This year’s tax season — which officially kicked off this past Monday — will be a doozy. The Internal Revenue Service anticipates receiving some 164 million individual income tax returns, with the bulk filed online, as Americans digest the many provisions of President Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Upgrades include measures relating to […]
A poor credit score can make many financial transactions more difficult and expensive. However, with the right home loan product and a knowledgeable lender, you probably have more mortgage options with a bad credit score than you’d imagine. Here are our picks for the best mortgage lenders for borrowers with bad credit in February 2026. […]
Following three interest rate cuts in 2025, the Federal Reserve is back in wait-and-see mode. At its Jan. 28 meeting, the Fed announced a pause to interest rate moves to consider the economic outlook, including the labor market, inflation, and international developments. Current thinking, as measured by federal funds futures trading, puts the next rate […]
Many factors impact the cost of owning a home, such as your mortgage principal, property tax bill, homeowners insurance premium, and — this is a big one — your mortgage interest rate. When you understand how your mortgage rate is determined, you can better prepare yourself to buy or refinance a home. What is a […]
Resist opting out early All employers must automatically enrol their employees in a workplace pension scheme if they meet the eligibility criteria: the employee must be a UK resident, aged between 22 and state pension age, and earning more than £10,000 a year, £192 a week or £822 a month, in the 2025/26 tax year. […]
The biggest retirement surge in history is occurring right now, as more than 4 million Americans are turning 65 each year between 2024 and 2027. That is more than 11,000 Americans who reach the milestone retirement age every day — and it’s being called “Peak 65,” according to National Public Radio (NPR). As Americans planning […]
SOCIAL Security beneficiaries have been bracing for potential benefit cuts in the future as worries continue to swirl about the program’s funds. While economists have said there is “no bankruptcy or collapse in the cards,” 74% of Americans worry that Social Security will run out in their lifetimes. Concerns have been swirling for a while […]
President Donald Trump last week took exception to a proposal backed by one of his economic advisors to let Americans tap their 401(k) savings for home downpayments — an idea that many financial advisors also oppose. “I’m not a huge fan. Other people like it,” Trump told reporters on Thursday aboard Air Force One en […]
There’s plenty of financial advice out there about saving for retirement. You know the drill: Work hard, save and invest consistently, and — if all goes according to plan — you can stop working and enjoy some freedom around age 65. But what if your retirement dreams can’t wait that long? What if you aren’t […]
Each year, millions of college students borrow federal student loans to help pay for their education. But despite how common they are, student loans aren’t the right option for everyone. You may not be eligible for loans — maybe you didn’t fill out the FAFSA, you’re ineligible because of a student loan default, or your […]
To attract new customers, some banks may sweeten the deal by offering a cash bonus for opening a new account. Often, these bonuses can be a few hundred dollars. But it’s not entirely free money. New bank account bonuses often come with their own set of terms and conditions, as well as tax implications. Let’s […]
The FOMC is taking a pause on lowering the federal funds rate following three rate cuts in 2025. Wall Street traders aren’t looking for another until June and again perhaps in October of 2026. The federal funds rate. The Fed. The FOMC. No doubt you’ve heard and read these terms before. But what do they mean? How does […]
