HOW THE ONLINE BROKERS STACK UP

We compared investment offerings, tools, apps, advice and more to find the best broker for you.

AIRLINE TICKET PRICES ARE COMING BACK TO EARTH

After soaring in 2022, prices for domestic airline tickets are on the descent. In June 2023, airfares had dropped by 8.1% from May and by 18.9% over the previous 12 months, according to the June Consumer Price Index report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How Retirement Could Hurt Your Credit Score

Just as you need to take care of your physical health, you need to monitor your credit fitness.

The Risks of Sharing Your Personal Information

Crooks are finding new ways to pilfer your data.

THE DOWNSIDE TO DECLINING INFLATION

After two years of big cost-of-living increases, retirees will likely receive a more modest Social Security raise in 2024.

8 great places to retire-for renters

With home prices inflated and mortgage rates rising, we provide enticing options for retirees who would rather rent than buy

Fixing Your Relationship With Money

This psychologist helps clients address complex issues involving their finances.

CORD CUTTING MADE EASY

With an expanding menu of streaming services, saying goodbye to your cable company's entertainment options has never been easier.

How to Redeem Savings Bonds

Whether you bought savings bonds during inflation’s peak last year or have older bonds collecting dust, take these steps to cash them in.

The High Costs of Caregiving

Caring for aging parents can exact a financial and emotional toll on adult children.

Three Cheers for Grandkids!

Thanks to reader contributions to this column, I have been able to write about what makes a satisfying retirement—everything from socializing to finding a sense of purpose. But reader Nicholas Constantakis has taken me to task for not putting enough emphasis on what he considers the “real joy of retirement”: grandchildren.

AN INHERITANCE WITH STRINGS ATTACHED

New rules for inherited IRAs could leave some heirs with a hefty tax bill.

Defusing Financial Flash Points

MONEY SMART WOMEN

MAKE A PLAN TO RESTART STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS

A three-year pause on federal loan payments ends in October. Here's how to prepare.

What It Takes to Buy Insurance in Florida

Kiplinger editor Elaine Silvestrini shares her story.

Is Your Insurance Coverage Up to Date?

Costs are rising to repair or replace your most valuable assets. Make sure your home and vehicles are adequately insured.

The Appeal of Mortgage Bonds

Recall the line from Hamlet imploring us to neither a borrower nor a lender be? Shakespeare was spot-on about so much, but not credit. Lenders do hold the stronger hand. A 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, with the principal guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration, currently originates at 6.6%, marking an unusually big spread over the 30-year Treasury bond’s yield, now 3.9%. Even Series I savings bonds are down from 9.6% to 4.3% and are set to shrink again in November. (Yields and other data are as of June 30.)

Pick Businesses, Not Stocks

WARREN Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, is the most successful investor of our time. His daughter, Susan, worked as my assistant when I was publisher of a magazine 40 years ago. Just before she got married, Susie told me she worried that her fiancé’s parents had bought a couple shares of Berkshire stock—and what if it tanked? At the time, the price was about $1,000 a share. Today, it’s $507,000 a share. I hope the in-laws hung on.

THE KIPLINGER ETF 20 BACK IN THE BLACK

Our favorite exchange-traded funds are on the upswing. Here's how to make the most of your ETF portfolio.

HOW TO INVEST IN AI

It's too early to pick the ultimate winners in artificial intelligence, and it's already expensive to get in on the ground floor. But these companies stand to benefit from the boom.

THE RISKS OF USING PEER-TO-PEER PAYMENT APPS

A recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that billions of dollars stored in major peer-topeer payment apps, such as Cash App, PayPal and Venmo, may lack the same federal deposit insurance coverage that protects users of standard U.S. banks and credit unions from total ruin in a crisis.

THE FED MAY NOT BE DONE HIKING INTEREST RATES

After lifting the federal funds rate at a rapid clip throughout most of 2022 and at a more moderate pace in the first half of 2023, the Federal Reserve put its series of rate hikes on pause at its June policy meeting. As inflation cools, the Fed is taking a step back to see how its policies are affecting the economy.

Celebrating 100 Years of The Kiplinger Letter

Editor emeritus Knight Kiplinger reflects on an enduring legacy of clear-eyed, unbiased journalism.

What Hospice Patients Can Teach Us About Money

As you build wealth, include your life's purpose and meaning in the framework.

BYE-BYE, BEAR

A new bull market became official in June. But it looks a little wobbly.

You'll Pay More to Shop in These States

Combined state and local sales taxes can add up to 10% to the cost of some purchases

Protect Yourself When the Market Turns Frantic

Low-volatility ETFs aim to smooth stock gyrations

The Staying Power of Luxury Companies

Here’s how to cash in on businesses that cater to big spenders

THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY YOU NEED NOW

Use our guide to find the best portfolio mix for you

THE DEBT CEILING PACT IS UNLIKELY TO TRIGGER A RECESSION

The deal won’t dampen economic growth, but it fails to address long-term fiscal problems