The US Department of Treasury in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2024. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced new Series I bond rates. Linked to inflation, newly purchased I bonds will pay 3.11% annual interest from November 1 through April 2025, which is down from the […]
FAFSA rollout is on track despite issues, Education Department says
The “phased rollout” of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid is on track for the upcoming academic year, the U.S. Department of Education says. So far, the 2025-26 FAFSA has been available to limited groups of students in a series of beta tests that began on Oct. 1. It will become available to all students […]
Inflation is down, but the middle class remains under pressure
At the national level, the middle class is typically defined as households that earn between two-thirds and double the household median income. Based on 2023 figures, that means those with an annual income between $53,740 and $161,220. Compared to its peak, inflation in the U.S. has eased substantially. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, […]
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%, […]
Shortage is ‘the biggest difference’ in housing market: Property Brothers
Many factors make it hard to buy a home today, but the one that makes “the biggest difference” in today’s market is the housing shortage, Drew Scott, co-host of HGTV’s “Property Brothers,” said at CNBC’s Your Money event Thursday. “I don’t think people realize this shortage of housing that we have affects everything — from […]
I just bought a used car for my teen driver. Here’s what I learned
When I was a teenager, I bought my first car. It was a Toyota Tercel with a few hundred miles on it and cost less than $10,000. Granted, this was 30 years ago. Now that I have a daughter turning 17, I envisioned a similar scenario. She has worked — and saved — since the […]
Do I have enough money to retire? 3 questions to ask yourself
Panama is one of the most affordable places to retire abroad. Helovi | E+ | Getty Images Today’s investors face one looming question: Will I have enough money when I retire? Surveys show prospective retirees may have big lump sums in mind. To get a more accurate, personal gauge, it helps to start with your […]
Here’s the 0% capital gains bracket income limit for 2025
Phynart Studio | E+ | Getty Images If you’re ready to rebalance investments or harvest profits, you could shield more earnings from capital gains taxes in 2025. The IRS on Tuesday announced dozens of inflation adjustments for 2025, including long-term capital gains brackets, which apply to assets owned for more than one year. Starting in […]
First-year college enrollment falls, though more students qualify for aid
Al Seib | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images Although more students are eligible for federal financial aid, fewer high schoolers are pursuing a four-year degree. Increasingly, college is becoming a path for only those with the means to pay for it, many studies show. Although undergraduate enrollment is up overall, the number of new first-year […]
Here’s how to find a tax preparer for the 2025 season
Leopatrizi | E+ | Getty Images Most tax preparers don’t have credentials Despite the talent shortage, vetting is important because “pretty much anyone can call themselves a tax preparer,” Young said. The IRS receives more than 160 million federal tax returns every year and most come from paid preparers, according to the National Taxpayer Advocate’s […]