Most states have gotten approval to offer workers at least $300 a week in extra unemployment benefits. But more than a dozen haven’t — and that leaves millions of workers without additional aid and wondering when, or if, it will come. The dynamic is playing out at a time when jobs are scarce and financial relief measures, such as housing […]
Medicare open enrollment is less than two months away, and if you want to save some money next year, now’s the time to act. Open enrollment for Medicare and Part D prescription coverage runs each year from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. It’s a critical period for seniors, as this is when they can shop […]
Saving for retirement requires investing a substantial amount of money. Sadly, many Americans don’t think they’ll be able to do that. In fact, according to a recent study on retirement readiness conducted by Allianz Life Insurance, 32% of near-retirees believe they’re so far behind on retirement savings goals, they’ll never catch up. If you’re one […]
If your parents or grandparents extolled the virtues of saving up for a rainy day, maybe you still cling to that mindset. It’s very possible to take that advice to extremes, though. Make no mistake: Building an emergency savings fund is essential to financial health, as it’s cash at the ready if you have an unexpected job […]
PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T FILE 2018 or 2019 federal income tax returns needed to take an extra step this past spring to receive government stimulus checks for their children. However, a glitch in the IRS non-filers tool meant people who requested payments prior to May 5, 2020, may not have received the promised $500 per child. To […]
President Donald Trump has put a temporary payroll tax holiday in place in his latest bid to help shore up an American economy crippled by the coronavirus pandemic. While that means some workers will take home bigger checks, others worry that such a change could deplete funding for Social Security, which relies on those taxes. […]
As the economic crisis continues to ripple throughout the nation, more and more Americans are taking the time to learn how to best manage their finances. High on that list is building an emergency fund. In fact, a recent MassMutual survey found that more than 1 in 5 Americans (22%) saved at least $1,000 during the pandemic this summer. While having […]
Women of all ages face many challenges in the workplace; equal pay, sexism, lack of flexibility and sponsorship and opportunity for advancement. Recent graduates beginning their careers, work hard to gain credibility and visibility in a competitive environment. Working mothers struggle to keep their careers on track and maintain their ambition with the demands of raising […]
Deciding when to claim Social Security retirement benefits is probably one of the most important financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. Yet many people are at risk of failing to pick the right strategy for them. The stakes are high. If you claim too early, you’re signing on to receive reduced benefit checks […]
As of June, the average retired worker was bringing home $1,514 a month from Social Security. This works out to almost $18,200 a year. All things considered, this isn’t very much — but for 62% of retired workers receiving a Social Security benefit, their monthly payout will account for at least half of their income. […]
Most student loan borrowers don’t have to start making payments on their debt again until January 2021. With Republicans and Democrats locked in a stalemate on the details of another coronavirus stimulus package, President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month that granted people with student debt another three-month break from their bills, […]
Too many people don’t take their IRA and 401(k) paperwork seriously enough, and that leads to terrible consequences. Here are two recent cases that will surprise and shock a lot of people. The first case involves an IRA owner who failed to notify the custodian that he moved. At least, the IRA owner’s new address […]
