Personal finance

Damircudic | E+ | Getty Images Women have been making significant strides in their education and careers and working as much, if not more, than their male counterparts. Today, women who are just starting out, between the ages of 20-24, account for about 50% of total employment, which means that young women are just as

Jordi Mora Igual | Moment | Getty Images If you’re seeking refuge from market volatility, so-called buffer exchange-traded funds provide some downside protection. But these ETFs also limit upside potential and come with higher fees, experts say.   Buffer ETFs, also known as defined-outcome ETFs, use options contracts to offer investors a pre-defined range of outcomes

Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill on May 07, 2024 in Washington, DC.  Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images News | Getty Images Next year, more than 30 million Americans in 24 states will be eligible for Direct File, the IRS’ free tax filing program, the agency

A van flows in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28 in Asheville, North Carolina. Sean Rayford | Getty Images News | Getty Images States affected by Hurricane Helene are warning residents to watch for the risks of scams in the aftermath of the storm, including price gouging. Price gouging happens when

Frederick MacLean, president of Heritage Investment Group Courtesy: Heritage Investment Group Frederick MacLean, president of Heritage Investment Group, doesn’t mind if you call his strategy boring. In fact, there’s not much that could unsettle him or his approach.    Heritage Investment Group, which ranked No. 1 on CNBC’s list of the top 100 financial advisors in the

The one-year grace period for student loan borrowers who miss a payment expired this week. And yet, millions of Americans are likely unprepared to give up that key safety net. The goal of the 12-month “on ramp” to repayment was to give borrowers some breathing room as they worked student loan payments back into their budgets. Although interest still accrued on

Baona | E+ | Getty Images As year-end approaches, you may be eyeing Roth individual retirement account conversions. The strategy, however, boosts your income, which can have other tax consequences, experts say. Roth conversions shift pretax or nondeductible IRA funds to a Roth IRA, which provides future tax-free growth. But the converted balance boosts your

Catherine Delahaye | Digitalvision | Getty Images Federal spending on children climbed to a peak of $11,690 per child in 2021 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, there has been a “steep decline” in those expenditures, which fell to $10,190 per child in 2022 and then to $8,990 per child in 2023, adjusted

Republican vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. JD Vance speaks at a campaign rally at Radford University on July 22, 2024 in Radford, Virginia. Alex Wong | Getty Images News | Getty Images Many voters ages 50 and up say two issues — Social Security and Medicare — could decide how they cast their ballots this November.

Port of Miami dockworkers strike near the port entrance and demand a new labor contract, on October 1, 2024 in Miami, Florida.  Giorgio Viera | Afp | Getty Images A dockworker strike at seaports along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts is expected to cause massive problems for global supply chains and the economy. American consumers will likely

Mike Spiering holds Francesca Spiering as he stands in the flood water around his home after record rains fell in the area on April 13, 2023 in Hollywood, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images The cost of insuring your most expensive assets has skyrocketed. While overall inflation has slowed, insurance costs are taking a bigger

Jasondoiy | E+ | Getty Images As a financial advisor mom of three kids, I know well the power of compounded interest and the value of early work experience and learning to save and invest for yourself.  My kids — ages 15, 12 and 11 — have been tutoring, filing, shredding, sweeping, and even researching