WSJ Your Money Briefing

While many banks offer interest rates around 2% for standard certificates of deposit, or CDs, they offer substantially higher rates on “brokered CDs.” WSJ reporter Rachel Louise Ensign joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how consumers can buy them. 

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About 22 million people have signed up for President Biden’s student-loan forgiveness program. But several lawsuits filed against the government have raised questions about when or whether borrowers will be relieved of their debt. WSJ reporter Gabriel T. Rubin joins host J.R. Whalen with some answers. 

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More states are requiring companies to post salary information as part of job listings. Host J.R. Whalen is joined by reporter Ray A. Smith to discuss the questions that job candidates should still be asking about pay, and by California resident and current job seeker Paris Clarke to discuss how the additional information is helping her search for a job.

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Despite a push to have consumers’ info from “buy now, pay later” purchases included in their credit reports, companies like Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay have been reluctant to supply the data over fears it could hurt consumers’ credit scores. WSJ banking reporter AnnaMaria Andriotis joins host J.R. Whalen with more.

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Every year, inflation triggers adjustments to many of the nation’s tax laws. WSJ tax reporter Richard Rubin joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how this year’s especially high inflation will result in changes that could wind up boosting Americans’ paychecks.

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Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, can ease the financial burden of medical costs but also feature little-known tax benefits. WSJ tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss. 

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Many Americans who spent years socking away enough for a down payment to buy a house are now waiting on the sidelines until mortgage rates or home prices drop. In the meantime, there may be better ways to preserve the value of those savings besides leaving them in a low-yield account. WSJ personal finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host Daniella Cheslow to talk through the best options.

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Social Security recipients will see a bigger-than-usual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in their monthly benefits beginning in January. WSJ retirement reporter Anne Tergesen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how inflation factors into it and how the increase could impact retirees’ taxes. 

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Interest rates on Series I savings bonds, also known as I Bonds, have approached 10% as inflation has risen throughout 2022. WSJ financial editor Charles Forelle joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why rates for I Bonds are about to fall, and how investors can capitalize on them before they decline.

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Unlike in 2020 when the stock market was upended by the pandemic, seniors with retirement savings accounts during the current market volatility have to make required minimum distributions by the end of the year. WSJ personal-finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how retirees can make withdrawals in a down market but still capitalize on eventual market gains.
Correction: Congress waived rules for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts in 2020. A previous version of this podcast incorrectly said the RMB rules hadn't been in place since 2019.

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The strength of the U.S. dollar against currencies like the euro and Japanese yen has boosted the spending power of Americans traveling internationally. WSJ travel reporter Allison Pohle joins host J.R. Whalen with more. 

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U.S. stocks have a history of rising in the year following midterm elections. WSJ markets reporter Hannah Miao joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what the current economic climate is likely to mean for stocks following this November’s elections.

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Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS, are bonds that traditionally pay higher yields to investors as inflation rises. WSJ markets reporter Matt Grossman joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why yields haven’t kept pace with inflation in 2022, and steps TIPS investors can take to boost their returns.

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Gas prices in the U.S. have risen an average of about 5% in just the past two weeks. WSJ reporter Benoît Morenne joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what is pushing the price of gas higher and how far motorists can expect it to rise.

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Even though the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates several times this year, the rates that banks pay for savings accounts have barely budged. WSJ personal-finance reporter Joe Pinsker joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why and discuss other options that can earn you more interest on your cash.

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Travel experts say booking holiday-season flights now can help save on airfare and avoid frustration later in the year. WSJ travel reporter Allison Pohle joins host J.R. Whalen with more.  

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As more young prospective homebuyers are priced out of the housing market, many may turn to their parents to cosign their mortgage to help secure approval. Wall Street Journal contributor Robyn A. Friedman joins WSJ Your Money Briefing host J.R. Whalen to discuss the benefits and risks parents and children should consider before cosigning.

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While some prices have ticked down slightly from recent highs, others continue to rise and are unlikely to come down anytime soon. WSJ personal-finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why some prices remain “sticky” and how they are causing consumers to adjust their household finances.

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Auto-insurance rates have risen an average of 8.3% from a year ago. WSJ personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what is pushing rates higher and how drivers can reduce their monthly premiums.

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So-called “quality” stocks, or profitable companies whose shares typically weather market downturns, haven’t performed as reliably this year as in past bear markets. WSJ’s “Intelligent Investor” columnist Jason Zweig joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why and discuss some changes investors can make to their portfolios to minimize losses. 

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Reviewing traditional tax strategies now could mean more money in your pocket when you prepare your tax return next spring. WSJ contributor Tom Herman joins host J.R. Whalen with steps taxpayers should consider to lessen the amount they may have to hand over to Uncle Sam.

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Grocery prices rose more than 13% in August from a year earlier, the highest 12-month increase since 1979. Host J.R. Whalen is joined by reporter Rachel Wolfe to discuss how consumers are making ends meet, and by Louisiana resident Jamaica Bonvillian, who has struggled to balance food costs with her family’s overall household finances.

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Making donations to a political candidate or cause isn’t always tax deductible, and it can come with privacy implications. WSJ tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what consumers should know before making a donation.

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Homeowners who previously locked in low mortgage rates face the dilemma of whether to sell and take on a significantly higher rate, or stay put and keep their low rate locked in. WSJ housing market reporter Nicole Friedman joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the issue and the potential effect on home prices.

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As workers return to the office, many companies are reinstating performance reviews. WSJ reporter Kathryn Dill joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss their relevance in the post-pandemic workplace, and how workers can prepare for their meeting with the boss.

