Search
Showing results for “Personal Finance”
Jump to a topic
401(k) Originally intended for corporate executives, the 401(k) is now, arguably, the most famous section of the US tax code and a staple in worker benefits packages and personal finance guides.
Roughly 70 million Americans, with a total of more than $7T invested, use these long-term, tax-advantaged accounts to build toward a more secure retirement.
Some critics claim that with 401(k) plans, companies offloaded the risk of retirement savings to workers without the training to avoid volatile portfolio mixes. Amid the 2008 financial crisis, many 401(k) plans lost about a quarter of their value, an event that hit those near retirement particularly hard.Explore 401(k)
What we've found
A 1992 personal finance book helped inspire the FIRE movement“Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence” by Vicki Robin and Joseph Dominguez argued that people should prioritize consuming less and living better. Your Money or Your LifeHow to financially prepare if you think AI is coming for your jobOne expert suggests contributing more money to an emergency savings fund and putting that fund in a high-yield savings account, maxing out employee benefits while still employed, and more. The Motley FoolAmazon founder Jeff Bezos emphasizes worrying about customers rather than competitionIn a 1999 shareholder letter, Bezos wrote, "I constantly remind our employees to be afraid, to wake up every morning terrified. Our customers have made our business what it is, and we consider them to be loyal to us – right up until the second that someone else offers them a better service." Motivated by fear, the entrepreneur advocates consistent innovation, experimentation, and improvement to create a better customer experience. CNBCBNPL's biggest risks include the ability to stack multiple loans simultaneouslyBuy now pay later loans come with some risks, such as the hefty late fees that can add up over time in the case of missed payments. However, personal finance experts say that tactics like reading the fine print can help consumers use these financial tools more safely. NBC NewsOld credit cards can be made into guitar picks, phone stands and moreExperts recommend always cutting through the chip and the card number when disposing of expired credit cards, as the magnetic strip, the chip, and the card number all contain information that thieves might be interested in. The Motley FoolExplore an interactive map showing what makes people happy Using 100,000 responses collected from people around the world about what makes them happy, this map offers insights into how relationships, finances, purpose, and small treats all contribute to a person's contentment. Recent data suggests that young people today are less happy than those in previous generations, indicating a need to reflect on what really matters in life. PuddingThe average US household carries $105,056 in total debtThis article breaks down the average household debt by category, including credit card debt ($6,523), personal loans ($11,274), and more. The Motley Fool43% of Americans don't have savings to pay for a $1K emergencyThat's according to data from January 2026 shared by US News. Among those who did have an emergency fund, the median balance was $5K. US News & World ReportThe CD whose rates change based on Villanova basketball gamesArdent Credit Union in Philadelphia tied the interest rates of one of its certificates of deposit to whether Villanova won or lost a basketball game. A win moved the rate to 4.25%, while a loss reduced it to 3.9%. Financial experts say its only beneficial for a narrow group InvestopediaHow two families navigated an unthinkable IVF mistakeThe field offers hope to thousands of families annually, but it is also largely unregulated, and for a small number of parents, things can go terribly wrong. The DailyDisney funded his first theme park by agreeing to host a weekly show on ABCWalt Disney was determined to open a theme park, but had numerous issues with funding. A break came when ABC offered to cover a signifcant portion of the construction, though it came with a catch: Walt would host a weekly Disneyland TV show (and provide them part-ownership of the park). NewsweekIn President Trump's first year of his second term, inflation fell from 3% year-over-year in January 2025 to 2.7% in DecemberWhile the price of eggs and bread went down over Trump's first year in office during his second term, coffee and beef prices rose. Utility bills and home insurance continued to surge, but mortgage rates, rent, and home prices began to stabilize in 2025. KiplingerAs of 2025, extensive research studies do not support fears about seed oilsAcross human trials, seed oils have not been shown to increase rates of disease or inflammation, with a study of over 800 Swedish men finding that higher seed oil diets were linked to living longer. Reviews of these trials found better health outcomes when saturated fats were replaced with seed oils. Science VsMedicare doesn’t provide coverage for outpatient prescription drugsHowever, it's possible to buy a separate Part D prescription drug policy that covers prescription drugs, or a Medicare Advantage plan that covers both medical and drug costs. This article details a list of eight things that Medicare does and does not cover. KiplingerHow to visualize the enormous wealth of Elon MuskThe disruptive innovator and founder of SpaceX and Tesla is worth hundreds of billions of dollars, an unimaginable sum. This simple interactive visual uses pixels (representing $1,000 each) on a scrolling screen to demonstrate the billionaire's wealth compared to other known financial values, like the cost of building a Boeing 777 or the net worth of Tiger Woods. Engaging Data'I got my start by giving myself a start.'