An initial draft of this script was created by NerdWallet using automation technology, then thoroughly reviewed, edited and fact-checked by NerdWallet’s human writers and editors.Your cable and internet bills are often flexible. Many providers are willing to adjust their pricing, and a simple phone call can lead to meaningful savings.Now is the perfect time to negotiate. In December and January, many providers roll out promotions to attract new customers and are motivated to retain loyal ones.Your script for finding ways to saveThe script below can help you make your case to a representative, who may help you access promotions, adjust…

The headline was likely a giveaway. But it’s worth looking at the history of income tax on the individual and corporate level. The first step is to bring up the data, which comes from the executive branch’s Office of Management and Budget, Table 2.1, Receipts by Source: 1934 through 2029 (latter being one of the estimates). The light blue line shows total individual income tax payments; the dark blue line is total corporate income tax payments. Another view is by percentage of total income tax paid. That brings up several questions: 1. Why should anyone pay income tax? 2. Why…

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode: Learn how to tackle credit card debt, build savings, and decide between debt payoff and investing for financial growth.How can you pay off credit card debt faster and smarter? When should you prioritize paying off debt over investing your money? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss credit card payoff strategies and building an emergency fund to help you strengthen your financial security. They begin by talking to Adam, a Smart Money listener, who has questions about what to do with a windfall. They…

The Biden administration has officially brought back two previously-phased out student loan repayment plan options. This gives borrowers new paths to reduce monthly payments and pursue student loan forgiveness through income-driven repayment programs and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Applications officially reopened on Wednesday, according to an Education Department announcement. Here’s what borrowers need to know. ICR And PAYE Plans Offer Additional Routes To Student Loan Forgiveness Under current law, all income-driven repayment plans can lead to eventual loan forgiveness, typically after 20 or 25 years. But the SAVE plan, one of the Biden administration’s key student debt relief initiatives, has…

In this article I cover the strategy used by Josef Lakonishok and highlight a list of stocks currently passing the AAII Lakonishok screen. Picking up the value torch from Benjamin Graham, Lakonishok focuses on buying out-of-favor companies that are beginning to show signs of awakening. The Lakonishok screening model has had impressive long-term performance, with an average annual gain since 1998 of 13.8%, versus 6.8% for the S&P 500 index over the same period. The Lakonishok Screening Model Value investing consists of buying underappreciated or ignored stocks at attractive prices. Value investors seek stocks that are priced attractively relative to…

The Department of Education, under the Biden Administration, confirmed this week that the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) Plans are re-opened for enrollments, with some restrictions due to the ongoing lawsuits. In updated guidance shared this week, the Department of Education confirms: “As of December 16, 2024 borrowers may apply for the following IDR plans: Pay As You Earn (PAYE), SAVE (previously known as REPAYE), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR), if borrowers meet any plan specific eligibility requirements.” However, not all features of the plans may be in effect because of the lawsuits.…

The federal student loan system is, in a word, a mess right now. Between ongoing court challenges and the pending change in presidential administrations, several student loan forgiveness and repayment programs are blocked by courts or stuck in administrative limbo. Borrowers can still qualify for student loan forgiveness despite the ongoing turmoil. But whether someone will receive any relief very much depends on the specific program. And untangling which programs are available, and which ones are not, is no easy task. Here’s a breakdown. Student Loan Forgiveness Under The SAVE Plan Is Blocked The SAVE plan was the Biden administration’s…

It may come as a surprise to many people, but insider trading is not specifically defined by any statute. It is understood to describe trading in stocks or securities by people with access to material and confidential non-public information. Following the stock market crash of 1929 Congress passed the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with the intention of curbing abuses that led to the crash. Clarifying Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted Rule 10b-5 which made it illegal engage in fraud in connection…

Another SECURE Act might be in the works in Congress. Extremely large bipartisan majorities ensured passage of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act in 2019 and the SECURE Act 2.0 in 2022. The two laws made numerous changes to qualified retirement plans, including 401(k)s and IRAs. The main goals of the laws were to make it easier for more people to participate in tax-favored retirement plans, increase contributions for some people, delay required minimum distributions, and allow penalty-free distributions in more situations. Not all the changes were favorable for taxpayers. To offset some of the lost…

Egg prices are on the rise at the most inconvenient time of the year. As holiday bakers push demand for eggs to its annual high, farmers battle the resurgence of a highly contagious and deadly bird flu that’s claimed roughly 5% of the U.S. flock of egg-laying hens in just three months.Since October, multiple outbreaks spanning six states, including Arizona, California, Iowa, Oregon, Utah and Washington, affected nearly 16.7 million egg-laying hens. Because of where the outbreaks occurred — in multiple states whose animal welfare laws require eggs produced or sold there come from cage-free hens — they’ve had an…