Wsj Your Money Briefing

People rely on Social Security as a major source of funds in retirement, and mismanaging it can have a big impact on their personal finances. WSJ contributor Neal Templin joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss common pitfalls like claiming benefits too early, and the so-called "tax torpedo." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rising college costs and tighter family finances have forced many people to rethink how they will pay for higher education. WSJ contributor Cheryl Winokur Munk joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss some often-overlooked options for loans, scholarships and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Reference letters have become less important to hiring managers in recent years. "At Work" columnist Krithika Varagur joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why, and discuss what companies are doing instead to learn more about job candidates' backgrounds. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many people still have the first credit card they ever got sitting in their wallet. Personal-finance reporter Amber Burton joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how that can be damaging to their credit profile, and how to reap benefits from those older cards without canceling them. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The federal mortgage forbearance program has helped millions of homeowners weather the pandemic and resume making payments, but Black homeowners are exiting the program at a slower rate than other groups. Consumer-finance reporter Orla McCaffrey joins host J.R. Whalen to explain. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tens of billions of dollars in state-unemployment benefits may have been improperly paid out due to fraud, officials say. Personal-finance reporter Anne Tergesen, whose personal information was used by fraudsters, joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how the scam works and what you can do to prevent it from happening to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our week-long series of special investing episodes concludes with a look at the speculative world of bitcoin. Cryptocurrency reporter Paul Vigna joins host J.R. Whalen to explain what bitcoin is, why it is so volatile, how it differs from traditional currencies, other cryptocurrencies like ethereum and dogecoin, and whether bitcoin could complement an investment portfolio. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our week-long series of special episodes focused on how new investors can build a portfolio continues with a look at gold. Markets reporter Amrith Ramkumar joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss gold's appeal to investors, how it can fit into a portfolio, its reputation as a safe haven, and different ways of investing in it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our week of special episodes for new investors about building a portfolio continues with a look at mutual funds. They aren't as flashy as some other things you could put your money in, but mutual funds can provide a shelter from risk, at a cost. "Intelligent Investor" columnist Jason Zweig joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what mutual funds are, how they differ from ETFs, different kinds of mutual funds, rankings, and first steps for putting your money into them. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week's series on building an investment portfolio continues with a look at bonds. Sometimes seen as a less-flashy cousin to stocks, bonds offer a safety net to investors, as well as other benefits that you might not have thought of. Reporter Sam Goldfarb joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what bonds are, how they work, the role of interest rates, and the potential risks they carry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All this week we're explaining the basics of various kinds of investments: how they work and the pitfalls to watch out for. Today we tackle stocks. There's a lot more to them than what you read on social media. Markets reporter Akane Otani joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why stock prices go up or down, growth stocks vs. value stocks, dividends, ETFs, taxes on stock trades, and resources available for new investors. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A lot of new investors have entered the market over the past year. If you're considering it too, you might be confused about where to begin. Starting today and running all next week, we break down everything you need to know before jumping into some of the most common investment assets. Investing editor Geoff Rogow joins host J.R. Whalen to kick off the conversation with first steps new investors should take. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Class of 2021 faces a brighter job market as the economy recovers, but knowing what to say in a job interview and what to include on a resume will still be required to land a first full-time job. LaSalle Network's Jessica Schaeffer joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what soon-to-be graduates are looking for in a job and what they need to know to get one. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About half of Hispanic households in the U.S. owned their homes last year, the highest level since the mid-2000s housing boom. Reporter Nicole Friedman joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what is behind their increased home-buying power and how the overall housing market is changing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Couples who put off getting married because of the pandemic found themselves owing, in some cases, thousands of dollars in fees to event vendors. Reporter Allison Pohle discusses how some couples are rethinking their big day, and offers ways of saving money on a rescheduled wedding. Charlie Turner hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stock traders on newer online platforms often find it difficult or impossible to execute common strategies to reduce their tax burden. Host J.R. Whalen discusses the options available with tax reporter Laura Saunders as well as Dayton Leong, a trader who has faced those challenges. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A shortage of rental cars coinciding with an expected surge in summer travel could put the brakes on some travelers' plans. "Middle Seat" columnist Scott McCartney joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what is causing the shortages, the impact they are having on prices, and how travelers can avoid some frustration. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Regaining career momentum can be especially difficult for working mothers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. Work & Life columnist Rachel Feintzeig joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what experts say can help get a career back on track after a break. And we hear from a mother and former oil-and-gas industry employee about her efforts to find work in a new field. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sales of second homes hit record levels in February, but they could face pressure due to changes in how such sales are treated by government mortgage agencies. Economics reporter Ben Eisen joins host J.R. Whalen to explain. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Around 300,000 fewer births are expected in the U.S. this year because of the pandemic. Personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how that has changed families' financial decisions around having children as well as caring for them. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.