- Businesswoman Madam C. J. Walker (1867-1919) Laidlaw Scholars Network25% of US households had no regular income as of 2024Some states had higher shares of no-income households than others: West Virginia, for instance, had a national high of 34% of households with no income. These states tend to have older populations, higher rates of disability, and lower median incomes overall. In such contexts, a larger portion of households rely on non-earned income sources or report no income during the survey period. Visual CapitalistIn 2024, attorneys spent an estimated $541M on outdoor adsA $70M increase from 2023, this marketing tactic helps lawyers bring attention to their names in an oversaturated market. Read this article to find out why lawyers advertise on so many billboards. Hustle Originals'The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost.'- Diplomat George Shultz (1920–2021) GoodReadsThe Butterball Turkey Talk-Line fields cooking questions from anxious holiday hostsIn 1981, public relations firm Talbot looked to promote one of its clients, Butterball Turkey, by starting a holiday hotline for customers to ask culinary questions. Forty years later, 50 experts still answer roughly 100,000 questions in November and December from people experiencing "turkey trauma." Notes To An EntrepreneurEvery track from Moby's 'Play' was licensedThe electronic album was floundering on the charts before the artist began licensing its songs for advertisements and films. Eventually, all 18 of its tracks were sold for use in other media, a move that led to significant airplay and sales, with more than 12 million copies sold. American SongwriterJK Rowling first thought of 'Harry Potter' on a delayed train in 1990The idea for a young boy discovering he was a wizard came to Rowling during a train ride from Manchester to London. Over the next seven years—while facing personal loss and financial hardship—she completed the first book as a single mother living on welfare. ITN Archive'Freakonomics' celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025The book 'Freakonomics' arguably changed the business landscape when it came out, and has since evolved into other forms of media and a cultural phenomenon. Spotify'The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.'- Former President Theodore Roosevelt's (1858–1919) Theodore Roosevelt CenterGen X has the most student debt per borrowerGen X is the generation that came of age in the 1980s and 1990s. A podcast episode explains how this came to be. SpotifyThe Dow now tracks 30 major US companies across various industriesSince 1928, the DJIA has included 30 firms. Today's group spans technology, healthcare, and finance—with Apple, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, Pfizer, and Coca-Cola among its most recognized components. CNBCPixelMap, one of the oldest NFT projects, made its creator an overnight millionairePixelMap suddenly became popular as crypto enthusiasts looked to own a piece of NFT history. Its creator talks about its surprise success in this podcast. This American Life'If you want to succeed, you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.'- Billionaire John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) ForbesFormer Temu CEO Colin Huang is among China's richest peopleWith a $43.3B net worth as of September 2025, Huang was the founder of PDD Holdings, Temu’s parent company. ForbesTemu mainly sells off-brand items, while Amazon offers brand namesA personal finance expert breaks down the key similarities between Temu and Amazon in a quick video so consumers can decide which is the better choice for their shopping needs. NerdWalletThe Mint’s first circulating coins were 11,178 copper centsCongress authorized the first national mint in Philadelphia. The next year, the Mint delivered its first circulating coins, which were bigger than today’s quarters. This article shows more early US currency. The Wall Street Journal'The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.'- Boxing champion Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) ForbesY Combinator Cofounder Jessica Livingston once interviewed her husband and cofounder, Paul GrahamTwo of Y Combinator’s cofounders, Jessica Livingston and Paul Graham, were in a romantic relationship before they started the accelerator. They later married, and much later, Livingston started a podcast. In an episode of her podcast, Livingston and her cohost interview Graham about the beginning of YC and more. The Social RadarsYahoo acquired Paul Graham's former startup Viaweb in 1998Viaweb was the web app tech startup that Paul Graham, Robert Morris, and Trevor Blackwell cofounded before they started Y Combinator. The company sold for $49M and Viaweb was rebranded as the Yahoo Store. CNETObsessive compulsive disorder is a mental health disorder, not a personality quirkOCD has been misused to describe neatness or perfectionistic behaviors, but