Stacker-Personal Finance & Investing

By Jen Roney for Mercury A large bonus, an equity payout, or acquisition proceeds can quickly change your financial picture. But you don’t need to decide what to do next right away. For founders and employees at growing companies, the instinct may be to put idle cash to work immediately. However, a windfall can bring

By Janet Berry-Johnson, CPA, CFEI for Intuit TurboTax When you work for yourself, the stakes of open enrollment are much higher than they are for someone on an employer-sponsored plan.  Three decisions you make during the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) affect your tax return: Your income estimate: The Marketplace uses your income estimate to set your Advance

By Nooreen Baig for CreditNinja Saving money isn’t always about earning a higher salary or having more discipline. Sometimes, it’s about making a few smart financial decisions that help your money grow without requiring constant effort. From compound interest to automatic retirement contributions, certain money-saving rules can make managing your finances easier. And many of

By Natalie Dowdle for Thimble In this economy, more adults are turning to secondary streams of income to make ends meet. The Penny Hoarder’s February 2026 survey of 1,000 adults with side hustles delved into the world of side hustles, also known as gig work, freelancing, and contract work. Fifty-three percent of those adults admitted that

By Christine Giraud for Forbright Bank If you’ll have young adults at your Thanksgiving table, the topic of money could come up this year. Seventy-two percent of U.S. adults under 30 said they feel comfortable talking about finances with family and friends in the 2026 Consumer Money Survey of more than 3,200 respondents conducted by Forbright

By Adam Middleton for Intuit TurboTax Roth and Traditional IRAs can be an important part of retirement planning. In this article, Intuit TurboTax outlines which one may be best suited for you.   A Traditional IRA gives you a tax break today. A Roth IRA gives you one in retirement. Converting means paying the tax bill

By Lindsay Vansomeren for Freedom Debt Relief Being in the military means you’re used to tackling anything. You have the discipline to overcome sticky challenges by getting creative with your solutions and sticking with them for the long haul.  That skill set doesn’t just apply to your work. It applies at home, too, especially for

By Anthony Crudele for NinjaTrader Understanding the specifications of futures contracts is a key part of learning how to trade futures. These details affect everything from how much capital you need to what time of day you can place trades. Below, NinjaTrader explores the core elements that make up a futures contract and how each one

By Sherrell McMillan for Wells Fargo You made it. The honest conversations between you and your partner provided a clear picture of your combined finances. Now, you’ve been preapproved for a mortgage by the financial institution of your choice and know how much you can spend — time to find a home. Where to begin? Wells

By Jack Caporal for The Motley Fool Prediction markets have a unique draw: the ability to bet on real-world events, from the weather to election results to whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates, all from the convenience of a smartphone. To many, they look like a way to turn knowledge or a hunch

By Lisa Greene-Lewis for Intuit TurboTax The passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill brought sweeping changes to the tax code and beyond. It permanently extended certain Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provisions that were set to expire, including a higher cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, and introduced changes to

By Josh Steinfeld for Pave As companies are going through their annual budgeting exercises for 2027, one of the most impactful decisions they will make is how much additional budget to allocate to employee salaries. This number dictates how much most employees will see their pay increase for 2027.  While this increase in budget tends

By Adam Middleton for Intuit TurboTax Tax write-offs, also known as tax deductions, reduce taxable income. By lowering your taxable income, you can reduce how much you owe. Deductions are different from tax credits. Tax credits directly cut your tax bill by reducing the actual taxes owed. However, both work to reduce your tax liability.

