Here’s why health savings accounts may contribute to inequality

The Good Brigade | Digitalvision | Getty Images A popular way to save for out-of-pocket medical expenses might be contributing to health-care inequality, new research suggests. Health savings accounts are tax-advantaged accounts available to Americans with high-deductible health insurance policies. Federal law established them in 2003. Since then, HSAs have grown quickly as employers have…

62% of workers view 401(k) employer match as key to reaching retirement goals. But they may wait years for those contributions to be their own

In this article PFG Blackcat | E+ | Getty Images If your employer’s contributions to your 401(k) plan are a big part of your retirement planning, be sure you understand when that money will actually belong to you. Vesting schedules — the length of time you must be at an employer for its contributions to…

Billions in federal rental assistance is still available. Here’s what struggling renters need to know

Demonstrators in front of the White House on Sept. 25, 2021, call for the cancellation of rents, and mortgages and to prevent millions of evictions in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Olivier Douliery | Afp | Getty Images Billions of dollars in federal rental assistance is still available to struggling renters, though some states…

Op-ed: If female investors have any weakness, it’s their mistaken belief that they’re not good investors

Martin-dm | E+ | Getty Images Women and men do differ when it comes to investing. However, while many may think of women as the weaker sex when it comes to investing, female investors actually capture stronger rates of return than their male counterparts. Women outperform men by 40 basis points, or 0.4%, on average,…

Are you saving enough for retirement? Odds are, probably not

Muslianshah Masrie | Photodisc | Getty Images Are you saving enough now for your eventual retirement? The odds are that you probably aren’t. The latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances for 2019 found that the median amount of savings in Americans’ retirement accounts was $65,000. To say the least, that nest egg will not…

Rising inflation may increase yearly rates for I bonds. Here’s what to know

RyanJLane | E+ | Getty Images If you’re rattled by soaring prices, I bonds, a popular inflation-protected and nearly risk-free asset, may soon become even more appealing, experts say. While I bonds currently pay 7.12% annual returns through April, that rate may jump to 9.62% in May, according to Ken Tumin, founder and editor of Depositaccounts.com,…

Biden administration will give millions of student loan borrowers in default a fresh start — here’s what you need to know

The U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Caroline Brehman | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images Along with the announcement last week that the ongoing payment pause on federal student loans would be extended for another four months, the Biden administration also offered good news to borrowers who were behind on their debt prior…

There’s another sneaky tax deadline on April 18. Here’s how to avoid a penalty

Prathanchorruangsak | Istock | Getty Images With one week left to file your federal taxes, it’s easy to overlook another sneaky deadline: the due date for first-quarter estimated tax payments. If you have income from self-employment, a small business, gig economy work, investments and more, you must make a payment by April 18. You need…

‘The war for talent’ continues. 40% of recent job switchers are again looking for a new position, survey finds

Cecilie_arcurs | E+ | Getty Images Two of every 5 workers who switched jobs over the past year are looking for work again, according to a new survey published by Grant Thornton, a consulting firm. These workers will likely account for a good deal of churn in the labor market as the so-called Great Resignation…

Op-ed: How next-gen investors can build institutional-grade portfolios

Anchiy | E+ | Getty Images Many individual investors often look at public markets like they are the only game in town to make money and meet their financial goals. But with lofty valuations of public companies and depressed bond yields, the traditional 60/40 stock-to-bond portfolio has been thrown to the wayside, so the next…

The tax deadline is 10 days away. Here’s the average refund so far

bymuratdeniz | iStock | Getty Images There are 10 days until April 18, the tax deadline for most Americans, and the IRS has already sent more than 63 million refunds worth over $204 billion in total, as of April 1, the agency reported Friday. Almost one-third of Americans don’t file until the last minute, according to a…

Here’s who should consider filing a tax extension and how to do it

mediaphotos | E+ | Getty Images If you still haven’t filed your taxes, you’re not alone. But if you’re worried about the April 18 deadline, it may be time to consider an extension, financial experts say. Nearly one-third of Americans don’t file until the last minute, according to a report from IPX 1031, with many…