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Next year, millions of workers will be subject to a new maximum earnings threshold for Social Security payroll taxes.The Social Security maximum taxable earnings will be $184,500 in 2026, up from $176,100 in 2025. That number, also called the wage base, represents the limit on earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax and is adjusted each year.The Social Security Administration detailed the change on Friday as part of its announcement about the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment in 2026 for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefit payments. The news, originally slated for Oct. 15, was delayed due to the federal…

Jerome Powell, chair of the US Federal Reserve, during a news conference following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.Bloomberg | GettyThe Federal Reserve cut borrowing costs for the second time in a row on Wednesday.Lowering the federal funds rate by a quarter point puts that benchmark in a range between 3.75%-4.00%. The decision comes amid intense pressure from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to drastically lower rates, arguing that would make it easier for businesses and consumers to borrow and boost the economy.The federal funds…

The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates on Wednesday, and wealthy U.S. households may benefit most. The federal funds rate is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. A quarter-point reduction would bring the benchmark rate to a range between 3.75%-4.00%. It could fall to 3.1% by the end of 2027, according to a September forecast from the Federal Open Market Committee. “That really sets the floor for all other interest rates,” said Michael Wagner, co-founder of Omnia Family Wealth in Aventura, Florida. “We ultimately start earning less money on cash, which makes it…

Peter Cade | Photodisc | Getty ImagesAs open enrollment arrives, millions of Americans face key decisions, such as picking health insurance. If the plan comes with access to health savings account, or HSA, contributions, you could use the funds for long-term investments, experts say.    While most workers spend HSA money on yearly out-of-pocket health expenses, a small percentage invests the balance, which can grow tax-free for future medical costs.      “The plan is to go into retirement with a six-figure HSA,” said certified financial planner Dan Galli, owner of Daniel J. Galli & Associates in Norwell, Massachusetts. When coupled with other Roth and…

“When bubbles happen, smart people get overexcited about a kernel of truth,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said.Getty Images Markets are soaring. Valuations are swelling. And enthusiasm for all things artificial intelligence is pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into the most transformational technology of the modern era. “AI isn’t just another theme; it’s the culmination of decades of evolution in computing,” Jon Markman, a Forbes contributor who analyzes tech stocks, writes. “Every layer of the stack, from power generation to semiconductors to enterprise software, is being rebuilt for an AI-first world. That’s a structural transformation.” Is this growth sustainable or…

Presidents have always moved markets. Trump’s team just makes it sound more like a stock tip. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Getty Images Beating the market is hard. But if you’d followed the missives of President Trump and his team this year, you might have found a cheat code. On Monday, GameStop ($3.8 billion in revenue) shares opened trading more than 2% from their prior close, more than double the S&P 500’s early gain. The move came after the White House on Sunday shared a GameStop social media post celebrating the “Halo” series coming to PlayStation for the first time. The…

The Federal Reserve is expected to lower borrowing costs again on Wednesday. Another quarter-point reduction, on the heels of September’s cut, would bring the federal funds rate to a range between 3.75%-4.00%.The federal funds rate, which is set by the Federal Open Market Committee, is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. Although that’s not the rate consumers pay, the Fed’s moves do have a trickle-down effect on many types of consumer loans.The FOMC has also set expectations for another reduction in December, but after that, the path is unclear. President Donald Trump — who has…

Students walk around the UCLA campus on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. Juliana Yamada | Los Angeles Times | Getty ImagesMillions of borrowers once again have access to student loan forgiveness — but they may need to take action to ensure they qualify.The U.S. Department of Education will resume cancelling the debt of eligible borrowers enrolled in the Income Contingent Repayment plan, or ICR, and the Pay as You Earn plan, or PAYE, according to an agreement reached by the American Federation of Teachers and the Trump administration.Earlier this year, the department had stopped cancelling the debt…

More from Your Money:Here’s a look at more stories on how to manage, grow and protect your money for the years ahead.Even as a record number of Americans are reaching retirement age, many adults have not considered the impact that inflation and Social Security benefits will have on their financial future. A new global survey by Prudential found 89% of wealthy U.S. adults polled said they are confident they’d be able to cover essential costs in retirement. Yet the rising cost of housing, groceries and health care can eat into savings — and just 55% of U.S. respondents said they’ve factored…

The Disability Awareness Council in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, assists individuals with disabilities in the community, offering aid ranging from transportation to housing advocacy. But for now, many services are on hold.”Because of the shutdown and cuts, core disability services that people rely on every week are either paused, reduced or running with unpaid labor,” said Timothy Miles, the organization’s director and board liaison.As the standoff in Washington drags on, many nonprofits have lost access to federal grants and must make tough decisions about what aid they can offer and for how long.At the same time, the shutdown has put…