Pra-chid | Istock | Getty Images The IRS has announced new federal income tax brackets and standard deductions for 2026. In its announcement Thursday, the agency raised the income thresholds for each bracket, which apply to tax year 2026 for returns filed in 2027. The IRS also boosted figures for other provisions, including long-term capital gains…
Trevor Williams | DigitalVision | Getty Images The S&P 500 index closed at a new all-time high on Wednesday amid a federal government shutdown. It rose to a new intraday high early Thursday. Prior to that, the index — which is focused on large-cap U.S. equities — had risen almost 90% since the equity bull…
Amid economic uncertainty, the best financial advisors can provide a steady hand to investors in any stage of life or with any level of wealth. Whether you’re early in your career or nearing your golden years, financial advisors can help you meet key milestones and address planning needs such as saving for retirement, investing a…
Brothers91 | E+ | Getty Images Deciding when to claim Social Security retirement benefits is a big decision — and Congress is looking at changing the program’s wording to help people better understand their options. Understanding the trade-offs for claiming at different ages can be confusing, and some experts say the terms the agency currently…
Ugur Karakoc | E+ | Getty Images The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS on Friday issued proposed regulations with more details about President Donald Trump‘s “no tax on tips” deduction. Enacted via Trump’s “big beautiful bill” in July, the provision allows certain workers to deduct up to $25,000 in “qualified tips” per year…
Roughly $198.3 million goes straight to the IRS The Powerball jackpot winner can expect a large upfront federal tax withholding. The IRS requires a mandatory 24% withholding for prizes that exceed $5,000. If you choose the $826.4 million cash option, the 24% federal tax withholding automatically reduces your winnings by $198.3 million. But the windfall…
A Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Washington, DC, March 26, 2025. Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” provides relief to certain Social Security beneficiaries who pay taxes on their benefits. But it doesn’t eliminate those levies entirely. Now, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, introduced a bill on Thursday…
Retirement funding looks very different depending on where you live. While the United States leans heavily on voluntary 401(k)-style savings plans, other nations rely on mandatory contributions or more traditional pensions to ensure broad coverage and steady income. Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index takes these structural differences into consideration when ranking some of the…
dowell | Moment | Getty Images With the stock market hovering near record highs, you may have large profits sitting in a taxable brokerage account. Upon selling, you could owe capital gains taxes, levied at 0%, 15% or 20%, based on taxable income, if you own the assets for more than one year. There’s also a…
Marco Vdm | E+ | Getty Images For many investors, workplace retirement plans build long-term savings via automatic paycheck deferrals. But most employees don’t make Roth contributions, which can grow tax-free. Some 86% of retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, offered Roth contributions in 2024, but only 18% of investors with the option participated, according to…