By Lindsay Vansomeren for Achieve If you’re a veteran, you’ve given a lot to your country. But some veterans struggle with making their debt payments each month. It’s not your fault, especially since money management in the civilian world can be far different than in your active duty years. You also face unique challenges that

By Cailin MacLean for Bernstein Private Wealth Management While key end-of-life planning documents focus on the who, what, and where, intentional conversations explain the why behind important decisions. Think of an estate plan as the blueprint for a home your family will one day enter without you. It may show them where everything is, who holds

By Jay Jackson for Abacus Global Management For decades, traditional financial advice operated on a straightforward formula: Build a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds, beat a benchmark index, and harvest returns. Financial advisors proved their worth by helping their clients pick winning stocks. However, just beating the benchmark isn’t enough anymore. You might earn

By Jeremy Hewett for AccuQuote A person’s financial situation influences their economic resilience, mental health, and quality of life. Yet, talking about money remains taboo in some circles. Luckily, younger generations are bringing the conversation into the open. They’ve seen how financial security, or lack thereof, has impacted their parents and grandparents. The data backs

By Ed Durant for BHG Financial With good credit and steady cash flow, carrying a balance on a credit card can feel like a reasonable trade-off. In a higher-rate environment, however, APRs north of 20% make that trade-off far more expensive because revolving balances at those rates compound faster than most people expect. The interest

By Ginita Wall for Intuit TurboTax According to Deloitte’s annual holiday retail forecast, holiday retail sales will be between $1.70 to $1.71 trillion during November 2026 through January 2027. That’s an increase of about 4% from last year. PwC’s Holiday Outlook 2026 survey tells a slightly different story, predicting spending will dip by about 2%. Whether

By Bobbi Rebell for Accredited Debt Relief On paper, Thanksgiving might seem like a relatively affordable holiday. No gifts, no costumes and no elaborate decorations. Just a turkey, some sides and the people you love around the table. Unfortunately, the receipts this year may tell a different story for one big reason: Groceries are becoming

By Chabeli Carrazana for The 19th Most Americans think the federal government should increase spending on childcare, and one group of voters more than any other is in favor of that change: Gen Z.  Data from a new The 19th/YouGov poll found that 52% of U.S. adults overall think federal childcare spending needs a boost,

By Jenelle Dito for FICO If you’ve been paying more attention to your credit score lately, you’re in good company. The appetite among Americans to understand and manage their credit has never been stronger. According to the 2026 fall edition of the FICO Score Credit Insights Report, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of

By Mallika Mitra for Current With December just around the corner, you may be planning your holiday shopping and considering what to make your New Year’s resolution. But don’t forget to give your finances the year-end treatment, too. It’s important to check in on your investing and savings goals regularly, and the new year can

By Amy Kalin for Intuit Credit Karma Americans with open student loan debt are navigating the biggest changes to federal repayment programs in years. For many, the developments are unsettling. Among other shifts, the popular SAVE repayment plan was discontinued, requiring millions to move to new plans with potentially burdensome payments heading into 2027. Below, Intuit

By Ginita Wall for Intuit TurboTax Every year, military families leave real money on the table simply because they don’t know which tax breaks apply to them. Service members earn benefits most civilians don’t get — but only if they claim them. Here, Intuit TurboTax explores four of the most commonly missed tax breaks for service

By Stefanie Moody for Ally Financial Whether you plan to sip a cocktail on the beach, explore quaint city streets or hike at a national park, the last thing you want to worry about on vacation is your money. With a little pre-trip budgeting and a plan for saving and splurging while you’re away, you

By Courtney Alev for Intuit Credit Karma The holidays are fast approaching, but for many Americans, their financial outlook is looking less merry than it did a year ago.  According to a new study from Intuit Credit Karma, nearly a third of Americans (31%) say they’re heading into the holiday season in a worse financial

By Rachel Antonelli for TD Rebecca Shpektor is counting down to her February wedding. She and her fiancé have reserved the venue, booked vendors and explored reception details. Amid the excitement, wedding planning has also pushed them to talk about money more openly. Those conversations can often be difficult. The TD 2026 Love & Money Survey of

By Cheryl Lock for Intuit TurboTax The cost of raising a child to 18 just got higher, with prices rising across the board in summer 2026. It’s no surprise that 55% of Americans say this is the most financially stressful summer they can remember, according to a recent Credit Karma survey. And every year, the

By Stewart Keller, DO for LifeStance Health Layoffs used to come in waves. But many companies are now making smaller, more frequent cuts instead of one big round. These “forever layoffs” never really stop long enough for anyone to feel secure. According to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2026 Work in America, about 1 in

By Julia Califano for SoFi In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a fringe tool into a mainstream resource for everyday investors. A 2026 survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by SoFi highlights how widely AI is used for investing. According to the survey, three out of four investors turn to AI for investing-related questions.

