As Hurricane Lane reaches Hawaii, hunkered-down residents are likely facing at least several days before they can emerge to canvass the damage left behind. Whether their homeowners insurance will end up paying for it is another issue. The Category 4 storm could become the first major hurricane to make landfall on the group of islands in 26 years. Lane is expected to bring dangerous winds and at least 30 inches of rain, the combination of which is expected to cause landslides and flooding,...

Saving for, well, just about anything could come with a tax break if House Republicans get their way. GOP lawmakers are supporting the creation of Universal Savings Accounts as part of their so-called Tax Reform 2.0 effort, according to a two-page overview released by the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday. These accounts, which Congress has explored in past legislation, would be tax-advantaged ways to save for future expenses outside of retirement. The idea is to give people a way to...

Legislation that eases banking regulations — and modifies rules governing credit reports and some consumer loans — has cleared Congress and is headed to President Donald Trump for his expected signature. The bill, which was approved by the Senate in March, passed the House on Tuesday by a vote of 258 to 159. The measure rolls back some of the regulations imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. That legislation came on the heels of the financial meltdown that rocked the U.S. economy a decade...

Saving up to buy a house can now get you a tax break. Across the country, state legislatures are authorizing "first-time home buyer savings accounts," which come with varying tax advantages. Oregon and Alabama recently joined about a half-dozen other states that have passed bills creating these options in recent years. Others are actively considering them. "The accounts are designed to provide renters with a tax-advantaged opportunity to save for their down payment," said Jared Walczak, a...

A federal proposal to expand short-term health plans could mean older Americans with insurance through the Affordable Care Act will pay an average of $2,000 more in 2019 premiums, according to the AARP. The rule proposal, issued jointly by several federal agencies last month due to a 2017 directive by President Trump, would allow short-term health-care policies to span 364 days instead of the current three months. While federal officials say the intention is to provide more affordable...