WSJ Your Money Briefing

The IRS will begin accepting returns for the 2021 tax year on Jan. 24. WSJ tax reporter Richard Rubin joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why the agency is expecting processing delays, and how you can make sure your tax refund is handled is quickly.

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After the S&P 500 returned nearly 29% last year, some investors might be tempted to pour money into the stock market in the hopes of realizing similar gains in 2022. WSJ "Intelligent Investor" columnist Jason Zweig joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why, amid this year's market volatility, more restraint might help investors get ahead.

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Two years after tightening their lending standards at the start of the pandemic, banks and lenders have loosened their requirements and are again embracing riskier borrowers. WSJ's AnnaMaria Andriotis joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how interest rates play a role, and how access to credit can impact subprime consumers' credit scores.

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The steep rise in inflation will mean less of an income-tax burden for many people. WSJ tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss areas of your personal finances that will benefit.

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More companies are allowing employees to take several months off at a time to recover from stress and anxiety caused by their job. Host J.R. Whalen discusses the trend with WSJ's Katie Bindley, and 28-year-old Juraj Pal talks about the sabbatical he recently took from his startup job.

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The tight labor market has opened up many more opportunities for job seekers than in previous years. WSJ's Kathryn Dill joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how to get clarity about where you are - and where you want to be - before making a move.

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As inflation rises, more companies are giving cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs, to their employees. WSJ reporter David Harrison joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the size of the increases and why they are raising red flags with some economists.

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Companies are setting aside more money for wage increases than usual. So how can you be among the workers getting a raise this year? WSJ reporter Kathryn Dill joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what you should (and shouldn't) say when asking for a pay raise.

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Credit cards and debit cards each have their pros and cons, but which is better for younger people seeking to chart out their financial future? WSJ contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the uses for each.

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As he prepares to retire his "Middle Seat" column after 20 years, the WSJ's Scott McCartney joins host J.R. Whalen to reflect on how developments in the airline industry have affected passengers for better and for worse, and some changes that could be coming to air travel in the future.

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U.S. stock markets trended higher throughout this past year until inflation and the Omicron Covid-19 variant triggered a series of selloffs. Vanguard Chief Investment Officer Gregory Davis joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what investors should expect in 2022.

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Many Americans are approaching the new year on more solid financial footing. WSJ personal-finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen with tips on allowing yourself to splurge while still keeping your finances on track.

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An unprecedented number of workers quit their jobs in search of higher pay in 2021, leaving employers with millions of unfilled positions. Tom Gimbel, CEO of the LaSalle Network staffing firm, joins Wall Street Journal Your Money Briefing host J.R. Whalen to discuss what the labor market could look like in 2022.

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Plus: U.S. consumer spending rose at a cooler pace in November. Initial jobless claims hold near historic lows. Russian President Vladimir Putin blames the West for Ukraine tensions. J.R. Whalen reports.

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Early next year, the credit-reporting firm Equifax will begin figuring consumers' use of "buy now, pay later" programs into their credit reports. The WSJ's AnnaMaria Andriotis joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how it could affect consumers' credit scores.

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People often give year-end gifts in the form of money to service workers they've done business with throughout the year. But this year, not everyone can give as much as they would like. WSJ personal-finance reporter J.J. McCorvey joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the new unofficial rules of tipping.

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The continued impact of the pandemic on families' finances could add an extra layer of complexity as they and college-bound students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or Fafsa. WSJ contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss some important changes in the application process for the upcoming school year.

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For many people, the holiday season is a time for spending a bit more on gifts, parties and vacations. But with prices on the rise, many families are more focused than ever on their budgets. WSJ reporter Anne Tergesen joins host Trenae Nuri to discuss how families at all budget levels are planning out their holiday spending.

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Thousands of Americans interested in investing in cryptocurrencies have joined social media-based investment groups to learn the basics, including the sector's risks. Lamar Wilson, co-founder of the Black Bitcoin Billionaires group, joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what members learn, and how the knowledge has paid off.

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The tight labor market has seen a rise in "boomerang" employees, or those who return to companies they once worked for. WSJ workplace reporter Kathryn Dill joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what workers should consider before taking a job at a previous employer.

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Banks are coming under increased regulatory pressure to roll back overdraft and insufficient-funds fees. WSJ banking-industry reporter AnnaMaria Andriotis joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why the government is applying the pressure and whether banks are likely to conform.

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Changes to this year's tax rules around charitable donations could put millions of people who might not normally get tax benefits from them in line for a deduction. WSJ tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how to benefit most from donations of cash, stocks and cryptocurrencies this giving season.

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In some areas of the country, rents have risen 20% compared to a year ago. WSJ personal-finance reporter JJ McCorvey joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why the cost of rent is skyrocketing and offer tips for tenants struggling to make ends meet.

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Many people are considering giving digital cash like cryptocurrency as a holiday gift. WSJ personal-finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss popular forms of digital cash, and the planning that both the giver and recipient need to do beforehand.

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A spike in natural gas prices earlier this fall had homeowners bracing for high heating bills this winter. WSJ reporter Ryan Dezember joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why prices have actually come down since then, and what the forecast is like for the upcoming winter season.

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U.S. companies plan to budget more for pay increases next year than at any point since 2008. WSJ economics reporter David Harrison joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss who could benefit most, and how inflation factors into the picture.

