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Latest News About Personal Finance

First COVID-19 Vaccine Receives Emergency Approval in U.S.

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The Food and Drug Administration authorized BioNTech and Pfizer Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine Friday evening, which will make it the first vaccine to reach Americans during the coronavirus pandemic. MarketWatch reports:

“The FDA’s authorization for emergency use of the first COVID-19 vaccine is a significant milestone in battling this devastating pandemic that has affected so many families in the United States and around the world,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in a statement. “Today’s action follows an open and transparent review process that included input from independent scientific and public health experts and a thorough evaluation by the agency’s career scientists to ensure this vaccine met FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needd to support emergency use authorization.”  

The vaccine — which was developed by Germany’s BioNTech, and is being commercialized by American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer — is the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive emergency use authorization in the U.S. and the first mRNA product to ever receive any type of regulatory approval. 

Since the first efficacy data was shared publicly, anticipation for the highly efficacious vaccine has largely sent up markets, which view vaccination as the beginning of the end of the COVID-19 crisis. Federal health officials have said the administration of the vaccine could begin within days of authorization.

Missing Credit Card Payments May Be an Early Sign of Dementia

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Patterns of missing credit card and loan payments could be an early indicator of dementia years before diagnosis, a new study says. CNN Health reports:

The study, published Monday in the medical journal JAMA, looked at Medicare patients living alone across the United States and analyzed their credit data and payments over time.

Researchers found that patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia were more likely to miss payments up to six years before getting diagnosed, the study said. And, those poor financial actions led them to subprime credit scores two and a half years before diagnosis, as opposed to the patients without dementia.

“I think we were a little surprised that it was so common that we could really see it in the data,” lead author Lauren Hersch Nicholas told CNN. “Doctors colloquially say that you should look for dementia in the checkbook, but I don’t think we had any sense of for how many years in advance these effects could be happening.”

Nicholas is an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University. Researchers from Johns Hopkins and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors led the study.

Alzheimer’s dementia affects about 5.8 million Americans who are 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The number of Americans with the disease is projected to hit 13.8 million by 2050, the non-profit said.

Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck During COVID Pandemic

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Money is not something anyone wants to worry about during the holidays. In a year still ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout however, it appears many will be struggling through the most festive part of 2020. A survey finds over 60 percent of Americans say they’re now living paycheck-to-paycheck as the year draws to a close. Study Finds reports:

The poll of over 2,000 Americans, commissioned by Highland Solutions, wanted to see how spending habits and personal finances in the U.S. are holding up during the pandemic. Their results find 63 percent of respondents have cut back on their spending due to COVID. Six in 10 say they’re doing it to be more cautious, but 49 percent add it’s because of losing income at work.

Between making more frugal choices and statewide shutdowns across America, a majority of respondents say the normal “night out” is taking the biggest hit. Sixty-four percent are cutting down on dining out or ordering takeout. Another 61 percent add they’re seeing fewer movies, 55 percent are buying less clothing, and 52 percent are traveling less.

Reddit Has Become The Gospel of Personal Finance

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If you look beyond the memes, cat videos, and quirky acronyms (TIL, OP, ELI5) you’ll find a treasure trove of resources that will help you quickly get acquainted with the topics that have long eluded you. For me, even though I worked on Wall Street for nearly 15 years, Reddit is the first place I turn when I have a question about money. Khe Hy writes on Quartz:

To me, here’s what makes good financial advice: objectivity, accuracy, and relatability. With an alien mascot named Snoo, an impossibly sprawling site structure, and user anonymity, Reddit may seem like an unlikely place for the serious business of money. But in fact, it has each of these qualities in spades. 

According to Amazon’s Alexa, Reddit is the sixth most popular site in the US; the site reported 430 million active users at the end of 2019. Reddit is organized into niche communities (known as subreddits that begin with “r/”) with their own guidelines, norms, and moderators covering both mainstream (r/kpop) and obscure (r/namenerds for new parents seeking inspiration) topics. Because users self-select to be active in these communities, Redditors are known to be passionate and have been described as “offbeat, quirky, and anti-establishment.” All these qualities make it a great place for conversations about money. Consider the subreddit Frugal Living (r/Frugal), which shows what allows Reddit to offer better financial advice than many of those other sites: the Redditor community. Frugal Living’s mission statement is to “understand the resources that we have, and [how to spend] them wisely and deliberately” and this subreddit contains actionable tips on eking out that last bit of toothpaste, warnings that Amazon Day is pure marketing, and why you shouldn’t pay for scientific journals. These posts offer encouragement, collaboration, and a relatability that’s hard to find in the traditional financial press, no matter your financial situation. […] One final word of warning: no matter whether financial advice comes from the front page of the internet or the front page of the Wall Street Journal, it’s incumbent upon the buyer to scrutinize the details, lead with skepticism, and, when appropriate, consult with professionals.

