With tax season officially open as of Jan. 27, taxpayers may feel a familiar sense of anxiety. In fact, about 1 in 3 taxpayers told Credit Karma Tax in a recent survey they typically get anxious about prepping their taxes. Tax anxieties are higher among younger Americans, with the survey finding that more than 40% […]
Category: Personal Finance
More Than Half of Americans Are in the Dark About This Important Retirement Factor
We’ve all heard that it’s a bad idea to put all your eggs in one basket, and the saying holds true for nest eggs as well. However, not everyone understands how the concept works when it comes to retirement saving, and that can be a costly mistake. More than half (55%) of Americans don’t know […]
4 Crazy but Effective Ways to Save More Money This Year
It’s no secret that Americans aren’t doing all that well in the savings department. An estimated 39% of U.S. adults don’t have the money on hand to cover a $400 emergency, and 45% of Americans have no money earmarked for retirement savings. If your savings efforts have been far from fruitful in recent years, it’s […]
4 Things You Need to Know Before You Do Your Taxes
Taxes can be confusing, even for those of us who have done them a few dozen times. They can seem especially complicated to those who are new to doing their own taxes, but they don’t have to be. Unless you really love math, you’re probably going to use some sort of tax filing software, and […]
Want $3,790 a Month from Social Security? Here’s What You Have to Do.
Nearly everyone expects to rely on Social Security for vital income during their retirement years. Some Americans work hard in an effort to boost their future Social Security benefits as much as they possibly can. Yet even with all those efforts, the average Social Security benefit for retired workers is just $1,503 per month, or […]
How much you need to save every month to earn $60,000 a year in interest alone for retirement
About 1 out of every 7 people will live past 95. And if they plan to retire in their 60s, that leaves a huge variable of how many years of retirement they will need to fund. An “interest only” retirement plan removes one of the biggest fears about life after leaving your job: Will my […]
Here’s the science behind a simple trick that helps people increase savings by up to 73%
Here’s a great way to save money when what you really want to do is enjoy the moment. Just close your eyes. Now think of something you really want: a trip to Europe, college for your kids, a nest egg that will give you a dream retirement. You’ve seen it on Oprah, but the idea […]
3 Reasons It’s Dumb to Take Social Security Benefits at 62
Social Security is or will be a vital source of retirement income for the vast majority of Americans. Indeed, it makes up 90% or more of the income for a fifth of married elderly Social Security recipients and for close to half of unmarried ones. Thus, it’s rather critical to get familiar with the program […]
2 Top Dividend Stocks for a Better Retirement
Dividend-paying stocks can be a terrific way to fund your retirement. Strong, financially sound companies can grow their cash payouts to investors over time, thereby providing you with a reliable and steadily rising income stream. If that sounds appealing, here are two outstanding businesses that are particularly well-positioned to increase the amount of cash that […]
How much you need to save every month to earn $60,000 a year in interest alone for retirement
About 1 out of every 7 people will live past 95. And if they plan to retire in their 60s, that leaves a huge variable of how many years of retirement they will need to fund. An “interest only” retirement plan removes one of the biggest fears about life after leaving your job: Will my […]
FBI warns of new online threat to personal, credit card information
Federal authorities have a consumer warning for shoppers. Hidden skimming devices (commonly thought to be attached to gas station pumps and ATMs) have gone high-tech. “It’s hard to put really — definite numbers around it. But one thing we know for sure is that millions of credit card numbers have been stolen, even over the […]
This Social Security Mistake Could Cost You Thousands
Retirement is more expensive than ever, and if your savings aren’t keeping up, you’re not alone: The average retirees in the U.S. are expected to outlive their savings by around 10 years, according to a study from the World Economic Forum. If you run out of cash before the end of retirement, you may have […]