WSJ Your Money Matters

Fidelity, the nation’s largest 401(k) plan provider, has begun offering bitcoin in its investment menus. WSJ retirement reporter Anne Tergesen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what people should consider before investing in crypto , and how their employers are approaching the investment option. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FSA enrollees have been able to carry over their balances for the past several years. But many will have to spend that money by Dec. 31 or risk forfeiting the funds. WSJ personal-finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen with more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent Gallup survey indicated more than 40% of Americans do not have any money invested in stocks . Host J.R. Whalen is joined by WSJ personal-finance reporter Joe Pinsker who discusses the trend, and by Florida resident Arlene LaHera who has never had money invested in the market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people still decades from retirement age have discovered they can join AARP and reap the financial benefits . WSJ personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why people in their 20s and 30s are signing up for an organization geared towards their grandparents.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index’s value has dropped this year by about $8 trillion. WSJ markets reporter Hannah Miao joins host J.R. Whalen to explain the correlation between rising interest rates and tech stocks’ declining values , and whether analysts see a recovery on the horizon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leisure airfares were up more than 40% in September from a year ago, and fares on budget carriers are rising as well . WSJ “Carry On” travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson joins host J.R. Whalen with ways travelers can save on airfares and those annoying fees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mortgage rates topped 7% for the first time in 20 years this week, and home prices remain near the high levels they hit last year. But some people see the current market as providing the perfect opportunity to buy a house . WSJ reporter Ben Eisen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the new math for prospective home buyers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent survey of hundreds of employers shows that many plan to hire more college graduates next spring than they did this year . WSJ reporter Lindsay Ellis joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what kinds of companies are planning to ramp up hiring and how college grads can prepare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While many banks offer interest rates around 2% for standard certificates of deposit, or CDs, they offer substantially higher rates on “brokered CDs.” Wall Street Journal reporter Rachel Louise Ensign joins WSJ Your Money Briefing host J.R. Whalen to discuss how consumers can buy them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While many banks offer interest rates around 2% for standard certificates of deposit, or CDs, they offer substantially higher rates on “brokered CDs. ” WSJ reporter Rachel Louise Ensign joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how consumers can buy them.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About 22 million people have signed up for President Biden’s student-loan forgiveness program. But several lawsuits filed against the government have raised questions about when or whether borrowers will be relieved of their debt . WSJ reporter Gabriel T. Rubin joins host J.R. Whalen with some answers.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More states are requiring companies to post salary information as part of job listings . Host J.R. Whalen is joined by reporter Ray A. Smith to discuss the questions that job candidates should still be asking about pay, and by California resident and current job seeker Paris Clarke to discuss how the additional information is helping her search for a job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

Despite a push to have consumers’ info from “buy now, pay later” purchases included in their credit reports, companies like Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay have been reluctant to supply the data over fears it could hurt consumers’ credit scores . WSJ banking reporter AnnaMaria Andriotis joins host J.R. Whalen with more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, can ease the financial burden of medical costs but also feature little-known tax benefits . WSJ tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Americans who spent years socking away enough for a down payment to buy a house are now waiting on the sidelines until mortgage rates or home prices drop. In the meantime, there may be better ways to preserve the value of those savings besides leaving them in a low-yield account. WSJ personal finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host Daniella Cheslow to talk through the best options. Learn...

Social Security recipients will see a bigger-than-usual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in their monthly benefits beginning in January . WSJ retirement reporter Anne Tergesen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how inflation factors into it and how the increase could impact retirees’ taxes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interest rates on Series I savings bonds, also known as I Bonds, have approached 10% as inflation has risen throughout 2022 . WSJ financial editor Charles Forelle joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why rates for I Bonds are about to fall, and how investors can capitalize on them before they decline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seniors with retirement savings accounts have to make required minimum distributions this year for the first time since 2019. WSJ personal-finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how retirees can make withdrawals in a down market but still capitalize on eventual market gains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The strength of the U.S. dollar against currencies like the euro and Japanese yen has boosted the spending power of Americans traveling internationally. WSJ travel reporter Allison Pohle joins host J.R. Whalen with more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. stocks have a history of rising in the year following midterm elections . WSJ markets reporter Hannah Miao joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what the current economic climate is likely to mean for stocks following this November’s elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS, are bonds that traditionally pay higher yields to investors as inflation rises. WSJ markets reporter Matt Grossman joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why yields haven’t kept pace with inflation in 2022, and steps TIPS investors can take to boost their returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gas prices in the U.S. have risen an average of about 5% in just the past two weeks . WSJ reporter Benoît Morenne joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what is pushing the price of gas higher and how far motorists can expect it to rise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates several times this year, the rates that banks pay for savings accounts have barely budged . WSJ personal-finance reporter Joe Pinsker joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why and discuss other options that can earn you more interest on your cash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel experts say booking holiday-season flights now can help save on airfare and avoid frustration later in the year. WSJ travel reporter Allison Pohle joins host J.R. Whalen with more.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As more young prospective homebuyers are priced out of the housing market, many may turn to their parents to cosign their mortgage to help secure approval. Wall Street Journal contributor Robyn A. Friedman joins WSJ Your Money Briefing host J.R. Whalen to discuss the benefits and risks parents and children should consider before cosigning . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...