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The popularity of municipal bonds among retired Americans has led to an interesting dilemma: They can earn more income thanks to interest on the bonds — but they might also face higher Medicare premiums because of it. By Vance Cariaga See: 6 Ways To Invest That Can Be Applied to Your 2021 TaxesFind: Retirement Guidance — Can You Remain on Medicare if You Return to Work? Many retirees have gravitated toward so-called “munis” because of their safety and tax-free income....

Similar to how credit card companies offer compromises on large debts by allowing consumers to negotiate ways to trim down what they owe significantly, the IRS offers the same for your tax bill. By Georgina Tzanetos Explore: The IRS Has Released Its Top Scams of 2021 — Here’s What To Watch Out ForLearn: Biden and IRS Put Pressure on Crypto Tax Avoidance, Transactions Over $10,000 An offer in compromise (OIC) is an agreement between you and the IRS that settles a tax debt for less than the full amount owed....

Heading into retirement is largely a guessing game in terms of how long you’ll live and how much care you’ll need. You can take an educated guess at the first question — most Americans can expect to live just over 20 years after they turn 65 — but the second question is harder to pin down, although a new study suggests that around one in four retirees will require special care for at least three years....

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) administers the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program. SNAP provides monthly food benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families via the Oregon Trail Card, the state’s version of the national EBT card. By Josephine Nesbit Find Out: What Is the Highest Income Level for Food Stamps in 2023?Look: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans...

The long arm of Social Security reaches far and wide, with nearly 66 million Americans receiving some kind of benefit. Even so, many Americans don’t have basic knowledge of the program. By Vance Cariaga See: 6 Shakeups to Social Security Expected in the New YearFind: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 “It’s indisputable that Americans across all generations need more Social Security education,” Tina Ambrozy, senior vice president of Strategic Customer Solutions at Nationwide, said in a press release....

The Social Security Administration’s announcement this week that beneficiaries will get an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2023 should provide welcome financial relief to those struggling to deal with soaring inflation. There is a potential downside, however, having to do with how the COLA will impact tax obligations for seniors. By Vance Cariaga Retirement at Any Age: Get Retirement Tips That Fit Every Stage of LifeCheck Out: 7 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Reach Your Retirement Goals...

Local Social Security offices are offering more in-person services — but the Social Security Administration (SSA) is telling Americans to expect large crowds, long waits and service delays. To avoid long waits, the SSA advises to call ahead and schedule an appointment, however, the SSA has also warned the public of busy signals or dropped calls. By Josephine Nesbit Discover: The Best and Worst Things To Buy Generic More: 8 Best Cryptocurrencies To Invest In for 2022...

Close to 60% of Americans aren’t aware that the Social Security benefits they receive during retirement are not taxed the same way as withdrawals from individual retirement accounts, according to a recent quiz by MassMutual reported by CNBC. By Dawn Allcot See: 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security EarlyFind: 20 Best Places To Live on Only a Social Security Check However, just because Social Security benefits are taxed differently than IRAs doesn’t mean you can collect Social Security benefits tax-free....

In a move that might give millions of student loan borrowers some reason to be optimistic, Arizona’s new Democratic attorney general Kris Mayes dismissed the lawsuit that had been brought against President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program on Jan. 20, according to court filings. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Student Loan Forgiveness: Timeline of Events Leading Up To the Supreme Court ReviewSee: Protect Your Financial Future With Gold and SilverDiscover: Here’s How Much Americans Have in Their Savings Accounts in 2023...

As another exciting tax season drew to a close, the IRS is now attempting to keep on top of processing 2022 returns while it works to reduce the millions of unprocessed filings from 2021. By David Nadelle See: Track Your Tax Refund with Free Tools From the IRS and USPSFind: Still Working On Your Taxes? The IRS Interactive Tax Assistant Can Answer All Your Burning Questions According to the Interim Results of the 2022 Filing Season report released on May 2, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) states that continued personnel shortages are limiting the agency’s efforts to cope with a backlog of more than 16....

