Azmanl | E+ | Getty Images As a certified financial planner and personal finance reporter, I spend a lot of time thinking about saving money on rising medical expenses. Health insurance is a key employee benefit, and many workers don’t spend much time picking the right plan, surveys show. Nearly one-third of health insurance enrollees spent […]
U.S. tourism tries to win back Canada
Visitors walk near in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, on July 22, 2025. Robert F. Bukaty | AP Photo The adage “time heals all wounds” is not holding true for Canadian travelers and their desire to vacation in America. Visits to the United States from Canada are down 25.2%, year to date, with a 37% year-over-year […]
I recently bought my wedding dress. What I wish I knew sooner
Rack of bridal gowns hanging in a shop window in San Diego, California. Cavan Images | Istock | Getty Images I’m getting married next year, and a recent item on my to-do list was a fun one: buy my wedding dress. In mid-August, I had an appointment at a bridal boutique in New York City. […]
Why wealthy shoppers generate more retail refunds
Piyaphorn Promnonsri | E+ | Getty Images Shoppers with higher incomes are more likely to return retail purchases they make, a new report finds. Higher-income households had the highest percentage of retail refunds, at 5.3% of their purchases in 2025, according to a recent report by the Bank of America Institute that compared higher-, middle- […]
Why the end of ‘de minimis’ can hurt consumers — especially lower-income ones
Containers are loaded and unloaded at Port Jersey Container Terminal in New Jersey, on May 1, 2025. Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images The Trump administration is scrapping the “de minimis” rule on Friday, a move likely to raise prices for consumers who buy inexpensive goods online and that may trigger near-term shortages for certain items, […]
Trump accused Fed’s Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud. It’s hard to prove
Financial incentive The main reason a borrower could be motivated to claim a primary residence on a mortgage application is to get a lower interest rate for that home. Typically, mortgages for a primary residence have lower interest rates and homeowner’s insurance costs, said Keith Gumbinger, vice president of mortgage website HSH. Mortgage interest rates […]
S&P 500 index investors may want to diversify now, experts say
A small replica of the Charging Bull statue is seen on a street vendor stall outside the New York Stock Exchange on July 11, 2025. Jeenah Moon | Reuters The S&P 500 index has bounced back from its April lows. Yet experts say investors would be wise to watch the risks before pursuing an investment […]
Student loan forgiveness delays may lead to tax bills for borrowers
Damircudic | E+ | Getty Images Delayed loan relief may trigger a new ‘penalty’ The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 made student loan forgiveness tax-free at the federal level through the end of 2025. Trump’s “big beautiful bill” did not extend or make permanent that broader provision. Without action from Congress, student loan borrowers who get their debt forgiven […]
Roth 401(k)s offer tax-free growth — but few workers use them
Marco Vdm | E+ | Getty Images For many investors, workplace retirement plans build long-term savings via automatic paycheck deferrals. But most employees don’t make Roth contributions, which can grow tax-free. Some 86% of retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, offered Roth contributions in 2024, but only 18% of investors with the option participated, according to […]
What to consider before retiring early
Alistair Berg | Digitalvision | Getty Images While you may hope to step out of the workforce sooner rather than later, it’s easier said than done, experts say. On average, surveyed Americans, asked “What age should you be” for retirement, said 58, according to a recent report by Empower, which polled 1,001 adults on June […]