Category: Personal Finances

Banks Should Have Better Customer Relations When Closing an Account

When banks close checking and credit-card accounts because of “suspicious activity,” chaos and anxiety ensue. It doesn’t have to be this way.
¿Mi novio controlaba mis finanzas? ¿Y mi novia también?

El común denominador entre esas dos relaciones no había sido el género ni la orientación sexual, ni siquiera la diferencia económica. Fui yo.
Now May Be the Time to Lock In High Interest Rates on Your Savings

Rates on C.D.s are the highest they’ve been in years. But the Fed is signaling that it may cut its borrowing costs next year, and C.D. rates could follow.
Wall Street Forecasts Won’t Tell You Where the Stock Market Is Heading in 2024

So-called stock forecasts don’t deserve the name, our columnist says. Wall Street’s track record is horrendous.
In 2024, More Old 401(k) Accounts Could Be Forced Into Rollovers

In 2024, more low-balance, forgotten 401(k)s and similar retirement plans could be forced into rollover accounts, which don’t benefit their owners. Here’s what to know.
When Social Security Becomes a Debt Collector

Every year, the agency tries to claw back billions in overpaid benefits — including from children who are unaware their parents collected money on their behalf.
Americans May Be Taking on Too Much Pay Later ‘Phantom Debt’

Buying mattresses, clothes and other goods on installment plans has propped up spending, but economists worry that such loans could put some people at risk.
A Shock for Many Retirees: Social Security Benefits Can Be Taxed

When older Americans earn above a certain income level, they are often taken aback to find they owe federal income taxes on their benefits.
Chaos, Injustice and Joy: This Year’s College Essays About Money

Each year, we ask teenagers to send us their application essays about work, money or social class. Here are four, from California to Cambodia.
Love Letter: The Tricky Arithmetic of Love + Money

The Modern Love column presents a special collection of essays and reader stories exploring how finances complicate relationships.
Difficult Choices for Some Long-Term Care Policyholders

After a settlement of a lawsuit, Genworth, the biggest holder of the policies, said customers could get reduced benefits or face significant increases in premiums.
The Stock and Bond Markets Are Getting Ahead of the Fed

Stock and bond markets have been rallying in anticipation of Federal Reserve rate cuts. But don’t get swept away just yet, our columnist says.