Personal finance
59% of Americans consider this the No. 1 sign of success — it’s not wealth
Pt Stock | Moment | Getty Images When Americans measure success, they’re not often thinking about their net worth or account balances. About 59% of polled Americans say that happiness — specifically, the ability to spend money on things that make them happy — is the most important benchmark of success, according to a new […]
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An options trade on two retailers reporting earnings this Thanksgiving week
Six well-known retailers release quarterly earnings this week. Kohl’s, Macy’s, Best Buy, Dick’s, and Burlington will report before the open on Tuesday, November 26th, and Nordstrom will report after the close. Their results may provide some insights into the state of the U.S. consumer going into the holiday shopping season and whether those that have […]
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Top 10 S&P 500 stock winners since Election Day
Stock traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images Many large U.S. companies have seen their stocks swell since the presidential election. The top 10 performing stocks in the S&P 500 index saw returns of 18% or more since Election Day, according to […]
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Dozens of retailers jacked up interest rates on store cards ahead of Fed cuts
Tommy | Digitalvision Vectors | Getty Images Dozens of the largest U.S. retailers and their bank partners jacked up interest rates on their store-branded cards to record highs in the months before the Federal Reserve began cutting rates, as the companies looked to pad profits during a stretch of sluggish sales. At least 50 companies […]
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How to optimize your holiday travel budget on ‘Travel Tuesday’
If you still haven’t booked your holiday travel plans, take note: Prices tend to rise the closer you get to the days you’re looking to travel. To afford holiday trips, about 50% of respondents are cutting back on other expenses while 49% are picking up discounts and deals, according to the 2024 Holiday Travel Outlook […]
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How Trump’s win could change your health care
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrives on November 13, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House is poised to have big impacts on consumer health care. Republicans may face few legislative roadblocks with their goals of reshaping health insurance in the U.S., experts said, […]
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Workplace flexibility is helping Americans take longer trips this holiday season, report finds
Baona | E+ | Getty Images Americans are determined to travel this holiday season — and certain workarounds are helping them take those trips. The ability to work remotely is a major leg up when planning out itineraries. About 49% of employed travelers are “laptop luggers” — those who plan to work at some point […]
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5 in-demand low-stress jobs — they all pay over $100,000 and help the environment
Higher-paying jobs often mean more pressure — think about surgeons working to save someone’s life, or corporate lawyers responsible for multimillion-dollar business deals. But you don’t need to take a pay cut to be less stressed at work. There are plenty of low-stress jobs that come with six-figure salaries. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational […]
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How to say ‘no’ when family and friends ask to borrow money, from a financial therapist
Lending money to a friend or family member can put a strain on the relationship if you’re not careful. Nearly a quarter of people who lent money or covered a group expense with the expectation of being paid back say doing so negatively impacted their relationship with the other party, Bankrate’s 2024 financial taboos survey […]
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The president’s influence on the U.S. economy may be greatly exaggerated, according to experts
About 50% of Americans believe the result of the 2024 presidential election will directly affect their personal finances, according to a survey by financial services company Empower. And about 99% of voters in a Gallup survey said the economy was at least somewhat important in influencing their vote for the next president. “Voters absolutely are […]
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