Personal finance

FatCamera | E+ | Getty Images As individuals and families grapple with surging prices, there’s one category that has a history of rising faster than inflation: prescription drugs. Now, the new Senate reconciliation bill put forward by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., aims to help give Americans relief from

Mayte Torres | Moment | Getty Images The Covid-19 pandemic helped shed light on the need for increased access to paid leave for U.S. workers. Yet more than two years into the pandemic, there are still gaps in access to those benefits. That leaves many workers vulnerable to financial hardships, a new report from the

Getty Images Finding extra cash to set aside can be tough amid the record high prices prompted by historically high inflation. But the Federal Reserve’s announcement on Wednesday that it will again hike interest rates by 0.75 percentage point will mean savers can get better a better return on the money they sock away. The

JGI/Jamie Grill | Tetra images | Getty Images As the U.S. economy shrinks for a second straight quarter — one definition of a recession — many Americans aren’t prepared for an economic downturn. However, financial advisors say there’s plenty that is in your control. Fewer than half of Americans feel “financially secure enough” for another

A record number of workers have quit their jobs, looked for new ones and renegotiated along the way. But with all the opportunities the current labor market offers, there are challenges, too — especially when it comes to standing out in a sea of job applicants. About 1 in 5 workers, or 22%, said will

And-one | Istock | Getty Images With credit card debt on the rise, as Americans’ budgets are squeezed from inflation and interest rates tick up, many people may be eager for ways to reduce their balances. One place they may look is to their retirement accounts — and specifically their 401(k) plan. Many people have

The Good Brigade | DigitalVision | Getty Images As the Federal Reserve again raises interest rates to combat soaring inflation, some advisors are shifting clients’ investment portfolios. The central bank on Wednesday enacted its second consecutive three-quarters of a percentage point interest rate increase, aiming to curb rising prices without triggering a recession. The move

AJ Watt | Getty Images As many Medicare beneficiaries know, having a doctor’s appointment via video on a laptop or tablet became standard when the pandemic hit. That method of delivering remote care — known as telehealth — to many retirees and most people in the over-65 crowd may have some staying power, at least

Paul Bradbury | Ojo Images | Getty Images Federal student loan servicers have been told to hold off on sending out payment reminders to borrowers, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The development suggests the Biden administration could be considering extending the pandemic-era payment pause on federal student loans yet again. The policy,

Activists participate in a rally urging the expansion of Social Security benefits in front of the White House July 13, 2015. Getty Images Two Washington Democrats — Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida — teamed up last week to reintroduce legislation to strengthen Social Security. Their bill, the Protecting and

Getty Images Young adults may be hearing the save-for-retirement drumbeat loud and clear, a new study suggests. Generation Z workers — defined in the study as those ages 18 to 25 — are socking away, on average, 14% of income for their golden years, according to new research from BlackRock. That compares with 12% for

Twenty/20 The Biden administration is considering wiping out hundreds of billions of dollars in student debt. Its announcement could come as soon as next month. Why would the federal government relieve a large portion of the loans it gave out? These are some of the main reasons, according to experts. 1. A growing sense the