Four ways to land a dream job

What is your dream job?

Whatever it is, chances are you have not experienced it yet: Only one in 10 Americans are working in their dream job, a survey by the site JobSage showed. Seven in 10 respondents said they are not on track to get there, and 53% said their dream job is unrealistic in this economy.

Yet career dreams can come true. You need a clear-eyed strategy to bring them out of the clouds, take concrete steps to get where you want and make the numbers work to prosper, writes Chris Taylor.

Even if your ultimate goal is a full-time gig, you do not have to jump there right away. In fact, ditching your 9-to-5 employment is a risky proposition. (Speaking from experience, it's nice to have corporate health insurance!)

Here are four steps to land your dream job.

How low can interest rates go?

Here is something we haven’t considered for a while: Lower interest rates.?

U.S. bond investors are pricing in imminent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts by the first half of 2024, as signs of slowing U.S. economic growth and easing inflation became more evident.

While a weakening growth outlook is likely an important factor in keeping the U.S. central bank from raising rates, progress on the inflation front could determine when it will pivot toward monetary policy easing.

Fed policy expectations are playing out in different corners of the bond and money markets, and the story is always changing. Follow our Macro Matters coverage for the latest news.

Financial tips for caregivers

Did you know that one in five American adults provides uncompensated care for loved ones with health problems?

On average, caregiving expenses – from housing to healthcare to transportation – add up to more than $7,000 a year, according to a new report from the TIAA Institute and University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

As a result, almost half of caregivers say they have suffered financially: withdrawing from their own savings, taking on debt, paying bills late, or cutting back on retirement contributions.

It is a quiet crisis, and a tricky one to solve.

"What stands out for me is the number of people who are not only caregivers, but financial caregivers too," said Surya Kolluri, who heads the TIAA Institute. "They basically become the family bank, providing money out of their own pockets. That puts a lot of pressure on them."

No wonder caregivers' financial lives are impacted: On average, they have fewer assets and higher debt than non-caregivers, the report found. A quarter of them have less than $1,000 in savings or investments.

Here are three ways caregivers can minimize the financial hit.?

REUTERS POLL ??

How much do you plan to spend on holiday gifts this year? In our last poll, respondents were all over the map. Some 27% of you plan to spend more than $500 on gifts, while 24% of you aren't buying presents at all.

And now for this week's poll question: Do you expect interest rates to fall in 2024? Take our poll here.

A$K Lauren

Are you trying to buy a home amid higher rates? Will insurance cover your COVID shot? Send your money questions to me, and I'll tap my extensive source network and braintrust for expert advice.

Send your questions to me at [email protected].?

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