Trina Paul

Investor interest in cryptocurrencies surged dramatically last year as bitcoin hit multiple all-time highs, but financial advisors are still urging caution, no matter how tempting an investment might seem.

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Key Takeaways According to a recent SEC alert, fraudsters may exploit natural disasters like wildfires, to urge people to invest in sketchy investments. Investment scams can include 'pump-and-dump'schemes or involve investments that falsely claim your money will go toward helping victims. If you're solicited for one of these investments, do your due diligence by researching a person's credentials using the official SEC website.

If you’ve been affected by a major disaster, such as the wildfires in California, you may be eligible to tap your retirement funds early and without a penalty. Here's how.

Employers are increasingly adopting provisions from SECURE 2.0, a federal retirement law passed in 2022, that may make it easier for their employees to save for retirement.

Widowed women in the Baby Boomer generation are expected to inherit roughly $40 trillion between 2024 and 2048, according to Cerulli Associates.

Investopedia spoke with Isabel Barrow at Edelman Financial Engines to discuss the changes the new Social Security Fairness Law will bring and the impact it could have on retirees.

Investopedia / Photo Composite by Alice Morgan / Getty Images

Key Takeaways While Americans have become wealthier over the past two decades, a smaller percentage of households are paying the estate tax now versus in the past, research from Brookings finds. Researchers attribute this decline to changes in federal tax law over the past 50 years. The most recent change occurred in 2017 with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

CFP Board's Debt and New Year's Resolutions Report reveals that most Americans carry some form of debt, primarily credit card debt or mortgages, with over half expressing concerns about its long-term impact on their financial well-being. Many Americans are cutting spending, creating budgets and exploring ways to boost their income to reduce debt.