Author: Russ Wiles, Arizona Republic

Seniors and pre-retirees can take advantage of flexible and lenient new rules on retirement accounts, but in many other ways things could get tougher.

The government has introduced several temporary changes that could help people shore up their finances and manage their retirement accounts.

For some taxpayers, returns have become easier to prepare and file but various problems linger, including with the Internal Revenue Service.

It’s hard to envision 2020 turning out as nicely for stock-market investors as 2019 was, but several favorable factors remain in place.

A new federal law has been hailed for its retirement savings reforms. But while it makes tweaks to IRAs, it probably won’t make them more popular.

“It has become an enormous challenge trying to comply with the different state requirements,” a small-business owner in Arizona said.

The economy looks like it’s in good shape heading into 2020. But what might go wrong? These are some contrarian and negative signs to beware of.

From debt to lending to taxes and more, this is how you can know whether you are making progress or falling behind in your finances.

Sex and money ranked first and second among five “taboo” topics for discussion among family members and friends, in a TD Ameritrade survey.

“It’s not uncommon to see an employer making 30 to 50 benefits and perks available,” one expert says.