An analysis of data from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances found that 47% of U.S. households were at risk of not having adequate retirement income, but only 19% were aware of their risk. On the other hand, 53% were not at risk, but only 38% knew it. This means that more than four
It’s estimated that more than one in 10 Americans leases a storage unit. In June 2023, the nationwide prices charged by self-storage facilities averaged $165 per month, after rising 20% over the previous year.1 Storage renters may pay more than that for large spaces or climate-controlled units, and at facilities in high-cost cities such as
Tax filing season is here again. If you haven’t done so already, you’ll want to start pulling things together — that includes getting your hands on a copy of your 2022 tax return and gathering W-2s, 1099s, and deduction records. You’ll need these records whether you’re preparing your own return or paying someone else to
When you hear or read that the market is up or down, what does that really mean? More often than not, it reflects movement in the two best-known stock market indexes, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500. In fact, there are hundreds of indexes that track various categories of investments. While you
In July 2023, the Department of Education launched a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan for federal student loans called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. The SAVE Plan is the most generous IDR plan to date, and like all IDR plans, it calculates a borrower’s monthly payment amount based on income and family
In an unusual twist, U.S. home values climbed to an annual record of $389,800 in 2023, even as mortgage rates rose to the highest levels in a generation. The median price of existing homes rose 4.4% for the twelve months ended in December 2023 to reach $382,600. (Buying activity and prices tend to peak during
There’s no “right” age to begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits. It’s a personal decision based on multiple factors, including how long someone wants to work and how much retirement income is needed. Workers are entitled to full benefits at their full retirement age (FRA) — 66 to 67, depending on year of birth. Claiming
Stocks closed last week higher, driven up by tech and communication shares. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here climbed higher, led by the Nasdaq, which rose more than 4.0%. With nearly 50.0% of S&P 500 companies reporting first-quarter earnings, 77.0% reported positive earnings per share and 60.0% reported positive revenue according to the latest
Wall Street endured another down week as tech shares, which had been the bellwether of the bull market, were hit hard by major selloffs as investors worried about rising tensions in the Middle East and stubborn inflationary pressures. The Dow managed to essentially break even by week’s end, and that was the good news. The
Stocks faltered for the second straight week as investors dealt with market-moving inflation data and a less-than-impressive start to first-quarter corporate earnings season. Both the Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index rose higher last week. Taken together, increases in the CPI and the PPI support a more cautious approach relative to the Federal
