Allison Michael Orenstein | Getty Images Social Security recipients are just starting to see the record 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment in their monthly checks. But come tax time, they could see surprises resulting from last year’s 5.9% increase, which at the time was the biggest COLA in four decades. Last year’s 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment was like
Personal finance
Iona Studio | Istock | Getty Images More people in the U.S. are deciding to hold off on medical care for financial reasons. The share of Americans who say they or a family member delayed medical treatment due to cost rose to 38% in 2022 from 26% in 2021, according to the results of a
domoyega | E+ | Getty Images When it comes to money matters, what you don’t know can hurt you. A report from the National Financial Educators Council shows that 38% of individuals in a recent survey said their lack of financial literacy cost them at least $500 in 2022, including 15% who said it set
Fotostorm | E+ | Getty Images There’s still a ways to go before used car prices come back down to earth. While prices were 8.8% lower in December from a year earlier, consumers continue to pay more for used cars than they would if typical depreciation expectations were in play, according to car-shopping app CoPilot,
Prasit Photo | Moment | Getty Images Your investment ego may be costing you big bucks. “Overconfidence bias” is the behavioral principle of overestimating one’s own abilities, including financial acumen. And while confidence isn’t a bad thing, it can have damaging results — if you don’t have the chops to back it up. “It should
Peopleimages | Istock | Getty Images Whether you’re leaving your job by choice or not, don’t forget about your 401(k) plan. As workers continue quitting their jobs at an elevated rate and some companies embark on layoffs — including Amazon, Salesforce and Goldman Sachs — there’s a good chance some departing workers will be leaving
The U.S. may be about to hit its debt ceiling. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last week that the U.S. would likely hit the ceiling Thursday. Absent steps taken by Congress, the event may “cause irreparable harm to the U.S. economy, the livelihoods of all Americans, and global financial stability,” she wrote in a letter
Zachary Zirlin / Eyeem | Eyeem | Getty Images In a year of soaring inflation across the broad U.S. economy, some corners of the consumer market did the opposite: They deflated in price. The largest declines, on a percentage basis, were concentrated in categories like consumer electronics, beef, and cars and trucks, according to the
Silverkblack | Istock | Getty Images In the new student loan repayment plan proposal rolled out Jan. 10 by the Biden administration, more borrowers could see their monthly payments drop to $0. The new option revises one of the four existing income-driven repayment plans, which cap borrowers’ bills at a share of their discretionary income
sturti Even with broad availability of free checking services, more than a quarter of checking account holders — 27% — are paying fees every month. For consumers who aren’t taking advantage of free checking, those fees add up to an average of $24 per month, or $288 per year, according to a new survey from
By most measures, the new year is off to a good start. However, economists and business leaders alike predict there are rougher times ahead for the market and the economy. Year-to-date, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average have advanced about 4% and more than 2%, respectively, while the Nasdaq Composite is up 5.9%.
Hillary Kladke | Moment | Getty Images Before looking forward to 2023, we should pause to reflect on 2022. The following quote from Jason Zweig of The Wall Street Journal sums up this very difficult year for investors: “Investing isn’t an IQ test; it’s a test of character.” Indeed, the most successful investor is not