Personal Finance

Permanent life insurance can accumulate value, but canceling the policy rarely means receiving its entire stated cash value. Cash surrender value is the amount available when a permanent life insurance…

Two employees can contribute the same amount to a 401(k) and face very different tax consequences. Traditional 401(k) contributions generally defer income taxes until withdrawal, while Roth contributions are made…

Popular housing affordability formulas are useful starting points, not permission slips to borrow as much as a lender allows. Housing affordability rules of thumb can guide decisions but should not…

Four persistent economic uncertainties complicate the outlook for consumers and investors alike. Questions about the economy often concern inflation, interest rates, employment and market expectations. Economic forecasts remain uncertain, making…

Getting out of debt is easier to sustain when repayment follows a deliberate system rather than sporadic extra payments. Successful debt management starts with a clear inventory of balances, interest…

Even carefully prepared retirement budgets can be upended by expenses that rarely appear in standard monthly calculations. Retirement expenses can include overlooked taxes, health care, home repairs and family assistance.…

Refinancing errors often begin when borrowers focus on an attractive rate and overlook the transaction as a whole. Refinancing mistakes include focusing exclusively on monthly payments, overlooking fees and failing…

A lower mortgage payment can be an expensive bargain if refinancing restarts the clock on a loan. Mortgage refinancing is not always beneficial, especially when closing costs, a longer repayment…

Buying life insurance is about matching a policy to a real financial obligation, not simply purchasing the biggest benefit. Life insurance buyers can make costly mistakes by choosing inappropriate coverage…

Your highest federal tax bracket is not the rate you pay on every dollar you earn. Federal income taxes use marginal brackets, meaning different portions of taxable income face different…