Every year, millions of dollars in credit card rewards go unclaimed — money that could be covering travel, everyday expenses, or even cash back in your pocket. If you’re not redeeming those rewards, you’re leaving money on the table. As someone who leverages credit card rewards, I was somewhat surprised by the recent Bankrate survey […]

Freshsplash | E+ | Getty Images Despite the Federal Reserve‘s recent cuts, credit card interest rates have been hovering near record highs. A new bipartisan bill would cap them at a dramatically lower figure, but experts say it may not be a win for consumers. Senators Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced a […]

A “Do not cross” sign is illuminated at a crosswalk outside of U.S. Capitol building in Washington, US, November 10, 2024.  Hannah Mckay | Reuters The Trump administration emailed more than 2 million federal workers this week, giving them the option to resign now and get pay and benefits through Sept. 30. Workers have until […]

Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images Mergers and acquisitions happen all the time between companies of varying size and notoriety. These can be a great opportunity for businesses and owners to achieve their strategic or long-term goals, but often leave employees feeling uneasy and confused about what the deal means for them — especially […]

In this article BCSF Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Inflation, job concerns, and already high interest rates are putting the squeeze on many American consumers. Now, even high earners, defined as people with incomes of $150,000 or more, are showing signs of stress. These borrowers are increasingly having trouble meeting payments on credit cards, […]

On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump promised lower taxes, lower prices and a stronger economy in his second term. On Day One of his second term, Trump signed a flurry of executive orders — including a regulatory freeze pending an administration review and a directive to members of his administration to assess trade relationships […]

I’ve got all the paperwork here Delmaine Donson | E+ | Getty Images More than half of U.S. consumers planned to make a financial resolution for 2025, according to a December poll by Discover Personal Loans.  Even if you didn’t ring in the new year with some money goals in mind, it’s not too late […]

The rally in bitcoin and other cryptocurrency prices has generated excitement among some investors, but investment advisors are largely still skeptical that those volatile assets belong in a 401(k) plan or other qualified retirement savings plans.   Crypto was one of the fastest-growing categories of exchange-traded funds in 2024. The most popular of these funds, the […]

Just hearing those words ” estate planning ” makes most people zone out, as it’s tied to the end of their mortality, a topic they’d rather avoid. However, it’s important to consider what will happen to your personal belongings, finances and both tangible and digital assets as part of your estate plan. I would be […]

Home Alone (1990) 20th Century Fox The classic Christmas movie “Home Alone” tells the improbable tale of a family who leaves their 8-year-old son home when they leave for vacation. Yet in the years since the 1990 film was released, viewers have focused on another question — how wealthy was the fictitious McCallister family featured […]

David Zervos, Jefferies Scott Mlyn | CNBC The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by another quarter point at the conclusion of its two-day meeting next week. “Two years ago … three out of four economists were saying we’re going into a recession,” David Zervos, chief market strategist for Jefferies LLC, said during CNBC’s […]

Srdjanpav | E+ | Getty Images If you are considering a year-end Roth individual retirement account conversion, you’ll need to plan for an upfront tax bill. Roth conversions move pretax or nondeductible IRA funds to a Roth IRA, which can kick-start tax-free growth. It’s a popular strategy among investors with large pretax balances, particularly in […]

Grace Cary | Moment | Getty Images After decades of building your nest egg, you will eventually have to start taking required minimum distributions, or RMDs, from pretax retirement accounts. The first RMD can be tricky, according to financial experts. Since 2023, most retirees must begin RMDs at age 73. The first deadline is April […]

Artistgndphotography | E+ | Getty Images There’s soaring interest in donating cryptocurrency to charity as digital currency investors seek to maximize their tax break and impact. “A lot of folks have begun to realize that crypto giving is hugely beneficial,” said Kyle Casserino, vice president and charitable planning consultant for Fidelity Charitable, a public charity […]

Hispanolistic | E+ | Getty Images If you’re planning a gift to charity this holiday season, you could score a tax break by donating cryptocurrency. But there are some key things to know before making the transfer, experts say. In 2024, there’s been a significant jump in crypto gifts to charity, according to Fidelity Charitable, […]

Fotostorm | E+ | Getty Images If you need to get a mortgage to buy a house, make sure your finances are in order — especially your debt-to-income ratio. Your debt-to-income ratio is all your money debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. It’s the “number one way” lenders measure your ability to manage […]