Key takeaways Figuring your AGI is a crucial step on the path to calculating your taxable income and, in turn, your tax bill. Your AGI determines your eligibility for a variety of tax deductions and tax credits. (Sometimes, your modified adjusted gross income comes into play — more on that…
Key takeaways The standard deduction is a specific dollar amount that you can use to reduce your taxable income. You have to choose between claiming the standard deduction and itemizing (that is, claiming expenses that you paid). The standard deduction amount usually increases each year for inflation. Also, the standard…
Key takeaways The deadline to file federal income tax returns this year — to report income earned in 2025 — is April 15, 2026. If you file an extension, you have until Oct. 15 to file your federal tax return. If you file an extension you have until Oct. 15…
If financial stress has been weighing you down, you aren’t alone. Around 43% of Americans cite money as a factor negatively impacting their mental health, according to a recent Bankrate survey. January is the perfect time to reset your financial mindset and create routines that bring peace of mind all year long. By building good money…
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The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
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Key takeaways Savings accounts are deposit accounts available at banks and credit unions. They allow you to keep your money safe while it earns interest. Online banks tend to offer the highest interest rates for savings accounts. You can withdraw your money from a savings…
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Tip 3: Learn How to Create a Better ‘To Do’ List When we make resolutions, we tend to resolve to do certain things.…
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These entrepreneurs, traders and investors are making an outsized impact in fintech, crypto and traditional financial services.By Jeff Kauflin, Hank Tucker and Nina…
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When it comes to investing, there are good options, there are bad options . . . and then there’s options trading. Many “do-it-yourself” investors looking for something to invest in besides stocks have tried their hand at buying and selling options as an alternative. In fact, 2018 was a record…
So you’re dreaming of moving to New York—home of the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and Central Park. The Big Apple tends to get all of the attention, but there’s plenty more to love all throughout the Empire State—like seeing Niagara Falls, boating across the Erie Canal, camping in the…
Maybe you’ve been talking to a buddy of yours at the gym who’s gotten into a type of investing called day trading. Maybe you’ve got some extra cash and you’re thinking about testing the waters yourself—what could it really hurt? Well almost every single person we’ve talked to who has gotten…
Unfortunately, there are a lot of financial “experts” out there who want you to use debt to get rich. They’ll use smoke and mirrors and throw around fancy terms like “leverage” and “margin” to make this sound like a sophisticated investing strategy that will put you on the fast track…
Browsing home listings, dreaming about life’s next chapter, finally reaching your homeownership goals—these are all the exciting things you look forward to when deciding to buy a house. And while all of that is definitely part of the fun and games, coming face to face with a real-life real estate…
Back in the day, it wasn’t unusual for someone to stick with one employer their entire career, working their way up the corporate ladder because there was a really nice pension plan waiting for them at retirement. Get expert money advice to reach your money goals faster! But by the…
Think about the biggest life change you’ve had in the past year. The past five years? Now think about what’s coming up in the next five. You’ve probably got at least one major event that either just happened or is getting ready to happen. Maybe you’re celebrating the birth of…
Ever been at a dinner party where someone started using fancy investing terms that made everyone feel intimidated? One of the things we love doing is helping people understand complicated investing topics. And market capitalization is one of those $20 words that we like to explain in simple terms. Let’s take a…
Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate A split decision for home equity rates, as the Federal Reserve delivered an expected quarter-point interest rate cut, the first rate reduction this year. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit fell five basis points to 8.05 percent, according to…
You’re not alone if thinking about life insurance doesn’t fall high on your list of fun things to do. But part of the “fun” of being an adult means handling business every day, right? Right! And besides, once you know a few basic things about how life insurance works and…
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