Finance

If you expect fabulous returns to continue, you’re likely to be disappointed. Look closely at the data and you’ll see why. By William Baldwin, Senior Contributor Emerging market stocks will beat U.S. stocks. Junk bonds will beat high-grade bonds. Inflation will be 2.5%. Prognostications from the market seers. Big financial…

The U.S. Department of Education is stepping in to help colleges process forms faster after the fix to the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form threatened to delay the timeline for awards. More than 4 million FAFSA applications have been submitted since the new form was launched on Dec.…

Gift tax returns could be the most misunderstood, neglected, and overlooked part of estate planning. There are many people who know estate planning quite well but draw blanks when issues about gift tax returns are raised. The gift tax return is IRS Form 709. You can download it free from…

Home prices edged toward a more affordable place in November, ending the upward trend after many months, according to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices report. The report is a measure of U.S. home prices across major metro areas. Across the country,12 out of 20 markets saw a month-over-month decrease…

© 2025 Finances Smart. All Rights Reserved.