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Tyler Foster

Latest Articles by Tyler Foster

Cost of Living

Gas jumped 15 cents in a week to a national average of $4.09, and most states now sit above $4 a gallon

American drivers are paying sharply more at the pump after regular gasoline jumped 15 cents in a single week to a national average of $4.09...

Social Security & Medicare

Medicare’s 2026 out-of-pocket drug costs cap at $2,000, and a new plan lets you spread that bill across the year

Medicare Part D enrollees facing high prescription drug bills now have two layers of financial protection for 2026: an annual out-of-pocket cap set at $2,100...

Tax Changes & Deadlines

A 3.8% surtax quietly hits investment income once your total tops $200,000, or $250,000 for a married couple

Households earning above $200,000 as single filers or $250,000 as married couples face a 3.8% surtax on their net investment income, a levy that has...

Social Security & Medicare

Some veterans will see two VA disability payments arrive in July because of the way the payment calendar falls this year

Some veterans receiving VA disability compensation will see two deposits hit their bank accounts in July 2026, not because of a policy change or bonus...

Social Security & Medicare

A bipartisan Senate bill would force Congress to vote on Social Security’s finances before a 22% benefit cut lands in 2032, and AARP just came out against it

Eight senators from both parties introduced a bill this month that would strip Congress of its ability to ignore Social Security’s looming insolvency. The measure,...

Fraud & Scams

Esse Health patients caught in a data breach can claim a $50 payment plus two years of credit monitoring by August 4

Patients of Esse Health, a primary care network based in the St. Louis metropolitan area, have until August 4 to file claims for a $50...

IRS & Enforcement

The IRS waives a first-time filing or payment penalty, but only if you ask

Thousands of taxpayers pay IRS penalties every year that they could have had wiped clean, simply because they never asked for relief. The agency’s First...

Social Security & Medicare

A free my Social Security account blocks thieves from rerouting your deposit

Social Security recipients who have not locked down their payment details face a straightforward risk: a thief can reroute their monthly deposit to a different...

Cost of Living

Rent now swallows more than a third of a typical retiree’s income in Florida, California and Washington, D.C.

Older Americans who rent in Florida, California and Washington, D.C., now hand over more than a third of their income to cover housing, according to...

Retirement Planning

After-tax 401(k) dollars can be converted into a Roth in a move called the mega-backdoor Roth, sheltering tens of thousands

Workers with access to a 401(k) that accepts after-tax contributions can convert tens of thousands of dollars into a Roth IRA each year, shielding future...

Smart Spending

Francesca’s is liquidating all 460 of its stores, so spend any gift cards before they lose value

Shoppers holding Francesca’s gift cards face a shrinking window to use them. The women’s clothing and accessories retailer filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection...

Insurance & Protection

Fitzgerald Wealth Management clients whose data leaked can claim up to $3,980, or a flat $50, by August 4

Clients of Fitzgerald Wealth Management, LLC who had personal data exposed in a security incident can file claims for up to $3,980 in documented losses...

Social Security & Medicare

Medicare covers a yearly depression screening and flu shots at no cost

Medicare Part B pays for a yearly depression screening and a seasonal flu shot with zero copayment, coinsurance, or deductible for beneficiaries whose providers accept...

Social Security & Medicare

Retirees whose 2025 income topped about $112,000 are projected to owe a Medicare surcharge in 2027, and the top tier pushes Part B past $743 a month

Retirees who earned more than roughly $112,000 in modified adjusted gross income during 2025 are on track to pay a Medicare Part B surcharge in...

Fraud & Scams

Freezing a late parent’s credit stops thieves from opening accounts in a dead relative’s name, a fraud called ghosting

Criminals who steal the identities of the recently deceased can open credit cards, take out loans, and rack up debt before anyone notices. New York’s...

Credit & Debt

Buy-now-pay-later loans now show up on your credit report, so a missed “four easy payments” plan can ding your score

Consumers who split purchases into four installments through services like Affirm, Klarna, or Afterpay now face a new reality: those short-term loans can affect their...

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