the disorder involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that take over a person's actions. Widespread misconceptions have historically delayed the official diagnosis and treatment of individuals. SpotifyNew rules introduced in 2021 let college athletes profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL)The NCAA’s 2021 policy shift allowed athletes to earn money through endorsements, sponsorships, and personal branding—transforming the college sports landscape and changing the dynamic of what it means to be a student-athlete. InvestopediaFinancial hardships forced functionality into every piece of Marie Curie's wardrobeCurie's upbringing in a family that lost its fortune when participating in failed uprisings for Polish independence instilled frugality in her. Much of the clothing she purchased, including for special occasions like her wedding, was repurposed for lab use. The Voice of FashionFallingwater revived Frank Lloyd Wright’s career at age 67 A series of scandals and financial setbacks made Wright lose his previous relevance, leaving the public to view him as a “has-been.” Following the creation of Fallingwater, a masterpiece set atop a waterfall, Wright saw an uptick in commissions and continued to produce inspired buildings at an age that many others would retire by. HISTORYRewards credit cards can offer points, travel miles, and moreFor every dollar that a cardholder spends on a rewards credit card, they can also receive benefits such as cash back, airline miles, and more. For many, rewards are the reason they make so many purchases on credit cards in the first place. InvestopediaA credit card’s grace period is a minimum of 21 daysUnder federal law in the United States, an individual’s credit card payment due date must fall on the same day of each month, at least 21 days after the cardholder’s statement closing date. NerdWalletFinancial institutions check for lots of things before authorizing a purchaseBefore authorizing a purchase, card issuers consider whether or not the cardholder has a high enough available credit limit to make the purchase, where the purchase is being made in order to reduce fraud, and more. StripeCredit card issuers determine your credit limit using your payment history, income, and moreSome credit card issuers also take your other payment obligations into account when determining your credit limit, such as the cost of your rent or alimony. NerdWalletJeff Bezos was the richest person in Florida as of April 2025Mark Zuckerberg was the richest person in California at the time, with a net worth of roughly $189B. This map shows the richest person in every US state. Visual CapitalistIn the beginning, there was Adam (Neumann)This podcast episode, which includes a telling interview with one of WeWork’s first employees, tells the origin story of WeWork—from Neumann’s drinking and disheveled clothing, to WeWork’s first “summer camp” company party weekends in New York. WeCrashed‘I realized after I got there it was a cult,’ one former WeWork executive saidWeWork isn’t only known for how it revolutionized modern work, or its spectacular financial rise and fall. It’s also known for its former cultlike company culture under former CEO Adam Neumann, complete with a charismatic leader and “summer camp” company retreats that blurred the lines between work and personal life. Vanity FairRetail investors are not professionals—they invest their own moneyFor retail investors, the stakes may seem higher and more personal. Critics say that this dynamic means that retail investors are more susceptible to behavioral biases that could lead them to make poor decisions when it comes to buying and selling assets. For instance, fear of missing out could cause a retail investor to buy a stock that is popular but not a financially worthy investment. InvestopediaEstate taxes are paid out of the estate, while inheritance taxes are paid by beneficiariesWhen a person dies, any estate taxes owed are paid out of their finances before being transferred to their beneficiaries—unlike inheritance taxes that are paid by the beneficiaries themselves. In addition to a federal estate tax, 12 states and the District of Columbia have a state estate tax with varying rates. CNBCWarren Buffett's advice for middle-class investors includes "pay yourself first"Warren Buffett might not be part of the middle class himself (he's one of the richest people in the world), but he still knows a thing or two about everyday personal finance tips. This article chronicles his six best pieces of advice for the middle class. NasdaqBezos' wealth primarily stems from his Amazon ownership stakeThree decades after founding Amazon, Jeff Bezos has built a sprawling empire of business and financial interests. A chart from Visual Capitalist details his many business interests outside of Amazon, including his ownership of the Washington Post; his private aerospace company, Blue Origin; and his personal stake in companies ranging from Airbnb to Uber and Google. Visual CapitalistMutual funds vs. stocks: Which are better investments?Mutual funds invest in multiple different companies with money from many investors, while stocks focus on investing in one company with funds from a single investor. There are pros and cons to both, but the weight of them depends on your personal financial goals. US News
Try another search?