Some investors accustomed to the dominance of U.S. stocks versus the rest of the world are making a stunning pivot toward international equities, fearing U.S. assets may have taken on more risk amid escalating trade tensions initiated by President Donald Trump. The S&P 500 sank more than 6% since Trump first announced his tariff plan, while the […]
IRS’ free tax filing program is at risk amid Trump scrutiny
Vithun Khamsong | Moment | Getty Images The IRS’ free tax filing program is in jeopardy as the agency faces continued cuts from the Trump administration. After a limited pilot launch in 2024, the program, known as Direct File, expanded to more than 30 million taxpayers across 25 states for the 2025 filing season. Funded […]
Here’s why retirees shouldn’t fully ditch stocks
Lordhenrivoton | E+ | Getty Images Retirees may think moving all their investments to cash and bonds — and out of stocks — protects their nest egg from risk. They would be wrong, experts say. Most, if not all, retirees need stocks — the growth engine of an investment portfolio — to ensure they don’t […]
This homeowner cut her heating bill in half — and got a $1,200 tax credit
Banksphotos | E+ | Getty Images Megan Moritz bought her dream house in 2019. However, the 1,400-square-foot home, in the Arlington Heights suburb northwest of Chicago, was built in the 1930s and lacked insulation — leading to heating bills that were “very high,” said Moritz, 48. The first-time homeowner opted to pay about $5,700 for […]
How a trade war could impact the price of clothing
Women shop for clothing from a Gap outlet store in Los Angeles, California on April 10, 2025. Frederic J. Brown | Afp | Getty Images Few consumer products are immune from the impact of new tariffs on goods imported into the United States, but apparel may be among the hardest hit. A trade war could significantly raise the […]
Is this a good time to buy gold? Experts weigh in
Gold is often considered a safe-haven investment because it typically acts as a hedge in times of political and financial uncertainty. Prices are currently soaring amid fears of a global trade war and its potential to push the U.S. economy into recession. However, some analysts think gold prices may have peaked. “We’re probably close to […]
Here’s how tuition-free college aid programs can backfire
Entrance to NYU Langone Hospital, New York City. Joan Slatkin | Universal Images Group | Getty Images New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine made history in 2018 when it became the first top-ranked medical program to offer full-tuition scholarships to all students, regardless of need or merit. The number of applicants, predictably, spiked in the […]
You have options if you can’t pay your taxes by April 15
Fotostorm | E+ | Getty Images The tax deadline is days away and the IRS is urging taxpayers to file returns on time and “pay as much as they can.” However, if you can’t cover your total tax balance, there are options for the remaining taxes owed, according to the agency. For most tax filers, […]
What advisors are telling their clients after the bond market sell-off
Hinterhaus Productions | Getty Images As investors digest the latest bond market sell-off, advisors have tips about portfolio allocation amid continued market volatility. Typically, investors flock to fixed income like U.S. Treasurys when there’s economic turmoil. The opposite happened this week with a sharp sell-off of U.S. government bonds, which dropped bond prices as yields […]
Social Security updates anti-fraud measures for benefit claims
A sign for the U.S. Social Security Administration is seen outside its headquarters in Woodlawn, Md., on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images New anti-fraud protections are slated to go into effect on Monday at the Social Security Administration. Ahead of the new policy, an agency spokesperson confirmed […]