WSJ Your Money Matters

While workers across all groups saw a median 7.4% pay increase in 2022, Black workers as well as young people and low-wage earners received the largest pay increases in the fourth quarter . Wall Street Journal reporter Gabriel T. Rubin joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what the 2023 jobs picture looks like for those groups.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite recent controversy about gas stoves, home buyers say they prefer them over electric units . WSJ’ personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After several years of red-hot hiring during the pandemic, many companies are slowing down hiring amid economic uncertainty. So what does that mean for finding a new job? Wall Street Journal economics reporter Sarah Chaney Cambon joins Your Money Briefing host Danny Lewis to break down what’s going on in the job market. Unemployed Americans Find Job Searches Take Longer as Labor Market Cools - WSJ...

Fraudsters posing as job recruiters have duped U.S. jobseekers out of hundreds of millions of dollars . Host J.R. Whalen is joined by WSJ reporter Imani Moise, who explains how the scammers operate, and by a California woman who was nearly taken in by a fraudster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Black-White wealth gap in the U.S. has prevented many people from passing down substantial wealth to future generations. Chelsea Ransom-Cooper, managing partner of Zenith Wealth Partners, joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why the wealth gap persists and how independent financial firms are reaching out to communities of color to help them build wealth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

A Biden administration plan unveiled this week would allow lower-income borrowers to pay less and make it easier for them to wipe away their student debt if they are enrolled in income-driven repayment plans . WSJ reporter Gabriel T. Rubin joins host J.R. Whalen with details.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After average tax refunds reached nearly $3,200 last year, changes to key tax breaks could significantly reduce many Americans’ refunds this year . WSJ personal-finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen to run through the tax breaks that have been affected.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Stanford University study suggests the learning lost as a result of lockdowns during the pandemic could have a long-term financial effect on students . WSJ reporter Ben Chapman joins host J.R. Whalen to review the findings.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many investors’ portfolios and retirement accounts suffered steep declines last year. Sébastien Page, head of global multi-asset and chief investment officer at T. Rowe Price and author of “Beyond Diversification: What Every Investor Needs to Know About Asset Allocation,” joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what investors can expect in the market in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...

To compete for workers, more companies are offering new hires a customizable pay package . WSJ contributor Tara Weiss joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how the process works and questions workers should ask themselves before accepting a pay package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rising prices and interest rates are making it harder to afford buying a car. But many prospective buyers are financing through credit unions , which offer rates significantly lower than banks. WSJ banking reporter Ben Eisen joins host J.R. Whalen with the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. labor market enters 2023 facing an unsettled economy and a jittery stock market. LaSalle Network staffing firm founder and CEO Tom Gimbel joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss business leaders’ hiring plans for the new year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While many people rush to pay down as much debt as they can, sometimes holding onto debt can help your overall financial picture. WSJ and Barron’s contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how people should approach good and bad debt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people struggling to pay down past debt might consider personal bankruptcy as a last resort after all other options have been exhausted. Host J.R. Whalen is joined by Natalia Brown of National Debt Relief and the American Fair Credit Council to discuss how the process works and the major risks it poses to your credit profile. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people choose to consolidate their debt and package it into one loan, often at a lower interest rate. NerdWallet personal-finance expert Sara Rathner joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how people qualify for consolidation and some risks to be aware of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trying to wipe away large amounts of past debt is sometimes too big a task to handle alone. Money Management International CEO Jim Triggs joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how a credit counselor can help and how to spot scams by disreputable companies that overpromise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trying to manage and pay down past debt can be intimidating, but there are some simple steps you can take to get the process started. Your Money Briefing’s week-long series on getting yourself out of debt kicks off with My Financial Planner founder Stephanie Genkin, who joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss ways of approaching the process while still paying your current bills and even setting aside so...

Having too much debt can stand in the way of reaching important financial goals. This week, Your Money Briefing features a special series on ways you can manage your debt and eventually get yourself on solid financial footing. Host J.R. Whalen has a preview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As inflation continues to weigh on people’s finances, there are moves you can make now to streamline your expenses and put your portfolio in a stronger position in 2023. WSJ personal-finance reporter Imani Moise joins host J.R. Whalen with some suggestions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The big, red bows we often see on cars during holiday season TV commercials might give some insight into December auto sales . WSJ personal finance reporter Joe Pinsker joins host J.R. Whalen with more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amid this year’s stock market volatility, stock picking is making a comeback as one way to see positive returns. WSJ markets reporter Hardika Singh joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how it works, and whether that success is expected to continue in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many prospective homebuyers have been priced out of the current housing market, but temporary buydowns offer steep but short-term savings on mortgage rates. WSJ housing reporter Nicole Friedman joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how temporary buydowns work and how buyers qualify for the program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The changing housing market and wavering economy have created more challenges for anyone interested in owning rental property. WSJ personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the pros and cons of becoming a landlord and how to prepare for the expected (and unexpected) costs that can come with it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The changing housing market and wavering economy have created more challenges for anyone interested in owning rental property. WSJ personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the pros and cons of becoming a landlord and how to prepare for the expected (and unexpected) costs that can come with it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As severe weather systems and natural disasters become more frequent, utility companies are passing the cost of repairing their systems on to customers . And because of how those repairs are financed, customers could be on the hook for decades. WSJ’s Jennifer Hiller joins host J.R. Whalen with details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices