It still matters if companies pollute our waterways, exploit their workers or poison their customers. Amid a mounting backlash against ESG, critics have argued that investors should care less about benchmarks of environmental, social and governance issues and should focus instead more on traditional financial analysis.But it still matters...

Are there restrictions on making withdrawals from a Roth IRA? Yes and no. You are free to make withdrawals at any time from your Roth IRA, but only qualified distributions receive tax-free treatment. A qualified distribution is not subject to federal income tax or a 10% early distribution penalty....

Gifting sounds nice in theory, but it can be complicated in practice, particularly when it comes to transfers by or to foreign persons. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), suspecting wrongdoers at every turn, has been busy recently applying pressure in the international realm. A $1 million gift from a...

What is a spousal individual retirement account (IRA)? If you meet certain conditions, you can set up and contribute to an IRA (traditional or Roth) for your spouse, even if he or she receives little or no taxable compensation for the year of the contribution. Such an IRA is...

What is an individual retirement account (IRA)? An individual retirement account (IRA) is a personal savings plan that offers specific tax incentives to encourage you to save for retirement. Currently, there are two types of retirement IRAs. Traditional IRAs allow for tax-deductible contributions under certain conditions. Roth IRAs are...

What is a "stretch" IRA? The term "stretch IRA" has become a popular way to refer to an IRA (either traditional or Roth) that has provisions that make it easier to "stretch out" the time that funds can stay in the IRA after the death of the owner. A...

“What might happen if…” is a common discussion prompt in the meetings I lead as a career coach. Coaching provides a safe space to talk honestly about the opportunities and challenges that intertwine when you’re pursuing the next step in your career. As we’ve seen in the past few...

Ann Brenoff didn’t worry when her dogs returned from a walk without her husband in 2015. He often dropped their leashes and let them race up the steep driveway to their home in the canyons of Los Angeles. “But after 20 or 30 minutes, we said ‘OK, where’s Dad?’” said...

Understanding 401(k) account characteristics is important to maximize investment contributions and save enough money to fund your lifestyle in retirement. Getty Investing in a 401(k) plan is one of the most effective options an investor has to plan for retirement. Tax-deferred growth and relatively high contribution limits enable individuals...

Is your net worth average?getty People are naturally curious as to how they compare to others, and wondering how you compare to someone else financially is no different. While understanding where you fall within the national average when it comes to your net worth is useful information, keep in...

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kevin O'Leary, Shark Tank investor, entrepreneur, multimillionaire and father of two. It has been edited for length and clarity.I've been asked countless times about what to do when family members come looking for money. It's a very complex issue because you...

Being an entrepreneur has its perks, but there are also many challenges as well. For females, in particular, there's also the need to juggle family, friendships and solo downtime. There is societal pressure to do it all, which can be overwhelming. Getty Images Entrepreneurship doesn't often follow a linear...

What is Medicare? Medicare is a federal health insurance program created in 1965 to help pay medical costs incurred by people over the age of 65, people with certain disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease. Coverage consisted of two parts: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical...

Traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be a good way to save for retirement. If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan or would like to supplement that plan, a traditional IRA could work for you. A traditional IRA is simply a tax-deferred savings account that has...

The Markets (third quarter through September 29, 2023) The positive momentum of the first two quarters of the year did not carry over to the third quarter. Inflation continued to prove stubborn throughout the third quarter, moderating somewhat, but not enough to curb the Federal Reserve's hawkish monetary policy....

Most individual investors know some basics about bonds. They know the diversifying role fixed income plays in a portfolio. They know bonds are generally less risky than stocks, and they know the cardinal rule of investing in credit: When yields go up, prices go down.But ask them to go...

There are exactly 2,640 billionaires in the world, according to Forbes. That's about 0.00003% of the global population.Despite their scarcity, these billionaires are surprisingly easy to find. After all, birds of a feather — especially those of a small brood — flock their private jets together. At the start of...

