The surge in offerings is a response to the pandemic, which revealed glaring income inequality, as well as inflation and the resumption of student loan payments, an expert said.A flurry of states now require financial literacy classes for high school students,…

Deciding when, or whether, to buy long-term care insurance can be complex. Here’s what to know.If you’re wealthy, you’ll be able to afford help in your home or care in an assisted-living facility or a nursing home. If you’re poor, you…

There’s new evidence that market timing doesn’t work. Your odds of success are better if you just hang on and aim for average returns, our columnist says.Selling all of your stock just before the market falls, and buying shares just before…

There are ways to reduce the stress and expense of ending a marriage, but they require both parties to want to end the relationship civilly.If there is an easy point of agreement in the emotional upheaval of divorce, it is that…

As the downsides of 401(k)-style plans become apparent, workers and some companies, including IBM, are showing new interest in defined benefit plans.In an economy characterized by a volatile stock market and elevated inflation, a sure thing looks better than ever. For…

Bargain shoppers will find discounts on hotels, resorts, far-flung tours and cruises. The key is to act quickly before they disappear.As inflation continues to sting, more travelers are expected to hunt for bargains this year, and the industry is responding by…

Bella Cummins has run Bella’s Hacienda Ranch, her Nevada brothel, for nearly four decades — and for four decades, she’s been shunned by much of the banking industry.She’s been denied a mortgage and several other loans, while many of her employees…

Since the pandemic, they seem to be everywhere. And with inflation, the gratuity on a pricier meal feels like a big outlay.If you feel that you’re being asked to tip more often, you’re not alone.Most American adults say tipping is expected…

From getting a good deal to figuring out insurance requirements, renting a car can be a complicated, pitfall-prone experience. Here are some best practices to follow, from reservations through returns.Compare prices and convenience of airport vs. nonairport locationsPrices vary widely based…

Finding a money app that works best for you requires personal testing. We asked popular competitors to Mint why you should try their offerings.The demise of Mint, the beloved budgeting app, has caused its millions of users to consider alternatives. That…

But, financial advisers note, most people cannot afford to set aside the maximum amount. “This is a system geared for high earners,” one expert said.Those with enough means will be able to save more money in their workplace retirement accounts next…

Surprised individuals and small-business owners can’t pay rent or make payroll, and no one ever explains what they did wrong.The reasons vary, but the scene that plays out is almost always the same.Bank customers get a letter in the mail saying…

The market is focused on making money now and isn’t heeding urgent warnings about climate change, our columnist says.Heat, drought, flood and famine. Evidence of climate change is all around us.If the planet is to avoid even more severe consequences from…

Pandemic-era help with the monthly insurance premium costs continues through 2025.The annual sign-up window for Affordable Care Act plans, which offer health insurance to millions of Americans who do not receive it through work, opened this week in most states. And…

The share of women working has reached a record high, with the biggest increases among mothers of children under 5.The share of American women working for pay is at a record high. According to a recent analysis, the surge has been…

Despite writing a best seller that became a hit Netflix series, Ms. Land says she still worries about her job security.What do you do with the money you earn from a story you wrote about not having much for too many…

Soaring interest rates have the power to alter the direction of the economy and command the attention of Washington, our columnist says.The bond market is stirring. The business world and the Federal Reserve have been forced to take notice. Politicians in…

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accused the credit bureau, one of three major credit reporting agencies, of “lying to consumers.”Freezing your credit report has long been regarded as one of the best steps to take to make sure identity thieves cannot…

Hotels are already selling out in places that will see total darkness on April 8, and prices are soaring where rooms are still available.In just over five months, a total solar eclipse will blot out the sun across a wide swath…

The Education Department said that miscalculations had caused many borrowers to see higher monthly payments than they actually owed.Now that the federal student loan machinery has been set back into motion, hundreds of thousands of borrowers are discovering that their monthly…

