The Pension Protection Act of 2006 first allowed taxpayers age 70½ and older to make tax-free charitable donations directly from their IRAs. The law was originally scheduled to expire in 2007, but was extended periodically through 2014 by subsequent legislation and finally made permanent by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015.
The high inflation of the past few years has also made it easier for consumers to fall into credit-card debt. Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate, described the feedback loop of high prices and high interest rates as “a tough cycle to break.” Credit-card companies know what they need to do to maximize profit: If they offer rewards and bonuses up front, they can snag new customers before they realize the high rates they’re signing up for. Profits keep rolling in for issuers, while consumers fall further behind.
In March 2025, 61% of respondents to a travel-related survey expressed concern that a recession might impact their vacation plans. The same percentage were planning a staycation instead.
What is “inverse prioritization” and how do we counter the forces that seek to undermine our best intentions—personally and financially?
Personal finance is a term that covers managing your money as well as saving and investing. It encompasses budgeting, banking, insurance, mortgages, investments, retirement, tax, and estate planning. The term often refers to the entire industry that provides financial services to individuals and households and advises them about financial and investment opportunities.
Whether buying furniture, planning retirement, or just filling your gas tank, uncertainty doesn’t just shake market numbers—it rattles confidence. Yes, it is about money, but ultimately it is about emotion. And that, perhaps more than stock prices or interest rates, shapes behavior. The field of psychology suggests that when feeling fear, people typically pursue one of three options: fight, flight, or freeze.
Fraudsters are using social media (like X, formerly Twitter) and messaging apps (like WhatsApp and Telegram) to promote fake investment opportunities. They often impersonate financial professionals, advisor firms, or public figures to appear credible, luring victims into so-called “exclusive investor groups.”
Amid the global turmoil of this young new year comes a flurry of welcome developments that will help many people — especially retirees and those close to retirement — supercharge their savings, cut prescription drug costs, keep more of the money they earn and, possibly, raise their credit scores.
When it comes to financial planning, there are many different approaches. One of the biggest challenges people face is prioritizing their needs. Often, individuals confuse importance with urgency, assuming that the closer a deadline, the more important the task. While this mindset is understandable, it may not be the best way to approach financial planning.