It is a first principle of financial planning that everyone needs an emergency fund. The idea is that investors should always have enough money to cover three to six months of regular outgoings in an easy to access account. Just in case the car dies, or a family member loses a job or gets sick.

Many people have a gap between what they think they spend and what they actually spend. This gap has widened recently as the financial and psychological effects of higher prices further strain people’s budgets.

The 2023 recession is missing in action. At the end of last year, economists were more convinced than they’ve ever been that recession was on the way, but it refused to arrive. Now investors, economists and Federal Reserve policy makers are giving up on the idea, expecting the economy to be (a bit) stronger and stock prices and bond yields to be higher.

At college reunions and your favorite charity, there is a new ask: Donate up to $50,000 from your individual retirement account and get back monthly retirement paychecks at fixed rates of up to 9.7%, depending on your age.

No matter how out of shape you feel financially, there are steps you can take to bring yourself back to financial health.

With tax season in the rear view mirror, it’s a great time to give your finances a once-over. You’ve already gone through all your paperwork, you have a pretty clear picture of your money situation, and you’ve got a little time now that you’re no longer digging around for that lost W2.

Summer is here so it’s time for a mid-year financial checkup.