Personal finance

An attendant holds 1-kilogram gold bars on Feb. 17, 2025. Akos Stiller/Bloomberg via Getty Images Gold prices are popping. But investors should avoid the temptation to chase a shiny object, investment experts said. The SPDR Gold Shares fund (GLD), which tracks the price of gold bullion, is up about 11% in 2025 as of 2 p.m.

The average tax refund is 10.4% lower than last year according to the latest Internal Revenue Service data, and inflation is taking more of those dollars. Bill Oxford | E+ | Getty Images The average tax refund this year is down 32.4% compared to last year, according to early filing data from the IRS.  Tax

Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on February 22, 2024 in Austin, Texas.  Brandon Bell | Getty Images Amid President Donald Trump’s threats to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and recent reports that Elon Musk‘s secretive government slashing effort, the Department of Government Efficiency, had gained access to confidential student loan

Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Although a broader window for Medicare enrollment has closed, some retirees have another opportunity to make changes to their coverage. Medicare Advantage open enrollment is available from Jan. 1 through March 31. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers as an alternative to original Medicare. Generally,

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images There’s a lesser-known tax break for low- to moderate-income Americans who save for retirement. However, most eligible taxpayers don’t claim it, experts say. The retirement savings contributions credit, or saver’s credit, helps offset funds added to an individual retirement account, 401(k) plan or another workplace plan. The tax break