Some of the communities that might help you with personal finance on Reddit include: Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Investing, Financial Independence / Retire Early, and Stocks.

Are We Trading Our Happiness for Modern Comforts?

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As society gets richer, people chase the wrong things. One of the greatest paradoxes in American life is that while, on average, existence has gotten more comfortable over time, happiness has fallen. The Atlantic reports:

According to the United States Census Bureau, average household income in the U.S., adjusted for inflation, was higher in 2019 than has ever been recorded for every income quintile. And although income inequality has risen, this has not been mirrored by inequality in the consumption of goods and services. For example, from 2008 to 2019, households in the lowest income quintile increased spending on eating out by an average of about 22 percent after correcting for inflation; the top quintile increased spending on eating out by an average of just under 8 percent. Meanwhile, domestic government services have increased significantly: For example, federal spending on education, training, employment, and social services increased from 2000 to 2019 by about 30 percent in inflation-adjusted terms.

New American homes in 2016 were 1,000 square feet larger than in 1973 and living space per person, on average, has nearly doubled. The number of Americans who use the internet increased from 52 to 90 percent from 2000 to 2019. The percentage who use social media grew from 5 to 72 percent from 2005 to 2019.

But amid these advances in quality of life across the income scale, average happiness is decreasing in the U.S. The General Social Survey, which has been measuring social trends among Americans every one or two years since 1972, shows a long-term, gradual decline in happiness—and rise in unhappiness—from 1988 to the present.

More Than 1 Million New Yorkers Can’t Afford Food

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The lines are long and the need is enormous. More than 1 million New Yorkers can’t afford food, and standing on long lines at food banks is now too common amid the pandemic. Pandemic worsens NYC’s food crisis. Fox 5 NY reports:

An estimated 1.5 million New Yorkers cannot afford food, according to the New York Times. Their only lifeline is a food pantry.

“I’m on a limited income. I visit every two to three weeks,” said Denise Allen, a mother of one.

Rapaport said there is so much need. So much so that for the last three days, Rapaport, his staff, and volunteers have been operating around the clock. All three locations are now open 24/7, feeding 1,500 families a day, but it is still not enough, he said.

Pandemic or Not, Some Assets and Services Grow Ever Hotter

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There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic will change the world. In fact, it already has changed the world, and it will keep going. Many of the reports and forecasts you can see today show devastating losses in some industries. Forecasts from economists and other experts predict a grim future drawing parallels with the Great Depression. Seeing how many businesses are failing because of lockdowns, a tragedy seems inevitable.

However, while this all is happening, some industries are growing and values of some assets are going up. It’s true that many companies are failing, but there are also those that report record increases in revenue. The stock market has all but recovered, largely due to the rapid gain by tech giants.

It’s true that there is a lot of uncertainty still. It’s also a fact that the global economy is going into a dangerous recession. However, while stressful the situation is not necessarily tragic. Changes will continue to spread as investors are reallocating their funds. Businesses will close and others will open. The change in consumer behavior will stick and we can expect to see even more overall digitalization.

But the real question is whether the powers that are going strong will be enough to hold the global economy back from total collapse?

Some Industries Are Doing Very Well Despite the Pandemic

Looking back at previous economic recessions, one thing remains quite stable. As the economy crashes, so do house prices. However, while the COVID-19 crisis is definitely one of the worst, its effect on real estate is different. Home prices continue to rise. In some countries, for example, Germany and South Korea, the housing market is growing so fast that local governments have to implement buyer restrictions. Even in America, which is admittedly struggling during this crisis, real estate value keeps increasing.

For the real estate market, the main reasons for growth are policies and a big change in buyers’ preferences. Lenders have to lower interest rates in response to the crisis. Governments in richer countries also launched policies that offer some leniency, like banning foreclosures for the duration of the pandemic. People also became more interested in purchasing bigger homes with gardens in suburban areas. The latter is, no doubt, in response to many companies accepting remote work as the new norm.

Residential real estate isn’t the only sector that’s doing well. Technology giants and startups alike are enjoying robust growth in this otherwise difficult time. As so many aspects of our everyday lives are getting transferred online, businesses that facilitate this transition are getting an unprecedented boost in interest.

Investors definitely caught on to that. Therefore, they started putting their money into tech companies and other industries that are fueled by the pandemic. Healthcare is definitely at the top there.

