Two Chinas inhabit the American imagination: One is a technology and manufacturing superpower poised to lead the world. The other is an economy that’s on the verge of collapse.Each reflects a real aspect of China.One China — let’s call it hopeful China — is defined by companies like artificial intelligence...

Indexed annuities and variable annuities can be useful options for retirement savings because interest earnings are tax-deferred until withdrawn. These annuities can also be converted to a stream of income payments that can last for the rest of your life (annuitization). However, annuitization generally requires that you exchange your annuity...

Key TakeawaysForgetting about your retirement plans or cashing them out early when you switch jobs can lead to significant fees.Leaving your 401(k) with your former employer could cost you up to $18,000 throughout your career, according to a recent study.Experts say you should consolidate your retirement accounts where possible to...

Some employers offer 403(b) plan participants the opportunity to make Roth 403(b) contributions. If you have access to this option, Roth contributions could play an important role in helping enhance your retirement income. What is a Roth 403(b)? A Roth 403(b) is a traditional 403(b) plan that accepts Roth 403(b)...

Danielle Seurkamp, Contributor May 29, 2025 The Health Savings Account (HSA) may be the most underrated financial savings vehicle out there. Why, you ask? HSAs offer a rare triple tax benefit. Contributions are tax-deductible (or pre-tax if made through payroll).Growth is tax-free as long as funds remain in the account.Withdrawals...

Think “Sell in May” still works? Think again. Discover why smart investors ignore the calendar—and how catalysts, not seasons, drive real portfolio returns. Don’t Sell in May—Rotate and Win While Others Run (Getty) “Sell in May and go away.” It’s catchy. It rhymes. And it’s wrong. Every year, investors consistently...

The FBI is warning about end-of-life routers no longer updated that present a serious hacking danger of Internet of Things devices that can lead to downloaded malware. Internet of things (IOT), devices and connectivity concepts on a network, cloud at center. digital circuit board above global Earth (Getty) The Internet...

Big Tech is winning the battle of the bulge.Companies are shedding layers of management in an attempt to reduce bureaucracy. Some employees are applauding the move, known as flattening the middle, in hopes of getting faster and boosting efficiency.Microsoft said Tuesday it's slashing about 6,000 employees. While the days since...

One minute. That’s all it took. One surreal, slightly awkward minute standing face-to-face with a shiny metal sphere in a glass-fronted shop on Union Square, San Francisco. I stepped in curious. I walked out a "Verified Human." I had met the Orb. Dan and the OrbDan Fitzpatrick What’s an Orb?...

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Americans spend more on prescription and over-the-counter drugs than anyone else in the world. It’s true that they take a lot of pills. But what really sets the US apart is how much drugs cost. Unlike in most other countries, their prices are established without direct government intervention. Modest changes...

DeepSeek's AI app quickly became popular in the U.S. after its release in January, rising to the top of U.S. Apple and Google app stores and capturing the attention of Silicon Valley . DeepSeek differentiated itself from its competitors, like ChatGPT , Gemini , and Claude , by being a...

Understand what portfolio diversification is and why it's a crucial investment strategy. Learn how diversification can help reduce risk and potentially improve long-term returns. Portfolio diversification represents a mathematically sound approach to managing investment risk without necessarily compromising long-term returns (Getty) Portfolio diversification represents one of the fundamental principles of...

You have no control over the volatility in financial markets or the economic tumult caused by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. But you can prepare for financial potholes by bolstering your rainy-day fund.“Emergency savings is one of the single best predictors of a person’s financial well-being,” said Stephen Roll, codirector...

You don’t have venture capital, private investors, or enormous savings. Good. You don’t need them. Oftentimes, having less resources actually challenges us to be resourceful. Did you know that there are so many ways to start a business without having any money to invest in its growth, at least when...

The $4 trillion tax bill released May 12 by House Republicans, which sets the stage for a Congressional battle over President Donald Trump’s key economic legislation, includes an unusual provision: the creation of a new savings vehicle dubbed “MAGA accounts” that would be seeded with $1,000 for each American baby...

