Financial planning
Scams that target older adults and how to stop them
Scammers go where the money is and where it’s easiest to get their hands on it. Increasingly, that means targeting seniors. Most older people have savings, own their homes, and get benefits. Scammers count on both trust and fear to get at them. In 2025, people 60 and older reported $7.7 billion in losses to the FBI, a massive jump of 60% from the year before. Knowing the most common tricks is the best defense.
Read Financial planningLong-term care costs: what doesn’t Medicare pay?
A lot of people assume Medicare will pay if they ever need help at home or in a nursing home. The truth is that it usually won't. Long-term care is one of the biggest financial risks in later life, and planning for it even a little can protect your savings and give you more choices.
Read Financial planningHow reverse mortgages work and when to be careful
If you own your home and are 62 or older, you've probably seen ads promising tax-free cash for your house with no monthly mortgage payments. That's a reverse mortgage. For some people, it can make retirement more comfortable, but for others, it's a big mistake. Here's how to tell the difference.
Read Financial planningCan debt collectors take your Social Security?
Behind on credit cards or medical bills and living on Social Security? Debt collectors can be terrifying. The good news is that federal law protects most Social Security benefits from private creditors. However, there are exceptions, and knowing them can help you protect your money.
Read Financial planningHow to budget on a fixed income
Once you’re no longer working and most of your income comes from Social Security or disability payments, what you earn each month doesn’t change very much. The problem is that prices do, and budgeting for ever-increasing costs on a fixed income can be tough. This guide will help you stay on track.
Read Financial planningHow to lower your Medicare costs with Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help
Medicare is a big help, but it isn't free. Premiums and copays can take a big bite out of a fixed income. However, if your income and savings are limited, two programs can cut those costs dramatically, and millions of people who qualify never sign up.
Read Financial planningMedicare Parts A, B, C, and D
Medicare gives seniors, disabled individuals, and others access to affordable healthcare, but it’s not that easy to understand which parts are right for you. Here's what each part does, what it costs in 2026, and how to choose.
Read Financial planningWhen should I claim Social Security?
Deciding whether to start Social Security? That’s one of the biggest financial decisions you’re going to make in retirement. Claim early, and you get checks sooner, but smaller ones, for life. Wait a little longer, and your checks will get bigger. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but you can figure out when the best time is for you.
Read Financial planningFree and low-cost baby gear: diaper banks, car seat programs, and (safe) used buys
Most new parents get overwhelmed by the sheer number of things they have to buy for their new baby. That makes sense, but you don't have to go broke doing it. Babies need a short list of essentials, and you can find a lot of those free or cheap. You just need to know where to look, and which items are safe to buy used and which aren't.
Read Financial planningHow to add a new baby to your health insurance
It’s easy to forget about insurance paperwork after your baby’s born. After all, there’s an awful lot going on. However, adding your baby to a health plan has a deadline, and missing it can leave your little one without coverage for months. Here's what to do, and when.
Read Financial planningYour baby's first money-related paperwork
Chances are good that you’re not really thinking about doing paperwork when you bring that new baby home. However, a few forms in your baby's first weeks need to be completed to make sure they get the right start, and getting them done early can be worth thousands of dollars.
Read Financial planningHow to budget on one income during parental leave
Parental leave is great, but it’s usually unpaid. That usually means that you’ll bring in a lot less money during those 12 weeks, at the same time you’re adding new costs related to the baby. Even a little bit of prep before your due date can help make that period a little less stressful.
Read Financial planningPaid family leave: who gets paid time off after a baby
The U.S. has no national paid parental leave law, so whether you get paid after a baby arrives depends on where you live and work, and what benefits you've signed up for. Knowing your options before your due date can help you take more time off and lose less income.
Read Financial planningHow to pay for prenatal care and delivery
Finding out you're pregnant can bring a lot of questions, and "How are we going to pay for this?" is probably near the top of the list. Prenatal visits, ultrasounds, delivery, and postpartum care add up fast. However, there are more ways to get covered and lower your bills than many people realize.
Read Financial planningWhat a baby really costs in the first year
Babies might be small, but their price tags aren't. Between medical bills, diapers, gear, and child care, the first year can cost a lot more than most new parents expect. The good news is that you can plan for a lot of the biggest costs, and you can cut some way down.
Read Financial planningHow Social Security retirement benefits work
Once you reach a certain age, you can start drawing your Social Security money that you’ve paid into throughout your working life. Of course, that doesn’t mean that most Americans know how the benefit is figured, when they can claim it, and how much they might get.
Read Financial planningWhat happens to your 401(k) when you leave a job?
When you leave a job, your 401(k) doesn't disappear. The money you put in is still yours, and you get to decide what happens to it next. However, make sure you know your options, because what you decide means the difference between keeping your savings growing and losing a big chunk to taxes and penalties.
Read Financial planningThe Saver's Credit: the tax break for saving on a lower income
Most retirement tax breaks do the most good for people with higher incomes. The Saver's Credit does the opposite. It was designed for low- and moderate-income workers, and can knock up to $1,000 off your tax bill just for putting money into a retirement account. Starting in 2027, it's being replaced by something even better for many savers: the Saver's Match.
Read Financial planningHow retirement saving works if you're a gig worker or don't have a job with benefits
If you do rideshare gigs, work freelance, clean houses, or even work for a small business with no retirement plan, nobody is setting up a 401(k) for you. Thankfully, you do have options. You’ll just have to handle them yourself.
Read Financial planningComparing Roth vs. traditional IRAs
Worried that because your job doesn’t offer any retirement planning, you’re out of luck? You can save on your own with the same type of account that most employers offer. An IRA, or individual retirement account, is a retirement account you open on your own. It comes with tax breaks and you can open one with very little money.
Read Financial planningWhat is a 401(k) and how does employer matching work?
If your job offers a 401(k), you have access to one of the best options when it comes to retirement savings. A 401(k) lets you sock away money straight from your paycheck, usually with a tax break. Plus, if your employer offers a match, you get free money in your account just for saving.
Read Financial planningCan you save for retirement when you're barely getting by?
When rent, groceries, and bills take up pretty much all of your income, saving for retirement sounds like a joke. It isn't. You don't need to save a lot, and you don't need to start with retirement, but even small amounts in the right place can build over time. And the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be when retirement age rolls around.
Read Financial planningHow to plan for big life expenses
Big expenses like a new car, a move, or a medical bill can sneak up on you. This guide shows you how to spot those costs early and make a simple plan to get ready for them.
Read Financial planningHow to set simple money goals
Learn how to set money goals that are clear, simple, and actually reachable — even when money is tight.
Read Financial planningHow to build a simple long-term money plan
A simple, steady plan for managing your money over the years ahead — even if you're starting from a tough spot.
Read Financial planningHow to make a plan to pay off debt and save
You can pay off debt and build savings at the same time. This guide walks you through simple, doable steps to make a plan that works for your real life.
Read Financial planningWhat financial planning really means
Financial planning sounds complicated, but it really just means making a simple plan for your money so you feel less stressed and more in control.
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