Personal finance

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images More retirement savers have taken loans from their 401(k) accounts over the past year, suggesting that U.S. households are borrowing more readily as they feel the pinch of inflation, experts said. “I think 401(k) loans — like credit card debt — are kind of leading indicators of economic stress

Taiwanese woman walking down the city street with umbrella and coffee on a rainy day Mixetto | E+ | Getty Images For a couple of years, stocks have largely had an inverse relationship with economic data. The better the numbers have been — whether weekly jobless claims, consumer sentiment or housing starts — the worse

In this article MTCH BMBL Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT D3sign | Moment | Getty Images Channing Muller moved to Chicago in May from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her main goal in the new city was to find a partner. Already a Bumble user, before long, she was subscribed to three more dating apps: The League,

Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images Over the last three years, while student loan payments were on pause, many borrowers probably thought, “I could get used to this.” Fortunately, you may be able to finish paying off your student debt sooner than you thought, experts say. They shared tips on how to make that

Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images Unlike younger adults, those in their 30s oftentimes have more financial responsibilities on their plate. “The 30s can be sometimes more stressful because your responsibilities have gone up and you’re still not at your earnings potential of your 40s and 50s,” said certified financial planner Shaun Williams, partner

A young woman receives help from a financial advisor. Richvintage | E+ | Getty Images It can be far too easy for adults in their 20s to overlook retirement altogether. After all, it’s still decades away, with many other shorter-term goals — such as buying a home or paying off student debt — closer on

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images There’s renewed focus on the Social Security retirement age, thanks to recent Republican presidential debates. The Social Security board of trustees projects the program’s combined funds will run out in 2034, when just 80% of benefits may be payable. To prevent that, lawmakers may generally raise taxes, cut benefits

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images You may want to think twice before scanning that QR code. The codes — a digital jumble of black and white squares, often used for storing URLs — have become seemingly ubiquitous, found on restaurant menus and in retail stores, for example. However, they can pose risks for the

A simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid is set to roll out by the end of the month. However, the new FAFSA may launch with outdated inflation figures, which could mean many students “will get less financial aid than they deserve,” according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. “It is a pretty big deal,” he said. “We are

U.S. President Joe Biden gestures as he delivers remarks on aid to Ukraine from the White House in Washington, U.S., December 6, 2023.  Kevin Lamarque | Reuters The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it would forgive an additional $4.8 billion in student loan debt, for 80,300 borrowers. The relief is a result of the U.S.

Morsa Images | Digitalvision | Getty Images About 8 million Americans rely on federal benefits that provide income to the elderly, blind and disabled who have little or no income or resources. Yet the program — Supplemental Security Income, or SSI — has not been updated in about 40 years. A bill called the SSI

Consumer spending has remained remarkably resilient in the face of persistent inflation — but that has come at a cost. To keep up with higher prices, Americans racked up more credit card debt than ever this year. Not only are balances higher, about half, or 47%, of cardholders are carrying debt from month to month, creating