Here’s how to adjust your portfolio as the Fed hikes interest rates again

Martin Barraud | Caiaimage | Getty Images After another 0.75 percentage interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve, financial experts have tips for investors amid volatility in the stock and bond markets.   Continuing to fight inflation, the central bank on Wednesday announced its fourth consecutive three-quarters of a percentage point interest rate increase.  The…

Interest rate hikes have made financing a car pricier — especially if you have bad credit. How much you could pay

Tim Boyle | Bloomberg | Getty Images Although prices for new cars are moderating a bit, financing a vehicle purchase hasn’t been getting any cheaper. With the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate hike — the sixth this year — auto loans are poised to become even more expensive. The Fed’s move has a ripple effect,…

26 million borrowers have applied for student loan forgiveness. But GOP challenges put plan at risk

SKLA | iStock | Getty Images Close to 26 million Americans have applied for student loan forgiveness, and the Biden administration has already approved 16 million of the requests, the White House said Thursday. Yet its entire loan cancellation plan could be in jeopardy due to the legal challenges brought by Republicans, it warned. “If…

Fidelity is the latest employer to offer free college education to workers

Despite growing economic uncertainty, employers are still waging a war for talent, and employees are coming out ahead. Now, more businesses are expanding their benefit offerings with free college programs to attract and retain workers. Most recently, Fidelity Investments said it will offer fully funded undergraduate degrees to 18,000 employees, including entry-level customer service phone representatives….

Here’s what the inverted yield curve means for your portfolio

Catherine Yeulet | Getty Images As investors brace for another interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve, many are closely watching signals about the future of the economy. This week, investors are expecting the fourth 0.75 percentage point increase, which may continue to affect government bond yields. As the Fed takes further action to fight…

Education Department overhauls federal student loan system, aiming to make it ‘simpler, fairer and more accountable’

Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images News | Getty Images The U.S. Department of Education announced on Monday sweeping new changes to the federal student loan system, including additional consumer protections for borrowers and limits on the amount of interest that can accrue on the debt. “Today is a monumental step forward in the Biden-Harris team’s…

As Supplemental Security Income turns 50, some are calling for the program’s outdated rules to change

Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images A key federal program providing benefits to elderly, blind and disabled people — Supplemental Security Income — is turning 50 years old. The program, which currently serves nearly 8 million beneficiaries, was created by legislation signed by President Richard Nixon on Oct. 30, 1972. But even as Supplemental…

Top ranked advisors say these are the 3 biggest investing mistakes people make during recessions

Asia-pacific Images Studio | E+ | Getty Images After nearly a year of stock market volatility, high inflation and rising interest rates, a growing chorus of experts are warning investors about a recession. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon recently told investors there’s a “good chance” the U.S. economy is heading for a recession, and JPMorgan…

‘Millionaire tax’ plans are on the ballot in California and Massachusetts. Here’s what that means for taxpayers

amriphoto Amid the nationwide flurry of tax cuts, two states are voting on whether to enact a “millionaire tax” on top earners in November. In California, Proposition 30 would add a 1.75% levy on annual income of more than $2 million, in addition to the state’s top income tax rate of 13.3%, beginning Jan. 1. …

54% of adults say they have stopped or reduced their retirement savings contributions due to inflation, study shows

Brandon Bell | Getty Images It’s no secret that higher prices are taking a bite out of household budgets. They also appear to have made some people change their retirement savings habits: Inflation has caused 54% of adults to either reduce or stop their contributions, according to a new report from Allianz Life. Additionally, 43%…

Demand for Series I bonds crashes TreasuryDirect ahead of key deadline to secure 9.62% rate

Shapecharge | E+ | Getty Images Investors crashed the Treasury Department website for Series I bonds on Friday as they clamored to lock in a record-high interest rate before a key deadline. I bonds have proven to be a bright spot for investors amid declines in the broad stock and bond markets this year. They…

Inflation is making it harder for U.S. households to afford monthly expenses. Here are some tips to help make ends meet

Soaring prices are making it hard for many Americans to afford expenses each month. Costs are rising for nearly every major expense from housing and food to medical care. Employee wages aren’t keeping up. Having the money that’s coming in each month going out just as fast is becoming increasingly common.  Due to high inflation,…