Even retail trade isn’t doing too badly. It’s true that the overall consumption level has gone down. This is an expected trend for an economic recession. However, online sales are growing super-fast. Therefore, online retailers, and the ones that were quick to change, are getting bigger revenues despite the pandemic. [Read more…]

Billionaire CEO of Software Company Indicted For Alleged $2 Billion Tax Evasion Schemes

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The billionaire chief executive of Ohio-based Reynolds and Reynolds Co, Robert Brockman, has been indicted on charges of tax evasion and wire fraud conducted over “decades.” ZDNet reports:

The scheme, in which roughly $2 billion was hidden away in offshore accounts and through money laundering, took place between 1999 and 2019, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) said on Thursday. According to the indictment (.PDF), the resident of both Houston, Texas, and Pitkin County, Colorado allegedly used a “web” of offshore organizations in Bermuda and Nevis to hide the profits he made from investments in private equity funds. 

Brockman squirreled away his capital gains and also tampered with the evidence of his alleged activities, prosecutors say, by methods including backdating records and using “encrypted communications and code words” to communicate with co-conspirators, including the phrases “Permit,” “King,” and “Redfish.” A ranch, luxury home, and yacht were among the purchases apparently made with non-taxed income. US prosecutors also say that between 2008 and 2010, Brockman used a third-party entity to purchase $67.8 million in debt securities from the software company. As CEO, the executive is not permitted to do so without full disclosure as it can have an impact on share prices and trading; however, Brockman allegedly did so without informing sellers. 

As a result, approximately $2 billion in income was kept hidden from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition, US prosecutors allege that investors in the software firm’s debt securities were also defrauded. A federal grand jury in San Francisco, California has issued a 39-count indictment, including seven counts of tax evasion, 20 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, evidence tampering, and destruction of evidence.

The Average American Has $90,460 in Debt

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In our efforts to keep up with the Joneses (or just get by during this period of economic uncertainty, debt has become a normalized part of the American lifestyle. CNBC reports:

Borrowing money is often an important part of a long-term financial plan, whether it’s to access education and career opportunities, buy a car for your commute or find a place to call home.

However, debt also involves a little risk and can be expensive. Not only do you pay interest fees, borrowing of any kind requires you to make your payments on time in order to keep your account and credit score in good standing. It’s not uncommon for consumers to make a few common mistakes while learning how credit works and establishing lifelong money habits.

That’s why knowledge is important: Using 2019 data from credit bureau Experian, we looked at how much debt the average American has at every stage of their lives, breaking it down by total balance(s) and type, so you can get a big-picture view of how much Americans are borrowing, and why.

While the average American has $90,460 in debt, this includes all types of consumer debt products, from credit cards to personal loans, mortgages and student debt.

Knowing these trends is important. Along with staying informed about financial planning, reading advice about saving for retirement and learning credit card basics — knowing where you stand can help you decide where to go next on your financial journey.

The 50 Richest Americans Are Worth as Much as the Poorest 165 Million

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The 50 richest Americans now hold almost as much wealth as half of the U.S., as Covid-19 transforms the economy in ways that have disproportionately rewarded a small class of billionaires. Bloomberg reports:

New data from the U.S. Federal Reserve, a comprehensive look at U.S. wealth through the first half of 2020, show stark disparities by race, age and class. While the top 1% of Americans have a combined net worth of $34.2 trillion, the poorest 50% — about 165 million people — hold just $2.08 trillion, or 1.9% of all household wealth.

The 50 richest people in the country, meanwhile, are worth almost $2 trillion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, up $339 billion from the beginning of 2020.

Covid-19 has exacerbated inequality in the U.S., with job losses falling heavily on low-wage service workers and the virus disproportionately infecting and killing people of color. Meanwhile, many upper-middle class professionals are working from home, watching their retirement accounts rise in value after the U.S. Treasury and Fed pumped stimulus into the economy and markets.

Another key reason for the wealth disparity is that the vast majority of Americans aren’t benefiting from rising stock prices. The bottom 90%’s exposure to the stock market has been dropping for almost two decades. Since peaking at 21.4% in 2002, upper middle class Americans have seen a 10 percentage point decline in their equity interest in companies. A similar pattern is seen among the bottom half.

Pandemic Accelerated Cord Cutting, Making 2020 the Worst-Ever Year For Pay TV

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According to new research from eMarketer, the cable, satellite and telecom TV industry is on track to lose the most subscribers ever. This year, over 6 million U.S. households will cut the cord with pay TV, bringing the total number of cord-cutter households to 31.2 million. TechCrunch reports:

The firm says that by 2024, the number will grow even further, reaching 46.6 million total cord-cutter households, or more than a third of all U.S. households that no longer have pay TV.

