The 7 Worst Things You Can Do If You Owe the IRS

By  Jennifer Taylor  GoBankingRates

You’re in debt to Uncle Sam. This probably isn’t a great feeling, but you have to face it.

Maybe you have the money to pay your tax bill or perhaps you don’t. If not, you have many options, so don’t take any of the following.

Using a Credit Card To Pay Your Taxes

Charging IRS debt to your credit card might be easy in the short term, but doing so can be a costly choice.

How Crooks Convinced Her To Put $17,500 Into A Bitcoin ATM To 'Secure' Her Money

Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press  Mon, April 21, 2025  USA TODAY

Stacy Hazinski received one of those annoying text messages that claimed she was about to be charged $114.02 for something she didn't buy. So she called the number, supposedly for her Apple Pay account, to make sure that she didn't get stuck with the bill.

She got stuck talking to scammers.

One simple phone call set off a scheme that ultimately enabled someone to steal her entire income tax refund and drain her savings account at a local credit union.

Filing her taxes early in the year essentially meant little, she told me at her Michigan condo, because now she has nothing to show for it.

She's out $17,500 in all.

'The money came so fast': What An NBA All-Star Learned After Going From Millions To Bankruptcy

Sara BelcherPodcast Writer   Mon, April 21, 2025  Yahoo Finance

As a three-time NBA All-Star and former NBA Champion, Antoine Walker is one of the best basketball players of the 1990s and early 2000s. But his early success came with some difficult financial lessons.

Walker was signed to the Boston Celtics at just 19 years old. Throughout his 13-year athletic career, it's estimated he earned as much as $108 million — a large portion of which came from a six-year $71 million contract he signed at just 21.

How to Find Your Money ‘Why’

By Katherine Fusco

There are lots of reasons to spend money, some good, some bad, most compelling. Of course, this is by design.  Not spending money, though… that’s a trickier thing. The reasons not to spend—or to save, if you’d like to put it more positively—are often vague, rooted in a fuzzy sense of what one should do.

When people are tired or temptations are especially aggressive (hello, holiday season!), the vague thought: I should pay off my debt, crumbles in the face of beautiful store displays or delicious scents wafting from strategically open bakery doors.

More than this, advertising often appeals to our sense of self, frequently tying products to concepts or feelings that we truly believe in. How many bath bombs have been purchased on credit cards in the name of self-care? How many unused vitamins and supplements under the name of wellness?

Government Impersonation Scams On The Rise

Christy Bieber Fri, April 18, 2025  Moneywise

This California man lost everything when phone scammers pretended to be US Marshals. Here's what they said

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has Southern Californians on the alert for a new strain of phone scams that cost one Ojai resident his life savings.

Someone claiming to be a law enforcement agent with the United States Marshals Service called him and told him to send all his money to an out-of-state location.

As KTLA 5 reports, after the Ojai man complied with the instructions, he met with local police and discovered he’d been conned.

5 Biggest Financial Regrets of Older Americans — And How You Can Avoid Them

David Nadelle  Fri, April 18, 2025  GOBankingRates

As one continues down the road of life, it’s a journey filled with unique experiences, challenges and opportunities for growth, shaping who you are and what you become. Enjoying the adventure isn’t without its difficulties, however, and many can’t help but regret the things they didn’t do along the way.

Regrets might be inevitable, but you can’t let them consume you. It’s always best to get a head start and avoid things you feel could come back to haunt you when you’re older. But even if you’re already “up there” in age, it’s never too late to practice sound financial strategies.

Robert Kiyosaki’s Top 4 Tips To Save Retirees From Financial Disaster

Jennifer Taylor  Thu, April 17, 2025   GOBankingRates

We all know that retirement involves a major financial shift in a person’s life. If you’re planning to leave the workforce in the near future, Robert Kiyosaki — founder of the famous “Rich Dad” franchise — has plenty of advice that might differ from the traditional guidance you’ve been given.

Going into retirement fully informed by money experts like him can help you avoid financial disaster. Here are four of Kiyosaki’s top tips to help you enjoy a financially sound retirement.

I’m a Financial Advisor: 10 Most Awesome Things You Can Do for Your Finances

Cara Danielle Brown  Wed, April 16, 2025  GOBankingRates

Looking to make the most of your finances, starting today? Some may think that taking financial risks or chasing trends is the key to maximizing potential.

But, according to Michael Fiammetta, financial advisor at 4 Generations Wealth Management, the best thing one can do this year is the same thing he or she can and should be doing every year: master the basics.

6 Things You Should Never Put in a Living Trust

Preston Hartwick

Tue, November 12, 2024 GOBankingRates

Estate planning provides for the smooth handling of your assets after death. However, only around 32% of American adults have a will, indicating that most people haven’t taken the appropriate steps to prepare for the management of their estate, according to LegalZoom.

One essential tool for estate planning is a living trust. It allows your assets to bypass the lengthy, costly probate process and maintains your financial privacy.

77% of Americans Plan To Use Tax Refunds for Essential Expenses: 5 Tips for Using Yours

Dawn Allcot  Tue, April 15, 2025   GOBankingRates

For Americans who usually receive a tax refund, that spring windfall sometimes helps cover a treat, like a family vacation, a pool or new patio furniture. But for a majority of people this year, their tax refund is going toward necessities, according to a study from Talker Research, commissioned by TaxSlayer.

The study found that 77% of Americans will spend their tax refund on necessities this year. What’s on the top of their list? More than half (52%) of those polled said the money will go toward rent or utility bills. Meanwhile, 44% will put the money toward groceries and essential goods. Thirty-seven percent are using the cash to pay down credit card debt, with 56% of that group still paying off holiday bills.

What Does A Financial Advisor Do And When Should You Get One?

Brian Baker, CFA  Mon, April 14, 2025   Bankrate

Most people are aware of financial advisors and may even hire one at some point in their lives, but what exactly do financial advisors do? Financial advisors provide advice and guidance on a variety of financial issues you’ll encounter over the course of your life such as investments, retirement planning, insurance and even taxes.

Here’s what else you should know about financial advisors, including the advantages and disadvantages of using one and when you should consider hiring one.