There are quite literally tens of millions of limited liability companies, partnerships, and other entities that are facing a year-end deadline to make the new Beneficial Ownership Information (“BOI”) as mandated by the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) and the regulations of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FINCEN”). Awash in these government acronyms are many private entities that have already filed and a veritable tidal wave of entities that are prepared or preparing to file by that deadline. Or maybe not. As this deadline has approached, over a dozen cases have been filed in the U.S. District Courts challenging the legality…

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode: Learn how to refinance your mortgage, manage credit card debt, and navigate home equity with practical tips and strategies.When is the right time to refinance a mortgage? How can you use a HELOC or home equity to your advantage? Hosts Sean Pyles, freshly returned from time off to focus on the CFP exam, and Sara Rathner discuss mortgage refinancing, home equity, and credit card debt management to help you make smarter financial decisions. But first, they share an update on Sean’s CFP journey and…

The Biden administration is preparing to reopen two student loan repayment plans as soon as next week. The move could provide more options for borrowers seeking student loan forgiveness. Since August, at least eight million of borrowers have been in repayment purgatory due to a legal challenge targeting the SAVE plan. SAVE is the latest in a series of income-driven repayment, or IDR, options that tie a borrower’s monthly payment to their income and family size. SAVE was designed to be far more beneficial and affordable than older IDR plans, with lower payments, a generous interest subsidy, and loan forgiveness…

Ever feel like flight prices are all over the map? So does the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The consumer watchdog agency recently issued an order to eight companies seeking information to see how dynamic pricing(adjusting fares based on demand)and surveillance pricing (adjusting fares based on your personal data) are used to set airfare. The good news is that you can enlist a few easy tricks to avoid the eyes of big data and save on your next flight. The Two Faces of AI Pricing Let’s start by defining the terms: Dynamic pricing adjusts fares based on external factors like demand,…

The Biden administration appears to have pulled off the elusive economic soft landing, getting inflation in check without crashing the economy into a recession. While inflation has been easing downward, it has still been pinching retirees’ budgets. The bad news is that shrinking inflation rates also mean a smaller Social Security cost-of-living (COLA) for 2025. The 2025 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will kick in via your January check (or direct deposit from SS). So, current Social Security recipients will continue to see their retirement incomes stretched thin this month as we move through the holidays. The Social Security Administration (SSA)…

In a recent interview with Shane Parrish, Whole Foods founder John Mackey talked a lot about wealth—what it means to him and what it doesn’t. He told a particularly compelling story about what he didn’t want wealth to look like for him. He was going to meet with Jeff Bezos to discuss Amazon buying Whole Foods—you know, as one does—and the exact location of their meeting, Bezos’ boat house adjacent to his Lake Washington mansion, remained obscured until Mackey’s plane landed. Then, Mackey and his car were searched prior to entering, and after all the impersonal fanfare, he was left…

With a presidential transition on the horizon, the U.S. is facing heightened economic uncertainty as we move into 2025. As a result, many Americans are considering investments that can help them hedge against any potential changes to market conditions. Though it may not be the first thing that comes to mind, gold is actually one of the most stable assets you can add to a diversified portfolio, as its value remains relatively stable against economic headwinds like inflation, dollar devaluation, and lower interest rates. Historically, gold and precious metal assets have demonstrated resilience during economic downturns and political shifts. Take…

Plea agreements are the most common way federal criminal charges are disposed of with judges approving plea agreements in 98% of all federal criminal cases which is why Judge Reed O’Connor’s rejection of a plea agreement negotiated by lawyers for Boeing and Justice Department lawyers that would have resulted in a guilty plea by Boeing of conspiracy to defraud charges related to Boeing’s actions in deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prior to the fatal crashes of two Boeing 737 Max airplanes is so unusual. The plea agreement would have provided for Boeing to plead guilty to one count of…

Knowing how to budget in your 30s is no longer just about controlling spending. By this age, you’ve likely established some financial habits, but now it’s time to refine your strategy, increase your wealth and plan for major life events. The discipline you developed for budgeting in your 20s will be critical as you continue to build and grow your finances even more. This article will guide you through essential tips for managing your money in your 30s. Budgeting Strategies In Your 30s As you enter your 30s, your income may already have increased, but so have your responsibilities. Aside…

It’s got a lot of what’s great about a bar. It’s cozy and inviting (its name, Vieni Vieni, means “come come”), small and narrow, 15 or 20 barstools, no tables, so it’s easy to talk to the people who apparently know each other and seem happy to welcome you in. Drinks are reasonably cheap — $6 to $7 for a beer, $7 to $10 for a shot or mixed drink — though not quite as cheap as they used to be. More about that later.It does not have a lot of what’s bad about a bar. No live entertainment to…