Personal finance
Op-ed: Why investors should care about who owns their advisor’s firm
Getting financial advice online is easier than ever before. Even so, many investors are likely to discover that there is no substitute for a human financial advisor. The problem, however, is selecting the right one. One thing an investor should consider is the advisor’s investing acumen. Low-cost funds that track various indexes are widely available. […]
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Buying your first home? Here’s what you need to know
Paul Bradbury | OJO Images | Getty Images First-time home buyers have a steep learning curve, from understanding true affordability and how to qualify for a mortgage to managing their cash flow after their purchase. “When buying your first home, you need to consider that what a lender will let you borrow is not necessarily […]
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Meet Erin Collins, National Taxpayer Advocate for the IRS
Erin M. Collins Source: Erin M. Collins If you’re one of the millions of Americans grappling with IRS issues, you may not realize there’s another option for your unresolved problems. The Taxpayer Advocate Service, known as TAS, is an independent organization within the agency, providing one-on-one guidance and fighting for systemic changes. Erin Collins, the […]
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The IRS has delivered more than 45 million tax refunds. This is the average payment
Bill Oxford | E+ | Getty Images The IRS has issued more than 45 million tax refunds worth almost $152 billion in total, as of March 11, the agency reported Friday. Nearly half of Americans expect refunds this season, according to a Capital One report, providing a needed financial boost for a large percentage of […]
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Why high gas prices fall harder on lower earners
High gasoline prices are impacting all American drivers — but low-income households bear the brunt of it. That’s because low earners funnel a bigger share of their budgets to transportation costs and other staples, like food and energy, relative to wealthier households. U.S. gas prices had jumped to $4.32 a gallon, on average, as of […]
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Flexible hours allow employees at this company to fit work around their lives
Allison Greenwald, senior product manager at The Alley Group, spent five weeks in Alaska while working a flexible schedule. Courtesy: Allison Greenwald Millions of Americans are quitting their jobs and rethinking what they want when it comes to work and work-life balance. Companies are responding, meeting their employees’ needs in areas like remote work, flexible […]
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How this mechanic found a niche fixing Teslas and EVs
There’s an opportunity for entrepreneurs in the electric vehicle market. Electric vehicles are sweeping the auto industry, and while all the attention is directed at flashy car unveilings and automakers’ strategic plans to compete in an electric future, one crucial piece has largely been left out of the limelight — service. Tesla, the largest electric […]
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Americans are pausing investments because of the Russia-Ukraine war. Here’s what it could cost them
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is degrading Americans’ financial outlook, sparking the desire to save more and postpone investing, according to a survey from MassMutual. But steering clear of stock market volatility may be a mistake, financial experts say. Two-thirds of Americans worry the conflict will hurt their wallets, with nearly half eager to save more […]
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Companies are raising consumer prices but you have to be a sleuth to detect it
Alexanderford | E+ | Getty Images Americans are paying more for a broad swath of household goods these days. Even items without a higher sticker price may still cost more — it’s just hard to notice at first glance. That’s because some companies have reduced the contents of their packaging. A cannister that used to […]
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96% of travelers want their vacation dollars to positively impact the place they visit, survey finds
Forty-eight percent of respondents told Kind Traveler their greatest challenge in traveling sustainably is finding accommodations that are both “sustainable and socially conscious.” Klaus Vedfelt | Digitalvision | Getty Images Everyone likes a bargain when it comes to booking travel, but many also want the money they spend to do some good where they’re headed, […]
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