Despite these significant declines, there are still more households that have a pay TV subscription than those that do not. Today, there are 77.6 million U.S. households that have cable, satellite or telecom TV packages. But that number has declined 7.5% year-over-year — its biggest-ever drop. The figure is also down from pay TV’s peak in 2014, the analysts said. 

The pay TV losses, as you may expect, are due to the growing adoption of streaming services. But if anything, the pandemic has pushed forward the cord-cutting movement’s momentum as the health crisis contributed to a down economy and the loss of live sports during the first part of the year. These trends may have also encouraged more consumers to cut the cord than would have otherwise.

“Consumers are choosing to cut the cord because of high prices, especially compared with streaming alternatives,” said eMarketer forecasting analyst at Insider Intelligence Eric Haggstrom. “The loss of live sports in H1 2020 contributed to further declines. While sports have returned, people will not return to their old cable or satellite plans,” he added.

Addicted To Losing: How Casino-Like Apps Have Drained People of Millions

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NBC News spoke to 21 people who said they were hooked on casino-style apps and had spent significant sums of money. The industry is almost entirely unregulated. NBC reports:

Shellz, 37, a nurse from Houston, spends at least two hours a day with her husband playing a casino-style smartphone game called Jackpot Magic. The app offers a variety of typical casino games to play, including their favorite, called Reel Rivals, a game in which players accrue points by playing a virtual slot machine. As in a real casino, players exchange money for coins to bet. Unlike in a real casino, there is no way to win money back or earn a payout on coins. But that has not stopped Shellz and her husband from spending about $150,000 in the game in just two years. She asked to use her in-game username so her family does not find out how much money they have spent on the game. “We lie in bed next to each other, we have two tablets, two phones and a computer and all these apps spinning Reel Rivals at the same time,” she said. “We normalize it with each other.” Jackpot Magic is an app made by Big Fish Games of Seattle, one of the leaders in an industry of “free-to-play” social games into which some people have plowed thousands of dollars. Big Fish Games also operates a similar app, Big Fish Casino. Both are labeled as video games, which allows the company and others like it to skirt the tightly regulated U.S. gambling market. But unlike the gambling market, apps like Jackpot Magic and Big Fish Casino are under little oversight to determine whether they are fair or whether their business practices are predatory. 

NBC News spoke to 21 people, including Shellz and her husband, who said they were hooked on the casino-style games and had spent significant sums of money. They described feelings of helplessness and wanting to quit but found themselves addicted to the games and tempted by the company’s aggressive marketing tactics. Most of the 21 players wished to remain anonymous, as they were ashamed of their addictions and did not want their loved ones to find out about their behavior. A 42-year-old Pennsylvania woman said she felt saddened that she spent $40,000 on Big Fish Casino while working as an addiction counselor. “The whole time I was working as an addiction counselor, I was addicted to gambling and with no hope of winning any money back,” she said. Big Fish Games did not make anyone available for an interview, nor did the company respond to detailed questions. The company has said in previous court filings that only a fraction of the game’s players actually spend money. In a response to NBC News’ inquiries, the company issued a statement saying its games are not gambling and should not be regulated as such.

Keeping Your Finances On Track Following A Personal Injury

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Sustaining a personal injury can do more than harm your health, it can change your entire life. According to Newswire, more than 700,000 personal injury claims are filed every year in The States. Those who sustain a personal injury so severe that they’re unable to continue working can be awarded millions, just as James T. Mitchell discovered. In April this year, he won in excess of $5 million following two workplace injuries which prevented him from being able earn any income. Regardless of how much you are awarded, it’s essential you plan your future finances to prevent you wasting your compensation on extortionate medical bills and day to day living expenses.

File a legal claim

According to Arbill, 3.3 million people suffer a workplace incident which they may never recover from, such as head and brain injuries, therefore, if your injury could have been prevented and there is evidence to support that a third party was at fault, then you should instruct a personal injury attorney to start legal proceedings. Your attorney will fight to get justice for you and to prevent a similar incident occurring to anyone else, but, most importantly, they’ll seek compensation as a form of settlement. America’s highest ever personal injury claim saw $150 billion paid out to the claimant, according to ABC Money. Each state has a cap on the amount of non-economic damages that can be awarded to an individual, and in medical malpractice cases the federal government have capped damages at $250,000. Once you receive your payout, ensure you spend and save it wisely. Bear in mind that with your earning potential being limited for the foreseeable future you need to make the cash last so think about setting yourself a set amount to spend each month to ease any financial burden.

