Personal finance

Kathy Kraninger, former president Donald Trump’s appointee to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images “Big deal” Both are a type of qualified mortgage, a category that carries legal protections for lenders from consumer lawsuits. That may happen, for example, if borrowers can’t make monthly payments and lose their homes to

martin-dm | E+ | Getty Images The amount of money raised by special purpose acquisition companies in the past year has soared. SPACs are an alternative way for companies to go public that differs from a traditional initial public offering in its process, speed, disclosure and regulatory requirements. Key participants involved in SPACs include SPAC sponsors

Al Drago | Getty Images News | Getty Images The measure, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, would pay unemployed workers an extra $400 a week through Aug. 29. Those additional relief payments would raise federal spending by about $163 billion through 2022, according to a cost estimate the Congressional Budget Office issued last

A child attends an online class at a learning hub inside the Crenshaw Family YMCA during the Covid-19 pandemic on February 17, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images It’s almost one year into the coronavirus pandemic and students are still suffering, especially Blacks and Hispanics. Many schools around

The smallest businesses that have had the most trouble accessing forgivable loans from the Paycheck Protection Program will soon get extra help. The Biden administration on Monday announced changes for the pandemic aid program focused on helping small and minority owned firms as well as sole proprietors. For two weeks, starting Wednesday, the Small Business

Ramit Sethi Source: Ramit Sethi The coronavirus pandemic has shifted the way we interview for work. In the era of social distancing, meeting virtually has become much more common. In fact, about 50% of recruiters conduct at least half of their interviews via video, according to Jobvite’s 2020 Recruiter Nation Survey, which polled more than

By almost every measure, the coronavirus crisis has been devastating for working women. More women work on the front lines and are at a greater risk of contracting Covid-19, putting themselves and their families in jeopardy. They have reported increased anxiety and stress as a direct result of new work routines and concerns about job

Luc MacGregor | Bloomberg | Getty Images Bitcoin has had blockbuster growth in the last decade, skyrocketing in price and even gaining the support of big banks. Yet for many retail investors, it can be a complicated investment – it’s historically expensive, volatile, can’t be purchased through a brokerage account and isn’t backed by a

PeopleImages You might want to buckle up for this tax season. Whether due to pandemic-related relief, remote work or no work, individuals may find that preparing their 2020 taxes is a bigger challenge than usual. “I think it’s going to be much more complicated,” said Julio Gonzalez, CEO of Engineered Tax Services. This year, the

The beaches in Cancun, Mexico, have been crowded despite the Covid-19 epidemic . Barcroft Media | Barcroft Media | Getty Images Even Sen. Ted Cruz admits his decision to vacation in sunny Cancun, Mexico, this week while his home state of Texas was suffering record cold and massive power outages was “obviously a mistake,” as

Sarah Casillas | DigitalVision | Getty Images A new coronavirus relief bill could give millions of Americans $1,400 stimulus checks. Congress is poised to pass the legislation in March, at which point individuals and families could see the money in the following days or weeks. But as negotiations continue, one argument has surfaced: Is the

Hill Street Studios | DigitalVision | Getty Images As Congress works to hammer out a deal for a new coronavirus relief bill, that could mean new stimulus checks for millions of Americans. New $1,400 direct payments are among the aid expected to be included in the package. The proposal also includes other measures to help

Buket Topal | iStock | Getty Images Don’t be surprised if filling your car’s tank at the pump keeps gobbling up a growing portion of your budget. Amid already rising gasoline prices, the average price you pay for per gallon could jump over the next couple of weeks, according to GasBuddy.com. On top of elevated

Peter Cade | Getty Images Claiming Social Security before full retirement age can trip up some people when it comes to spousal benefits. For starters, not all early filers can access those benefits right away, and even those who do may discover it doesn’t translate into a bigger monthly check. “A lot of folks get

President Joe Biden participates in a CNN town hall in Milwaukee on Feb. 16, 2021. Leah Millis | Reuters President Joe Biden has essentially ruled out canceling $50,000 in student debt per person —disappointing some student borrowers who were counting on that help. “I didn’t have my hopes up,” said Joshira Maduro, 30. The research

Historic row houses in Colombia Heights neighborhood of Washington DC, USA amedved | iStock | Getty Images Homeowners struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic received some welcome news on Tuesday, with the Biden administration announcing it will extend forbearance and foreclosure relief programs. The White House said that the move will benefit the 2.7 million homeowners

kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images In celebration of Black History Month, CNBC Invest in You is featuring weekly stories from CNBC contributors and members of the Financial Wellness Council, including the lessons they’ve learned growing up, their advice to Black youth, their inspirations and how they are working to close the racial wealth gap.

President Joe Biden holds a meeting with US Senators about infrastructure improvements in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 11, 2021. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images Covid-relief plan Biden’s stimulus plan, currently being debated in Congress, calls for $1,400 in direct payments to most Americans and an increase

ljubaphoto The 2020 tax season is officially underway, and the millions of Americans who collected unemployment benefits last year due to the coronavirus pandemic may be in for a surprise. That unemployment income is taxable, and if you didn’t have money set aside or withheld for those taxes, it could reduce your refund or even

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images A Democratic proposal to expand the child tax credit for one year could give qualifying families up to $300 per child per month. But like all direct payments made by the government as part of Covid relief, some are questioning whether the aid will be too much or