Throughout 2023, the U.S. economy has stayed resilient in the face of rapid monetary policy tightening; consumer demand has stayed solid, and the labor market has remained unflinching. Gross domestic product (GDP), adjusted for inflation, rose at a 2.4% annual rate in the second quarter, up from a 2% growth rate in the first three Read more
Property Protectors: Homeowners Insurance vs. Home Warranty
Whether you own a house or are planning to buy one, you may be considering a home warranty and homeowners insurance and pondering the difference between the two. Both are important tools that can reduce the potential risk and unexpected financial burdens of home ownership. But while the distinction between the two might seem ambiguous, Read more
What Do You Know About Social Security? Take a Quiz
For most of those nearing retirement, Social Security is expected to be the main source of income. Nearly nine out of ten people aged 65 and older were receiving a Social Security benefit as of December 31, 2022, and Social Security benefits represent about 30% of the income of the elderly, according to the Social Read more
Here’s That Rainy Day: How Your 401(K) Works When You Retire
Duringyour working years, you contributed to your 401(k)—or, if you worked at a public school or charity, your 403(b)—to help fund your retirement. But what happens when you get to the finish line and retire? Surveys show nearly half of older participants in 401(k) or 403(b) plans have no idea how they will get cash Read more
Crosscurrents: Economic Uncertainty
In the first quarter of 2023, the U.S. economy grew by 1.3% on an annualized basis and expanded by less than 0.3% on a quarterly basis. That growth was down from a 2.6% rate in the last three months of 2022, but nonetheless represented a third straight quarter of growth after output contracted in the Read more
Aftershocks: Impact of the Banking Crisis
The current banking crisis rolled on with two key developments in late April. The first was the release of several reports from the Federal Reserve detailing the errors that led up to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023, blaming poor regulatory oversight combined with an absence of risk management for the failure. Read more