2025-26 FAFSA will open on Dec. 1 — Here’s how to prepare

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 2025-26 will be available for all students and contributors on or before Dec. 1, the Education Department says. Typically, students have access to the coming academic year’s form in October, but this year’s delayed release follows a “phased rollout” meant to address reported issues from the 2024-25 […]

How to profit if rates keep rising, going against the Fed and stock investors

U.S. stocks soared to record highs after Donald Trump’s election win and a quarter-point rate cut from the Federal Reserve. U.S. government bond yields have surged too, puzzling many market participants. I am going to stick with the contrarian view and bet on rates continuing to move higher. I’ll express that through a bearish bet […]

This bank stock is losing momentum. How to profit from a pullback using options.

The financial sector broke out of its trading range recently and has been soaring after a stellar round of earnings reports from major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, BlackRock and Morgan Stanley. However, markets don’t usually move in a straight line. A recent mean reversion trade I shared on Alibaba demonstrated this well […]

How to create a budget without skimping on joy

When you’ve got multiple bank accounts, credit cards and random cash bills hiding in wallets and bags, keeping track of where your money is going can quickly feel like a full-time job.  But you need to ensure you have enough to fulfil your financial commitments, or to pursue certain goals. Not tracking your expenses is […]

How to hedge some big tech gains going into the market uncertainty next week

Given the uncertainty surrounding the election next week and some mixed mega-cap technology earnings this week, I want to book some 2024 chip stock profits. I want to hedge my exposure by owning put options in the high-flying VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) . SMH YTD mountain VanEck Semiconductor ETF, YTD Risk can happen fast. The […]

Credit cards: How to use them smartly without going overboard? 8 key tips

The festive season is a time for celebration, joy, and togetherness. It’s a time to shower loved ones with gifts, decorate your home, and indulge in delicious food. However, it’s also a time when it’s easy to overspend. Therefore, before you go trigger happy with your credit card spends, remember to do it prudently. The […]

How to leverage higher income limits for the 0% capital gains bracket

dowell | Moment | Getty Images The earnings limit for the 0% capital gains bracket will rise in 2025, which could offer tax planning opportunities, financial experts say. At sale, profitable assets owned for more than one year qualify for lower taxes — known as long-term capital gains. Those rates are 0%, 15% or 20%, […]