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As the number of deaths caused by the pandemic continues to escalate, more millennials and younger Americans are planning their estates and drawing up wills. WSJ reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the trend. Plus, 29-year-old Ohio resident Ryan Bayonnet discusses why he and his wife recently created a will.

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U.S. savings rates soared to record levels during the pandemic, but Americans are still putting away large amounts of cash even as the economy recovers. WSJ personal-finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why that concerns financial advisers.

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Millions of Americans are avoiding crowded stores and delayed delivery schedules by getting what they need through "Buy Nothing" groups. WSJ reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how people can join the groups, and what types of products are available.

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As record numbers of people change jobs, some have called on recruiters to help them land a new position. But is calling a job recruiter when you're ready to change jobs too late in the process? WSJ workplace reporter Kathryn Dill joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss when people should reach out to recruiters.

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Giving miles or credit-card points as a holiday gift could be a way to avoid supply-chain or shipping frustrations. WSJ travel reporter Allison Pohle joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how the process works, and offers tips on avoiding fees.

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More individual investors are using borrowed funds to buy stocks in an effort to score higher profits. WSJ markets reporter Michael Wursthorn joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how the tactic known as margin borrowing works, and the risks that come with it.

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People planning for retirement often mistakenly believe that financial security will ensure happiness in their later years. WSJ and Barron's contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the non-financial priorities that retirement advisors often emphasize with their clients.

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A year after cutting back and spending nearly the entire holiday season at home, consumers this year are showing a willingness to open their wallets. WSJ Heard on the Street columnist Justin Lahart joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how the economic recovery has shifted the ways consumers are spending this year.

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Initial public offerings are on the upswing this year, and more companies are allowing individual investors to buy shares as part of the process. WSJ markets reporter Corrie Driebusch joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how investors can get a piece of some IPOs and the risks they take on when doing so.

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Planning out your 2021 taxes now can put you ahead of the game when taxes are due next spring, but it also can qualify you for certain benefits, including stimulus payments and child tax credits. WSJ tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to explain.

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Financial advisors have long counseled retirees to spend no more than 4% of their savings in the first year of retirement. But new research challenges that bit of conventional wisdom. Retirement reporter Anne Tergesen joins host Trenae Nuri to discuss the new research on retirement spending.

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Many Americans were able to pay down debt during the pandemic. But now lenders are spending billions of dollars to market credit cards to consumers. WSJ credit-cards reporter AnnaMaria Andriotis joins host Trenae Nuri to discuss what banks are doing to get people to borrow again.

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Traditionally, frequent-flier programs were set up to reward loyal customers with perks based on the number of miles they flew. But now airlines are taking a new approach, one where flying may not matter as much. WSJ "Middle Seat" columnist Scott McCartney joins host Trenae Nuri to discuss the new rules for earning and keeping frequent-flier perks.

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Get-rich-quick scams have grown more common on social media, with fraudsters targeting younger, internet-savvy users. WSJ contributor Svati Kirsten Narula joins host Trenae Nuri to discuss how you can spot these scams and protect yourself.

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When a spouse dies, everything changes. And not just your daily life, but your financial life as well, from how assets are handled to how you file taxes. Tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host Trenae Nuri to discuss what surviving spouses need to know.

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Many Americans struggle with paying medical bills. Unpaid bills can lead to lingering debt and drag down credit scores. But you may be able to slash the amount you owe if you know the right questions to ask. WSJ health-insurance reporter Anna Wilde Mathews joins host Trenae Nuri with pointers on how to negotiate hospital bills.

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The U.S. labor market has more job openings than applicants, and companies are searching high and low for workers. To get more candidates in the door, some employers are easing up on their job requirements. WSJ workplace, management and leadership reporter Chip Cutter joins host Trenae Nuri to discuss what the new hiring process means for job seekers.

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Millions of Americans are skipping the dentist, with many of them unable to afford certain pricey procedures. Now some lenders are offering buy-now-pay-later options for dental care. WSJ banking and consumer finance reporter Orla McCaffrey joins host Trenae Nuri to discuss the financing options that are available, and the risks that come with them.

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After facing some of the toughest challenges of their life on the battlefield, many service members face financial challenges when their deployment ends. Frank Molinar, author of "Financial Dominance: Your Battle Plan for a Richer Life," joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how veterans and service personnel can apply lessons from their military career to manage their personal finances.

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As the number of wealthy households headed by people under age 45 grows, wealth-management firms are quick to pitch their services. WSJ reporter Rachel Louise Ensign joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why many young investors are turning away professional help. Plus, a 33-year-old who recently landed a multimillion-dollar windfall explains why and how he opted to invest the money himself.

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A tax on billionaires' investments that was proposed, and then shelved, by Democrats raised eyebrows because it would have fundamentally altered the way Americans are taxed. WSJ tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what the proposal could have meant for non-billionaires' finances, and whether it could resurface.

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The unexpected departure of many older Americans from the workforce during the pandemic has further strained an already tight labor market. WSJ economics reporter Amara Omeokwe joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how employers are adapting. Plus, retiree Kevin O'Connor discusses his decision to retire early.

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Millions of workers will choose their 2022 company-provided health benefits this month. WSJ personal-finance reporter J.J. McCorvey joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what people should consider before making benefits selections.

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Rising inflation is putting the squeeze on your wallet, but how is it affecting your stocks and 401(k) savings? The WSJ's 'Intelligent Investor' columnist Jason Zweig joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss investment options people should consider amid rising inflation, and which to avoid.

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