America is just over seven weeks away from Election Day, and investors are beginning to get as jittery as both parties' supporters. According to a recent survey conducted by global asset management group Janus Henderson, 6 in 10 investors say they plan to reduce portfolio risk until the election is decided.

The $5 value meal was the fast food trend of the summer, and some of the biggest chains are now extending their deals into the fall as they try to draw customers amid disappointing store traffic. McDonald’s started the wave of deals in May, announcing a four-item combo meal that...

Even though inflation is subsiding, your out-of-pocket health insurance costs could spike in 2025. Employers, which provide health coverage to over 150 million Americans, are bracing for yet another year of steep price increases for workplace health plans, according to preliminary results from Mercer’s annual private health insurance survey.

The price of gold surged to a new all-time high of $2,582 per troy ounce on Friday on the back of a weaker dollar and expected rate cuts. The precious metal is up 3% in the past three days as investors eye the Federal Reserve's next Federal Open Market Committee meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, when the U.S. central bank is expected to cut its benchmark interest rate by as much as half a percentage point.

The federal government is ordering student loan servicer Navient to pay a hefty fine aimed at redressing exploited borrowers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a proposed order Thursday against Navient, fining the financial firm $120 million and recommending it be permanently banned from servicing federal student loans. Part of that money is earmarked for direct compensation to student loan borrowers who the consumer protection agency says were harmed.

Gen X has made headlines in recent weeks for a lack of retirement preparedness. According to one report, the average retirement savings across Gen Xers — or those born between 1965 and 1980 — is about $130,000, despite the numerous surveys that show people generally believe they’ll require $1 million or more to enjoy their golden years.

When setting off for a long holiday or business trip, homeowners might find it useful to leave access to their home available to loved ones or neighbors in case of an emergency or to keep up with duties around the home. They might need someone to water their plants or make sure they turned off that appliance before leaving.

The economy is the No. 1 issue for voters right now, so naturally it dominated the discussion when former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris met to debate Tuesday night in Philadelphia. Over the course of 90 minutes, the nominees clamored to clarify their positions on several pocketbook issues that affect Americans daily.

Social Security payments are on track to get a 2.5% bump next year, thanks to an annual cost-of-living adjustment. The new prediction for the 2025 COLA, which comes from The Senior Citizens League, is based on the inflation numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday. The latest COLA forecast is a slight decrease from last month’s estimate of 2.57%, as inflation continues to inch down.

Americans are growing more concerned about missing debt payments and entering delinquency as high prices and interest rates weigh on borrowers. New survey data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed a decreasing level of confidence among consumers in their ability to make the minimum debt payments for loans and credit cards.

Ahead of November's election, former President Donald Trump is calling for an end to the federal income taxes on Social Security benefits. Trump posted a video to his social media platform Truth Social on Monday railing against the “cruel double taxation” of Social Security, referring to the payroll taxes that workers pay to fund the program and then the federal income taxes some owe on a portion of benefits once they are received.

Health insurance companies will be held to higher standards in providing mental health care under a new federal rule finalized Monday. The new rule aims to lower costs and improve access to providers who offer care related to mental health and substance use. It revitalizes a 2008 law, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which was designed to ensure that health insurance coverage for mental health conditions and substance use disorders is on par with coverage of medical and surgical care.

Everyday Americans often fret over how much they need to retire comfortably — or whether they’ll be able to retire at all. According to new retirement research from the financial firm Northwestern Mutual, affluent folks already know those answers ($3.9 million, and yes, of course). What they’re truly...

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Housing inventory, a long-time bane of prospective homebuyers, has surged to the highest level in four years. The number of homes actively for sale in August climbed to more than 909,000 units, representing a nearly 36% year-over-year increase, according to data from listing site Realtor.com Moreover, the supply of affordable homes, defined as those priced between $200,000 and $350,000, increased by 46%.

The IRS put high-income tax dodgers on notice in February when it announced an initiative to go after wealthy non-filers. Now, the agency reports that it’s made "significant progress" — to the tune of $172 million. Everyday folks don't need to worry: The Biden-Harris administration has a longstanding...

The Federal Reserve is expected to decrease interest rates for the first time since 2020 in September, setting off a chain reaction that will indirectly influence several parts of the U.S. economy — including your wallet. In recent years, the Fed ratcheted up interest rates (and then held them...

A group of Republican-led states has thrown another wrench in the Biden administration's attempts to reform the federal student loan system. On Thursday, a federal court in Georgia temporarily blocked President Biden's latest effort to broadly forgive student loans, which was slated to cancel an estimated $150 billion of student loan debt starting as early as this fall.

Good news, drivers: Gas prices have a shot at dipping below $3 for the first time in years. The national average for a gallon of gas is currently $3.30, having decreased 17 cents in the past month, according to AAA. And before the end of 2024, prices could drop even further, according to analysts including Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates.

Car insurance rates have jumped nearly 20% in the past year, making the average annual cost over $1,700 and increasingly pushing vehicle ownership out of reach for middle-class Americans. Aside from depreciation, car insurance is typically the second-largest driving-related expense for the typical driver, according to a new report from...