Personal Finance
The letter arrives with a return address you barely recognize and a number you can’t miss: Your long-term care premium is going up 60%. You’ve got a few weeks to decide. And your first instinct — I’ll just cancel — is the one move that guarantees you lose. Here’s why.…
Americans’ 401(k) balances reached a record high in the second quarter of 2026, new data shows. The average 401(k) balance climbed to a record $155,800 in the second quarter of 2026, up 10.5% from the previous quarter and 13.1% from a year earlier, according to Fidelity Investments’ Q2 2026 Building…
Nintendo is giving players a chance to save on games, accessories and other products in what the company described as one of its largest promotions ever. The Customer Appreciation Sale will offer 30% off dozens of Nintendo Switch digital games and bundles, along with discounts on select physical games, downloadable…
Choosing the right used car for your lifestyle can be difficult. Used car marketplaces like CarMax and Carvana can simplify the used car search since their sites allow you to view inventory, vehicle specs and features online. If you know which used car, truck and SUV models are worth looking…
Jacob Lund / Shutterstock.comSometimes, you just need a job. Maybe you need extra cash. Maybe you’re making a career transition and need some time to sort things out but still have cash flow. Or maybe you’re reentering the workforce after some time away to be a caretaker. Whatever the case…
The Girl Scouts just announced a cookie for your dog. I’m not made of stone. My first reaction was the same as everyone else’s, which is that this is delightful and I want one for a dog I don’t currently own. My second reaction, after 35 years of reading fine…
Only nine major car brands averaged sale prices under $40,000 in the United States in August 2026, as overall average new car prices topped $50,000 and car shoppers are feeling the pinch. Consumers paid an average of $50,089 for new cars in August 2026, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue…
Selling a stock at a loss can be a useful tax strategy. The loss may offset capital gains and, in some cases, reduce taxable income, but that benefit may end up delayed if you buy the same or a substantially identical investment within 30 days before or after the sale.…
Here’s a question I’ve been asked a hundred different ways over the years: “I’m in the 12% bracket. So why did pulling $10,000 out of my IRA cost me more than $2,000 in tax?” The answer is a feature of the tax code that financial planners call the Social Security…
A trustee-to-trustee transfer moves retirement money directly between financial institutions without sending the funds to you first. This can simplify moving IRA assets, keeping the money within the retirement system. It also generally avoids the 60-day deadline and once-per-year restriction that can apply to certain IRA rollovers.A financial advisor can…
