Author: Money Mechanics

Millions of Americans have much of their net worth invested in real estate.Equity in these properties should grow in value over time, but for many, it’s “trapped” because it can’t be accessed without a sizable capital gains tax obligation when the property is sold.The result can be missed opportunities as investors hold out for the right market, lower capital gains tax rates or the property getting passed through their estate plan, at which point their heirs could take advantage of a step-up in basis. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign…

Key Takeaways Buffett has long been a big proponent of the index funds that Bogle helped bring to the masses. However, his public declaration that Bogle is an American hero may have also been influenced by the fact that one of Bogle’s funds just helped Buffett win a $1 million bet. Buffett bet that the Vanguard 500 Index Fund would outperform five funds-of-hedge-funds over a decade—and won by a mile. Warren Buffett once proclaimed that Vanguard founder Jack Bogle “has probably done more for the American investor than any man in the country.” Buffett’s praise appeared to affirm his longstanding…

Homeownership has often been viewed as a milestone, part of the American dream.Times are changing. A recent Bankrate survey found about 45% of homeowners have regrets about their homes.With a tough housing market, inflation, high interest rates and record amounts of debt, a majority of Americans’ wallets are being pushed to the brink. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more – straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with…

As you approach retirement, you may think that downsizing to a smaller home makes a lot of sense. After all, downsizing can lower your living costs and reduce the hassle that comes with taking care of a large house. And if your kids have flown the nest, some of your bedrooms are probably gathering dust anyway.Those are certainly compelling reasons to shift to a less-spacious house. But before you pull the trigger, give some thought to the reverse: “upsizing” to a larger home that suits your expected lifestyle in retirement. You may, for example, want a house with adequate space…

Question: I’m 57, with $1.8 million saved, and want to pivot to a low-stress job for the next decade. My wife says to keep cranking and retire at 62 instead. Who’s right?Answer: Work culture in the U.S. is very different from that in other parts of the world. As Americans, we’re used to grinding away and taking little time off. And while some people thrive in a high-pressure environment, for others, it’s more stressful than it’s worth.The Society for Human Resource Management reports that in a 2024 survey, 44% of Americans felt burned out at work. This echoes a 2023…

To help you understand what is going on in the economy and beyond, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You’ll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we publish many (but not all) of our forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest…Business Outlook: Economic impactsWhen it comes to the economy, expect moderate growth. GDP figures should grow 1.6% in 2026, versus 1.7% in 2025. Manufacturing will continue to be sluggish, and consumer spending will slow a…

When markets rally even as economic fears swirl, your urge to bet big may conflict with a desire to get defensive. So, when stocks are hitting fresh record highs on the back of AI-fueled optimism—despite persistent warnings about tariffs, recession risks, and national debt—how should everyday investors position their money? As Sam Ro, editor of the market newsletter TKer, said in Investopedia Express: “In the long trajectory of the market going up, there’s a lot of volatility in the short term, so it makes sense that people would be cautious—but also very much invested [in] the stock market.” Whether there…

Toronto | August 12, 2025 – Cboe Canada Inc. (“Cboe Canada”) is pleased to announce the launch of four new BetaPro ETFs from Global X Investments Canada Inc. (“Global X”). Now trading on Cboe Canada under the symbols SOXL, SOXS, TTLT and STLT, the new funds are designed to provide magnified (leveraged) or inverse exposure to the daily performance of a specific index, commodity, or sector.“Today marks another exciting first on Cboe Canada with these launches from BetaPro by Global X,” said Victor Werny, Head of North American ETP Listings at Cboe Global Markets. “We’re proud to expand our partnership…

Key Takeaways Retirees can turn their hobbies into money-making ventures.Starting a blog about your hobby and selling items you no longer use are two ways to make cash.Don’t be shy about promoting and selling your artwork if you’re an artist.Rent out what you no longer use such as a recreational vehicle, swimming pool, or yard.Sell your photography or the produce from your garden. Retirees are finding savvy ways to make money from the hobbies they love. “Turning that hobby or creative venture into something exciting and meaningful financially has so many benefits, from shoring up retirement savings to increasing quality…

Nvidia has been the biggest beneficiary of AI spending among big tech companies. But Amazon and Meta Platforms are two tech giants seeing very strong results from investments in AI, and their future could be even brighter. Both trade at compelling valuations, especially compared to how expensive Nvidia has become. 10 stocks we like better than Amazon › Since October 2022, Nvidia has seen its value increase by more than $4 trillion. To put that into perspective, no other company is even worth $4 trillion today. The huge surge in value for the maker of graphics processing units (GPUs) stems…