Chris Farrell

For first-time home buyers, the cost-benefit analysis has gotten more complicated with interest rates.

Take a page out of statistician and professional poker player Nate Silver's latest book, in which he discusses the power struggle between the "River" and "Village" communities of investment thought.

There are increasing signs more people are feeling financially strained by credit card debt.

The Secure Choice Retirement Program should become effective next year and would mean employers without a retirement savings plan must auto-enroll employees in a retirement savings plan.

Medicare doesn't pay for most long-term care charges.

One economist argues those who telecommute at least half the time save $6,000 a year.

Recent polls show a tight race for the White House between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and the outcome of the election will have major implications for economic policy.

The fiduciary standard binds many financial advisors and is in the nature of their professional certification and business practice.

A Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis survey showed as of October 2023, just more than half of U.S. adults had enough savings to cover three months of expenses if they lost their primary source of income, down slightly from a year before and substantially below the pandemic high.

Since you can't predict the future course of home prices, potential homebuyers should focus on what they can control: Their money.

You should start saving with your first paycheck, especially with today's work life of multiple jobs.

Social Security's trust fund can pay benefits in full only until 2033, according to the 2024 Trustees Report. Once that date of funding depletion comes, Social Security will pay only 79% of promised benefits.

Becoming a furniture-maker or blacksmith can be a passion pursuit as well as a lucrative career if you keep money matters in mind.

Practical steps include automating the movement of money from checking into savings accounts, similar to automatic withdrawals from your earnings into retirement savings at work.

SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) changes the definition of discretionary income to increase the number of low-income borrowers eligible for $0 payments and subsidizes any unpaid interest that remains after a borrower makes a payment.

The Federal Trade Commission said people lost more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023, up from $3.5 billion in 2020.

Whether and how to earn an income is critical to retirement planning, and for employers, older workers are a valuable asset to keep and to hire.

If your income will be lower in retirement than when you were working, you'd favor traditional retirement savings. Roth is better for the reverse. Since you don't know, the advantage of having both is flexibility.

Many experts have published different ways to save through the years, but none seems to beat standard advice.

Berkshire Hathaway is the seventh-largest U.S. company with a market capitalization of nearly $900 billion, but lessons from its founder are still relatable.

Productivity growth is a key measure of economic prosperity, job creation, innovation and quality of life for individuals and society.

The lack of savings doesn't reflect the lure of shopping on credit or a lack of financial education. Instead, too many workers live on low and unstable incomes, while too many moderate-income families struggle to pay their bills.

The so-called "passive" investment revolution is a smart way for individuals to invest for the long haul despite critics' arguments.

Cryptocurrencies are speculations without any intrinsic value.

Savings accounts need to be part of a healthy financial plan.

Few of us have sufficient resources to rely solely on savings for dealing with children or aging adults coping with mental and physical infirmities.

The fundamentals of personal finance are especially important during major transitions.

Instead of thinking about retirement, try exploring what portfolio of activities comes next.

When we give away money, we're actively showing what matters to us.

There are several factors to weigh, and current research on when it may be a good idea.

The need for more affordable-housing options is now part of a much larger conversation about economic development, economic growth and quality of life.

Build flexibility into your safe withdrawal strategy.

Financial planning increasingly means taking the time to build into future scenarios the prospect of needing long-term care from family or close friends.

You can't go back in time, but there's no reason for despair.

Boring is a virtue in retirement savings; the tried and true vehicles are used a lot for good reason.

Many retirees who consistently saved over the years spend less than they might in retirement.

Why trading is hazardous to your wealth and managing risk is critical.

Skills can be improved with education on the job.

He encouraged investors to focus on diversification, while adjusting the mix of assets for risk.

Economic concepts can help with financial decisions.

Many ambivalent thoughts, captured perfectly in Rob Kirby's "Marry Me a Little."

Word is still getting out about the new benefits of the saver's credit.

Settle on a priority because time is a scarce commodity.

Whether you give time or money.

The holidays are a time when some investors comb through portfolios to make sure they align with their values.

While trillions of dollars of investors' money has disappeared in crypto, there still hasn't been a "Lehman moment."

Passive funds work best for many investors, helped by their low fees.

Star Trek's dueling approach to every challenge charts a path to financial salvation today.

The risk that counts is losing your job. Here's what to do just in case.

Policymakers need to remove the threat of insolvency for the foundation of America's retirement system.

Cash is an easy and cheap way to protect an investment portfolio or a family against financial crisis.

Few people take advantage of the Medicare open enrollment season, which is quickly approaching, but researching your choices is well worth the time and effort.

Quiet quitters is the latest buzzword for people who are considering all their options.

Retiring from a full-time job leaves a person with 2,500 hours to fill in a year.

Lottery winners tend to save their windfall. So should the beneficiaries of student debt relief.

It's one of the simplest ways for investors to boost returns.

The extra costs and added health and safety risks should be factored into retirement planning.

A budget lets you seize control over financial chaos.

Chris Farrell says efforts to end the distorted Twin Cities housing market should account for the region's aging population.

A frugal mindset calls for a greater focus on quality, not quantity.

Too much debt, not enough income and a home that costs too much can be trouble for retirees.

People are creative about solving problems when income changes. And while experts recommend saving over $1 million, retirement also represents a change in lifestyle.

For four decades, bond yields have been falling. But the fight against inflation is changing all that.

When things look bad, take a look around for underappreciated opportunities.

Use money you can afford to lose, not retirement funds, to invest in cryptocurrencies, our columnist suggests.

Thinking about legacy involves acting on practicalities such as writing wills and health care directives.

Stretch out school loans for the moment, save what you can and build the habit of generosity.