Personal Finance

Do you have to have a relationship with the person, or can it be any old Joe?

By Dave Roos

Life insurance is one of those adult-type things that everyone needs to think about, but not everyone needs to buy. Do you need life insurance and, if so, how much?

By Dave Roos

How much you pay for life insurance can vary on tons of factors, including your age, gender and even your favorite hobbies.

By Dave Roos

It's pretty certain that you'll have to pay taxes in April. But did you realize there are some things you need to do before Dec. 31 in order to lower that tax burden?

By Dave Roos

Many people don't write checks anymore — or didn't grow up having to fill them out. Still, there are times when the old check is the most convenient (or only) method of payment. So how do you fill one out?

By Nathan Chandler

Even if you have no need for a checkbook, you still need your bank's routing number to set up online payment. So where do you find it?

By Nathan Chandler

Not all Social Security services are available online. And you don't have to be over 65 to visit the office either.

By Dave Roos

U.S. Federal law mandates that you get a free credit report each year through a government website. But lots of copycat websites have sprung up offering the same information for a charge. How can you be sure you're on the right page?

By Dave Roos

Americans didn't always pay income taxes. When did that start and what was behind the creation of the IRS?

By Dave Roos & Jane McGrath

While many Americans have seen their tax refunds go down under the new tax laws, we have some strategies to increase your tax refund.

By Dave Roos, Patrick J. Kiger & Denise Harrison

Taxpayers in the U.S. were accustomed to taking a personal deduction off their taxes for themselves and their dependents. But the tax reform laws have eliminated that. So, will their taxes go up or down?

By Dave Roos

In good times and bad, dollar stores seem to thrive. But how are they are able to make so much money selling things so cheaply?

By Dave Roos

Presidents like to take credit for increases in Social Security, but is it the president, Congress or the Social Security Administration that decides when your check goes up?

By Laurie L. Dove

Think you'll never finish paying off your student loans? Here are some innovative ways to do just that.

By Dave Roos

There's a movement called FIRE, a group of people working hard to retire young and really enjoy life. But is it realistic to think you won't run out of money?

By Dave Roos

Check out these five clever strategies financial experts suggest for saving a ton of money each year.

By Dave Roos

Hurt feelings are likely to result but experts say there are times when you should leave more money to one child in your will. Just don't keep everyone in the dark about it.

By Dave Roos

In 2000, a document called a military testamentary instrument was recognized by Congress to provide some clear-cut basic requirements for a military will, exempt from individual states' varying laws.

By Patrick J. Kiger

The most sweeping tax overhaul in decades became law in December 2017. What should U.S. taxpayers do in 2018 to benefit from the tax code changes?

By Dave Roos

You've probably heard the phrase "tax deductions" a hundred times. But what does it mean? And how can you be sure you're taking all the tax deductions you're entitled to?

By John Barrymore

A repeal of the Johnson Amendment would go way beyond separation of church and state.

By John Donovan

Many parents feel torn between funding their own retirement and paying for their kids' college education. But financial experts are united on which one should take priority.

By Dave Roos

Credit monitoring bureau Equifax was hacked and is offering fraud monitoring services for free. But experts say they're pretty useless.

By Dave Roos

A new meta-analysis of 150 studies finds that only one in three U.S. adults has a written living will or healthcare power of attorney documents.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Pago en Especie allows artists to meet tax obligations with a piece of art, and the government builds an impressive collection. Win-win!

By Chris Opfer