Category: Finance

Richcano | E+ | Getty Images For many Americans, a Social Security number is the first form of identification they receive, mailed as a paper card a few weeks after birth. Now, the Social Security Administration is looking to give that form of ID an update by enabling secure digital access to Social Security numbers […]

Daniel De La Hoz | Moment | Getty Images As investors wrestle with tariff-induced stock market volatility, there could be a tax-planning opportunity. But it’s not right for all investors, experts say. The strategy, known as “Roth conversions,” transfers pretax or nondeductible individual retirement account money to a Roth IRA, which starts future tax-free growth. […]

Ethan Bianco, 17, waited right up until the May 1 deadline before deciding which college he would attend in the fall. The senior at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston was accepted to several schools, and had whittled down his choices to Vanderbilt University and University of Texas at Austin. Ultimately, […]

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images The IRS on Thursday unveiled 2026 contribution limits for health savings accounts, or HSAs, which offer triple-tax benefits for medical expenses. Starting in 2026, the new HSA contribution limit will be $4,400 for self-only health coverage, the IRS announced Thursday. That’s up from $4,300 in 2025, based on inflation […]

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon smiles during the signing event for an executive order to shut down the Department of Education next to U.S. President Donald Trump, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2025.  Carlos Barria | Reuters House Republicans have a plan to drastically change how […]

Jetcityimage | Istock | Getty Images How I bond rates work I bond rates have a variable and fixed rate portion, which the Treasury adjusts every May and November. Together, these are known as the I bond “composite rate” or “earnings rate,” which determines the interest paid to bondholders for a six-month period.  You can […]

Concerns about the future of the Social Security Administration may tempt some workers to claim retirement benefits early. Yet experts warn that may not be the best decision. It’s no secret that Social Security is running low on funding. Fears that the program might not be able to pay benefits in the future — or […]

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on, as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 23, 2025. Leah Millis | Reuters The Trump administration has dismissed the federal government’s lawsuit against National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts, abandoning a $2.25 million proposed settlement that could have gone […]

Hinterhaus Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images The deadline for U.S. travelers to get a Real ID is fast approaching — and those who don’t have one may not be able to board flights within the U.S. The Real ID card is an optional, upgraded driver’s license or state identification card that is issued by a […]

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images Under the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Education made regular announcements that it was forgiving student debt for thousands of people under various relief programs and repayment plans. That’s changed under President Donald Trump. In his first few months in office, Trump — who has long been […]