The financial news that actually matters
Millions of homeowners facing renewal notices in 2026 have a concrete way to fight back against rising premiums: shopping around before signing. Federal data shows that average homeowners insurance costs rose 3% annually in real terms between 2019 and 2024, with steeper increases concentrated in disaster-prone regions. Projected rate growth of roughly 4% this year,…
Patients of Cardiovascular Consultants who had protected health information exposed in a data breach can file claims for up to $5,000 each through a class-action settlement, but the window closes on July 1. With fewer than three weeks left, affected individuals face a narrow timeline to determine eligibility, gather documentation, and submit their claims. The…
Taxpayers who owe the IRS money will see the cost of carrying that debt jump sharply on July 1, 2026, when the agency’s underpayment interest rate rises to 7 percent from 6 percent this quarter. The one-percentage-point increase, driven by a mechanical formula tied to the federal short-term rate, means every dollar of unpaid tax,…
Millions of tipped and hourly workers across the United States gained access to new federal tax deductions for 2025, with qualified tips deductible up to $25,000 and overtime pay deductible up to $12,500 for single filers or $25,000 for joint filers. The deductions were enacted through H.R. 1, the reconciliation measure passed under H. Con….
Millions of Americans financing a new car purchase can now subtract up to $10,000 in annual loan interest from their taxable income, a break that took effect for tax year 2025 and runs through 2028. The deduction, created by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, phases out for single filers earning between $100,000 and $150,000 and…
A federal law that took effect on September 21, 2018, eliminated fees for placing and lifting credit freezes at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, giving every American a free tool to block identity thieves from opening new accounts. The change, enacted through the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, requires each of the three…
Americans who collect Social Security before reaching full retirement age and earn more than $2,040 in any month during 2026 will see their benefit checks reduced automatically. The Social Security Administration withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above an annual cap of $24,480, a threshold that rises to $65,160 in the calendar year…
Americans lost $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, a nearly 20 percent increase over the prior year, after the Federal Trade Commission recorded more than one million complaints. The losses stem from callers posing as government officials, tech-support agents, or trusted companies, then pressuring victims into sending money through channels that are almost impossible…
Americans who turn 65 and skip Medicare Part B enrollment without holding other qualifying health coverage face a permanent financial hit: a 10% premium surcharge for every full year they were eligible but failed to sign up. The penalty never expires. It compounds on top of the standard monthly premium and follows enrollees for as…
Millions of taxpayers filing 2025 returns are collecting noticeably fatter refund checks this spring, with the average payment climbing 10.6% to $3,676 through early March, up from $3,324 a year earlier. Two new deductions created by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, are driving much of the increase:…