Michelle and Donald McCulloch bought a house using their ABLE savings. Michelle and Donald McCulloch Most people take being able to save money for granted. But for people with a disability, whether developmental or physical, a previous $2,000 limit meant not being able to plan and save for a house, a car or a vacation.
Personal Finance
Whether you have a side hustle or you’re running your own business, you’re a week away from a major tax deadline. Individuals who pay their estimated taxes every quarter — including independent contractors and members of partnerships — are expected to make their fourth and final payment for 2019 on Jan. 15. The quarterly deadlines
Fstop123 | E+ | Getty Images There are more ways than ever to buy things you shouldn’t. Described as the “new layaway,” companies like Affirm, Quadpay and Afterpay allow consumers to spread out their payments on a purchase over weeks or months. The offers are hard to refuse. That $140 plaid tunic from Anthropology could
Jamie Grill | Getty Images When do you plan to retire? Many individuals have an age at which they want to call it quits. And then there’s the age when you really stop working. If you’re lucky, those ages are one and the same. But research shows that they’re likely not. Transamerica Center for Retirement
Consumers would face fewer hurdles in trying to discharge debt through bankruptcy under a new plan from one of the Democratic presidential hopefuls. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., released a proposal Tuesday that aims to undo parts of a 2005 law, such as higher fees and more paperwork, that she says made it harder for individuals
Hero Images | Getty Images New parents will have one new source to tap for money — their retirement savings. The Secure Act, which was passed by Congress in December, is ushering in some of the biggest changes to retirement savings since the Pension Protection Act of 2006. But experts warn that tapping your retirement
lovelyday12 | Getty Social Security benefits are helping to narrow the gap between the haves and have-nots who are approaching retirement. But they don’t go far enough. That’s according to new research from The New School Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis in New York. The analysis took a look at one age group in
Prasert Krainukul If you think that Republicans and Democrats can’t see eye to eye these days, try sitting in a room with financial professionals who are for and against annuities. The inability to agree is real. And both sides hold steadfast to their positions. Annuities are insurance or investment contracts that give investors regular payments
For older Americans, required minimum distributions from retirement accounts are undergoing a bit of a makeover. On top of the age rising to 72 from 70½ for when those annual withdrawals must begin — effective this year, due to congressional approval of the Secure Act — updated life expectancy tables proposed by the IRS for
kate_sept2004 It’s about to get a little easier for you to figure out how to break even or get a bigger tax refund from Uncle Sam. The IRS kicked off the new year with a revamp of its tax withholding estimator tool, a calculator that helps you fine-tune the amount of federal income taxes that
Should you stay or should you go? Deciding whether you should renovate your current home or buy a new house isn’t easy. It comes down to asking yourself three big questions, according to Drew and Jonathan Scott, the stars of HGTV’s “Property Brothers” and “Property Brothers: Forever Home.” “Am I in the right location? Can
Jamie Grill | Blend Images | Getty Images A new retirement law could soon put annuities in front of more 401(k) investors — and some financial experts question whether that’s a good thing. The Secure Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law last month, eases rules for employers offering a 401(k) plan around how
Traffic is at a near standstill heading into New York City via the Holland Tunnel from New Jersey. Andria Patino | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images Blame it on brutal winters, high taxes or the New Jersey Turnpike: The Garden State is the last place where people want to be. More two-thirds of all New
Daniel Grizelj The stock market surged in 2019, closing out the end of the decade by posting its best annual gain in six years. But investors hypnotized by the prospect of big profits should temper any knee-jerk reaction to load up on stocks as the new year gets under way. Charlie Fitzgerald, a financial advisor
Before moving all your assets from a traditional individual retirement account to a Roth version, you might want to consider leaving some behind. Yes, Roth IRAs grow tax-free, qualified withdrawals are untaxed and the accounts come with no lifetime required minimum distributions, or RMDs. However, traditional IRAs offer some potential tax benefits that disappear once
For those considering a career change, the year ahead looks particularly promising. With the unemployment rate at a 50-year low and U.S. companies adding many more jobs than expected, 2020 could be the year to land a new job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But not just any job will do. Job seekers
Rawpixel | Getty Images Rawpixel | Getty Images 1. Create a budget Not having a budget is probably what got you here in the first place. Keeping track of how much you bring in versus how much you spend is vital to prevent future budget busts. Some experts recommend looking at three to six months’
Many Americans hold multiple retirement accounts — and there are many reasons why they should consider combining those nest eggs instead of letting them gather dust. Around 25 million Americans left behind money in a 401(k) account when separating from an old job, according to the Government Accountability Office, which analyzed 10 years’ worth of
Getty Images It’s never too early to resolve to save more for retirement and trim your tax bill. The IRS has made inflation adjustments to a range of key figures, from the amount you can put in a 401(k) retirement plan at work to the individual income tax brackets that help you determine your tax
Hero Images | Getty Images When the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, it will not only usher in a new decade. It will also bring in a host of retirement changes. And that could have big implications for your money. The good news is that you will be able to save even more in
Activists participate in a rally urging the expansion of Social Security benefits in front of the White House July 13, 2015. Getty Images Raising the retirement age is an emotional issue. For evidence, just look at proposals to move up the full retirement age for Social Security. Even the idea upsets advocates who want to
U.S. President Barack Obama signs the Affordable Health Care for America Act during a ceremony with fellow Democrats in the East Room of the White House March 23, 2010 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee | Getty Images Recently, a federal court decided the central provision of the Affordable Care Act requiring all Americans to be
For some couples, this winter holiday will be unforgettable. December is the most popular time to pop the question and, for the recently engaged, 2020 will be the very beginning of a new life. However, weddings are expensive, and merging personal finances can get complicated. The average American wedding costs nearly $39,000, and more young
Chances are, making better money choices is one of your goals for 2020. Almost 99 million people will make a financial resolution this year, according to a recent survey from personal finance website WalletHub. For many, there are two burdens they want to eliminate in 2020: low savings and high debt. Putting aside more money
Monthly student loan payments can dictate when people have children and how much they’ll retire with. Pat Greenhouse | Boston Globe | Getty Images Student loans have become a defining feature of American life. It was 10 years ago that education debt eclipsed credit card debt. The next year, in 2011, it exceeded auto debt.
Jason York | Getty Images It may be a better time than ever to save in a Roth retirement account. A Roth 401(k) plan or Roth individual retirement account allows savers to stash away money after it’s been taxed, meaning Uncle Sam won’t take a bite when retirees withdraw their funds later. Contributions to a
SDI Productions Student loan borrowers who want to repay the balance owed with their 529 college savings plan should think twice. President Donald Trump signed the Secure Act into law last week. It will take effect on Jan. 1. In addition to changing the way you save for retirement, the legislation also allows you to
Dan Herron, CPA, at the New York City Marathon in 2013 Dan Herron, CPA Dan Herron, CPA, didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, yet there he was explaining to a couple why they owed the federal government approximately $10,000 in taxes on their 2018 return. “They were used to paying around $1,100,”
Beau Lark/Corbis/VCG The #MeToo movement is forcing insurers who provide coverage for high-profile executives accused of sexual harassment and assault, such as disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, to rethink their business. A number of companies that sell so-called employment practices liability insurance are demanding higher deductibles, restricting coverage for businesses in high-risk industries such as
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