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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Debt is tricky. It starts out innocent . . . just a few swipes here, and a few payments there—nothing you can’t handle, right? But one day, you realize it’s gotten a little out of control and you’re drowning in debt. The payments are getting harder and harder to make.…
StacieStauffSmith Photos/Shutterstock Key takeaways An easement is a legal right to use part of someone else’s property for a specific purpose, such as a shared driveway or utility access. Easements are typically documented in property records and often remain in place even if the property changes owners. Easements can be…
You’ve probably heard the terms credit report and credit score thrown around a lot in your adult years. That’s because both of them can be used to help you get stuff—like loans, credit cards, cars and apartment rentals. But what’s the difference between a credit report vs. credit score? And…
kelvn/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate The airport is usually not an enjoyable place to spend time, especially when delays spring up. You can easily spend an entire day at a crowded airport gate, shelling out significant money on food and drinks while you wait for your flight. Having airport lounge…
Paying for college is a pain. Even worse? It’s expensive—crazy expensive. And everywhere you turn, people are trying to tell you that the only way to pay for college is with student loans. (Hint: They’re wrong.) Whether you’re 18 years old and about to dive headfirst into the real world…
Key takeaways Wire transfers, third-party apps, ACH transfers and checks can all move money between banks. Wire transfers are fastest but most expensive, while ACH transfers are free but slower. Third-party apps like Zelle often balance speed and cost for everyday transfers. Your choice depends on how quickly you need…
If you were like a lot of people in 2020, you might have reconnected with exercising again. And by reconnect, I mean you were sick of being stuck in your house, so you went outside to walk—and you realized this whole exercising thing isn’t the worst. It’s not as great…
Key takeaways If you want to boost your chances of getting a credit card, knowing where your credit score falls on the spectrum can help. If you have limited credit history or no credit, you may have to start your credit-building journey with a secured credit card. Keeping your credit…
What’s your desired salary? It’s a question that can make any job candidate’s stomach drop, whether they’re reading it on an application or hearing it from an interviewer. And I completely understand the stress around this—you don’t want to give a lowball answer and have to settle for less money…
The term government shutdown sounds freaking scary. We don’t know about you, but putting those two words together makes us think that all laws just get thrown out the window (cue the chaos breaking out in the streets!). Of course, that’s not what happens. In fact, if you’re reading this,…
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