If you’re freaking out about your retirement account right now, you’re definitely not alone. The stock market took a dive this week after the Federal Reserve announced an interest-rate hike for 2019, and it left many investors looking through their fingers at their dwindling account balances. In fact, this could be the worst December for […]
When most people think of Social Security, they think of retirement benefits, but there’s actually much more to the program than that. One of its most valuable features is the survivors benefits it offers to family members of workers who die. Social Security survivors benefits can help people who were dependent on the deceased person’s […]
Most people won’t ask personal finance questions on a first date. Money is simply one of those topics that’s best left for when you know the person sitting across the table from you a little better — even though how someone handles their finances can offer you some key insights about whether they have relationship […]
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a whopping $324 billion in tax refunds so far this year to nearly 112 million taxpayers, for an average refund of nearly $2,900. As good as it may feel to get that money, the reality is that it’s terrible news for those receiving a big refund. Indeed, angling for […]
Nearly three times as many Americans plan to focus on getting their finances right in 2019 than expect to prioritize getting their love lives in order, according to a new survey from MassMutual (NYSE: MCI). About 28% of Americans say they’ll be making financial resolutions for the new year, which only falls below health-related resolutions […]
Gas prices are below $2 per gallon at stations across the country and the national average is $2.36 per gallon as of Dec. 20. If you’re hitting the road this holiday season, a new app is promising to help you find the best prices and even let you earn money back. It’s called GetUpside. When […]
The 401(k) is one of the best retirement tools out there. If your employer offers matching contributions, it’s unbeatable in terms of how much you can save. Free money is the best kind there is. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to have access to a 401(k). In fact, 30% of baby boomers and 35% […]
Being a highly successful investor requires a thorough understanding of the stock market and investment products, an eye for opportunity, and a healthy dose of luck. But if you’re new to investing, you may not feel confident in your ability to gamble with your hard-earned cash. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to get started investing […]
In case you didn’t get the memo, Social Security is in trouble. According to the latest Trustees Report, the program is expected to deplete its trust funds as early as 2034. Once that happens, recipients are looking at a 21% reduction in benefits unless Congress intervenes with a fix. And while that’s not nearly as […]
Go out to dinner with nearly any group of millennials and wait until the bill comes. Either everyone will pull out their credit cards, or one person will grab the check while the others take to their smartphones and use an app to transfer their share to the payee. The first scenario, of course, is […]
In a competitive job market where qualified employees are hard to come by, it makes sense for businesses to create their own prospective hires. This can be achieved by developing an internship program that becomes a pipeline of qualified employees eager to sign on. It’s important to remember that interns aren’t just cheap labor. Employers […]
When you hear the market has suffered a big drop, your first instinct is probably to check your investment account balances. But that is actually the opposite of what you should do, according to Dan Ariely, chief behavioral economist at Qapital, a provider of a personal finance mobile app, and professor of behavioral economics at […]
