Category: personal finance

ANALYSIS: IRS Under Biden Taxing Americans More Than Trump

The amount of taxes collected from Americans under President Joe Biden has soared compared to former President Donald Trump’s tenure, while tax enforcement has also risen, an analysis of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data shows. The IRS collected a total of $4.9 trillion in taxes for fiscal year 2022 (Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022), according…


A Savvy Shopper’s Secrets for Buying in Bulk: How to Tell a Bum Deal from a Real Steal

Buying in bulk is an article of faith in these cost-conscious times, and judging by the boom in discount warehouse paradises and mega-markets, the trend is showing no sign of slacking. But is bulk buying really the answer to our prayers? That depends. When you first visit a discount warehouse, it’s stunning—aisle after aisle of…


Will You Face a Tax Bomb in Retirement?

Good savers, beware. The money you’re stuffing into your 401(k) and other retirement accounts has to be withdrawn someday. If you’re not strategic about how you save, you could face unnecessarily high tax bills and inflated Medicare premiums in retirement—plus, you could be saddling your heirs with higher taxes. The earlier you start defusing this…


14 Ways to Revamp Your Personal Finances Even When Money is Tight

Many of the opportunities available to you are dictated by your financial situation, making it difficult to overstate the importance of taking care of your personal finances. When it comes to managing money, most of us have room for improvement. Understanding your current financial situation, setting goals, and making a plan are all important steps…


4 Ways to Deal With High Interest Rates in Every Part of Your Business

By Daniel Altman Thanks to inflation and the Federal Reserve’s response, interest rates are now at their highest levels in 15 years. The nationwide average for 30-year mortgages is over 6 percent, credit card rates have gone north of 23 percent and even the federal government is paying close to 5 percent on an annual…


Closing Prices for Crude Oil, Gold and Other Commodities (Apr. 14)

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for May delivery rose 36 cents to $82.52 a barrel Friday. Brent crude for June delivery rose 22 cents to $86.31 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for May delivery rose 1 cent $2.84 a gallon. May heating oil fell 3 cents to $2.64 a gallon. May natural gas rose 10 cents to…


Inflation Expectations Surge Despite Signs of Cooling Economy, Suggesting Stagflation

U.S. household inflation is expected to rise over the next 12 months, despite signs of a slowing economy, suggesting stagflation. The University of Michigan’s preliminary release of its overall consumer sentiment index for April came in at 63.5, up from 62.0 in March. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a preliminary reading of 62.0. Rising inflation expectations…


Retirement: New Rules on Required Minimum Distributions

By Sandra Block Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Congress late last year revised the rules on required minimum distributions (RMDs) that retirees must start taking in their 70s from tax-deferred retirement accounts. Here’s what you need to know: In 2023, the starting age for taking RMDs from traditional individual retirement accounts, 401(k)s, and other tax-deferred plans increases…


Elon Musk Warns of ‘Tough Sledding’ Ahead for US Economy

Elon Musk predicted that the U.S. economy will be in for a hard slog until at least the spring of 2024, joining a growing list of ominous warnings about America’s economic outlook after a series of recent high-profile bank failures. “Tough sledding until spring next year is my best guess,” the Tesla CEO said in…


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

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for May delivery fell $1.10 to $82.16 a barrel Thursday. Brent crude for June delivery fell $1.24 to $86.09 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for May delivery fell 4 cents $2.83 a gallon. May heating oil fell 3 cents to $2.67 a gallon. May natural gas fell 8 cents to $2.01 per…