The end of the month of March brings to a close most of the 2026 college admissions season. While some schools still have rolling admissions and others are releasing their remaining acceptance letters in staggered batches, the majority of high school students have received a determination on their applications.Now, it’s...

Listen to an album each morning, pick an easy instrument, don’t be afraid to write bad songs … you’ve got this! Composite: Guardian Design; Posed by models; Alistair Berg; Pekic/Getty Images There are many benefits to making music, whether you are one or 100. But how should you approach choosing...

What does it mean to anticipate and minimize liquidity needs? Determine the value of your assets The first step to anticipating the liquidity needs of your estate is to determine the value of your estate. This exercise may indicate that you are worth a lot more than you thought you...

Setting investment goals means defining your dreams for the future. When you're setting goals, it's best to be as specific as possible. For instance, you know you want to retire, but when? You know you want to send your child to college, but to an Ivy League school or to...

Employee contributions FERS employees hired on or after October 1, 2020, are automatically enrolled in the TSP by their agency, and 5% of their basic salary is deducted from their paycheck each pay period and deposited into the traditional balance of their TSP account, unless the employee makes an election...

As of this writing, the AAA says the average cost for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline in the U.S. stands at $3.98 per gallon. That’s close to a buck more than it went for a month earlier, with premium going for a whopping average $4.87. Californians pay the most in...

Retirees are generally a happy lot. For example, Retirement Realities: The Experience of Retirees, a recent study from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS), reports that very high percentages of retirees are generally happy (89%), have close relationships with family and friends (88%), enjoy life (86%), and have a...

It depends. If you are 59½ or older, you can take money from your traditional IRA without penalty. In contrast, if you withdraw from your IRA before age 59½, the taxable portion of your distribution may be subject to a 10% penalty on top of whatever income taxes you owe...

The war in Iran complicates the economic outlook. The downside risk is significant: a global recession. A quick reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, on the other hand, would bring us back to the old forecast—from a month ago—of stable economic growth in the United States. Although the future is...

Palantir CEO Alex Karp says there are two groups of people who shouldn't be worried about AI advancements."There are basically two ways to know you have a future," Karp said during a recent interview on TBPN. "One, you have some vocational training. Or two, you're neurodivergent."Neurodiversity is a broad term...

After 12 years ministering to the needs of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, Tammy Alexander retired from full-time work in 2022.She and her husband, both former Department of Veterans Affairs employees, were able to keep their federal health insurance. More recently, they needed to switch their coverage so that each...

Yes, but the taxable portion of your distribution may be subject to a 10% penalty for early withdrawal if you're not yet age 59½. If you are 59½ or older and take money from your traditional IRA, you will not be assessed a penalty, though you may still have to...

Since a turtlenecked Steve Jobs strode the global stage, tech executives and venture capitalists have doubled as company hypemen, churning out aspirational koans and fantastical assurances about how their products will change the world. As full-time salesmen — especially in the age of virality and world-historic funding rounds — they're...

Small business owners looking to adopt 401(k) plans are sometimes discouraged by the typically high costs and complicated testing requirements associated with plan administration (see sidebar). Fortunately, over the past few decades, legislators have introduced a number of simplified alternatives to the traditional 401(k) to help encourage more business owners...

Key TakeawaysApplied Intuition, an AI startup valued at about $15 billion, still expects employees to wipe down their own desks.Workers are also asked to remove their shoes at the office entrance, a practice CEO Qasar Younis says reinforces a particular kind of disciplined, focused culture.Younis argues that there’s a direct...

Key TakeawaysNearly three-quarters of Americans who feel financially behind believe speculative investments, like cryptocurrency and betting, can help them achieve their goals.Gen Z and Millennials are more likely than other generations to turn to speculative investments, with over one-third considering cryptocurrency in 2023.The stock market has reached record highs this...

The legal battle over the so-called "Zillow Ban" reached a surprisingly peaceful resolution Wednesday afternoon: Compass, the country's largest real estate brokerage, dropped its lawsuit against Zillow, marking the end of a fierce dispute over access to home listings. The bout between the two real estate giants may be settled,...

