, if you were to take only your yearly RMDs it would mean those accounts wouldn’t be depleted in your

Jeff Farschman, 72, is a serial cruiser from Delaware who spends months at sea in retirement. Jeff Farschman For nearly two decades, Jeff Farschman, 72, has spent his golden years like many other adventurous retirees — enjoying leisure cruises to exotic ports of call. But unlike many of his fellow cruise passengers, Farschman basically lives

Guido Mieth | DigitalVision | Getty Images Banks are starting to pay a higher return on your cash — good news for savers who’ve seen their stockpiles languishing from a gruesome combination of low interest rates and high inflation. However, some banks are moving faster than others. Some, particularly traditional brick-and-mortar shops, may not budge

Tom Werner | DigitalVision | Getty Images The IRS may have the ability to automate nearly half of tax returns, according to a working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The agency could correctly auto-fill an estimated 62 million to 73 million returns with information it already has, covering 41% to 48% of

Parents and children participate in a demonstration organized by the ParentsTogether Foundation in support of the child tax credit portion of the Build Back Better bill outside of the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2021. Sarah Silbiger | Bloomberg | Getty Images Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., took to the Senate floor Wednesday to decry the

Guido Mieth | DigitalVision | Getty Images Catch-up contributions for retirement savers could get more generous for certain savers, if legislation proposed in Congress becomes law. But the benefits of the increased limits will likely be concentrated among higher-income plan participants. Today, preretirees ages 50 and up can put away an extra $6,500 toward retirement

Peter Dazeley | The Image Bank | Getty Images The pandemic-era trend known as the “Great Resignation” is still red-hot, as workers enjoy the perks of record-high demand for their labor. However, economic headwinds mean those benefits may not last much longer, according to economists. A record 4.5 million workers quit their jobs in March,