Personal finance

When Jacynthe Riviere graduated from college with an accounting degree, “there were plenty of jobs,” she said — and “the big firms paid well.” The year was 1984. Riviere, now 61 and living in Puerto Rico, made roughly $18,000 in her first position as a staff auditor — the equivalent of more than $53,000 today

A general view of the U.S. Capitol, where Congress will return Tuesday to deal with a series of spending bills before funding runs out and triggers a partial U.S. government shutdown, in Washington, D.C. Sept. 25, 2023. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters Washington lawmakers are scrambling to pass a spending bill before an Oct. 1 deadline.

A student debt relief activist outside the U.S. Supreme Court on June 30, 2023. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images Two big events could soon coincide: The U.S. federal government is poised to shut down just as student loan bills restart after a pause of more than three years. With lawmakers thus far unable to strike

Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc. | Getty Images Caregiving can require a significant investment of time and money, no matter your background, but Latino caregivers — particularly Latinas — tend to have more burdensome expenses. Lea este artículo en español aquí. It’s worth being aware of those financial effects, experts say, because caregiving is an important touchstone

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks to a crowd during a presidential campaign kickoff event at Charleston Southern University on May 22, 2023. The Washington Post | The Washington Post | Getty Images At a campaign event earlier this month in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said former president Ronald Reagan had it

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc | Digitalvision | Getty Images There are a lot of opportunities to minimize your tax burden when it comes to retirement planning. Of course, making the most of tax-advantaged accounts is a key aspect of any retirement strategy. Some employer-sponsored plans such as 401(k)s allow you to make contributions on either

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on April 19, 2023. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images Roughly one year after Congress approved tens of billions in IRS funding, the agency has unveiled plans to crack down on tax preparers with “questionable practices.” The news comes amid heightened scrutiny of a popular small

If you’re making $80,000 per year, the thought of racking up $1 million for retirement might seem daunting. But with a little dedication and the right timing, it’s likely within reach — if you stick to a clear plan. As a rule of thumb, most financial advisors suggest that you save 10% to 15% of

Getty Images If you want a good deal on airfare for the fall and winter holidays, get ready to book. “The best time to book is between today and the second week of October, as prices are low and there are a lot of seats left to book,” Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, said Thursday.

Between inflation and economic instability, Americans have depleted most of what they had in their savings accounts. More than half of all Americans now live paycheck to paycheck and most adults — 57% — cannot afford a $1,000 emergency expense, a Bankrate survey from earlier this year found. Meanwhile, experts say having a cash reserve is

Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union hold a practice picket in front of Stellantis headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on September 20, 2023.  Bill Pugliano | Getty Images Regardless of the outcome, the United Auto Workers strike threatens to cause already high car prices to escalate. After the Big Three automakers — Ford,

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The “summer of strikes” needs a new name — there is no sign of a slowdown in workers walking off the job this fall. Some 362,000 workers have gone on strike so far in 2023, compared with 36,600 over the same period in 2021, according to data by Johnnie