Category: personal finance

How Major US Stock Indexes Fared July 14

Another winning week for Wall Street drifted to a quiet close following profit reports from several big U.S. companies that topped expectations. The S&P 500 fell 0.1 percent Friday, coming off its highest close since April 2022. The Dow rose 113 points, or 0.3 percent, and the Nasdaq slipped 0.2 percent. UnitedHealth Group jumped after…


Protecting Assets From a Nursing Home

Most people work their entire adult lives saving for retirement. Between stocks, annuities, and savings, they think they’re covered. Then a catastrophic illness or accident happens, and they’re forced to enter long-term care. And the average cost of a semi-private room is $9,167 per month. This can wipe out a savings quickly. Although this scenario…


Closing Prices for Crude Oil, Gold, and Other Commodities (July 13)

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery rose $1.14 to $76.89 a barrel Thursday. Brent crude for September delivery rose $1.25 to $81.36 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for August delivery rose 1 cent $2.68 a gallon. August heating oil rose 1 cent to $2.61 a gallon. August natural gas fell 8 cents to $2.55 per…


How Major US Stock Indexes Fared July 13

Wall Street’s winning streak barreled into a fourth day following the latest signal that inflation is easing its chokehold on the economy. The S&P 500 rose 0.8 percent Thursday for its highest close since April 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1 percent, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 1.6 percent as Big Tech stocks…


The Credit-Building Road With Alternative Credit Cards Could Be Bumpy

Getting a first or second chance to build credit with a credit card has been easier in recent years because financial technology companies have created alternative options. These new cards often evaluate applications differently from traditional credit cards, with algorithms and proprietary methods that may put less emphasis on credit scores while looking at factors…


Will the IRS Negotiate on Back Taxes?

You’ve probably seen those TV ads with companies claiming they can settle your tax debt for pennies on the dollar. The ad shows happy people saying they owed thousands of dollars but only had to pay hundreds. These companies claim to have great negotiating skills. But will the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) really come down…


Closing Prices for Crude Oil, Gold, and Other Commodities (July 12)

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery rose 92 cents to $75.75 a barrel Wednesday. Brent crude for September delivery rose 71 cents to $80.11 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for August delivery rose 5 cents $2.67 a gallon. August heating oil rose 2 cents to $2.60 a gallon. August natural gas fell 10 cents to…


How Major US Stock Indexes Fared July 12

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street after a report showed inflation cooled a bit more than expected last month. The S&P 500 rose 0.7 percent Wednesday. The Dow added 86 points, or 0.3 percent, and the Nasdaq rose 1.2 percent. Treasury yields tumbled in the bond market as the cooler inflation data pushed traders to…


The Secrets of Successful Financial Planning: Inside Tips From an Expert (Part 5)

So, what is actionable here? You need not only an advisor who is willing and able to find you the best courses of action as to the planning aspect of your finances, but one—perhaps not the same person—who will find the best product in each category that you need. Let’s focus now on individual professionals…


How Bonuses Are Taxed and Why

A bonus is a type of payment on top of your regular wages. And you probably wait all year to receive yours. But they’re still income and subject to taxes. You’ll note this when you see that your bonus is much smaller than you thought. There are two ways to tax your bonus. So, what…