Are high deductible health insurance plans a good deal for you?
Are high deductible health insurance plans a good deal for you?
By Kerry Dooley Young
Social Security issues 2.5% COLA increase. Here’s why it keeps falling.
Seniors will see a more modest increase in their benefits in 2025 than in recent years as inflation cools off.
By Julie Zauzmer Weil
Social Security payments aren’t rising fast enough for most seniors
The annual cost-of-living adjustment parallels a Consumer Price Index for wage earners, which does not fully account for retirees’ health-care costs.
By Michelle Singletary
Payment apps are soaring in popularity. Here’s what you need to know.
State laws regulating how payment apps protect stored funds vary, creating a confusing patchwork that’s compounded by customer service challenges.
By Hannah Ziegler
You don’t have to refinance your mortgage to cut your interest
You can shave thousands of dollars and years off your home loan if you can swing a bit extra to prepay your principal each month.
By Michelle Singletary
Let the port workers’ strike be a lesson to get your finances straight
Benjamin Franklin’s maxims about money can help you before the hard times hit.
By Michelle Singletary
Mortgage rates are dropping. That doesn’t mean it’s time to buy a home.
The decision to buy must factor in a range of personal and financial factors -- not just rates.
By Michelle Singletary
10 easy ways to get your financial life in order during your lunch break
Many of these important financial tasks can be done quickly — and make a big difference.
By Michelle Singletary
Buying a home? Here’s what to watch out for with the new contracts.
New rules on real estate agent commissions require buyers to read the fine print carefully.
By Aaron Gregg and Julian Mark
What the Fed’s rate cut means for consumers, businesses and investors
The Fed’s first cut in four years will affect hiring, inflation, the housing market, stocks and borrowing costs.
By Taylor Telford and Julie Zauzmer Weil
Tired of guessing about student loan forgiveness? Here’s what to do.
The political battle over education debt will continue no matter who wins the White House, so if you’re waiting for relief, it’s best to have a backup plan.
By Michelle Singletary
Mortgage rates just fell again. Here’s what you need to know.
Mortgages rates just fell again. Here’s what you need to know.
By Scott Sowers
A ‘gray divorce’ can upend your retirement plans
Who keeps the house? Or pays the credit card bill? You need a financial exit strategy for a breakup at any age.
By Michelle Singletary
How buyers, sellers and agents are navigating the real estate shake-up
New rules on agent commissions formally kicked in last month but have already been having an effect on the ground.
By Michele Lerner
Caring for aging parents can strain everyone’s finances. Plan now.
There’s been a lot of chatter about the state of the U.S. economy on the campaign trail save for one glaring omission
By Michelle Singletary
Do allowances help children become good money managers? Maybe.
To instill good habits in your kids, it’s important to engage them on how to save and spend wisely — and by modeling smart personal finance practices yourself.
By Michelle Singletary
How to make sure that first credit card in college doesn’t break you
For new college students, starting school often means getting their first credit card. But the process can be confusing and overwhelming.
By Amy Rose Dobson
The 401(k) millionaires club hit a new record. What’s their secret?
While this elite group benefited from surging stock prices, their gains are markers of steady investing over time and having the patience to ride out the rough patches.
By Michelle Singletary
Your money and your mental health can suffer under a bully boss
Businesses also pay dearly when they allow bad situations to fester, and the toll is not just financial.
By Michelle Singletary
Dividing assets in your will can split siblings. Here’s how.
You aren’t entitled to other people’s money, even your parents’ assets.
By Michelle Singletary