Author: Money Mechanics

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed that President Donald Trump’s tariff policies have had a muted impact on cost pressures. And it all but guarantees that the Federal Reserve will cut rates again when it meets next week.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, headline CPI was up 0.3% month over month in September, slower than the 0.4% rise seen in August and the 0.4% increase economists expected.The CPI was 3.0% higher year over year, a quicker pace than the month prior. Still, the results arrived below the 3.1% increase economists anticipated. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

The backdoor Roth IRA is typically touted as a workaround for the wealthy to boost the amount of retirement income they can withdraw tax-free. But there’s upside for heirs who inherit the retirement account, too.What’s often overlooked is that this retirement savings strategy provides the same tax-friendly perks to heirs — making a backdoor Roth IRA a strategic estate planning tool for high earners looking to secure their wealth legacy. That’s especially true for wealthy folks who don’t open an IRA for their own retirement, but rather with their heirs in mind.“It’s a great estate planning technique because your beneficiaries…

If you’re a coffee lover, it’s likely you’ve been counting down to the return of Starbucks’ iconic Red Cup Day, the unofficial kickoff to the holiday sipping season.The good news is that it’s coming sooner than expected this year, and there are a few new perks and surprises brewing behind the scenes.Whether you’re loyal to the Peppermint Mocha, can’t get enough of the Caramel Brulée Latte, or simply want to snag the coveted reusable red holiday cup, this one-day event is not to be missed. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK…

Key Takeaways Healthcare job growth is strong, and graduates in health-related fields enjoy some of the lowest unemployment rates of any major. Healthcare remains a stable and fast-growing field, but recent Medicaid cuts and tariffs may slow job growth. Yet since overall demand for healthcare services is expected to continue to rise due to an aging population and workforce turnover, recent college graduates can still bet on a career in this industry. There’s always demand for medical care, so pursuing a career in the healthcare industry has long been seen as a stable option, typically leading to generous wages and…

Each week, in our Ask the Editor series, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter Editor, answers questions on topics submitted by readers. This week, she’s looking at nine questions on the tax deduction for medical expenses. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. Can I claim medical expenses and the standard deduction?Question: I normally claim the standard deduction when I file my Form 1040. This year, I have incurred lots of medical expenses. Can I deduct them and take the standard deduction?Joy Taylor: No. The medical expense write-off is an itemized deduction claimed on Schedule A…

Stock futures pointed higher Friday before the release of September inflation data that has been delayed because of the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. Futures associated with the tech-heavy Nasdaq, benchmark S&P 500, and blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average were up a respective 0.5%, 0.3% and 0.1%. The three indexes all closed higher yesterday and are on pace to record weekly gains. The Consumer Price Index report scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. ET is likely to show that prices rose 3.1% over the year in December, according to a survey of economists by Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. If the report comes in as…

A battle is on in Europe for the savings of wealthy investors. Asset managers see a golden opportunity to sell private assets — equity, credit and infrastructure — to clients previously accustomed to investing only in publicly traded stocks and bonds, through new types of funds.The super-rich — at least those with more than $50mn to invest — may well hold upwards of a quarter of their portfolios in private assets. But those with less have found it difficult to meet minimum investment thresholds. Until now.In Europe, recent open-ended funds have evolved into the Eltif (European Long-Term Investment Fund), designed…

Accessible Keys for Video [Space Bar] toggles play/pause; [Right/Left Arrows] seeks the video forwards and back (5 sec ); [Up/Down Arrows] increase/decrease volume; [M] toggles mute on/off; [F] toggles fullscreen on/off (Except IE 11); The [Tab] key may be used in combination with the [Enter/Return] key to navigate and activate control buttons, such as caption on/off. Let me thank the Opportunity Finance Network for the invitation to be part of this gathering.1 Unfortunately, I could not join you in person, but I’m pleased to be able to offer a few words to celebrate the legacy of Community Development Financial Institutions…

Gold has always been a haven for investors—but what happens when even the most reliable asset starts to tumble? This week, gold futures have taken center stage in a dramatic market shake-up, with every bounce now eyed as a potential selling opportunity. As money flows shift and volatility spikes, the market is telling a story of risk, strategy, and rapid change. Let’s dive into what’s driving this wild ride—and what it might mean for traders ahead.After reviewing the movements of the gold futures on different time charts, I anticipate that the gold futures have been facing intense selling pressure since…

Total existing-home sales for September Total existing-home sales for September, From NAR: 1.5% increase in existing-home sales month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million. 4.1% increase in sales year-over-year. Based on our Housing Market Tracker data, we noticed a slight year-over-year pick-up in demand starting in the May/June period. Our pending contract data takes about 30-60 days to appear in the existing home sales report. By mid-June, I realized our tracker data showed a shift in the supply-and-demand equilibrium, so it wasn’t a surprise when sales grew — we are working from extremely low sales levels. Inventory…