WSJ Your Money Briefing

Many parents help pay for their children's higher education by investing in a college-savings account known as a 529 to build up assets over many years. WSJ contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the advantages of 529 accounts over other savings plans, and explain how to open one.

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Americans are eager to take a trip following a year of lockdowns. But prices for summer travel are surging, and travelers would be wise to plan their budgets. Personal-finance reporter Amber Burton has suggestions for how to avoid big travel expenses. Charlie Turner hosts.

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A small administrator of 401(k) plans is teaming up with crypto exchange Coinbase to allow customers to add cryptocurrency as an investment in their retirement accounts. Reporter Anne Tergesen joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how the program works, and the pros and cons of adding crypto to your retirement savings.

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An eviction moratorium to assist renters affected by the pandemic is set to expire at the end of the month. Housing reporter Will Parker joins host J.R. Whalen with an update on billions of dollars in relief funds that have been slow to reach tenants and landlords.

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Many people selling their home in the current market are getting a lot more for it than what they originally paid. Tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the major tax exemption benefiting them, and some ways they can maximize their use of it.

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The Robinhood and SoFi stock-trading platforms say they plan to allow their customers to purchase shares of private companies' initial public offerings. WSJ "Heard on the Street" columnist Telis Demos tells host J.R. Whalen how shares will be offered to individual investors, and the risks associated with buying IPO shares.

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"Heard on the Street" editor Spencer Jakab joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss The Wall Street Journal's new five-week investing challenge and how it can boost your stock-market know-how as well as protect your portfolio.

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Congress and state officials are moving to create incentives for unemployed workers relying on unemployment checks to rejoin the labor force. Economics reporter Kate Davidson discusses the range of proposals with host J.R. Whalen.

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Americans cashed out their home equity to the tune of roughly $50 billion in the first quarter, the highest level since 2007. Personal-finance reporter Deborah Acosta joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss important questions to ask yourself before doing a "cash-out refi," and the potential risks that come with it.

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Life insurance sales are rising at the fastest rate in roughly 40 years. Insurance industry reporter Leslie Scism joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why a wider range of Americans are buying life insurance policies, which in recent decades had been more popular among wealthier families.

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Low housing inventory and bidding wars are forcing homebuyers to dig deeper to secure a mortgage. But is it worth it for first-time homebuyers to stretch their personal finances? Host J.R. Whalen discusses the question with two experts who have opposing views: Laurie Goodman of the Urban Institute and Susan Wachter of the Wharton School.

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Market volatility can cause tension within couples who have different approaches to investing their retirement funds. Retirement reporter Anne Tergesen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss some ways couples can find solutions to disagreements and preserve their savings.

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Many Americans are planning their first vacation since the start of the pandemic. "Middle Seat" columnist Scott McCartney joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the rising costs of travel, and whether the travel industry is ready for a rush of vacationers.

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Americans who are not fully vaccinated are more likely to go out to restaurants and other venues than those who have gotten their Covid-19 shots. Reporter Sarah Chaney Cambon joins host J.R. Whalen to explain what's behind the difference in spending habits.

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As the country emerges from the pandemic, many workers plan to seek opportunities with new employers. "Work & Life" columnist Rachel Feintzeig joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why they want to change jobs, and how their managers should respond.

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Americans paid off credit-card debt during the pandemic at levels not seen in years. Personal finance reporter Amber Burton joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss which types of debt consumers should focus on next.

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Generous tipping became a habit for many Americans during the pandemic as a way to support service workers. Reporter J.J. McCorvey joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how the rules of tipping have changed since last year, and how to fit tipping into your personal budget.

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Fidelity is the latest company to roll out an investment product geared to children as young as 13. Reporter Justin Baer joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why financial institutions are developing products for adolescents, the concerns that come with them and the guardrails that are being put in place to reduce risk.

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Low housing inventory and high demand is leading many prospective home buyers to raise their bids to compete with other offers. Personal-finance reporter Deborah Acosta joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss some points buyers should consider before stretching beyond their budget.

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The IRS is going after investors who haven't paid taxes on bitcoin, ether and other cryptocurrencies. Tax columnist Laura Saunders joins host Charlie Turner to discuss what crypto investors need to know about filing their taxes.

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Under a new initiative called Project Reach, some large banks will consider customers' deposit histories as a way of extending credit to people with no borrowing history. Banking reporter Peter Rudegeair joins host Charlie Turner to discuss the government-backed program and what it could mean for millions of consumers.

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Homes in the U.S. valued below the national average are seeing an outsize surge in sale prices. Reporter Ben Eisen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what that could mean for lower-income home buyers.

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The cost of many consumer products has risen sharply in recent months. Food retail reporter Jaewon Kang joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why prices have risen so much, and whether any relief is in sight for consumers.

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Millions of taxpayers are waiting much longer than usual for their tax refund money to hit their bank account. Tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to explain what is causing the delay, and what taxpayers can do about it.

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People rely on Social Security as a major source of funds in retirement, and mismanaging it can have a big impact on their personal finances. WSJ contributor Neal Templin joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss common pitfalls like claiming benefits too early, and the so-called "tax torpedo."

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Rising college costs and tighter family finances have forced many people to rethink how they will pay for higher education. WSJ contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss some often-overlooked options for loans, scholarships and more.

