Liudmila Chernetska | Istock | Getty Images The U.S. Department of Education recently announced a number of massive changes to the federal student loan system, which it says could bring millions of borrowers closer to debt forgiveness. Federal student loan borrowers have long run into serious issues, including misinformation from their servicers, too many choices
Personal finance
A “We’re Hiring” sign hangs on the front door of a toy store in Greenvale, New York, on Sept. 30, 2021. John Paraskevas/Newsday RM via Getty Images State cuts to pandemic unemployment benefits last summer had a small impact on hiring, suggesting enhanced funding for the unemployed didn’t play a big role in labor shortages,
Georgijevic | E+ | Getty Images If you had a surprise tax bill this filing season, it may be time to adjust your withholdings, financial experts say. Whether you’re a W-2 employee or self-employed, the IRS expects an ongoing piece of your income, paid through withholdings or quarterly payments. As of April 8, nearly 68% of
Skyrocketing student debt has been devastating for young adults. As the cost of college has risen, more students have had to borrow to help pay for school. Now, recent graduates are delaying some of life’s major milestones because of their loan burdens. Americans across all generations have made such sacrifices, from saving for retirement to
Lee Jimenez, a teacher at Indian Hill Elementary School in Cincinnati, Ohio, discusses credit cards and methods of payments with his 3rd grade class using online financial education curriculum SmartPath. SMARTPATH There’s momentum for personal finance education becoming law in many states across the country. Even more states could pass legislation this year to make
Eric Audras / Getty Images What type of insurance should you have at different stages of your life? When asked, financial advisors pointed to disability and life insurance as most important kind of coverage at any stage, as they apply throughout our lives. In addition, advisors discussed often overlooked considerations for different points in your
William F. Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at a press conference on Sep. 10, 2018. Galvin championed a state rule governing investment advice, which a judge invalidated in March 2022. Michael Swensen for The Boston Globe via Getty Images The fight to protect consumers from bad investment advice has been a multi-year saga.
A person shops for groceries at Lincoln Market on March 10, 2022 in the Prospect Lefferts Garden neighborhood of Brooklyn borough in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images New government inflation data shows prices are surging in one key area – food. Now some states are looking at helping to reduce that
Eakgrunge | Istock | Getty Images Less risk often means lower returns. But that’s not the case with I bonds, an inflation-protected and government-backed asset, which may soon pay an estimated 9.62%. I bonds currently offer 7.12% annual returns through April, and the rate may reach 9.62% in May based on the latest consumer price index data. Annual
Asiavision | E+ | Getty Images If you haven’t filed your taxes because you owe money, it may be a costly mistake, financial experts say. That’s because the late filing penalty for federal taxes is 5% of your unpaid balance per month capped at 25%, whereas the late payment fee is 0.5%, said certified financial planner Larry Harris, director
The Biden administration has grappled with ending the pause on loan payments as the economy’s recovery from pandemic lows continues. Jose M. Osorio | Tribune News Service | Getty Images The U.S. Department of Education has extended the payment pause on federal student loans for the sixth time since the pandemic began more than two
Justin Paget | Digitalvision | Getty Images The Covid-19 pandemic has increased Americans’ awareness of the need to have a will, living trust or other similar end-of-life document prepared. Yet only about 33% of Americans have put these plans in place, according to a new survey from senior living referral service Caring.com. That means that