Make the most of health care expenses before end of year
Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images As health-care costs continue to climb, you may want to make sure you’re not leaving valuable tax breaks or pre-tax dollars on the table this year. Rising premiums, steeper deductibles and higher out-of-pocket maximums have put more pressure on household budgets, making year-end planning important, experts say. Among […]
Mutual fund capital gains payouts are coming. Here’s how to avoid it
Violetastoimenova | E+ | Getty Images LAS VEGAS — As 2025 winds down, many investors are bracing for year-end mutual fund distributions, which can trigger a hefty tax bill for assets held in a taxable brokerage account. But there are strategies to avoid the payout, experts say. For 2025, “you’ve got some pretty eye-watering numbers,” […]
How to create a plan
Even as a record number of Americans are reaching retirement age, many adults have not considered the impact that inflation and Social Security benefits will have on their financial future. A new global survey by Prudential found 89% of wealthy U.S. adults polled said they are confident they’d be able to cover essential costs in […]
Your portfolio may be more tech-heavy than you think
If you own an S&P 500 index fund, artificial intelligence is already a major part of your investment strategy. In recent years, the stock market’s gains have been fueled largely by a small group of tech giants that are aggressively investing in AI. Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Google parent company Alphabet and Amazon — the five […]
Fed may make its first rate cut of 2025: How to benefit
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to lower its benchmark rate when it meets this week, despite the latest hotter-than-expected inflation data. The market is now pricing in a 96% chance of a 25 basis-point rate cut this month, according to the CME Fedwatch tool. “The betting is currently that the Fed will embark on rate cutting, […]
How to get the best mortgage rates as 30-year fixed nears 1-year low
The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage notched its biggest one-day drop in more than a year on Friday. Although mortgage rates are now at their lowest level since October, the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is still just around 6.29%, according to Mortgage News Daily — a big leap from the under […]
How to maximize the $40,000 limit for 2025
Milan Markovic | E+ | Getty Images President Donald Trump‘s “big beautiful bill” raised the limit on the federal deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT, and there are ways to maximize it for 2025, experts say. If you itemize tax breaks, you can claim the SALT deduction, which includes state and local […]
How beauty expenses affect your finances
Katie Gatti Tassin Courtesy: Katie Gatti Tassin There are many unique hurdles that women face when it comes to money, such as the wage gap and caregiving responsibilities. Yet, there’s another challenge in women’s financial lives that is less-discussed — beauty costs, which can be an “insidious force in women’s financial lives,” said Katie Gatti […]
How to raise money savvy kids in a world of instant gratification
Smiling teen girl holds credit card and searching what to buy online Stockplanets | E+ | Getty Images In the age of instant gratification where Gen Alpha has easy access to instant delivery services like Amazon Prime and Uber Eats, some parents are wondering how to teach the young money-saving skills. Born between 2010 and […]
How to protect financial assets amid immigration raids, deportations
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detain a man after conducting a raid at the Cedar Run apartment complex in Denver, Colorado, U.S., Feb. 5, 2025. Kevin Mohatt | Reuters A spate of federal immigration enforcement raids from Los Angeles to New York has sparked demonstrations and rallies around the country, leading to mass arrests and […]