Personal Finance

Recent research indicates that, despite the recovery of the American economy and the relative rise in incomes, the median income in the United States remains below what it was at the beginning of the recent recession.

Student loan debt has become an increasing problem in recent years. As the New York Federal Reserve notes in a 2013 report, “Over the last eight years, aggregate educational debt outstanding has almost tripled, rising to nearly $1 trillion and becoming the largest consumer liability after mortgages.”

The societal shift from defined retirement benefits (pensions) to contribution retirement savings mechanisms — for example, the 401(k) — has placed a greater burden on the decision-making capacity of Americans. As this dynamic continues to unfold, evidence suggests that many people are not making wise investment choices for their retirement money.

The Storify publishing platform has been used by news organizations and citizen journalists to cover live events and breaking news. It provides users the opportunity to bring in information from multiple streams — social media, pictures, text, video and more.

The time when heavy appliances dominated home energy use seems almost as remote as the era of gaslights and streetcars. Today our homes’ electric outlets have never been more sought after — computers, printers, modems, set-top boxes, and endless chargers all clamor for power — leaving refrigerators and washers as small players in the utility bill we receive.