KEY TAKEAWAYSMoody's credit rating agency has downgraded the U.S. economic outlook to "negative" from "stable."The move brought immediate criticism from President Joe Biden's administration.It is the latest in a series of issues flagged by rating agencies about the strength of the financial status of the United States.Rating agency Moody's...

The annual sign-up window for Affordable Care Act plans, which offer health insurance to millions of Americans who do not receive it through work, opened last week in most states. And the good news is that temporarily expanded federal help is expected to keep monthly costs manageable for many people...

As generative AI sweeps the culture, entrepreneurs have been racing to seize market opportunities. But as ChatGPT quickly gets smarter, new questions and possibilities emerge. How do you stay on top of it all — or even begin? Here's how leading investors, founders, thought leaders , and tech luminaries...

In a business world that frequently associates outspokenness with leadership, introverts are often misjudged, or even worse, undervalued for their leadership skills.It’s a pity. Introverts are just as influential and effective leaders as extroverts; they just bring different skills and strengths to bear.The key for introverts lies in highlighting and...

Following the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the industry must choose between becoming mainstream or retreating to the fringes. Hours after Sam Bankman-Fried, co-founder of FTX and poster child of the crypto industry, was convicted of fraud and money laundering in New York, one of his leading venture capital backers...

NEW YORK, April 13 - Face it, we could all use a little help with our money. So who better to ask for personal finance advice than a couple of the most powerful chatbots on the planet?Both OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard are dominating headlines recently, for their generative capabilities...

One of the challenges of retirement is, should I need it, how will I pay for Long-Term Care (LTC) premiums and costs? Many people mistakenly believe that Medicare will pay for the cost. While it will pay for rehabilitative care, it does not pay for the classically defined long-term...

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference following a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) at the headquarters of the Federal Reserve on June 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. After a streak of ten interest rate increases,...

Spending can be addictive – it can start off as harmless but quickly build before you even realize it. The reasons for spending beyond your control can be varied, and it takes analysis, observation and self-reflection to get to the root of your spending issues. It’s an important task...

Thomas Hager, Contributor Nov. 7, 2023 For seniors, Social Security and Medicare are arguably two of the most prominent issues. These two issues are confusing and complicated, but nonetheless, decisions that need to be made. The average working couple today will receive approximately $1,500,000 in Social Security benefits. For...

People holding clear glass bottles during daytime @skylakestudio I think all of us can agree — money, in general, can be really frustrating sometimes. Over the past eight years since starting my site, I’ve talked to so many readers who are just grinding to get ahead, and they still...

Good news about America’s economy seems to keep rolling in. Image: Vincent Kilbride In the third quarter, GDP expanded by a barnstorming 4.9% in annualised terms. Heading into earnings season, the month or so each quarter when most firms report their latest results, a stream of upbeat economic figures led...

If you are eligible for a company 401(k) plan, but haven’t signed up because you can’t afford to contribute to the 401(k), I have two questions for you: Does the plan have a match? And, do you get a tax refund? If so, we need to talk. I’d also...

College financing is a quagmire right now. Those who are indebted are part of a $1 trillion tab that grows daily. Yet those entering college can still graduate debt free. Every year, a parent asks me about how college financing can work in their favor. I believe that only...

Because of their eagerness to be considered for gainful employment, many people may overlook certain improper interview questions. Depending on how they are asked, though, questions about personal topics, such as marital status, race, and health, are more than just poor manners; they are illegal under federal and some state...

You will die. I will, too. It sounds morbid, but it’s inevitable. Just as you prepare for life’s significant events, e.g., college, marriage, or retirement , it is equally crucial to anticipate your eventual departure and protect your loved ones from the burden of financial complications. Getty Images Here...

Credit cards can seem like a lifeline when money gets tight, especially if you use them for everyday necessities like groceries and gas. Plus, they earn rewards and provide high levels of security for financial transactions.But there are times when using credit cards can do more harm than good. Thanks...

The Markets (as of market close October 27, 2023) Last week saw Wall Street endure another lackluster performance. Investors continued to fret over hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials as inflation remained above the Fed's target rate of 2.0%. In addition, higher bond yields and unrest in the Middle...