4 days ago … Take advantage of free preparation and advice from AARP, the IRS, volunteer organizations and some commercial tax advisors.

by Sid Kirchheimer, AARP, January 23, 2018. shocked man at computer screen. Getty Images. There are fairly simple steps you can take to protect yourself from online scammers. Most New Year’s resolutions are long buried by Groundhog Day. For easier and long-lasting self-improvement, consider these seven ways to  …

15 hours ago … The new tax law does preserve the medical-expense tax deduction — supported by AARP. The law allows Americans to write off medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of their adjusted gross income in 2017 and 2018, and above 10 percent in 2019 and beyond. Still, the higher standard deductions also …

Is Now the Time to Pay Down Your Mortgage? The new tax law strengthens the arguments to pay off this debt faster. by Allan Roth, AARP, January 19, 2018| Comments: 0. 122376004. Getty Images. Changes to the tax laws may make it more financially beneficial to pay down the principal on your mortgage this year.

529 Plans No Longer Just for College Savings. The popular tax-free accounts can now be used to pay for private K-12 schools. by Brittany Hackett, AARP, January 19, 2018|Comments: 0. money with a graduation cap. iStock. The new tax law expands 529 savings accounts to include K-12 education costs. Under the new …

by Patrick Kiger, AARP, January 19, 2018|Comments: 0. Scrabble letters spell out the word debt. Terry Mathews/Alamy. The most common type of indebtedness is credit-card debt, held by 62 percent surveyed. Nearly 7 of 10 Americans age 55 and older are carrying some form of debt, and half don’t ever expect to be …

by Gary Strauss, AARP, January 17, 2018|Comments: 0. tool box full of money. Frank Bean/Getty Images. Tax law changes could increase your paycheck — but you could also end up owing more in year-end taxes. The Internal Revenue Service has provided America’s employers with the basic information they need to …

by Kent Allen, AARP, January 17, 2018|Comments: 0. A woman on a cruise looks out on the water. Thomas Barwick/Getty Images. The study found that a third of the retirees had actually increased their net worth. As baby boomers are leaving the workforce, they’re beginning to dive into their retirement and other savings …

by Gary Strauss, AARP, January 17, 2018. a man holding a mask. Getty Images. The latest incarnation of an old IRS impostor scam targets accountants and tax prep professionals. Tax-filing season doesn’t start until Jan. 29, but scammers already are out in force attempting to defraud both tax-preparation professionals and …

4 minutes ago … Nearly 9 million Americans deducted medical expenses in 2015, and nearly three-quarters of those taxpayers were older than 50, according to an analysis by the AARP Public Policy Institute. Of filers who used this deduction, 70 percent had incomes under $75,000, with 49 percent earning less than …

by Gary Strauss, AARP, January 9, 2018|Comments: 0. hands holding a large check. Getty Images. It will take a few weeks before workers see changes in paychecks resulting from the new tax laws. You won’t begin to see the impact of the new tax law in your paycheck until at least February. That’s because the Internal …

How to Protect Your Devices From Computer-Chip Flaws. Take these steps now to minimize your risk of data theft. by Marc Saltzman, AARP, January 8, 2018. digital lock. Saul Gravy/Getty Images. Last week a Google security team announced the discovery of computer-chip flaws that could affect millions of device and …

1 day ago … The Additional Child Tax Credit is based on a filer’s income and tax liability. Taxpayers who need filing and preparation help through the IRS can find more information at IRS.gov/GetReady. Also, beginning Feb. 1 you can take advantage of AARP Foundation’s free Tax-Aide Program, now entering its 50th …

by Randy Lilleston, AARP, January 5, 2018|Comments: 0. group of Bananas. Stocksy. Bananas were the most-ordered item by Amazon Prime members. Amazon customers are bananas for bananas. That’s one of the factoids the company has admitted in a year-end wrap-up infographic, as the retail giant disclosed — in …

6 hours ago … Interview an Advisor, a free interactive guide from AARP and North American Securities Administrators Association, offers tips and suggests questions.

by Shira Boss, AARP, January 3, 2018|Comments: 0. cluttered storage garage. Getty Images. Organizational experts say hanging on to old stuff can end up costing you in the long run. Perhaps this sounds familiar: You finally treat yourself to new clothes, new furniture or new appliances. But in an effort to be frugal, you also …

by Patrick Kiger, AARP, January 2, 2018|Comments: 0. Boomer Earnings Survey. Julia Sudnitskaya/Getty Images. Boomers and Gen-X families were both more affluent than millenials, the survey found. If you ever wonder where your money goes, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics can tell you. A newly released BLS …

15 hours ago … The AARP Fraud Network identified the biggest scam stories of the past year. The good news is that at least one of them has a happy ending.

20 hours ago … Check your medical expenses. The new tax law supports an AARP-backed initiative allowing filers to deduct medical and health expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of income in 2017 and 2018. “You may want to consider accelerating a 2018 medical expense into 2017 if you expect to exceed the 7.5 percent …

by Allan Roth, AARP, December 27, 2017|Comments: 0. baseball made of money. iStock. As we end the year, it’s a perfect time to look back at the financial markets and examine their ups and downs. Hopefully, we can pick up a couple lessons for the future. Sure, I’ve written market forecasts are dangerous, but explaining …

1 day ago … A new year typically brings resolutions, and for many, it could be a good time to refocus personal budgets. The big question: Where to start? CNBC came up with a few helpful ideas, and AARP has 99 other options for you to consider throughout the year.

