Plus, 4 must-knows for tax filers
| |  | | February 6, 2026 | | | | | | | | Bigger Refunds, New Rules: 4 Must-Knows for Tax Season | | | By Debra Cope
The word is out: Many Americans can expect a bigger refund this tax season.
But filing your return will look different this year, and the new tax breaks are just part of what's changed. From new crypto forms to new rules for payment apps, there's a lot to take in — and a lot at stake. Here's what you need to know. | | | | | | | | Your SoFi Toolkit | | Have questions about filing this year? SoFi's tax help center has a range of quick references, plus IRS links and FAQs. | | | | | | | | |   | | This Is All Part of the Script | If you've checked your portfolio in the last few weeks, you've probably felt the jitters rippling through the market. Headline indices are still near all-time highs, but that calm surface is papering over a lot of churn underneath.
It can be unsettling, but we expected this. As highlighted in our outlook for 2026, we anticipated a broadening of the market where the baton passes from tech leaders to a wider cast of characters.
And that script has in fact been playing out in real-time, with capital cycling out of some of last year's crowded winners into new areas. | | | | | | | | | | | Informed investment decisions start with informed investors. Here's what's making headlines:
| | | | | | | | 62% | That's how many U.S. homebuyers scored a discount last year — the most since 2019, according to an analysis by the real estate brokerage Redfin.
As buyers regain bargaining power, the share of U.S. homes selling under list price has steadily increased, rising from 38% in 2021, Redfin's data showed. Their average discount last year was 7.9%.
The increase shows sellers have started to accept that prices have to be more realistic, Brad Case, chief residential economist at Homes.com, told MarketWatch. In the past, sellers "were just hoping to get lucky by putting an outrageous asking price on it and seeing whether they'd get a bite," Case said. Now, sellers "genuinely want to sell," and are willing to compromise.
The takeaway: Sellers are more willing to meet buyers halfway, and mortgage rates are at a 3-year low. But if you're an aspiring homeowner, is that enough to tip the scales in favor of a mortgage? Here's how to weigh the trade-offs of renting versus buying in today's market. | | | | | | | Olympian Ilona Maher on Making Money in Rugby | | | "Rugby will not be lucrative to play in," Olympic medalist Ilona Maher tells Vivian Tu in the latest episode of Richer Lives. "What's lucrative is the deals you make out of it." | | | | | | |  | | As insurance and maintenance costs soar, car buyers confront sticker shock long after they leave the dealership. (MarketWatch) | | | | | | | | | | | Intel, insights, and inspo for your money. | | On the Money cuts through the noise of day‑to‑day financial news to bring you a more thoughtful point of view on what's important in this moment — and how it impacts your bottom line. We value your trust above all. | | | | | | | | | | Did you find today's newsletter valuable? | | | | |
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