Features

Income Tax Many surviving spouses are surprised to discover that losing a partner can mean paying higher taxes on less income.

By Chrissy Paradis

State Tax Here are the ten best states for 'middle-class' families (taxpayers with middle incomes) due to low tax burdens.

By Katelyn Washington

Property Tax As home values increase nationwide, property taxes are also on the rise.

By Sandra Block

Tax Breaks The 2025 Trump tax bill ended major solar and home upgrade credits; here's what's left.

By Kate Schubel

A closer look at the net-worth benchmarks, habits and long-term strategies that define top-tier wealth.

By Choncé Maddox

Turn good saving habits into lasting financial progress by setting goals you can track, adjust and achieve. We'll show you how.

By Sean Jackson

Economic Forecasts Gas is still expensive, but fill-ups are getting less costly as oil prices retreat.

By Jim Patterson

Are you winging your retirement spending? Financial expert Jean Chatzky tells Kiplinger why lack of a concrete plan is preventing retirees from living their best lives.

By Donna Fuscaldo

The "first year of retirement" rule says the 12 months after you leave work set the tone for your entire later life — so it's vital to approach them mindfully.

By Jacob Schroeder

Income Tax Start your midyear tax planning with these simple, timeless money rules.

By Kate Schubel

Today's retirement planning has a fundamental flaw: It focuses on how much money you need while ignoring the more important question — what you'll do with it.

By Richard P. Himmer, PhD

Contemplating a gray divorce? Before calling in the lawyers, take time to understand your financial situation and the impact of dividing assets later in life.

By David Abraham

If you hold money in a non-qualified annuity, the IRS will eventually come calling for its share of any gains. It pays to explore tax efficiency ahead of time.

By Darrick Priester

"I'm a wealthy saver, he's a lavish spender with a mortgage. Am I crazy to consider marriage?" Kiplinger's Wealth Wise team answers a reader's financial dilemma.

By Maurie Backman

Heard of the hedonic treadmill? It's the reason why feelings of happiness can be short-lived. How you manage it can be the key to a successful retirement.

By Andrew Rosen, CFP®, CEP

To ensure a fulfilling retirement, view longevity as an opportunity and maintain a balanced portfolio that accepts some risk while planning for substantial costs.

By Jay Sharifi

The 60/40 split could leave substantial portfolios exposed if stocks and bonds decline simultaneously. Accredited investors must take a new approach.

By Chris Wootton, ChFC®

Retirees worry about outliving their money, burdening their children, or making the wrong market move. But the right kind of fear can lead to better planning — and more peace of mind.

By David Conti, CPRC

With inflation eroding purchasing power, here are three pivots to help you get back ahead of rising costs.

By Sean Jackson

"It wasn't like there was some surprise when we hit $1 million — we slowly and steadily saw it coming."

By Joyce Lamb

Income tax rules are more complex than ever, even more so for those earning between $150,000 and $500,000. The solution? Active and intentional tax management.

By Scott Noble, CPA/PFS

Rather than fixating on a savings goal, pre-retirees should focus on building an income strategy that accounts for actual expenses and can adapt to changes.

By Chris Cohan, ChFC, RMA

Most people retire early, leaving the workforce before reaching their full retirement age (FRA). Maybe you should, too.

By Donna Fuscaldo

Taxes can severely reduce the income a bond ETF produces. The best tax-free municipal bond ETFs can mitigate that impact on your portfolio.

By Tony Dong, MSc, CETF

real estate As a home seller, you don't want to let the small — or big — fixes around your house that have added up over the years sabotage your bottom line during a resale.

By Patricia Mertz Esswein

mutual funds These actively managed Vanguard funds cover a variety of investment strategies and have low fees to boot.

By Kyle Woodley

real estate You stuck a for-sale sign in the front yard but the offers aren’t rolling in. Here’s why.

By Bob Niedt