Personal finance

For most households, sticking to a budget is apparently far easier said than done. Even though most consumers (74%) say they have a budget, 79% of them fail to stick to it, according to research from crowd-sourced shopping platform SlickDeals.net. On average, the weekly amount that people spend — not including bills like mortgage or

Becoming an entrepreneur is a dream to which many of us aspire, and a worthwhile financial goal. Still, many first-time entrepreneurs — and even experienced pros — can sometimes sabotage their best efforts with some typical mistakes. When you’re ready to roll-up your sleeves and start your own business, keep your eyes open for these

It sounds like a great idea. To solve your financial woes, you temporarily change your habits and hope that will result in more cash and better habits. Problem is, it may backfire. At best, the key word is “temporary.” Just like with food or health diets, whatever you do to make some kind of change

President Barack Obama signs the the financial reform bill into law July 21, 2010. Getty Images To sum up the past decade, you could call it a tale of two presidents. For evidence of that, look no further than the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The financial overhaul legislation was signed into

With large gains and repeated record highs in the stock market, this year could be one for the record books. Yet it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At times, concerns about trade caused spikes in market volatility. Whether you want to jump in with both feet, feel you’ve missed the boat or want to run in

Holiday shopping doesn’t need to break the bank. As shoppers scramble to take advantage of seasonal deals, there’s one offer you probably don’t want to jump on. Store credit card deals may sound like a steal. However, beware the fine print that can cost you more than you bargained for, according to recent research from

athima tongloom California officials proposed a rule on Tuesday that would cut discriminatory pricing practices being used by auto insurance companies in the state. The California Department of Insurance found in a recent investigation that many insurers have been selling higher-priced auto-insurance policies to people of color and low-income drivers in the Golden State, by

Peter Cade | Getty Images To Roth or not to Roth? That may not be the question as William Shakespeare phrased it. But it is the question you should be asking yourself when saving retirement money in an individual retirement account. New research from TD Ameritrade finds that many individuals are confused when it comes

Kris Zaporteza / EyeEm The most significant retirement legislation in more than a decade is now law. Yet, it may fall short in one of its principal aims: expanding the pool of people who can save for retirement via a workplace plan. At least 25% of those working in the private sector can’t save in

SDI Productions There aren’t many days left in 2019. Yet it isn’t too late to make some moves to improve your finances before the new year starts. Instead of thinking of it as a resolution, use this time as an opportunity to form new, healthy money habits that will last throughout your life, said certified

There is such a thing as a gift that keeps on giving. While unwrapping a monetary present may not be as thrilling as getting this year’s hottest toy, it is not as unexciting as it sounds, according to Jill Fopiano, the CEO of O’Brien Wealth Partners in Boston. In fact, it’s what Americans hope to

Performance review season is upon us. Giving and receiving feedback can be daunting, particularly if you’re hoping your assessment will score you a raise or promotion. And it can be hard to have faith that filling out an online form or scheduling a cursory meeting with your manager will actually bring about significant change. Yet,

Image Source | Getty Images Student debt is leading job seekers to seriously consider positions at employers that offer loan repayment assistance as a benefit. Outstanding education debt has outpaced credit card and auto debt. The average college graduate leaves school $30,000 in the red today, up from $10,000 in the 1990s. Student loan assistance,

Jetta Productions Inc Entrepreneurs hoping to pocket some tax deductions for 2019 shouldn’t forget a new 20% break. The qualified business income or QBI deduction made its debut in 2018, a feature of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The new write-off allows owners of “pass-through” entities, including S-corporations and partnerships, to deduct up to

Jennifer Adolfie, 33, with a steeply discounted Louis Vuitton bag she found on Poshmark. Source: Jennifer Adolfie You can save a shocking amount of money when you ditch the mall and shop at an online reseller. There’s another reason to do this around the holidays. You can also spare the planet — at least a

Guido Mieth | DigitalVision | Getty Images You’ve saved for retirement for decades. Now what? Time to think about how to draw down your money in a smart way. The IRS currently requires savers to make withdrawals from their retirement accounts starting at age 70½. However, this week the Senate passed a bill that would

Colin Anderson Productions pty ltd More Americans may soon be able to buy into risky investments such as private equity funds, hedge funds and stock in start-up companies — and investors should be wary. The SEC this week proposed a rule that would loosen requirements around who can invest in so-called private securities, a move

If you’re hoping to snag the best-available terms on a loan, standard guidance about credit card usage could end up interfering with your plans. The common advice is to keep revolving debt below 30% of your available credit so your so-called utilization rate doesn’t hurt your credit score. Yet experts say your FICO score —

The biggest legislative changes to America’s retirement system in 13 years are on their way. On Thursday, the U.S. Senate approved a spending bill that includes the bipartisan Secure Act, which aims to increase the ranks of retirement savers and the amount they put away. The measure — which passed the House earlier this week

Getty Images Amid the political noise in Washington, D.C., wealthy investors are going with an asset class they know best: real estate. Members of TIGER 21, an investment club for high-net worth people, ticked up their holdings in real estate to 29% from 28% during the third quarter. This is the group’s highest allocation in