Written to help you do a better job of managing your personal and family financial affairs and to help you get more for your money. You get ideas on saving, investing, cutting taxes, making major purchases, advancing your career, buying a home, paying for education, health care and travel, plus much, much more. Special issues cover the latest information about car buying (December) and Mutual Funds (March and September).
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Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
STRETCH THE 2026 SOCIAL SECURITY COLA • The 2.8% increase in payments may not seem like much, but these steps will help your benefits go further.
ARE YOU PREPARED TO LIVE LONGER? • A new measure of longevity readiness indicates that for many Americans, the answer is no—and suggests what is needed to get on track.
PREMIUM REWARDS CARDS: MORE PERKS, HIGHER FEES • Some issuers are hiking the annual fee on their flagship luxury credit cards by hundreds of dollars. Are they still worth using?
COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE GET GOING ON SAVING
GET A HANDLE ON THE SOARING COST OF OWNING A CAR
2026 MONEY CALENDAR • These key dates and tips will help you make the most of your money in the new year.
WE’RE STILL BULLISH ON STOCKS • But now is the time for investors to pull in their horns and dial down risk.
GIVING THE BULL THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
WE MADE SOME GOOD MARKET CALLS; OUR STOCK PICKS WERE MIXED
SIX STOCKS TO BUY FOR 2026 • Our picks span a range of industries.
How the Biggest 401(k) Funds Stack Up • Our guide will help you choose well in your workplace retirement plan.
The 75 Biggest 401(k) Funds • The funds below, listed alphabetically, hold most of the nearly $11 trillion that Americans have invested in workplace retirement savings plans. Fund data comes from BrightScope, an ISS Market Intelligence business and the Investment Company Institute.
Distance Yourself From the Fed • INCOME INVESTING
BE WARY OF THESE RARE EARTH FUNDS • FUND TRENDS
My Top 10 Picks for 2026 • STREET SMART
CHANGES ARE AHEAD FOR THIS BOND FUND • KIPLINGER ETF 20 UPDATE
A CONTRARIAN APPROACH PAYS OFF • KIPLINGER 25 UPDATE
CREATE A FINANCIAL PLAN WITH THESE TOOLS • Online programs for do-it-yourselfers are better than ever—and they’re affordable, too.
ROLLING OVER 529 FUNDS TO A ROTH • The editor of The Kiplinger Tax Letter responds to readers asking about transfers from a college-savings plan to a Roth IRA.
Should You Renew Your CD?
WHAT SCIENCE REVEALS ABOUT MONEY AND A HAPPY RETIREMENT • Whether you’re still planning or already retired, these research-based insights point the way to your best post-work life.
Downsizing Advice, Part II • LIVING IN RETIREMENT
My Retirement Learning Curve • THE NEW WORLD OF RETIREMENT
WHY COMPANY GUIDANCE MATTERS • Understanding how corporate profit forecasts affect analysts’ estimates and stock ratings can help you make investment decisions.
When Fair Doesn’t Mean Equal • Here’s how to leave different amounts to adult children without causing a family rift.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FLOOD INSURANCE • Even if your home is outside a high-risk area, you may want to purchase coverage.
A GUIDE TO BUYING ART ONLINE • From virtual galleries to social media platforms, the internet offers plenty of places to shop for paintings, sculptures and other artwork without breaking the bank.
A Helping Hand for the Homeless • This nonprofit offers shelters, job programs, support in finding a home and more.