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Americans’ electricity and natural-gas bills have risen an average of more than 15% over the past year. WSJ energy and utilities reporter Katherine Blunt joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why prices are rising and how consumers can prepare.

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Some homeowners who are ready to sell are finding that more buyers are waiting on the sidelines, and many are choosing to rent out their homes instead, in the hopes of freeing up cash so they can buy a new place to live. WSJ housing-market reporter Will Parker joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the pros and cons of renting out your home instead of selling it.

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New premium models of phones from Apple and Samsung can cost as much as a month’s rent. WSJ personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host Daniella Cheslow to discuss ways oflowering the sticker price and getting deals on wireless service .

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More than 125 U.S. colleges and universities promised in 2016 to raise the enrollment of lower-income students by 50,000 by 2025. But a progress report from the initiative shows the schools have added fewer than 8,000 so far. Higher-education reporter Melissa Korn joins host Daniella Cheslow to discuss why federal Pell Grants are reaching so few potential students .

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The largest share of second-home purchases closes from fall to early in the new year. But along with the dream of family memories and rental incomes, vacation homes carry financial and emotional risks. WSJ personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host Daniella Cheslow to discuss the highs and lows of buying a second home, and how to lay the foundation for a good buy.

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A record 19 million taxpayers asked the IRS for more time to file . Wall Street Journal personal finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host Daniella Cheslow to discuss why so many taxpayers are filing late, and how to avoid steep penalties for missing the Oct. 17 deadline.

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Americans’ credit-card balances are way up, and inflation is only part of the reason. WSJ personal-finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host Daniella Cheslow to discuss why impulse buying (including her own) is up, and whether splurging might actually be worthwhile.

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With the U.S. savings rate on the decline, some financial apps are offeringprizes and other incentives to encourage consumers to put money away. WSJ contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how the incentives work, and what financial experts have to say about their role in a savings plan.

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The competition among home sellers has increased this year as mortgage rates have risen to nearly 6%. WSJ “Mansion” section senior editor Kerry Barger joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss a new series of stories focused on helping homeowners prepare their house for a sale.

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As stocks have flirted with bear-market territory this year, many people have invested in a type of exchange-traded fund known as a “buffer fund” to protect against potential steep declines. WSJ markets reporter Eric Wallerstein joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how buffer funds work and how well they have performed.

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Mortgage rates are roughly double where they were a year ago, and that is leading some people who are ready to buy a house to consider renting instead. WSJ economics reporter Ben Eisen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the tradeoffs of buying versus renting in the current housing market.

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After several failed attempts over the past year to bring workers back to the office, companies are making a stronger push for a return to in-person work. WSJ workplace reporter Chip Cutter joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what is different this time, and how workers can make the most of a return to their office desk.

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Fraudsters send out about 12 billion robotexts a month in the hopes of scamming unsuspecting consumers. WSJ personal-technology columnist Nicole Nguyen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how you can avoid being victimized.

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Americans in the upper middle class are feeling the effects of the economic downturn more acutely than those in other income groups. Host J.R. Whalen is joined by WSJ reporter Dion Rabouin to discuss the economic factors behind the trend, and by 33-year-old Texas resident Mark Yu, who explains how the economic instability has caused him to change his financial habits.

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A bill in California would require some of the country’s largest employers to include salary ranges in job postings. WSJ workplace and management reporter Chip Cutter joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how the measure also could affect workers and companies in other parts of the country.

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Inflation and stock-market instability are causing many seniors to make changes to how they treat their retirement savings as well as other aspects of their lives. Age Wave co-founder Maddy Dychtwald joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the findings from a survey the group conducted with thousands of retirees. 

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A recent study found that the average cost of raising a child through age 17 is now $300,000. WSJ “Numbers” columnist Josh Zumbrun joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the factors that are driving costs up the most, and how families can keep them under control.

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Workers who are rejecting the idea of going above and beyond in their job have attracted a significant amount of backlash. WSJ workplace reporter Kathryn Dill joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the reasons for the backlash, and options workers could pursue to find career success.

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Millions of federal student-loan borrowers will see all or part of their student debt forgiven under a plan announced by President Biden on Wednesday. WSJ personal-finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss forgiveness eligibility requirements, what borrowers need to do, and the potential challenges the plan could face.

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Retailers are slashing prices in hopes that cost-conscious shoppers will help reduce their big backlogs of unsold inventory. WSJ reporter Rachel Wolfe joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss which discounted products consumers can get at a deep discount now, and which they might want to wait to buy until later in th e year.

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The Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits for electric-vehicle buyers, but it also tightens eligibility rules. WSJ personal-finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how consumers can work around those rules and put more tax-credit money in their pocket. 

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As smartphone makers roll out their newest models, the best phone to use may be the one you already have. Wall Street Journal personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen joins WSJ Your Money Briefing host Daniella Cheslow to discuss how to get the most from your current phone and put off the cost of replacing it.

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Now that the Inflation Reduction Act has become law, the IRS will get $80 billion in additional funding over the next decade. WSJ tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host Daniella Cheslow to discuss what the IRS is expected to do with its new funding, and what it means for taxpayers. 

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Airlines are aggressively trying to sell travelers on seats with extra legroom. WSJ travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson joins Daniella Cheslow to run down what travelers need to know about pricing and perks for premium seating.

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From school supplies to gun safes, 20 states have announced temporary tax breaks to help shoppers cope with this year’s record inflation. WSJ reporter Lauryn Azu joins host Daniella Cheslow to discuss how shoppers can make the most of state tax holidays and where they fall short. 

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