By Kim Gallagher for OneMain Financial Whether debt relief is a good idea for you depends on your individual situation and whether any of the solutions fit your budget and goals. But if you are struggling to pay down your debt, learning about debt relief and debt management options is a strong first step toward

By Rebecca Lake for Achieve When you’re ready to learn about credit scores, that’s a good thing—it shows that you take your financial health seriously.  What is a credit score? In simple terms, it’s a three-digit number that tells you (and lenders) how you have managed your credit accounts and debts.  Achieve looks at what a 680

By Rebecca Shpektor for TD Every fall, students return to college and university campuses or arrive for their first semester. Between class schedules, getting books and supplies and figuring out a new routine, there is plenty to prepare for. But what often gets overlooked are the financial decisions young adults will face almost immediately. “College

Having a negative net worth means a household owes more than it owns, and high debt relative to assets is associated with greater perceived depression, more stress and poorer health. For nearly two decades before the Great Recession, the share of U.S. households whose debts equaled or exceeded their assets held fairly steady, then rose sharply

It’s hard to believe that it’s already the last quarter of the year. For student-athletes balancing classes, practices, competitions, and various sources of income — including part-time work and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings — now is a great time to make some easy and smart tax moves to help lower your tax bill

By James Moore for AssuranceAmerica In most of the United States, the price a driver pays for car insurance is influenced not just by driving history or vehicle type, but by credit history. The practice, which relies on a scoring model distinct from the standard consumer credit score, has become a near-universal feature of auto insurance

It’s no secret that money is a major source of stress for many people. In fact, the latest Stress in America survey from the American Psychological Association found 65% of Americans cite money as a stressor — the highest rate in nearly a decade. Plenty of outside forces affect our financial lives, not to mention the

Futures trading can open the door to a wide range of market opportunities—whether you’re interested in major market equity indices, commodities, or currencies. If you’re new to the world of futures or simply exploring how to trade futures, understanding the fundamentals of futures contracts is the first step.  NinjaTrader breaks down what futures contracts are, how

  Financial strain doesn’t always stem from reckless spending. Often, it’s the result of timing, complexity, or a portfolio that’s grown faster than the systems set up to manage it. Even high‑net‑worth individuals can find themselves asset‑rich but cash‑poor. Wells Fargo specialists share how to recognize the triggers and warning signs of financial overextension, understand

People have used wallets for centuries to carry valuables. Consumers commonly carry wallets to hold important credentials like official identification, credit cards, debit cards, rewards cards and cash. Today, digital wallets serve a function like physical wallets, both online and in person. Digital wallets are apps that hold payment credentials for consumers to manage payments

Weddings are expensive, and while they aren’t tax-deductible, with a little planning, you might be surprised to find a few silver linings. While tax write-offs may not be on your mind while planning your wedding, you may be able to garner a tax deduction as you prepare to head down the aisle. Intuit TurboTax shares some ideas.

You went to college, worked hard, and got your degree—your key to a better future. But years, maybe even decades later, those student loans still linger. You’re not alone. Many of us carry this debt well into our adult lives.  With the right information and strategy, you can manage your student loan debt and plan for

Rising costs at the supermarket, the gas pump, and the doctor’s office are forcing many Americans to rethink their spending. This economic reality is delaying or jeopardizing important plans, especially big-ticket purchases and projects. Indeed, in the latest SoFi survey, 85% of respondents assert their daily lives are more expensive now than five years ago.

