You don’t want to run out of money before you run out of time. Saving for the future should start the day you begin working at a full-time job. A ​401(k), if offered by your employer, is the best way to get started with planning for the future.​ How Do You Start Saving? Participating in a 401(k) plan through your employer is usually the easiest way to get started putting money away for the long term....

A Timeline of What Happened The first day of the crash was Black Thursday. The Dow opened at 305.85. It immediately fell by 11%, signaling a stock market correction. Trading was triple the normal volume. Wall Street bankers feverishly bought shares to prop it up. The strategy worked. On Friday, October 25, the positive momentum continued. The Dow rose by 0.6% to 301.22. On Black Monday, October 28, the Dow fell by 13....

As a result of the Check 21 Law, banks process check payments faster than in the past. If you write a check, that may be bad news because the funds will be deducted from your account more quickly—or the check will bounce if you don’t have cash available, and you don’t want that. When you receive a check, speed is a good thing because you get paid sooner. What’s Not Substitute Check?...

Review the full definition of supplementary payments and some examples of common costs that fall under this category. What Are Supplementary Payments? One of the broad duties imposed on insurers under the standard general liability policy is the duty to defend. The insurer is obligated to defend (or pay the cost of defending) the insured against lawsuits covered by the policy. The costs the insurer will pay are described in a section entitled “supplementary payments....

If you’re an older adult or a newly retired person, keep reading to learn about the tax breaks you can take advantage of this tax season. A Larger Standard Deduction for Older Adults You won’t have to pay taxes on as much of your income, because the IRS allows you to begin taking an additional standard deduction when you turn 65. For tax year 2022—the tax return you file in 2023—you can add an extra $1,750 to the standard deduction you’re otherwise eligible for, as long you are unmarried and not a surviving spouse....

A thank-you note could make the difference between getting the job, the client, or the contract and being passed over in the business world. An interview thank-you note can solidify the impression you left with the interviewer and make you stand out from the competition. Here are some of the best words and phrases to use to say thank you and show your appreciation to the recipient. Words and Phrases to Use to Say Thank You What’s the best way to show your appreciation?...

Additionally, look for adjustable features for armrests, tilt tension, and seat height. And last, but not least, you’ll want to think about the chair’s function before investing in it. From standard task chairs to exercise ball chairs, here are the best budget office chairs for all of your business needs. Carrying up to 331 pounds, this chair has adjustable features so that it fits your needs. Its customizable parts include height-adjustable armrests, one-touch chair height adjustment, 360-degree swivel, and a tilt and lock system....

Pink Tax A “pink tax” isn’t a tax. It’s a price increase on products targeted at women. In other words, the pink tax is a form of price discrimination based on gender. The more expensive products might be the same products men use, only marketed to women. In fact, according to a study from The Balance, everyday products targeted at women cost about 13% more than those targeting men. Items that often carry a pink tax include:...

While it’s often scary to invest new money, and it may be tempting to dump your investments when markets sour, experts caution that’s typically a bad move. Investing often helps build wealth, and you could miss out on gains when the market recovers. Historically, bear markets have lasted about a year or less, and losses were about 36%. But bull market runs, which follow bear markets, have lasted an average of 3....

While the labor market remains tight, there are signs it is softening. In August, the economy added 315,000 jobs, so employers are hiring fewer people. But the labor market’s strength could have problematic implications for Federal Reserve policy, and therefore, the rest of us. I know what you’re thinking. How can a strong job market be a bad thing? It’s not that high levels of employment are necessarily bad for the economy, it’s just that the Fed is trying to fight inflation, and to do that, it needs to slow the economy down....

Still, getting on track with a realistic budget and squirreling money away may not be as difficult as you think. Begin by taking the time to create a budget, which can help you reorganize your finances, prioritize spending, and manage debt, thus allowing you to make progress toward your long-term financial goals. Make a Classic Budget Budgeting your money is the cornerstone of a sound financial plan, and seeing all of the numbers in black and white can offer valuable perspective on where your money is going and where you could put it to better use....

Credit card rewards come in different forms, but they all provide a benefit for using your card more. The value of the rewards you earn and the types of purchases that earn rewards can vary by credit card. Types of Credit Card Rewards Rewards generally fall into two categories: cash and points or miles. The cash rewards can help reduce your credit card balance. Travel rewards can help you earn free trips for yourself and your loved ones....

What Are Balanced Funds? Also called hybrid funds or asset allocation funds, balanced funds are mutual funds that hold a blend of underlying investment assets, such as stocks, bonds, and cash. The asset allocation, or “balance” of assets, remains relatively fixed and serves a stated purpose or investment style. For example, a conservative balanced fund might invest in a conservative (relatively low risk) mix of underlying investment assets, such as 40% stocks, 50% bonds, and 10% money market....

Learn more about the career planning process and how to put it to work for you. What Is a Career Planning Process? The career planning process involves taking the time to decide what your career goals are and how you’ll get there. You might engage in this process on your own or with a guidance or career counselor. You can also start the career planning process at any point in your career....

How your creditors respond to late payments can continue to affect you for months or even years. Knowing the consequences of a late credit card payment should be enough to make you make an extra effort to pay on time. What Happens When You Pay Your Credit Card Bill Late Your credit card payment is considered late if it’s received after the cutoff time on the due date or if it’s less than the minimum amount due....

Bond Yield vs. Return Yield is the income that a fund pays on either a monthly or quarterly basis. You can either take this income in the form of a check or reinvest it into the fund to buy new shares. There are many ways to calculate yield, which confuses many people. The bottom line is that if a fund’s share price didn’t change, and it paid a 5% yield in a given year, the fund’s total return would be 5% for that year....

The tax applies to recipients who are more than 37.5 years younger than the donor unless the recipient is related. In the case of relatives, it applies if a generation exists between the donor and the recipient, such as between a grandparent and a grandchild. Congress enacted this tax in 1976 in an effort to prevent wealthier taxpayers from dodging an estate tax by giving their assets away to future generations during their lifetimes....

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires mutual funds to disclose ample information for investors to understand the fund’s investment objectives, principal risks, fees and expenses, and past performance of the fund. These are some important factors you should know before choosing to invest in a mutual fund. However, data overload can be a problem in your analysis, which is why it helps to know a few of the least important factors in analyzing mutual funds, too....

Whether you’re a parent, graduate student, or undergraduate student, you’ll need to review your options and decide which type of loan is right for you. Types of Federal Student Loans Your options for federal student loans include: Direct subsidized loans (also called subsidized Stafford loans)Direct unsubsidized loans (also called unsubsidized Stafford loans)Parent or graduate PLUS loans (also called direct PLUS loans) Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans are also known as Stafford loans....

For example, U.S. adults are almost equally apt to have either ramped up or slowed down their saving during the pandemic, according to the results of an online survey released Wednesday by Northwestern Mutual. Of those participating in the March survey, 33% said they have been able to save more over the last year, 31% said they are saving less or have stopped saving altogether, and 9% reported digging into their savings account and shrinking their nest egg....