Key TakeawaysTwo recent White House orders targeted housing affordability, loosening restrictions on mortgage lending and encouraging more homebuilding.One order seeks to encourage more community banks to get into the mortgage market, which the White House said could lower borrowing costs. A separate directive aims to boost construction by cutting federal...

You don't want to be cutting it close on your journey to the airport at the moment.The partial government shutdown means there's no funding for the Department of Homeland Security. As a result, Transportation and Security Administration agents aren't being paid.Over 300 of them have quit since the start of...

Key TakeawaysJet fuel prices are up more than a third since the Iran war began, driving up airline costs and fares.Airlines are repricing summer flights now, so waiting to book may mean paying higher fares.Book your summer flights now. That’s the advice of travel experts watching the cascading effects on...

Question: Does Bitcoin protect investors when markets become unstable? BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 03: In this photo illustration the Bitcoin cryptocurrency logo is shown on a coin on March 03, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images) The short answer is no — at least not...

They win only if governments want just enough weapons—but not too many iStock image FINANCIAL MARKETS are never more ghoulish than in times of bloodshed. As soon as a missile is fired somewhere in the world, they start gauging not just losses but potential opportunities for profit. Even for believers...

A scenario some market pros had warned about in private credit is starting to play out.Analysts at Moody's Investors Service last summer had warned that retail-investor participation in private markets could pose a risk. Among their concerns was the idea that retail, accustomed to the daily liquidity of ETFs and...

The federal government tested a free, direct online tax-filing program for two years but with the change in administrations shut it down. There are still ways, though, to file your return at no charge, using government or commercial options.Direct File, a program started in the Biden administration, was tested by...

Mexico is an iconic spring break destination, from pool parties and world-class DJs in Cancun to blissful beach resorts in Puerto Vallarta. For U.S. travelers, it has been the top spring break vacation spot for more than five consecutive years, according to sales data from travel insurance provider Squaremouth. U.S....

By now, it's obvious that you will want to do everything possible to get out of default. Among other things, the default notation will be removed from your credit report, you will be eligible to apply for a deferment, and you will be eligible to take advantage of any flexible...

How high can oil and gas prices go? Rising tensions with Iran threaten global supply through the Strait of Hormuz, raising the risk of another major energy shock. Close-up of Chevron sign at a gas station, showing California gas prices, in Walnut Creek, California, April 8, 2025. (Photo by Smith...

Conventional wisdom says that what goes up, must come down. But even if you view market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when it's your money at stake. Though there's no foolproof way to handle the ups and downs of the stock market, the following...

In moments of extreme uncertainty investors usually rush to the safety of US government bonds, but not this time. iStock-2221452999 Reading too much into immediate short-term market reactions to major geopolitical news events is ghoulish and foolish. People are dying and no one knows what will happen next.Nonetheless, the uncertainty...

If you're self-employed or own a small business, you've probably considered establishing a retirement plan. If you've done your homework, you likely know about simplified employee pensions (SEPs) and savings incentive match plans for employees (SIMPLE) IRA plans. These plans typically appeal to small business owners because they're relatively straightforward...

By the end of this decade, women are projected to control 40% of investable assets in the United States. By 2048, they are expected to inherit an estimated $86 trillion . The headlines frame this as a transfer. But it may be something more consequential: a directional shift in power....

Oil prices spiked in the wake of the US attacks on Iran, with analysts and strategists eyeing negative consequences for markets and the economy if energy prices see a sustained rise.Brent oil rose roughly 7% and stocks whipsawed, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq turning positive after being down...

Key TakeawaysBerkshire Hathaway’s new CEO, Greg Abel, sent his first letter to shareholders over the weekend.In the letter, Abel paid tribute to his predecessor, Warren Buffett, who remains Berkshire’s chairman.He also promised cultural continuity, capital discipline and a focus on operating performance. Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel took the reins...

Many people purchase second homes without fully understanding the tax consequences. Second home ownership has some tax benefits, but it also carries potential tax traps that can be very expensive. Getty Many people take for granted that they’ll be able to deduct the real estate taxes on a second home,...

With equity market volatility on the rise, cryptocurrencies collapsing, heightened concerns around the effects of artificial intelligence, and other geopolitical issues weighing on investment portfolio returns, where can investors turn to experience less drama and still receive an attractive return? Fixed income and the bond market. NEW YORK, NEW YORK...