Personal finance
More advisors turn to alternative investments to further diversify their clients in volatile market
Marko Geber | DigitalVision | Getty Images After battling downturns in the stock and bond markets, more financial advisors looking to further diversify their clients are turning to alternative investments, according to a recent survey from Cerulli Associates. Falling outside of traditional asset classes, alternative investments are typically added to portfolios for more diversification, income and the […]
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The 8 best options for small business funding
For many small businesses, access to funding can be a matter of life and death. The stakes are especially high given that 18.4% of U.S. businesses fail within the first year, 49.7% after five years and 65.5% after 10 years, according to a LendingTree analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. One […]
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The wealthy now have more time to avoid estate taxes, thanks to an IRS change
If your family has significant wealth, it’s now easier to avoid federal estate taxes, thanks to recent changes from the IRS. The IRS improved a strategy known as “portability,” used by high-net-worth married couples expecting to owe federal estate taxes when the second spouse dies. Here’s how it works: While a spouse may inherit all […]
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Consumers are shelling out an average $10,000 more for used cars than if prices were ‘normal,’ research shows
Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images It’s no secret that used-car prices have skyrocketed over the last two years amid an industry turned upside down by supply-chain issues and reduced new-car inventory. But how much extra are consumers paying? An average of $10,046 more — 43% — than if typical depreciation expectations were in […]
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32% of travelers overspend to earn credit-card sign-on bonuses. Here’s how to avoid that ‘siren song,’ says industry analyst
Virojt Changyencham | Moment | Getty Images Nearly half of consumers holding a credit card with travel perks opened the card to chase the rewards — and a big share of them blew their budgets in the pursuit, according to a new survey. Specifically, 45% travel credit cardholders opened a card solely for its sign-up […]
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How to buy your first car without going broke
Buying your first car after graduation (or while you’re still in college) can be tricky — especially at a time like this when prices are soaring. The average price of a new car was $46,000 in June and the average price of a used car was $28,000, both up more than 20% since the start […]
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If you win the $630 million Mega Millions jackpot, here’s how much would go to taxes
MARK RALSTON | AFP | Getty Images So you didn’t win the $555 million Mega Millions jackpot Tuesday night. The glass half-full view? Phew! You dodged a huge tax bill. Of course, you get another shot in the next drawing to land a windfall — and then give a boatload of it to Uncle Sam. […]
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Federal consumer finance watchdog to tighten bank rules around money-transfer scams, report says
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters in Washington, D.C. Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images A CFPB spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of the report. “Reports and consumer complaints of payments scams have risen sharply, and financial fraud can be devastating for victims,” the spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement. “The CFPB is working […]
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Investors have put $43 billion in dividend-paying funds this year. Before you ‘chase dividends,’ here’s what to know
With increased fears of a possible recession, investors seeking steady income may turn to stocks paying quarterly dividends, which are part of company profits sent back to investors. Historically, dividends have significantly contributed to an asset’s total return, sometimes providing a boost during economic downturns. From 1973 to 2021, companies paying dividends earned a 9.6% […]
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Airlines are struggling with lost and delayed bags: What to know and how to pack if you’re traveling this summer
Tim Boyle | Getty Images News | Getty Images Air travel has been rocky this summer — and baggage problems factor among many other issues for travelers like flight cancellations and delays. Nearly 220,000 bags were “mishandled” by U.S. airlines in April 2022, meaning they were lost, damaged, delayed or stolen, according to most recent […]
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