Get a second opinion

Following your injury you may be on multiple types of strong medication which causes you to become easily confused and which makes it difficult to concentrate, especially with something as complex as numbers. Rather than struggle in silence, ask for help from friends or family who’ll be able to review your outgoings, help you make cutbacks by speaking to companies such as your phone and television providers for you and advise on how best to proceed. It’s also worth seeking the advice of a financial advisor as they’ll have experience in dealing with people who have been in similar situation and their wealth of knowledge will help you get on top of your finances.

Claim what you’re owed

eHealthInsurance reports that the average American will pay a monthly health insurance premium of $321 per month, therefore, make sure you utilize your policy. Depending on your level of cover, they’ll help to pay your medical bills and will give you a lump sum of cash due to you being unable to work as a result of your injury. You may be reluctant to turn to benefits to get by, but it’s important to remember that your injury isn’t your fault and that what’s more paramount is keeping a roof over your head and your finances in good health, so you must look into and apply for any unemployment benefits that you’re entitled to. And if you’ve lent money to friends and family in the past, now is the time to claim back what you’re owed. So long as you explain your situation to your loved ones, most will be than happy to make arrangements to get your cash back to you.

A personal injury which impacts your ability to work will leave your finances in tatters if you don’t take action to keep on top of them. Therefore, you should file a legal claim in order to win compensation, ensure you request what you’re owed from various parties and seek the advice and help from your loved ones and a financial advisor to keep your finances in good order while you adjust to live with your injury.

Young Americans Have Used 33% Of Their Total Savings During COVID-19

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The coronavirus shutdowns have had a dramatic impact on the broader economy (if not the stock market, which is almost back to all time highs) and few have been hit as hard as young Americans such as Millennials and Gen Zers. Tyler Durden writes on ZeroHedge:

A recent survey from Travis Credit Union seeking to learn more about the money-saving habits of young Americans and how Covid-19 and the looming recession has impacted their savings, polled nearly 2,000 Millennials and Gen-Zers and here’s what they found:

* 99% said that saving money is important to them.

* 39% of young Americans have had to dip into their savings during Covid-19 and have used an average of one-third of their total savings

* The top reasons for using savings during Covid-19: Food, utilities, mortgage or rent, credit card debt, and student loans.

* 73% of respondents said Covid-19 will shape their financial habits moving forward.

With Tax Returns Around The Corner, Documents Will Help Workers Prepare

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Tax returns were due in on July 2015, but given the circumstances, the federal government have provided a three month extension. Despite this, commentators still expect up to 1.4m to fail to provide a return, which CNBC note will result in a 5% charge and – worse – funds that could be redistributed to the taxpayer being withheld by the IRS. Taxes can be a difficult process, but with a little planning and dedication, they can be made easy. At the heart of these preparations is a simple, but crucial, concept – documents.

The basics – W2 and 1099-G

Aside from your basic details – name, address, social security – the absolute must-have document, supported by evidence throughout the year, is the W2 (for employed people) and the 1099-G (for unemployed people). While these change in need from case to case, and self-employed professions will require further evidence, they do provide the basis for income assessments. When you receive this form from your employer, or start filling it out yourself as a self-employed person, use your time to diligently check for errors. According to US News, the correction process when amending these forms can be time-consuming and costly for both the IRS and taxpayer – get it right first time.

Unique income

Keep a thought for any income you have made through non-formal employment. This can include hobbies, online selling and gambling. To take the latter, Investopedia outline how gambling income can be taxed – anything over $1,200 should be issued a form when paid out by the casino in question. If not, the gambler must still report everything to the IRS. Keep an eye out for these small sums which, over time, can add up to a notable untaxed pot. It will improve the accuracy of your report and keep you out of the radar of IRS investigators, ultimately leading to your tax affairs being in order and timely.

Securing your dues

Aside from the legal requirement to fill out tax returns, the process of tax assessment can provide substantial savings. Deductions can range from K-12 educator expenses and charitable donations through to federally declared disaster rebates and home improvements for energy savings subsidies. Essentially, there is a huge range of things you can undertake in daily life that the government will allow you a refund for. The best way to keep organized here is to keep documents concerning any changes or purchases you make to support the home or business; when compared against the rebate text and criteria, you may be owed costs that you would not have picked up on otherwise. There is no law against making the request in good faith, even if the IRS deny it.

Careful management of your tax affairs is crucial to your long-term financial health and can, indeed, have an impact on your mental and physical health. Having thorough documentation to support your tax process is key in this. Keep your documents; make yourself aware of your rights; and be timely in your filing process.