When your auto insurance policy renews, chances are that your premium will be going up, possibly by a lot. Rates vary by state and location, but nationwide, premiums increased more than 20% between May 2023 and May 2024.1 Higher vehicle prices and repair costs (including parts and labor), more accidents, a rising number of fraud
Seven states have no state income tax. Of the 43 states with a state income tax (and the District of Columbia), the top marginal income tax rate ranges from 2.5% to 13.3%. Most states (and D.C.) with an income tax have multiple tax brackets with graduated rates; 14 states have only a single tax rate.
On August 5, 2024, the S&P 500 Index dropped 3% from its previous close, the largest single-day loss in almost two years. This continued a three-week slide that saw the benchmark index — generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market — decline by 8.5%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite Index dropped even further, losing 3.4%
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act) changed the rules for taking distributions from retirement accounts inherited after 2019. The so-called 10-year rule generally requires inherited accounts to be emptied within 10 years of the original owner’s death, with some exceptions. Where an exception applies, the entire account must
Investing can be daunting, whether you are experienced or a beginner. Even if you feel confident about your investing strategy, it can be easy to lose focus or make decisions based on emotion. Here are eight quotes from successful investors, economists, and other insightful thinkers that may help provide perspective and focus for your own
The SECURE Act of 2019 dramatically changed the rules governing how IRA and retirement plan assets are distributed to beneficiaries. The new rules, which took effect for account owner deaths occurring in 2020 or later, are an alphabet soup of complicated requirements that could result in big tax bills for many beneficiaries. (The following is
Did you know that if you postpone claiming Social Security past your full retirement age, you have the option of receiving a lump-sum payment for up to six months of benefits when you finally apply? Receiving retroactive benefits in a lump sum might be helpful if you face a change in health or need cash
The typical family uses a combination of income, savings, grant aid, and loans to pay for college. For the past several years, income and savings from parents and students have consistently covered about half of the total cost, with grant aid covering about one quarter of the total cost and loans covering most of the
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
If you earn money through a payment app or online marketplace, you may be affected by a tax reporting change enacted by the 2021 American Rescue Plan. The law requires third-party settlement organizations to report business transactions totaling over $600 per year by issuing a Form 1099-K to the taxpayer and the IRS. The previous