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Reference letters have become less important to hiring managers in recent years. "At Work" columnist Krithika Varagur joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why, and discuss what companies are doing instead to learn more about job candidates' backgrounds.

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Many people still have the first credit card they ever got sitting in their wallet. Personal-finance reporter Amber Burton joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how that can be damaging to their credit profile, and how to reap benefits from those older cards without canceling them.

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The federal mortgage forbearance program has helped millions of homeowners weather the pandemic and resume making payments, but Black homeowners are exiting the program at a slower rate than other groups. Consumer-finance reporter Orla McCaffrey joins host J.R. Whalen to explain.

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Tens of billions of dollars in state-unemployment benefits may have been improperly paid out due to fraud, officials say. Personal-finance reporter Anne Tergesen, whose personal information was used by fraudsters, joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how the scam works and what you can do to prevent it from happening to you.

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Our week-long series of special investing episodes concludes with a look at the speculative world of bitcoin. Cryptocurrency reporter Paul Vigna joins host J.R. Whalen to explain what bitcoin is, why it is so volatile, how it differs from traditional currencies, other cryptocurrencies like ethereum and dogecoin, and whether bitcoin could complement an investment portfolio.

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Our week-long series of special episodes focused on how new investors can build a portfolio continues with a look at gold. Markets reporter Amrith Ramkumar joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss gold's appeal to investors, how it can fit into a portfolio, its reputation as a safe haven, and different ways of investing in it.

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Our week of special episodes for new investors about building a portfolio continues with a look at mutual funds. They aren't as flashy as some other things you could put your money in, but mutual funds can provide a shelter from risk, at a cost. "Intelligent Investor" columnist Jason Zweig joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what mutual funds are, how they differ from ETFs, different kinds of mutual funds, rankings, and first steps for putting your money into them.

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This week's series on building an investment portfolio continues with a look at bonds. Sometimes seen as a less-flashy cousin to stocks, bonds offer a safety net to investors, as well as other benefits that you might not have thought of. Reporter Sam Goldfarb joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what bonds are, how they work, the role of interest rates, and the potential risks they carry.

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All this week we're explaining the basics of various kinds of investments: how they work and the pitfalls to watch out for. Today we tackle stocks. There's a lot more to them than what you read on social media. Markets reporter Akane Otani joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why stock prices go up or down, growth stocks vs. value stocks, dividends, ETFs, taxes on stock trades, and resources available for new investors.

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A lot of new investors have entered the market over the past year. If you're considering it too, you might be confused about where to begin. Starting today and running all next week, we break down everything you need to know before jumping into some of the most common investment assets. Investing editor Geoff Rogow joins host J.R. Whalen to kick off the conversation with first steps new investors should take.

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The Class of 2021 faces a brighter job market as the economy recovers, but knowing what to say in a job interview and what to include on a resume will still be required to land a first full-time job. LaSalle Network's Jessica Schaeffer joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what soon-to-be graduates are looking for in a job and what they need to know to get one.

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About half of Hispanic households in the U.S. owned their homes last year, the highest level since the mid-2000s housing boom. Reporter Nicole Friedman joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what is behind their increased home-buying power and how the overall housing market is changing.

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Couples who put off getting married because of the pandemic found themselves owing, in some cases, thousands of dollars in fees to event vendors. Reporter Allison Pohle discusses how some couples are rethinking their big day, and offers ways of saving money on a rescheduled wedding. Charlie Turner hosts.

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Stock traders on newer online platforms often find it difficult or impossible to execute common strategies to reduce their tax burden. Host J.R. Whalen discusses the options available with tax reporter Laura Saunders as well as Dayton Leong, a trader who has faced those challenges.

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A shortage of rental cars coinciding with an expected surge in summer travel could put the brakes on some travelers' plans. "Middle Seat" columnist Scott McCartney joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what is causing the shortages, the impact they are having on prices, and how travelers can avoid some frustration.

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Regaining career momentum can be especially difficult for working mothers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. Work & Life columnist Rachel Feintzeig joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what experts say can help get a career back on track after a break. And we hear from a mother and former oil-and-gas industry employee about her efforts to find work in a new field.

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Sales of second homes hit record levels in February, but they could face pressure due to changes in how such sales are treated by government mortgage agencies. Economics reporter Ben Eisen joins host J.R. Whalen to explain.

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Around 300,000 fewer births are expected in the U.S. this year because of the pandemic. Personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how that has changed families' financial decisions around having children as well as caring for them.

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Credit card companies are adding a new slate of perks, including transferring those reward points in cryptocurrency, rent payments or even green initiatives. Personal finance reporter Amber Burton joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss.

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Many companies are turning to cash bonuses and other incentives to encourage workers to take vacation time. WSJ's Workplace Reporter Chip Cutter joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why companies are taking this unusual step.

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Students who receive more financial aid than they actually wind up needing could benefit financially if they return the funds. Contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to explain.

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Job applicants need to know when interview questions are just uncomfortable - like about money - or actually off limits - like about age - and how to navigate both kinds. Careers reporter Kathryn Dill joins host J.R. Whalen with tips.

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Americans with low credit scores who took out subprime auto loans are now struggling to make their monthly payments. Reporter AnnaMaria Andriotis joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why, and the limited options they have.

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The pandemic has created a seller's market with short supply coupled with high demand from buyers seeking more space. Personal finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen with some smart tips for both sellers and buyers to ensure a smooth transaction.

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