Category: Taxes and Retirement

Maine's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) — provides up to $623 per week. That 2026 maximum adjusts periodically, though I haven't seen a specific increase confirmed for 2027 yet. Maine's 50% earnings disregard for partial benefits is one of the most worker-friendly in…

Louisiana's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) — has a maximum of just $275 per week. Only Mississippi's $235 cap is lower nationally, and Louisiana's cap has barely moved in years — I haven't seen a legislative proposal that would raise it for 2027. For…

Iowa's unemployment insurance program — managed by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) — now pays up to $790 per week for claimants with dependents, following the state's annual increase effective the benefit week of July 5, 2026. Iowa's benefit is above average for the Midwest, and the state's relatively flat cost…

Indiana’s unemployment insurance program — managed by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) — offers up to $390 per week. That 2026 maximum is locked in; I haven’t seen a legislative push to raise it for 2027, even though it’s trailed inflation for years. Indiana has a relatively low maximum…

Idaho's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Idaho Department of Labor (IDOL) — offers up to $624 per week. That 2026 maximum is locked in; I haven't seen a legislative proposal to raise it for 2027. Idaho is a moderate-benefit state, though its partial UI rules make earning part-time…

Hawaii's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) — provides up to $868 per week. That 2026 maximum adjusts annually based on the state's average wage, so it's likely to tick up again for 2027, though DLIR typically doesn't announce the new figure…

Delaware's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Delaware Department of Labor — provides up to $450 per week for up to 26 weeks. That 2026 cap is locked in; the open question is whether it moves for 2027, something policymakers have discussed given Delaware's relatively high cost of living,…

Connecticut's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) — has one of the higher benefit maximums in the Northeast. The 2026 base maximum ($721/week, or up to $796 with dependents) is locked in through October 2028 under a state law that froze the cap to…

Alaska’s unemployment insurance program — managed by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) — provides up to $370 per week. That 2026 maximum adjusts periodically; I haven't seen a specific figure confirmed for 2027 yet. Given that Alaska consistently ranks among the most expensive states to live in,…

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By mid-2026, the AI story on Wall Street has shifted. It's no longer just about which company has the smartest chatbot — it's about who's pouring concrete, stringing transformers, and laying fiber to keep the whole thing running. The four largest hyperscalers — Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft — are…

Right now, the stock market is booming despite all the geopolitical risk, inflation, and other headwinds. In particular, a lot of AI-related stocks are booming thanks to the massive amounts of money being spent by the largest companies in the world. The current investing climate is definitely not one for…

Here’s a question that comes up at a lot of family dinners: “So… when are you getting your own phone plan?” If you’ve been on the giving or receiving end of that conversation, you’re not alone. A surprisingly large share of American adults — well into their 20s and beyond…