When the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to fight inflation, the unemployment rate typically rises as the economy slows in response to the higher cost of borrowing. Remarkably, unemployment remained under 4% for 27 months during and after the Fed’s unprecedented rate increases that began in early 2022 — the longest period at this level
Your life insurance needs change as your life changes. When you are young, you may not have a need for life insurance. However, as you take on more responsibility and your family grows, your life insurance needs increase but then decrease after your children are grown. You should periodically review your life insurance coverage to
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 provided homeowners who sell their principal residence an exclusion from capital gains taxes of $250,000 for single filers and $500,000 for joint filers. At that time, the average price of a new home was about $145,000, so this exclusion seemed generous and allowed more Americans to move freely from
Scam artists often prey on those who are most vulnerable. Unfortunately, this includes individuals who have recently lost a loved one and are easily taken advantage of during their time of grief. Scammers will look for details from obituaries, funeral homes, hospitals, stolen death certificates, and social media websites to obtain personal information about a
New vehicle prices have skyrocketed these past few years, with the cost averaging well over $48,000 toward the end of 2023.1 These increased costs, coupled with rising interest rates, mean that buying a vehicle can take a significant bite out of your budget. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, you might
Social Security is complex, and the details are often misunderstood even by those who are already receiving benefits. It’s important to understand some of the basic rules and options and how they might affect your financial future. Full retirement age (FRA) Once you reach full retirement age, you can claim your full Social Security retirement
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
Individual bonds and bond funds can both provide an income stream, but there are important differences. An individual bond can offer more certainty and stability than a fund, while a fund can offer diversification that might be difficult to obtain with individual bonds. Coupon, maturity, and yield An individual bond has a coupon rate —
Energy prices can fluctuate dramatically based on changes in supply or demand. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), energy prices across the economy fell 2.5% in October and 2.3% in November, following a surge of 7.2% over the previous two months. Gasoline prices fell 5.0% in October and 6.0% in November, providing relief after
Estate planning is the process of managing and preserving your assets while you are alive and conserving and controlling their distribution after your death. There are four key estate planning documents almost everyone should have regardless of age, health, or wealth. They are: a durable power of attorney, advance medical directive(s), a will, and a