By Moriah Beaver for Lexington Law Years of high prices and tight budgets should have pushed Americans toward visible financial trouble by now. A record $18.8 trillion in household debt seems to back that up, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. However, a new Lexington Law survey of 1,028 U.S. adults shows that most people

If you’re facing an emergency expense like an auto repair, leaking roof or unexpected travel, but don’t have the cash to pay for it upfront, a personal loan could help you find some relief. But if you haven’t used credit before, you might be wondering if it’s still possible to get a loan. Having no

Any time of year is a great time for a financial checkup.   A financial checkup can tell you whether you’re still on track with the financial goals you set earlier.      Before getting started, it helps to schedule a time for your checkup. Achieve suggests scheduling one before holiday spending starts and again in

The cheapest holiday conversation you’ll have this year is the one you have in October. By December, the Airbnb is booked, the Secret Santa list is locked, and your best friend has already bought your gift. You’ve probably been in at least one of those group texts — the one proposing everyone chip in for

Simple-interest loans are one of the most common ways to finance a vehicle, so understanding how they work is a great first step when you’re car shopping. Once you know the basics, you’ll be able to spot ways to cut your costs and keep more money in your pocket on your next vehicle purchase. Here’s

The scariest money moves are usually not dramatic mistakes. They are quiet habits: skipping part of your employer’s retirement match, missing a credit card payment, parking too much cash on the sidelines, leaving money in an investment account uninvested, and going without disability insurance. Each one chips away at your financial future, and each one

If you owe more money than you can realistically pay off, working with a credit counselor or professional debt relief company could be your best option. Credit counseling or debt settlement could help you lower the cost of payoff and get out of debt faster than slogging through minimums. If your debt is at a manageable

Tax is an inevitable part of life for everyone. While contributing to the collective coffers helps keep modern society stable and advanced, it can also feel like a financial burden hanging like a millstone around individual taxpayers’ necks. However, thanks to a variety of tax policies and relief options, it’s easier for those afflicted by

Raising a child now costs more than $40,000 per year in some U.S. cities, forcing many families to look for ways to manage the rising costs of parenthood. One major decision is whether both parents will remain in the workforce or one will step away to provide care at home. Because that choice reshapes both

Staying warm might cost more this year. With the cost of energy rising, households may need to set aside more for heating as temperatures drop. NEADA estimates overall winter heating costs will rise 8.7% this year, more than double the rate of inflation, bringing the average household heating costs to about $1,030 over the coldest four months

Most people already have plenty on their to-do list and don’t relish spending precious time managing their money. So, using a banking system that takes care of routine transactions in the background can be a big time-saver. Using digital banking automation for repetitive financial tasks can free up your mind while keeping you in control

Divorce is an emotionally charged experience that impacts over 670,000 American couples every year. It’s also a costly process. An uncontested DIY divorce costs between $500 and $1,500 in filing and service fees. When lawyers get involved, the divorce process alone can cost $50,000 or more. While not every couple will pay as much, the real financial costs only

For Gen Zers dealing with higher grocery bills, no-spend and low-buy challenges are becoming a simple way to cut back without feeling like they have to stop spending altogether. What started as a social media trend is starting to feel a lot more practical when groceries are taking up more of the budget, Intuit TurboTax

As housing, grocery, transportation and other essential costs pressure household budgets, earning a six-figure salary no longer guarantees financial comfort in much of the U.S. A single adult now needs at least $80,000 a year to live comfortably in every state, while the threshold exceeds $100,000 in nearly half of states. For a family of

Since 1874, the S&P 500 has climbed in the year following 32 of the last 38 midterm elections, gaining an average of 14%, according to a Motley Fool analysis of election-year stock market history. Neither how many seats the president’s party loses in Congress nor which party ends up running Washington afterward has been closely

While taking out a new personal loan can help you consolidate high-interest debt, improve your cash flow, or achieve another goal, it can also affect your credit score. Applying for a personal loan affects your credit score at two separate moments: the hard inquiry when you submit an application, and the new account itself once