In today’s column, I address a topic that is quite surprising to many users of generative AI and large language models (LLMs). When you use generative AI, the AI is usually keeping track of you in numerous ways. The AI is identifying a wide array of aspects about what you...

If you own a small business and you haven't set up a retirement savings plan, what are you waiting for? A retirement plan can help you and your employees save on taxes while saving for the future. Tax advantages A retirement plan can have significant tax advantages: Employers with 100...

So, you're thinking of going into business for yourself. You have several options available, and all involve some degree of risk. Do you want to create a start-up operation? Perhaps you are planning on buying an existing business. Or, you may be considering the purchase of a franchise operation. Each...

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Term life insurance provides life insurance coverage for a specific time period (the term). It is often referred to as pure insurance. The face amount of the policy is paid if you die during the term of the policy. When you live longer than the term of the insurance coverage,...

In a word, no. Estate planning allows you or anyone to implement certain tools now to ensure that your concerns and goals are fulfilled after you die. Your objective may be to simply make sure that your loved ones are provided for. Or you may have more complex goals, such...

Investors are often confused about the differences between growth stocks and value stocks. The main way in which they differ is how they are perceived by the market and, ultimately, the investor. Growth stocks are associated with high-quality, successful companies whose earnings are expected to continue growing at an above-average...

A nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plan is an arrangement between an employer and one or more employees to defer the receipt of currently earned compensation. You might want to establish an NQDC plan to provide your employees with benefits in addition to those provided under your qualified retirement plan, or...

The loss of a spouse can be a devastating, life-changing event. Due to longer life expectancies, women are more likely to face this situation. Becoming a widow at any age can be one of the most difficult challenges a woman must face. Not only is there the emotional loss of...

Federal Reserve monetary policies can affect the entire fixed-income market, and the prospect of rising interest rates is a major concern for bond investors. Regardless of the rate environment, however, bonds are a mainstay of investors who want to generate income or dampen the effects of stock market volatility on...

If you're receiving benefits based on your own work record, your benefits will continue. If you're receiving spousal benefits based on your former spouse's work record, those benefits will generally end upon your getting remarried, but you may be able to receive benefits based on your new spouse's work record,...

How much life insurance do you need? Your life insurance needs will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your family, the nature of your financial obligations, your career stage, and your goals. For example, when you're young, you may not have a great need for life...

Since October, Frank Vaughan has been fixing up a 1990 Catalina 18 sailboat at his home in Cedar Creek, Texas. By early this year, the boat was just about ready for the lake. All it needed was some sails.In February, Vaughan, 66, ordered two new Dacron sails from a Chinese...

What is underwriting? Underwriting is the process insurance companies use to evaluate information collected about an insurance applicant in order to decide whether or not that applicant should be issued an insurance policy. Disability insurance underwriting is strict because the insurance company has only one chance to evaluate the potential...

If you're like most people, it's not that you don't appreciate the value of life insurance. In fact, many people believe they need more coverage. You probably wouldn't mind owning additional life insurance. It's just that you don't want to buy it. Thinking about buying life insurance, talking about buying...

Cryptocurrency is treated as property for federal income tax purposes, and general tax principles related to property transactions apply to transactions using cryptocurrency. Thus, the sale or other exchange of cryptocurrencies, or the use of cryptocurrencies to pay for goods or services, or holding cryptocurrencies as an investment generally has...

When I was first employed as an accountant by my current law firm, it felt like I was living the dream. The thought of working on a hybrid schedule, three days in the office and two days at home, gave me a sense of freedom. At the time, I was...

The average inheritance for American households is $46,200, according to the Federal Reserve.1 This number is as high as it is because of the large inheritances passed down by wealthy families to their heirs.So, what should you do with an inheritance? And what do you need to know about the...

So you are thinking about making a series of gifts protected from gift tax by the annual exclusion, or a large gift sheltered from gift tax by the applicable exclusion amount, but have concerns about losing access to the gifted property or its income if circumstances change. If you are...