It’s not just saving for retirement you need to worry about, but drawing down your money at the right time, too. The IRS requires savers to make withdrawals from their retirement accounts starting at age 70½. “They’ve allowed you to defer taxes, but they need to come collecting at some point,” said Arielle O’Shea, a […]
Get out your pencils and calculators: The IRS has released a breakdown of what’s ahead for the 2020 tax year. Taxpayers who’ve been paying close attention will notice that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act overhauled the tax code. Those sweeping changes include a higher standard deduction — it’s now $12,400 for singles and $24,800 […]
Reserved instances (RIs) have provided a mechanism for companies, which expect to use a certain level of AWS infrastructure resources, to get some cost certainty. But as AWS’ Jeff Barr points out, they are on the complex side. To fix that, the company announced a new method called Savings Plans. “Today we are launching Savings Plans, a […]
If you’ve recently come into some extra money, perhaps from a raise or bonus, you might wonder the best way to maximize your surplus funds. Saving is an obvious choice, especially for those who don’t have a few months’ worth of living expenses stashed away. But you might also consider tackling a big regular expense, […]
It’s never too early to start planning for your retirement. While the task may seem daunting, it’s important to make sure you have enough set aside for your golden years. It’s something that many Americans are struggling with. According to the Federal Reserve, 26% of nonretirees say they have nothing saved for retirement. Here are the […]
You can get paid to shop on Thursday — if you play your credit cards right. Online shoppers who browse deals through RetailMeNot’s discount and coupon code site during this 24-hour window can get generous cash back offers that are double or triple those of many rewards credit cards. RetailMeNot has dubbed this Cash Back Day, […]
On a recent weeknight, Dahlia and Adam Brown came home to their spacious Colonial on a quiet cul-de-sac in Marietta, Ga. The Browns both work demanding jobs and have two young sons. They bought the house in June using Knock, a company that’s trying to revolutionize the real-estate industry with a “home trade-in platform” making […]
The IRS has raised the limits for how much you can put away in your retirement accounts in 2020. Next year, you will be able to save up to $19,500 in your 401(k), up from $19,000 in 2019. That same limit also applies to 403(b), the government Thrift Savings Plan and most 457 plans (which […]
Early retirement is a dream shared by many but achieved by few. In fact, although half of U.S. workers say they’d like to retire by age 60, according to a survey from TD Ameritrade, only a third expect to be able to do so. Retirement is expensive enough as it is, so if you want […]
The “fattest state” in the country also sounds like a pretty great place to go out to pasture, if getting the biggest bang for your retirement buck is the priority. According to BLS data cited by cost-estimating website HowMuch.net, Mississippi, at $617,661 in savings needed, is the most affordable state to spend your golden years. The average […]
To identify thieves, a recycling bin, a mailbox, a parked car or a lonely purse left behind on a church pew are like all-you-can-steal buffets. Names, addresses and ID numbers are right there for the taking. I’ve seen it all, and believe me: They do get taken. For more than 45 years, I’ve worked with the FBI, along […]
America’s personal financial meltdown has begun — and it’s playing out in the doctor’s office. The record debt US consumers are ratcheting up is propelling a rise in mental illness and widespread emotional distress, according to experts. Family fights over missed credit card payments and millennial tears over student loan obligations are sharpening the pain. […]
