by Chris Taylor If you had to name a handful of major events that reshaped the financial world over the past few decades, one of them would have to be the rise of index, or passive, investing. As opposed to active stock picking — or selecting individual companies you think are poised for growth — stock market index funds simply track the entire groups of securities. So if you buy shares in an S&P 500 index fund, for instance, you will own a tiny slice of all 500 companies on that list.

by Mallika Mitra Health care costs continue to rise, people are living longer and corporate pensions are an endangered species. What does this all mean for your money? For one thing, it’s more important than ever to save for retirement. That doesn't mean just by squirreling away money here and there, hoping that it will be enough by the time you’re ready to leave your job. To keep up with inflation, that money also needs to grow over time.

by Julia Glum After a rough spring and a touch-and-go summer, the U.S. economy is finally starting to improve. Even though the country is still in a pandemic-induced recession, experts are starting to predict what recovery might look like. They’re always throwing around letters to describe the trajectory: U-shaped, L-shaped, K-shaped. To the average listener, it probably sounds like alphabet soup.

by Elizabeth O'Brien Open enrollment began on Sunday for the 11.4 million Americans who have individual health insurance through healthcare.gov or their state marketplace, and for new consumers who want to enroll in Obamacare for the first time. A cloud of uncertainty hangs over open enrollment this year. On Nov. 10, the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. A ruling is expected by June, 2021.

by Julia Glum Though the 2020 election results will undoubtedly change several aspects of Americans’ lives over the next four years, the pandemic has people asking one urgent money question: Will President Donald Trump or Joe Biden get us closer to a second stimulus check? More than six months have passed since the government first began issuing $1,200 economic impact payments to keep consumers financially afloat during the coronavirus outbreak.

by Kenadi Silcox When you ask Americans about the most important issues facing our country during an election cycle, you will almost certainly hear about “the economy.” In fact, a recent report from Pew Research found that about three-quarters of all registered voters said the economy was a “very important” issue for them.

by Mallika Mitra Many things are riding on the outcome of the Nov. 3 election. But your investment portfolio probably isn’t one of them. With issues from health care to tax policy up in the air — and uncertainty around when we’ll even know who the next president is, it’s understandable to be uneasy about what this all means for your money. Investors might be feeling particularly jittery after last Wednesday’s stock market route, when the Dow lost 3.

by Aly J. Yale Jeff and Jessica Falkowski’s homebuying journey should be a cautionary tale. The couple, along with their one-year-old son Jack, have been shopping for a home in Westchester, N.Y. since February. Though they’ve made offers on four homes, they’re yet to actually buy one. In two deals, they were outbid. The other two? They backed out after home inspectors found serious defects on the properties.

by Kristen Kuhcar More than $120 billion in federal aid is given out each year to help families pay for college. Your only shot at a piece of that pie is by filling out the FAFSA — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Each October, the application opens up, and anxiety from college-bound students and their parents ensues. After all, the form has a reputation for being long, confusing and, frankly, disappointing.

by Mallika Mitra Broken as it is, unemployment insurance (UI) remains a vital lifeline for the jobless. But it takes a lot of work, ironically, to navigate the process. That’s especially true these days, when federal emergency benefits are running alongside traditional ones, broadening the scope of help, but sometimes complicating the process of getting it. Standard UI is a joint program between the federal government and states.