WSJ Your Money Briefing

Student-Loan Payments Are Set to Resume. How Should You Prepare? Jun 18, 2021

Student-loan borrowers who have been able to suspend monthly payments during the pandemic are scheduled to resume them at the end of September. WSJ contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss strategies borrowers can use to lessen the impact on their finances.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Selling a Home, Should You Do Renovations? Jun 17, 2021

Even as the current hot housing market has made the selling process easy, many sellers consider doing significant repairs and renovations before listing their home. WSJ contributor Robyn Friedman joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss which renovation costs are more likely to be recouped.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How the Expanded Child Tax Credit Payments Work Jun 16, 2021

Starting next month, about 39 million American families will begin receiving expanded federal child tax credit payments. Tax reporter Richard Rubin joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how the payments work, who is eligible and why some families might choose not to receive them.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Changed Employees Can Adjust to the Post-Pandemic Workplace Jun 15, 2021

Working from home during the pandemic has given many employees a sense of independence and less of a need for supervision. Data journalist and author Alexandra Samuel joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how that will change the dynamic between workers and managers when they return to the office.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Open a '529' Account to Save for College Jun 14, 2021

Many parents help pay for their children's higher education by investing in a college-savings account known as a 529 to build up assets over many years. WSJ contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the advantages of 529 accounts over other savings plans, and explain how to open one.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Itching to Travel? Here's How to Avoid Overspending. Jun 11, 2021

Americans are eager to take a trip following a year of lockdowns. But prices for summer travel are surging, and travelers would be wise to plan their budgets. Personal-finance reporter Amber Burton has suggestions for how to avoid big travel expenses. Charlie Turner hosts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could Cryptocurrency Be Coming to Retirement Plans? Jun 10, 2021

A small administrator of 401(k) plans is teaming up with crypto exchange Coinbase to allow customers to add cryptocurrency as an investment in their retirement accounts. Reporter Anne Tergesen joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how the program works, and the pros and cons of adding crypto to your retirement savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Renters Face Eviction as Relief Funds Are Held Up Jun 09, 2021

An eviction moratorium to assist renters affected by the pandemic is set to expire at the end of the month. Housing reporter Will Parker joins host J.R. Whalen with an update on billions of dollars in relief funds that have been slow to reach tenants and landlords.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The $500,000 Tax Exemption for Home Sellers Jun 08, 2021

Many people selling their home in the current market are getting a lot more for it than what they originally paid. Tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the major tax exemption benefiting them, and some ways they can maximize their use of it.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buying IPO Shares: More Small Investors Could Gain Access Jun 07, 2021

The Robinhood and SoFi stock-trading platforms say they plan to allow their customers to purchase shares of private companies' initial public offerings. WSJ "Heard on the Street" columnist Telis Demos tells host J.R. Whalen how shares will be offered to individual investors, and the risks associated with buying IPO shares.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take WSJ's Stock Investing Challenge Jun 04, 2021

"Heard on the Street" editor Spencer Jakab joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss The Wall Street Journal's new five-week investing challenge and how it can boost your stock-market know-how as well as protect your portfolio.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawmakers Consider Incentives to Get People Back to Work Jun 03, 2021

Congress and state officials are moving to create incentives for unemployed workers relying on unemployment checks to rejoin the labor force. Economics reporter Kate Davidson discusses the range of proposals with host J.R. Whalen.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cash-Out Refinancings: What to Know Jun 02, 2021

Americans cashed out their home equity to the tune of roughly $50 billion in the first quarter, the highest level since 2007. Personal-finance reporter Deborah Acosta joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss important questions to ask yourself before doing a "cash-out refi," and the potential risks that come with it.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More Middle-Class Americans Are Signing Up for Life Insurance Jun 01, 2021

Life insurance sales are rising at the fastest rate in roughly 40 years. Insurance industry reporter Leslie Scism joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why a wider range of Americans are buying life insurance policies, which in recent decades had been more popular among wealthier families.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should You Stretch Your Finances to Buy a Home? May 28, 2021

Low housing inventory and bidding wars are forcing homebuyers to dig deeper to secure a mortgage. But is it worth it for first-time homebuyers to stretch their personal finances? Host J.R. Whalen discusses the question with two experts who have opposing views: Laurie Goodman of the Urban Institute and Susan Wachter of the Wharton School.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Couples Can Work Through Retirement-Planning Disagreements May 27, 2021

Market volatility can cause tension within couples who have different approaches to investing their retirement funds. Retirement reporter Anne Tergesen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss some ways couples can find solutions to disagreements and preserve their savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer Travel Could Mean Added Costs and Frustration This Year May 26, 2021

Many Americans are planning their first vacation since the start of the pandemic. "Middle Seat" columnist Scott McCartney joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the rising costs of travel, and whether the travel industry is ready for a rush of vacationers.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vaccinated Americans Aren't Driving the Economic Recovery May 25, 2021

Americans who are not fully vaccinated are more likely to go out to restaurants and other venues than those who have gotten their Covid-19 shots. Reporter Sarah Chaney Cambon joins host J.R. Whalen to explain what's behind the difference in spending habits.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Workers Are Ready to Change Jobs. Should Bosses Let Them Leave? May 24, 2021

As the country emerges from the pandemic, many workers plan to seek opportunities with new employers. "Work & Life" columnist Rachel Feintzeig joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why they want to change jobs, and how their managers should respond.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Paying Off Your Credit-Card Debt, What's Next? May 21, 2021

Americans paid off credit-card debt during the pandemic at levels not seen in years. Personal finance reporter Amber Burton joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss which types of debt consumers should focus on next.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected