Jetcityimage | Istock | Getty Images The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced new rates for Series I bonds. Newly purchased I bonds will pay 4.03% annual interest from Nov. 1 through April 30, which is up from the 3.98% yield offered through Oct. 31. The new rate includes a variable portion of 3.12%,…
Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images The new 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment doesn’t just increase Social Security checks, starting with January payments — it also boosts thresholds related to the maximum retirement benefit. The maximum Social Security benefit for workers who claim at full retirement age will increase to $4,152 per month in 2026, up…
Even as a record number of Americans are reaching retirement age, many adults have not considered the impact that inflation and Social Security benefits will have on their financial future. A new global survey by Prudential found 89% of wealthy U.S. adults polled said they are confident they’d be able to cover essential costs in…
Sdi Productions | Istock | Getty Images Amid growing consumer interest in alternative investments, financial advisors say it’s important to find the right way to invest. Alternative investments are a broad category that covers many assets outside traditional holdings of cash, stock and bonds. Alts include private-market assets, real estate, commodities such as gold and…
If you inherited an individual retirement account, there is a key change for 2025 that — without action on your part before year-end — could trigger an IRS penalty of up to 25%. Starting in 2025, certain non-spouse heirs, including adult children, must start taking required minimum distributions, or RMDs, while emptying their inherited IRA…
Jasondoiy | E+ | Getty Images The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be 2.8% in 2026, the Social Security Administration said on Friday. Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month on average starting in January, according to the agency. The COLA provides an annual adjustment to both Social Security and Supplemental…
Morsa Images | Digitalvision | Getty Images Medicare open enrollment kicked off on Oct. 15, with one notable difference for beneficiaries who are considering updating their health insurance plans — the federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1. Updates related to Medicare open enrollment — which runs through Dec. 7 — will continue…
Bill and Shelly Gall Bill and Shelly Gall Bill and Shelly Gall say they’d be rich if it weren’t for their medical bills. The early retirees, who are on an insurance plan purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, spent upwards of $20,000 on health-care expenses and insurance premiums in 2023 and in 2024, largely…
In 2011, I walked away from a six-figure law career and retired at age 41. I thought I was prepared financially. But emotionally? Not so much. After decades of working, I was used to the sense of purpose that came with a career, and I assumed I’d have to give that up once I stopped…
Prasit Photo | Moment | Getty Images Demand for exchange-traded funds is soaring as investors shift to lower-cost, tax-friendly options that are easier to buy and sell. But many people don’t know what they are purchasing, and mistakes could hurt their returns, financial experts say. The ETF market has surpassed $11 trillion, near a…