When you have multiple financial goals, you might struggle to juggle them all. Should you start by saving for your emergency fund? What about that vacation you’re planning? Can you really prepare for the holidays ahead of time for once? Ally Financial explains how saving for multiple goals is doable and easier with the right

In a unanimous vote in mid-September, the Fed raised the target range for federal funds to 3.75%-4%, a quarter of a percentage point from what it was. Five months earlier, back in April, when the Fed rates were steady, Credit One Bank asked 1,000 U.S. consumers what they wanted in terms of savings products, namely

If you’re raising a child with disabilities, keeping up with all the education news is important. But it can also be overwhelming, especially when there are changes to rules or funding. The Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), which takes effect in 2027, is a new policy that you should know about. Understood provides the details.   The Education

As millions of Americans around the country begin their freshman year at university, they are encountering many firsts on campus: Their first dorm room, their first college cafeteria and often, their first credit card. College is famously fertile ground for banks looking for new customers. Students starting out on their own need credit access, are

There’s one official source for free credit reports online, and that’s annualcreditreport.com. You can pull reports from all three major consumer credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It’s simple, it’s free, and you can do it up to once a week. Your credit score is something else worth checking. Credit scores are generated using information

Student loan debt affects millions of borrowers. Although it can be a burden, it’s also an opportunity to establish a positive credit history. Making progress towards paying down your student loan debt is possible no matter where you start. This guide from Freedom Debt Relief covers 11 smart ways to pay off student loans, from

Halloween can get expensive pretty fast. You might start with bags of candy and a costume for the kids, but then come the decorations, pumpkins, school events, and trips to the pumpkin patch. Before you know it, you’ve spent a lot more than you planned. And it’s not just you. Halloween is no longer about

If you’re an experienced stock trader, you can start trading futures by opening a futures brokerage account, selecting a familiar equity index contract, and practicing with a trading simulator before going live. At a high level, you’re still analyzing price action, watching trends, and managing risk. What changes is the structure: Futures contracts come with

The pause on federal student loan repayment ended in September 2023. That left many borrowers in a bind. Collections were paused for a time, but in May 2025, the government resumed “involuntary collection.” In 2026, some borrowers became subject to wage garnishment. Inflation is through the roof, food costs more, gas costs more, budgets are

For years, a household budget had a little give. A slightly higher electric bill one month could be absorbed by a slightly cheaper grocery run the next. That cushion is gone for most U.S. consumers, and the bills doing the damage are the ones no family can opt out of. A new survey of 1,000

Budgeting is a key element of financial success at almost any income level. When it comes to budgeting—and ultimately saving—how much you earn doesn’t matter as much as how you manage your money. The thing is, people are not born knowing how to build a workable budget or save enough money for financial security. Both

When you’re drowning in debt, it’s easy to get tunnel vision about paying it off. But while chipping away at that debt is necessary to secure a healthy financial life, you don’t want to sacrifice another key element: an emergency fund. An emergency fund, as the name implies, is a bucket of money you set

When the smell of pumpkin spice fills the air at your local Starbucks, you know autumn has arrived. Since the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) debuted in 2003, it’s gained a cult-like following, boosting Starbucks’s foot traffic by 25% upon its seasonal launch on August 25, reportedly the coffee chain’s biggest Tuesday of the year. Watching

In mid-2025, Pokémon cards reached values they hadn’t seen in over 20 years, but is investing in them a good idea? Pokémon cards may have made some people wildly rich, but many people who invest in them still lose money. There are a lot of people who collected Pokémon cards as kids, but lately, things

A personal loan allows you to borrow the money you need to handle a wide range of costs, such as a home renovation, unexpected trip to the veterinarian or a major car repair. But before you sign on the dotted line, review this explainer from OneMain Financial detailing what personal loans are and how they

After paying your bill and making your minimum debt payments every month, you’ve got a limited amount of money left and two things competing for it. Save that money in an emergency fund, and you’re building protection while your balances keep accruing interest. Put it toward extra payments on your debt, and you’re making real

