Category: Personal Finances

Why States Are Offering Workers at Private Companies Access to I.R.A.s

With the plans, workers are automatically enrolled and contribute through payroll deductions. The goal is to help more Americans save for retirement.
What a Trump Presidency Could Mean for Social Security Benefits

Readers are concerned that his campaign proposals would put Social Security’s finances on thinner ice, endangering their payments.
Will Trump Try to End the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program?

There is widespread concern that President-elect Donald J. Trump may end it, since he has tried before. But that may be the wrong thing to fear.
Vivian Tu, the ‘Wall Street Girly,’ Wants to Make Wealth More Accessible

Vivian Tu is one of a new wave of female influencers who are using TikTok and Instagram to spread the message of personal finance to millennials and Generation Z.
Struggling With Debt? Bankruptcy Can Provide a Second Chance.

Many people who should consider filing for bankruptcy avoid doing so out of shame or fear it could ruin their credit. But it can provide much-needed relief.
Older Workers to Get ‘Super’ 401(k) Catch-Up Contributions in 2025

Workers who are 60 to 63 will be able to put in up to $11,250 in extra contributions, if they can afford it.
What a Second Trump Term Could Mean for Your Money

Here’s what the president-elect has said he might do with your taxes, student loans, Social Security and more.
A New Trump Administration Is No Reason to Change Investing Plans

Big changes are coming in the next Trump administration. But your investing plans needn’t change, our columnist says.
How Fed Rates Influence Credit Cards, Loans, Savings and More

Here’s how the central bank’s interest rate moves influence car loans, credit cards, mortgages, savings and student loans.
Nobody Likes Doing Expense Reports. Why Isn’t It Easier?

We hate them. The companies that build expense management software know that we hate them. They would like things to be different.
It’s Time to Shop for Medicare, and 2025 Brings Big Changes

A bumper crop of revisions, including a stronger drug benefit, means the plan you enrolled in for 2024 may not be the best fit next year.
They Barter and Trade in Rural America. How Will They Vote?

Many rural Americans engage in cashless barter systems to get food and firewood for heating and cooking. They value self-sufficiency, making them wary of government intervention.