Why the Stock Market Is Hitting Records Despite Iran War
U.S. equities surged to fresh all‑time highs despite the Iran war, erasing an 8 % dip that followed the conflict’s onset. Analysts say investors are pricing a near‑term resolution and normal oil flows rather than the present geopolitical shock. The rally is bolstered by a tech‑driven AI boom that now represents roughly half of the S&P 500’s market cap, and by a Republican tax bill that lifts after‑tax earnings. Forward‑looking market psychology, low financing costs and optimism about diplomatic progress keep the market buoyant.
35% of Gen Z Homebuyers Are Single Women, Research Shows. Here’s Why They Need an Estate Plan
A National Association of Realtors report shows 35% of Gen Z homebuyers are single women, up from 30% a year earlier and the highest share among age groups. These buyers, aged 18‑26, often purchase their largest asset without an estate plan—60%...
Is an IRS Audit Less Likely Amid Agency Cuts? Some Issues Are Still ‘Low-Hanging Fruit,’ Expert Says
The IRS’s workforce shrank by roughly 27% in 2025, dropping to about 74,000 employees, yet audit risk for taxpayers has not vanished. Automated systems still flag mismatches between reported income and information returns, generating CP2000 notices and correspondence audits that...
Student Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants Could Be Pricier to Access, After New Changes
The Education Department announced that the Trump administration will no longer use the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan’s low‑payment formula when calculating buyback offers for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). This change means borrowers who relied on the...
Donating From Your IRA Already Has Tax Advantages. A Bipartisan Bill Would Expand Retirees' Options
Charitable donations from IRAs, known as qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), let retirees over 70½ transfer up to $111,000 per year directly to charities while excluding the amount from taxable income. A new bipartisan Senate bill would expand QCD eligibility to...
Older Women Set to Inherit Most of $54 Trillion in ‘Great Wealth Transfer’ to Widowed Spouses
The upcoming great wealth transfer, spanning 2024‑2048, will move roughly $124 trillion, with $54 trillion earmarked for widowed spouses and 95% of that flowing to women. Baby‑boomers and older generations represent the bulk of this $40 trillion destined for widowed women. Historically, many...
Trump Administration Has Scaled Back Oversight of Student Loan Servicers, Congressional Watchdog Finds
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the U.S. Department of Education halted its accuracy and call‑quality assessments of federal student‑loan servicers in February 2025, shortly after the Trump administration cut roughly half of the Education Department’s staff. This scaling back...
This Is an 'Overlooked Tax Break' For Retirement Savers — and Many Couples Miss It, Advisor Says
A spousal IRA lets a non‑earning spouse open a Roth or traditional IRA, effectively doubling a single‑income household’s tax‑advantaged retirement space. For 2025 the contribution limit is $7,000 plus a $1,000 catch‑up for those 50+, with a hard deadline of...
You Can't 'Borrow Your Way Out of Debt,' Expert Says — but More Consumers Are Trying
U.S. consumers are increasingly using balance‑transfer cards and personal loans to consolidate debt, a trend highlighted by record credit‑card balances of $1.28 trillion at the end of 2025. Personal loans carry an average rate of 12.26%, notably lower than the 19.58%...
What the Iran War Market Turmoil Means for Those Nearing Retirement
The escalating conflict in Iran has jolted markets, prompting a sharp S&P 500 swing and renewed inflation worries. Financial advisors warn that while long‑term investors can stay the course, those approaching retirement should treat the volatility as a signal to review...
Trump Says ‘401(k)s Are Way up’ — but Workers Are Tapping Them at Record Rates
President Donald Trump highlighted that 401(k) balances have risen, a claim supported by Fidelity data showing an 11% jump to $146,400 in 2025. However, the same year saw record‑high hardship withdrawals and a rise in 401(k) loans, signaling underlying financial...
Poor Coordination Can Cost Couples an Average $14,000 in Retirement Wealth, Research Finds
New research in the American Economic Review shows couples who fail to coordinate retirement contributions lose significant wealth. By directing contributions to the spouse with the highest employer match, an average couple could add $750 per year and avoid a...
Nearly 1 in 5 Eligible Filers Miss This 'Valuable' Tax Credit, IRS Says — How It Can Boost Refunds
The IRS reports that roughly 20% of eligible taxpayers fail to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable credit that averaged $2,916 per filer in 2024. For the 2025 tax year, the maximum credit rises to $8,046 for...
Trump Pitches New Retirement Plan with a Federal Match of up to $1,000 per Year — Who Could Benefit
President Trump announced a new federal retirement account modeled on the Thrift Savings Plan, promising a government match of up to $1,000 per year for workers without employer‑sponsored 401(k)s. The initiative would potentially cover the 56 million Americans currently lacking such...
Treasury: Trump Accounts Sign up About 3 Million Kids in Early Push
The U.S. Treasury announced that a publicity blitz, highlighted by a Super Bowl ad, has generated roughly 2 million IRS Form 4547 filings, translating to about 3 million children enrolled in the new Trump accounts. Eligible children born between 2025 and 2028 will...