Insurance plans with high deductibles may seem unappealing, but the savings accounts that often come with them offer significant tax benefits.Health insurance plans with high deductibles may, at first glance, seem unappealing because you’re likely to pay more out of pocket…

More than 71 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits will see their checks rise by 3.2 percent next year to help them keep pace with inflation, the Social Security Administration said on Thursday. That’s more than the typical cost-of-living adjustment but…

Raising a family in one of the most expensive cities in the world involves some advance planning. So when Monika Navarro and her husband had a child last year in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, they budgeted for a few years of expensive…

Hotel ‘junk fees’ are becoming an increasingly annoying part of the travel experience. New proposals before Congress take aim at them.On a recent trip to the Caribbean island of Antigua, Melissa Middlestadt, a writer from the Toronto area, was charged a…

Most people have lost money in the markets over the last several months, but people who have held on have prospered, our columnist says.This is one of those stretches when you may want to avoid looking at your investments.Performance reports for…

After years of criticism about financial aid letters that are confusing and sometimes misleading, about 400 schools have agreed to bring “clarity” to their communication.Colleges and universities have been criticized for years for sending out financial aid offers to students that…

Missed payments will be reported as a forbearance rather than as delinquencies. But your credit score could still be affected.With federal student loan payments due again for the first time in nearly four years, financially stretched borrowers may be concerned about…

There is recourse for customers who arrive at a hotel and are surprised to find a boisterous picket line waiting to greet them.There is no word that quite captures the opposite of hospitality, but I can describe what it feels like.I…

It’s an unfortunate fact: Standard homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies don’t cover damages caused by flooding.People who live in flood-prone areas are generally required by their mortgage lenders to buy a separate flood insurance policy. But if you own your home…

Millions of Americans owe money to doctors and hospitals, and that debt can affect their ability to get loans or even a job.People struggling with unpaid medical bills may soon have the debt erased from their credit reports.The Consumer Financial Protection…

Policyholders should check the details of their auto insurance, which will automatically enroll them in extra spousal coverage — even if they’re single.Most of us don’t spend time studying the fine print in our auto insurance policies, but if you live…

Everything is going up — buying, financing, insurance and maintenance. The average annual cost of ownership, by one estimate, is $12,000.It’s getting more expensive to own and operate a new car.The average annual cost of ownership is up more than 13…

Policymakers at the Federal Reserve will announce their latest decision on interest rates on Wednesday, after a series of increases squeezed the budgets of debt-laden Americans and rewarded those with money to stash in savings.The Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark…

Using foreign money wisely requires understanding the going exchange rate with the U. S. dollar and practicing the following strategies to avoid excessive fees.Take a card that doesn’t charge transaction feesThe primary rule of managing purchases abroad is ensuring you are…

Americans have continued spending despite dwindling savings and inflation. But retailers worry resuming loan payments could push some over the edge.Mykail James has a plan for when payments on her roughly $75,000 in student loans restart next month. She’ll cut back…

A start-up used the Hebrew word “chai” and its numerical match, 18, to bump up giving amounts. What magic number would do the same for you?The donor note came over the transom like any other: A contributor was hoping that the…

Stocks are mired in a holding pattern. The big question, our columnist says, is when will the Federal Reserve start to cut interest rates?The stock market has basically gone nowhere since the start of last year. That’s no great claim until…

Consumers have a right to dispute mistakes on their credit reports. But if they’ve made late payments, that can’t be erased, consumer experts say.Anyone whose credit score has been marred by late payments or financial stumbles can understand the allure of…

Federal law generally protects retirement savings when a company files for bankruptcy. But that’s not always the case.Federal law generally protects savings in workers’ retirement plans when a company files for bankruptcy protection or goes out of business. Yet there may…

Sign-up bonuses, lounge access, cash rebates, free hotel rooms and plenty of fine print: The dizzying promotions and Byzantine rules on earning and redeeming points with rewards credit cards can make your head spin. Here are some ways to cut through…