Personal finance

Fotostorm | E+ | Getty Images Inflation cooled below 3% in July 2024, the first time it dropped beneath that level in more than three years. While many areas of the U.S. economy are dis-inflating — meaning their prices are still rising, though at a slower rate — some have been outright deflating. That means

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images With the federal government’s ability to forgive student debt up in the air, experts say it would behoove borrowers to explore the many state-level relief programs available. “Most states have one, especially if you’re in health care,” said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, a

Phoenix Wang | Moment | Getty Images Former President Donald Trump has touted a bold new idea for Social Security: ending taxes on benefit income. “Seniors should not pay tax on Social Security,” Trump wrote on July 31 in all capital letters on social media platform Truth Social, and repeated the point during an Aug.

Pascal Broze | Onoky | Getty Images As investors face economic uncertainty, financial advisors have guidelines for how much cash they should have set aside. Despite second-quarter economic growth, nearly 60% of Americans wrongly think the U.S. is currently in a recession, according to a June survey of 2,000 adults from Affirm. While Goldman Sachs

Jj Gouin | Istock | Getty Images Most Americans rank Social Security as “one of the top” issues or a “very important” issue determining who they will vote for in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, according to a new CNBC poll. Social Security reform is also a top concern, according to a separate survey from

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Brendan Mcdermid | Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris both want to end taxes on tips — and some policy experts have already criticized the idea. Harris expressed support for tax-free tips at a

Iuliia Isaieva | Moment | Getty Images Homeowners are sitting on$17 trillion in equity as of the end of the first quarter of 2024, according to CoreLogic. The average homeowner gained $28,000 in equity compared to a year earlier. For many people, there’s no need to touch that money. Home equity is “not like bread,”

The Republican vice presidential candidate, Sen. JD Vance, speaks at a campaign rally at NMC-Wollard Inc. / Wollard International in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Aug. 7, 2024. Adam Bettcher | Getty Images Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, former President Donald Trump‘s GOP running mate, wants to more than double the child tax credit. But the increase could be

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images The Social Security Administration faces a “record-breaking backlog” of open cases, leading to approximately $1.1 billion in projected improper payments to beneficiaries, according to a new report from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. The SSA OIG, which provides independent oversight of the agency’s programs and

The U.S. economy has remained remarkably strong even amid persistent inflation and high interest rates. And yet, 59% of Americans falsely believe that the U.S. is currently in a recession, according to a recent survey of 2,000 adults by Affirm in June. Citing higher costs and difficulty making ends meet, most respondents said they think

Brandi Schmitt and her family pose for a 2018 Christmas card in front of their Maryland home wearing protective gear, alluding to the water and mold damage in their home. Each year, Schmitt said they try to capture the family’s situation through their Christmas card. Courtesy: Brandi Schmitt When a nor’easter struck in 2018, intense

A flooded street caused by the rain and storm surge from Hurricane Debby on Aug. 05, 2024, in Cedar Key, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images States in the southeastern U.S. were drenched with heavy rains and flash floods from Hurricane Debby this week. Though Debby has weakened to a post-tropical storm, it threatens to