Personal finance

The vast majority of parents agree it’s critical that their children learn about investing, but few feel completely confident in their ability to teach their kids how to do it, according to a new survey conducted for the SIFMA Foundation, a non-profit focused on financial education. Only 22% of parents are “completely confident” in their

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, there could be some clear winners for exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, experts say.  Whoever becomes president next — former President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Kamala Harris — will leave their mark on U.S. policy, and that poses challenges to the status quo going

Karrastock | Moment | Getty Images People are using artificial intelligence for tasks like writing and editing resumes and cover letters — and even to get personal finance advice. While some of those insights can be valuable, financial advisors caution that AI shouldn’t be your only resource. A new report by Experian found that 67%

Collectively, Americans are having a harder time keeping up with their credit card bills. Part of the problem: Carrying a balance comes at a high cost.  Credit card rates spiked along with the Federal Reserve’s string of 11 rate hikes starting in March 2022. The average annual percentage rate rose from 16.34% at that time to

Pgiam | Istock | Getty Images The IRS has announced new 401(k) contribution limits for 2025. In its release Friday, the agency increased the employee deferral limit to $23,500, up from $23,000 in 2024. The change applies to workplace plans, including 401(k)s, 403(b)s and most 457 plans, along with the federal Thrift Savings Plan.  The

Mrs | Moment | Getty Images Rebecca Finch couldn’t think of a better gift for her 86th birthday. She received a notice in early September from Navient that the lender would forgive the private student loan on which she was a co-signer. “We’ve waived the remaining balance on your private student loan in the amount

Xavierarnau | E+ | Getty Images The IRS has unveiled the individual retirement contribution limits for 2025. In its announcement Friday, the agency said the 2025 IRA contribution limit will be $7,000, unchanged from 2024. IRA catch-up contributions for investors age 50 and older will also stay the same, at $1,000. The annual individual limit applies to contributions to

Cecilie_Arcurs | E+ | Getty Images The IRS has announced new 401(k) catch-up contribution limits for 2025. In its release on Friday, the agency boosted the 401(k) contribution limit to $23,500 for 2025. But catch-up contributions for savers age 50 and older will remain unchanged at $7,500. The limits apply to workplace plans, including 401(k)s,

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images The IRS has unveiled the Roth individual retirement account contribution and income limits for 2025. For 2025, the total contribution limit to Roth IRAs remains $7,000, unchanged from 2024, according to the IRS’ announcement on Friday. If you are 50 or over, catch-up contributions also remain unchanged at $1,000.

Impulse spending has a cure. So-called “slow shopping” promotes the importance of taking time to think through each purchase to make more mindful buying decisions, according to consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch. “This is definitely a shopping trend worth adopting to help you avoid impulse purchases and taking on debt,” she said.  ‘Slow shopping’ can

The US Department of Treasury in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2024.  Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced new Series I bond rates.  Linked to inflation, newly purchased I bonds will pay 3.11% annual interest from November 1 through April 30, 2025, which is down from

The “phased rollout“ of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid is on track for the upcoming academic year, the U.S. Department of Education says. So far, the 2025-26 FAFSA has been available to limited groups of students in a series of beta tests that began on Oct. 1. It will become available to all students