New Yorkers will soon be able to take a yellow cab using the Uber app, thanks to a business partnership announced March 24 between Uber and taxi technology system provider Creative Mobile Technologies (CMT). By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy DoorDash vs. Uber Eats: Which Earns More Cash?Discover: How Much Do Uber Drivers Make? Is It Worth Your Time? Following the announcement, Uber’s stock — which is down 21% year-to-date — was up 4....

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic saw many businesses operate in a new landscape. This is true across the board, but especially during the holiday season. With labor shortages and supply chain disruptions, companies have had to reassess their stance on what is the true cost of being open, and when it is worth it. By Caitlyn Moorhead Thanksgiving Hours Black Friday Hours Read: If Your Credit Score is Under 740, Make These 4 Moves Now...

With mortgage rates on the rise, more Americans are opting for adjustable-rate mortgages over 30-year, fixed-rate loans as a way of saving money in a period of high inflation. But the strategy could backfire, depending on the terms and the length. By Vance Cariaga Check Out: 5 Best Southern Cities To Retire on a Budget of $1,500 a MonthMore: How Biden Is Impacting Social Security in 2022 ARMs accounted for 13% of all home loans by dollar volume in March — their highest percentage since January 2020, ABC News reported, citing data from CoreLogic....

Black Friday is upon us, and this year, most retailers are extending sales far beyond just one day. If you’re ready to start checking items off your holiday list, many stores have already started offering deals. By Jennifer Taylor Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings TipsImportant: If Your Credit Score Is Under 740, Make These 4 Moves Now This can be a great way to save on everything you need for the holiday season, as you don’t have to pack all of your shopping into Black Friday — or the following weekend....

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen conceded that she has been wrong about inflation and failed to anticipate how long it would last. Her comments come against the backdrop of soaring gas and food prices. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Consumer Price Index: How Much Did Inflation Increase the Price of Bacon, Bread and Eggs?Find: Inflation Is at Historic Highs — Here’s What Could Have Been Done To Prevent It In an interview with CNN on May 31, Yellen said:...

As a college student, you likely know you are eligible for a variety of discounts on things like entertainment, retail shopping, electronics and insurance. But you might not know that student discounts also extend to travel. The problem is, sometimes those discounts aren’t advertised. By Cynthia Measom Discover: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time JobAlso See: In Less Than a Decade, You Won’t Be Able To Afford a Home in These Cities...

The past year made crypto investors rethink security — and with billions lost through scandals like the FTX collapse, who could blame them? Whether you’re a novice or a veteran trader, your holdings are only as secure as your private keys, which means your choice of wallet might just be the most important decision you make. Offline storage is the safest option of all, but with so many models now flooding the market, what’s the best cold wallet?...

5G has been the talk of the town recently due to the massive rollout of this technology around the world. Previously, it was only used by infrastructure companies, but now it has become a major part of small tech and the latest smartphones. By Scott Jeffries 9 Best 5G Stocks Gilat Nokia Qualcomm Broadcom Arista Networks Micron Apple Advanced Micro Intel While benefiting from 5G means enjoying lower latency and faster speeds, investors can further leverage the technology by investing in 5G stocks....

Airbnb has often been considered a standard living option when you are going on a vacation. However, with Airbnb Luxe, you can enjoy living in luxurious properties along with all the premium amenities. Airbnb Luxe has completely changed the scene of luxurious living and you must know everything about it before you book your next stay. By Suchetana Bhattacharyea About Airbnb Luxe Airbnb vs. Airbnb Luxe Experience Benefits How To Book Before You Book Popular Properties What Is Airbnb Luxe?...

It seems there is nothing scammers won’t do to trick consumers out of their money. Now they are trying to defraud Americans over baby formula amid a nationwide shortage, according to the Federal Trade Commission. By Vance Cariaga SNAP Schedule 2022: May PaymentsFind: 25 Extra Grocery Costs You’re Probably Forgetting About In a May 18 report on its website, the FTC said scammers exploiting the high demand for baby formula “have sunk to new lows” by setting up fake websites or social media profiles and tricking parents and caregivers into paying steep prices for formula that never arrives....