Retire with MONEY

Interest Rates for High-Yield Savings Accounts Probably Won't Bounce Back 'for the Foreseeable Future' by Julia Glum Remember summer 2019? James Holzhauer finally lost on Jeopardy!, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May resigned, and interest rates on many high-yield savings accounts sat comfortably above 2%. A year later, the world looks a lot different. The U.S.

Your Popularity Back in High School Could Affect Your Salary Today by Mallika Mitra Hopefully it’s been awhile since you thought about prom, bullies and who you sat with in the high school cafeteria. But –- please, don’t panic here -– your teenage social life could be affecting how much money you’re making now.

Here's What You Need to Know About Taking an Early 401(k) Withdrawal by Martha White Tapping your 401(k) might help keep you afloat in a pinch, but financial advisors recommend that you have a plan to recharge your retirement savings a soon as possible. In late March, Congress passed the massive $2 trillion stimulus bill dubbed the CARES Act.

College Students Are Facing Increased Homelessness and Food Insecurity Since the Coronavirus Closed Campuses by Charlotte West The high cost of housing in California was a challenge for Roshelle Czar even before the coronavirus hit the state. The 26-year-old Sacramento State University student had spent months looking for a job. Almost as soon as she was hired to scoop ice cream at Haagen-Dazs in downtown Sacramento, she was laid off due to the pandemic.

What the Fed’s 0% Interest Rate Plan Means for Mortgage Rates by Samantha Sharf House hunters rushing to lock in record low mortgage rates likely have a bit more time to shop thanks to a pair of announcements from the Federal Reserve last week. On Wednesday, the Fed’s policy makers said they would maintain the near zero interest rates instituted earlier this year, indicating they expect to keep rates at basement levels through 2022.

"The Dow Just Fell 1,800 Points. Here's How to Protect Your Investments Against Stock Market Volatility" by Mallika Mitra It’s no time for investors to get complacent. The S&P 500 may have erased its losses for the year earlier this week, but volatility returned with a vengeance on Thursday afternoon, with the Dow plunging more than 1,800 points, or nearly 7%.

"Does Getting Arrested at a Protest Show up on an Employee Background Check?" by Kenadi Silcox Protests decrying police brutality took place in all 50 states in recent weeks. Video evidence shows that these protests have been mostly peaceful, and the violence that has been committed has largely come from police officers themselves. But a massive number of people still got arrested across the country for minor offenses like being out past city-wide curfews and obstructing traffic.

"You Could Still Be Overpaying for Car Insurance, Even After a Coronavirus Rebate. Here's How to Get the Lowest Rates by Paul Reynolds The drop in car accidents — and in insurance claims for crashes — has been among the few bright spots of the coronavirus epidemic. But while insurers have already automatically passed along some of their savings to customers, you may need to work to get back all the money you’re entitled to.

"Investors Have a Ton of Cash Sitting on the Sidelines. Here's Why That's a Bad Idea" by Mallika Mitra If the market drop in March scared you into pulling money out of the market, you’re not alone. Investors yanked $326 billion out of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds in March – that’s more than triple the fund outflows seen in October 2008, the previous record, according to Morningstar.

Coronavirus ‘Contact Tracer’ is One of the Most In-Demand Jobs Right Now. Here’s How to Get Hired By Daniel Bortz. States across the country are hiring tens of thousands of contact tracers to stop the spread of COVID-19. It’s important work: Contact tracers help infected Americans recall the names of everyone they’ve recently come into contact with, and then track those individuals down to avert the disease’s path of infection.

Earning a College Degree on Zoom May Not Be the Same. But There Are Unique Benefits, Experts Say by Mallika Mitra Brianna LaSita was not pleased when a professor at Ithaca College told her class that a group project would remain a group project, even after the school closed and the students were scattered. “We were all like ‘Ugh, how are we going to do this?’,” says LaSita, who just finished her third year of college where she studies occupational therapy.

"Coronavirus Has Turned America Into a Nation of Savers. But How Long Will It Last?" by Kenadi Silcox With a busy life in Los Angeles, Anna McKitrick had trouble saving. The 25-year-old waitress and aspiring actress estimates she spent $200 a month on coffee, snacks, on-the-go meals, and other purchases she could live without.

Investors Have Been Pouring Money Into Socially Responsible Mutual Funds. Are They for You? by Mallika Mitra The popularity of ESG investing continues to rise. There are a few reasons why, and they go beyond just goodwill. ESG investing – investing in companies that meet certain environmental, social and governance requirements – has recently ballooned in popularity.

4 Million Homeowners Are in Mortgage Forbearance After the CARES Act Loosened Rules. Is it Right for You? by Gabriella Cruz-Martinez If you’re hard-up financially, skipping a mortgage payment – or two – can be a life-saver. But there are consequences you need to be aware of. With the coronavirus pandemic still shuttering large swaths of the economy, Congress has stepped in to help struggling homeowners.

"Are Municipal Bonds Still a Safe Source of Retirement Income During Coronavirus?" by Mallika Mitra If you’re one of the many investors in the $3.9 trillion municipal-bond market, the coronavirus may have you asking: are my safe-haven municipal bonds really that safe? Municipal bonds –– bonds issued by governments and agencies, often to finance projects like airports, schools and infrastructure –– have long been considered a low-risk source of retirement income.