People line up outside the Social Security Administration office in San Francisco. Getty Images Social Security, the federal social insurance program that millions of Americans rely on for income, faces a shortfall in funding it counts on from its trust funds. But that doesn’t mean the program is going bankrupt or will be entirely unable…
By some measures, Generation Z is the hardest hit by the affordability crisis. Even though young adults are more likely to have a college degree and work full time compared with their parents at this age, that combo also comes larger student loan balances, which have proved to be a significant obstacle for those starting out. At…
Twenty47studio | Moment | Getty Images Tax changes for 2026 offer new ways for individuals ages 65 and over to plan financially. That is largely due to a new temporary senior “bonus” or deduction of up to $6,000 per qualifying individual that was enacted when President Donald Trump signed the “big beautiful bill” package into…
Coolpicture | Moment | Getty Images As you gauge how much income you’ll need to pay for your living expenses in retirement, don’t forget to consider how you’ll cover unexpected costs. More than 8 in 10 retiree households — 83% — will face unplanned outlays in any given year, according to new research from the Center for Retirement Research…
Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images As President Donald Trump embraces more policy focused on affordability, some lawmakers have pushed to expand tax credits for families. The Republican Study Committee this week released a framework for a second budget bill, known as “Reconciliation 2.0,” which outlines priorities like homeownership, health care, energy prices and…
An Obamacare sign at a Miami insurance agency on Nov. 12, 2025. Joe Raedle | Getty Images The White House on Thursday reiterated its support for sending payments directly to households to cover health-care costs, an idea President Donald Trump has championed for months. However, health policy experts reached by CNBC said they were skeptical…
Milorad Kravic | E+ | Getty Images For many consumers, buying a car increasingly comes with a hefty monthly bill. The share of new-car buyers who pay $1,000 or more per month for their auto loans rose to a record 20.3% of all new vehicle purchases financed in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to…
Retail investors may already be preparing for the start of the 2026 tax filing season, which the IRS announced this week will begin on Jan. 26. Using tax-efficient investing strategies throughout the year can help minimize an investor’s tax burden and optimize their portfolio’s value for years to come, says Bill Harris, the founder and…
Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell speaks at a press conference following the Federal Open Markets Committee meeting at the Federal Reserve on Dec. 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The Justice Department’s criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell may, at first glance, seem far removed from consumers’ finances —…
D3sign | Moment | Getty Images Read more CNBC personal finance coverage This is one of the ‘most important steps’ before tax season opens, IRS says How tax-efficient investing could boost your portfolio returns in 2026 and beyond For 2026, these new 401(k) details ‘matter more than ever,’ advisor says We’re in a ‘hiring recession,’…
