Personal finance

As the costs at some colleges near $100,000 a year, families need a savings strategy they can bank on. Financial experts and plan investors agree that 529 college savings plans are a smart choice for many. And, as of 2024, there are even more benefits, including higher contribution limits and the flexibility to roll unused

Lourdes Balduque | Moment | Getty Images High inflation eased slightly in April, which may provide some relief to consumers who have been contending with elevated prices.   For retirees and people approaching retirement, higher than normal inflation poses unique challenges. Most retirees have access to one of the few inflation-adjusted sources of income —

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on canceling student debt on February 21, 2024 in Culver City, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images The U.S. Department of Education is giving borrowers more time to meet a key student loan forgiveness deadline. Those who request a so-called loan consolidation by June 30 —

The US Department of Education sign hangs over the entrance to the federal building housing the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., Feb. 9, 2024. J. David Ake | Getty Images The U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday the interest rates on federal student loans for the 2024-2025 academic year. The interest rate on federal direct

Joe Biden and Donald Trump 2024. Brendan Smialowski | Jon Cherry | Getty Images The next U.S. president will face trillions in expiring tax breaks. While President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have shared early proposals, the federal budget deficit could complicate plans, experts say. Enacted under Trump, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,

In this article AMC GME Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Traders walk the floor during morning trading at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on May 14, 2024 in New York City.  Spencer Platt | Getty Images Shares of AMC Entertainment and GameStop have surged once again in a new “meme stock” rally triggered

Wand_prapan | Istock | Getty Images When it comes to spending money in retirement, there’s one rule of thumb — the 4% rule — that has persisted for decades. The 4% withdrawal rule calls for retirees to withdraw that portion from their investment portfolio in the first year of retirement. In each subsequent year, the

Those armed with a newly minted diploma are entering a job market that looks a little less promising than it did one year ago. Employers plan to hire about 5.8% fewer new college graduates from this year’s class than they hired from the Class of 2023, according to a report from the National Association of Colleges

Jenn Lueke, 27, is a recipe developer based in Boston who creates content online showing people how to eat well on a budget. “I think it’s no secret that prices are going up in pretty much every area right now,” Lueke told CNBC. About two thirds, 65%, of U.S. adults surveyed by CNBC/SurveyMonkey this spring

Kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images The Social Security Administration is set to implement new rules to make it easier for beneficiaries to access certain benefits and increase the payments some may receive. The new changes affect Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, which provides more than 7 million Americans with monthly benefit checks. Those benefits

Buy now, pay later options are seemingly everywhere lately. But there’s one place they’re notable absent: your credit report. Up until now, installment payments have largely gone undetected, primarily because most lenders don’t report their customers’ loan information and payment history to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. That has made buy

Hartford, Connecticut Sean Pavone | Istock | Getty Images When it comes to improving access to higher education, each state is largely left to its own devices. Some are trying a broader array of tactics than others. Connecticut, for example, recently rolled out several programs to establish pathways to college and lower the debt burden.