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The Money Overview

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Tyler Foster

Latest Articles by Tyler Foster

Retirement & Taxes

You can give up to $19,000 to each person every year completely tax-free

Every person in the United States can hand $19,000 to any single recipient in 2026 without owing a penny in federal gift tax. That per-recipient...

Tech & Your Wallet

Anyone who owned a Google phone or speaker since 2016 can file for up to $56 from a $68 million privacy settlement by August 27

Millions of people who owned a Google Pixel phone, Nest speaker, or other Google Assistant-enabled device since May 2016 now have a narrow window to...

Credit Cards & Rewards

Most cardholders who simply call and ask for a lower interest rate get one — 84% succeeded this year, cutting their APR by about 6 points

Credit card holders who pick up the phone and ask their issuer for a lower interest rate succeed far more often than most people assume,...

Fraud & Scams

The FBI says Americans over 60 lost $352 million to AI-powered scams that clone voices to fake family emergencies

Older Americans lost $352 million to scams in which criminals used artificial intelligence to clone the voices of family members and stage fake emergencies, according...

Tax Changes & Deadlines

Many states quietly offer a property-tax “circuit breaker” rebate worth hundreds, but you have to file for it

Homeowners and renters across at least seven states can claim refundable property-tax relief worth hundreds of dollars, but only if they file the right paperwork....

Fraud & Scams

Fidelity will pay data-breach victims $100, or up to $5,000 with proof of losses, if they file by July 27

Fidelity Investments is offering affected customers a flat $100 payment, or up to $5,000 for those who can document actual losses, following a data breach...

Smart Spending

Federal regulators recalled 2,500 Arctic Zone coolers sold at Costco after a latch magnet that can choke a child was found loose

About 2,500 Arctic Zone Titan Pro coolers sold at Costco stores nationwide have been pulled from shelves after federal safety officials determined that a magnet...

Insurance & Protection

California homeowners face the steepest home-insurance jump in the country this year at 16%

California homeowners are bracing for the sharpest premium increases in the nation this year, with projected costs climbing roughly 15.8 percent to an average of...

Social Security & Medicare

A spouse can claim up to half of the higher earner’s Social Security even with little work history

Millions of Americans who spent years out of the paid workforce, whether raising children, managing a household, or caring for family members, stand to collect...

Retirement & Taxes

Selling a losing investment offsets gains plus $3,000 of income at tax time

Investors who sold stocks or funds at a loss this year can use those losses to cancel out capital gains dollar for dollar and then...

Smart Spending

Tyson and Cargill agreed to pay $87.5 million over beef price-fixing, and shoppers who bought steak or roasts between 2014 and 2019 can claim a cut by June 30

Consumers who purchased beef at grocery stores or restaurants between 2015 and 2019 now have a narrow window to collect money from an $87.5 million...

Retirement Planning

Lower-income retirees pay 0% federal tax on long-term investment gains

Retirees living on modest incomes can sell stocks, mutual funds, or other long-term investments and owe zero federal tax on the profits. That zero-rate window...

Budgeting & Saving

A new workplace emergency-savings account lets workers set aside up to $2,600 a year with four penalty-free withdrawals

Workers enrolled in employer-sponsored retirement plans can now direct up to $2,600 a year into a side account built for unexpected expenses, and pull money...

Tax Changes & Deadlines

Filing an appeal of your home’s assessed value can lower your annual property-tax bill

Homeowners across the country who receive a higher-than-expected property assessment notice face a direct choice: accept the figure and pay the resulting tax bill, or...

Fraud & Scams

Circle K is paying its data-breach settlement, a flat $50 or up to $2,000 with receipts, to customers who file by September 3

Customers affected by a Circle K data breach can file for a flat $50 payment or up to $2,000 with documented expenses before a September...

Social Security & Medicare

About 82% of seniors who could lose part of their Social Security to defaulted student loans qualify for a hardship exemption, but fewer than 1 in 10 apply

Roughly four out of five older Americans whose Social Security checks are reduced to repay defaulted student loans meet the criteria for a hardship exemption,...

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