Florida has the highest average home insurance premium in 2026, according to new Insurance.com data fielded by Quadrant Information Services; rates climbed to $8,471 per year for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability, a $1,000 deductible and a 2% hurricane deductible. Other states with average home insurance rates over $5,000 are:

Are you in a DINK (double income, no kids) household? Whether you and your partner are waiting to expand your family or have no plans for children, being kid-free can impact your finances in a variety of ways. If you fall into the DINK category, take full advantage of this period of your life with

The average overdraft fee is about $35, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and U.S. banks collected $2.96 billion in combined overdraft and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees in just the first six months of 2026, according to a Motley Fool Money analysis of Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) Call Report data. That

Credit scores remain one of the most important factors in modern personal finance. They influence everything from loan approvals to interest rates to overall financial flexibility. Higher scores typically unlock lower interest rates and more competitive borrowing options, while lower scores can limit access and increase the cost of financing. On the surface, recent consumer

You make your credit card payment on time. You do it again the next month, and the month after that. And yet when you check, the number is almost exactly where it started. It’s one of the most demoralizing experiences in personal finance: doing everything you’re supposed to do and seemingly getting nowhere. Here’s the

Credit card debt can be exhausting. It can feel like a treadmill. You are moving. You are making payments every month. You are likely sweating over it. You are actively working at getting to your goal. And yet the scenery never changes and as much as you think you should be making progress, you still

Wherever you are in your financial journey, money likely has caused stress at some point. A majority of U.S. consumers — 58% — say their finances control their lives, and 42% say saving for long-term goals keeps them up at night, according to a 2024 Ally Consumer Check survey of 1,000 Americans. A crucial component

If you’ve ever taken out a loan or used a credit card to cover a car repair, you’ve created debt. Debt is money you borrow and agree to pay back, usually with interest. Debt can be a useful tool, and if you handle it responsibly, it could help you build a positive credit history. But

When you work 45, 50 or 60 hours a week, you expect your paycheck to reflect that time. Instead, you may be told you are “exempt,” be classified as an independent contractor, or receive the same hourly rate for every hour of overtime. At this point, you know something feels wrong, but you don’t have

As of mid-2026, over 8.5 million Americans are working more than one job. It’s becoming increasingly common for Americans to take on multiple jobs just to make ends meet. While having a second job may be a great way to earn extra income to afford bills or help save up for larger expenses, it’s important

Most budgets don’t fail because the person behind them lacks discipline. They fail because of predictable design flaws: the numbers were optimistic rather than real, irregular expenses were never accounted for, there were too many categories to maintain, or one overspent week made the whole plan feel broken. Each of those has a specific fix.

Housing is typically thought of as a fixed, non-negotiable bill, the one expense that gets paid before anything else. New survey data suggests that for a meaningful share of Americans, it isn’t being paid outright at all. It’s being financed. In a 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults with at least $10,000 in unsecured debt,

  Some school expenses get delayed. Some get financed. And some get canceled — a season, a club, a trip a kid was counting on. That last group is bigger than most parents realize. Accredited Debt Relief’s back-to-school survey of more than 1,000 parents of K-12 students found that 19% kept a child out of

  Following Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s keynote address at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium on August 28, 2026, global financial conditions have tightened amid a sharp repricing toward a more hawkish Fed funds futures market, OANDA reports. Key takeaways The U.S. Dollar Index remains range-bound despite a hawkish Fed repricing, shifting the potentially stronger

  New research from Stanford Graduate School of Business finds that financial advice from artificial intelligence chatbots can push consumers toward sounder, life-cycle-based financial decisions, like broader diversification and bigger savings buffers. But the quality of that advice depends heavily on who’s asking and what they’re asking, and for some groups the outcomes were worse,

  Managing money as a couple relies on trust. But what happens when that trust is tested or even broken? Building and maintaining financial intimacy is key for any long-term relationship that involves major decisions. Often, that requires talking about your personal finances, which can be particularly hard if you or your partner has a