Noteworthy News

We've scoured the internet so that you don't have to. Consider this our monthly roundup of relevant news articles to support your pursuit of prosperity. 

 

Heat Pumps, EV Chargers and These Home Improvements Can Net an Average $500 in Savings — EPA Expands Energy Star Program[KH1] 

Add electric-vehicle readiness, heat pumps, smart thermostats and more to the list of energy-efficiency home improvements that can earn homeowners some $500 in annual savings.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday its Energy Star program, which historically targeted water heaters, lower-impact appliances and other upgrades, now includes additional “green-minded” home improvements.

Gen X? Make It Gen $: Boomers Set To Funnel Big Bucks To Heirs

Generation Xers will be the big winners of the pending generational transfer of nearly $30 trillion between now and 2045, according to Cerulli’s report “U.S. High-Net-Worth and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Markets 2021: Evolving Wealth Demographics.”

Over the next two decades, $84.4 trillion in wealth is expected to pass mostly (63%) from boomer hands, with $11.9 trillion of it going to charity.

 

More Than $1 Billion Could Be Forfeited in Health-Care Flexible Spending Accounts This Year

Although the rules governing FSAs temporarily were eased to give participants more time to spend their money, not all companies adopted the more generous provisions. More than a third of workers with grace periods end up forfeiting money. However, it’s a smaller share than those with a Dec. 31 deadline or those who are allowed limited rollovers.

 

The Inflation Hedge You’ve Never Heard Of

If rising prices have you worried, one way of insulating your nest egg comes straight from the government: Series I savings bonds. Right now they’re paying 7.12%.