by Sid Kirchheimer, AARP Bulletin, December 26, 2017|Comments: 0. Scam Alert : No Talk Phone Scams. Dan Bejar/theispot. Most telephone scammers rely on talk, getting you to pick up the phone so they can give their impersonations of IRS agents, noble fundraisers, tech-support saviors or grandkids in need. But with a …

by David Frank, AARP, December 19, 2017|Comments: 0. Refinancing Scams Target Veterans. Blend Images/Getty Images. New rules are designed to prevent lenders from convincing veterans to repeatedly refinance their VA mortgages. Veterans will get new protection from lenders who try to lure them into refinancing  …

by George Mannes, AARP, December 14, 2017|Comments: 0. Divorcees Worse Off Than Widows. Marcel Christ/Gallery Stock. Divorce can be especially problematic to the financial security of older Americans, survey finds. Set aside that love stuff for a moment and ponder this question: Who’s worse off after her marriage …

by Shira Boss, AARP, December 14, 2017|Comments: 0. Hands holding money. Jamie Grill/Getty Images. ‘Tis the season of gifts — and not only those wrapped with a bow or sealed in a tin. About a third of all charitable giving occurs in December, surveys show. Even if the timing is driven as much by tax savings as by the …

Read the latest credit, loans and debt news and issues including reverse mortgage, credit card management and interest rates. Find articles on credit, personal loans and debt relief from AARP.

Read the latest investing news and issues including mutual funds, stocks, bonds and investment scams. Find articles on investing news from AARP.

Read the latest taxes news and issues including tax credits, IRS policies, state and federal taxes. Find articles on tax news from AARP.

Living on a budget tips and how to save money advice to help consumers keep more money in their pocket with better money management.

For Professionals. AARP International · Advertise with AARP · Community Leaders/Livable Communities · National Retired Teachers Association · Public Policy Institute · Press Center · Public Policy · Research …

Dec 7, 2017 … Whether it’s that vacation of a lifetime to a far-flung land or a long weekend at your friend’s country home, taking a vacation is one of life’s best rewards. And there’s no one way to do it. AARP would love to hear how you plan and save for your vacations. Share your thoughts with the quick and easy poll below …

Dec 5, 2017 … Learn the latest veterans scams targeting not only military members but their families. Plus discover resources to avoid scams in the first place.

Dec 5, 2017 … When you took your copy of AARP The Magazine out of your mailbox this month, there were probably lots of letters and packages from charities alongside it, each asking for a donation. Hey, it’s the season, right? Well, chances are good that one or more of them are scams. Blame your good nature.

by Austin O’Connor, AARP, November 30, 2017. Seniors Ski Free. iStockphoto/ Getty Images. Many ski resorts across the country offer free or discounted season passes for older skiers. Don’t let this week’s mild weather across much of the country fool you. Ski season isn’t just right around the corner — it’s actually well …

Fight Back Against Scammers. Check out the AARP Fraud Network for tools and resources to detect the latest scams and a hotline to report the ones you recieve. Fraud Watch Network …

Best Black Friday Deals We Know About So Far. Shoppers, you need a plan. by Shelley Emling, AARP, November 21, 2017|Comments: 0. Black Friday Deals. Istockphoto. Ready, set, buy! We found these Black Friday deals that could help your holiday shopping budget. Ready your credit cards, folks. Black Friday is nearly …

by Austin O’Connor, AARP, November 13, 2017|Comments: 1. Gift card rankings. Istock. Once shunned, gift cards are now the most wanted item on many people’s holiday wish lists. With more than 40 percent of people putting gift cards at the top of their holiday wish lists this year, the odds are good that you’ll be giving or …

Nov 8, 2017 … Operation Protect Veterans, a joint effort by AARP Fraud Watch Network and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, warns former military members of scams.

How Veterans Can Get Home Loan Benefits. Learn about home loan and homeownership benefits. by Brittany Hackett, AARP, November 6, 2017| Comments: 0. VA Loans for Veterans. Sean Murphy/Getty Images. The government offers various programs and options to help veterans become homeowners. The Department …

Nov 2, 2017 … Or consider a revocable trust. Chat with your agent about even small money decisions, in order to get in the habit. Any financial advisers should have someone to contact if you start doing odd things (for example, making big gifts to a hired caretaker). Get more saving and investment tips in the AARP Money …

5 Bad Money Habits You Can Fix. A new book by a behavioral economist explores how and why we spend. by Allan Roth, AARP, November 2, 2017| Comments: 0. Five Bad Money Habits You Can Fix. Getty Images. The best way to stop making money mistakes is to stop and think about how you spend. Most of us think we …

Oct 25, 2017 … A whopping 99 percent of boomers will take at least one pleasure trip a year, with an average of five or more trips. Fifty-one percent are expected to travel only domestically, while 43 percent will travel both domestically and internationally, according to AARP research.

Jun 18, 2010 … Q. There’s an error on my credit report. How do I fix it? A. Don’t rely on the online dispute forms offered by the three major credit reporting bureaus. Their check- box choices will pigeonhole your dispute into general categories, weakening your chances to prove negligence, says the National Consumer Law …

Oct 5, 2017 … Join or renew your AARP membership today for just $16 per year. Joyce’s remarks came a month after Equifax hackers gained access to the Social Security numbers and birth dates of more than 145 million Americans. He said the Social Security number has “outlived its usefulness,” according to the Hill …

by Randy Lilleston, AARP, October 4, 2017|Comments: 0. Greenville, S.C. tops smart spending survey. Jon Lovette/Getty Images. A recent study ranked the South Carolina city tops among places in America where residents are best at living within their means. The residents of Greenville, S.C., are the best among America’s …

Can you spot an impostor? Eighty-five percent of adults are confident they can, according to a recent AARP survey. But the majority of the survey participants then flunked an “Impostor IQ” quiz that measures the ability to spot a liar (take the quiz at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork).