Author: Money Mechanics

Summer is now officially in full swing. Across the country, families are firing up barbecues and heading to the beaches. As we celebrate the July Fourth fireworks, the financial markets are trying to stage their own explosive display.The second quarter of 2026 proved to be a strong period for investors, defined by record-breaking vertical runs in select sectors, a historic changing of the guard at the Federal Reserve and a stark divergence between index-level optimism and the underlying macro realities.As we close the books on the second quarter of 2026, here is where the markets stand and how to position…

Most financial advice caters to stable payroll schedules, but freelancers don’t make the same money every month.That means you must plan differently.Instead of planning around what you’ll earn, plan around what you can count on, and put structure between the months that overdeliver and the ones that come up short. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal…

Don’t make hasty decisions about when to start your Social Security benefits.gettyAre you worried that Social Security benefits might be cut in the near future due to its funding challenges? Before you make a hasty claiming decision you can’t undo, be sure to analyze the issues and consequences further. Here’s more of what you need to know. Social Security Benefits Could Be Reduced If Politicians Don’t Agree To Shore Up Its FinancesThe Social Security Old Age and Survivors Trust Fund (OASI) is projected to be exhausted in the fourth quarter of 2032, and at that time, it might only be…

For many Americans, all the advice they have heard about retirement is the same — save, save, save.While it is essential to save, an area I believe is vastly overlooked in our country’s retirement conversation is protection.What happens if you build up a decent nest egg and life happens? You get sick, you have to take care of a loved one, or you get an injury that causes you to stop working earlier than you planned. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4…

Most portfolios are diversified on paper, but not in behavior.Diversification isn’t just about how many things you have in your portfolio. It’s about how those different assets are likely to perform when exposed to various types of risk — when the market stumbles or inflation spikes or interest rates fluctuate.Some people think they’re diversified because they own a few different mutual funds, variable annuities and/or ETFs. But if everything you own reacts the same way to market volatility or other economic disruptions, you may not be as protected as you think. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become…

Social Security benefits have always been designed to protect individuals from a loss of income due to retirement, disability, or the death of a primary income earner, but how much you receive might be changing soon.Current Social Security Administration (SSA) projections predict the program will face a funding shortfall by late 2032, triggered by a wave of retiring baby boomers outnumbering the younger workers paying into the system.While the program survived a similar insolvency scare via a bipartisan overhaul in 1983, critics argue the current administration’s approach makes the upcoming crisis feel different. The SSA has faced shrinking staff, shuttered…

When you spend a good part of your life in the same home and neighborhood, you can easily grow attached to both. The friendships and shared history can run deep, buttressing your happiness and sense of identity. But those bonds could create a tricky situation once retirement begins and you’re no longer earning the same paycheck as during your working years.A 2024 AARP survey found that 75% of U.S. adults ages 50 and older want to stay in their current homes as they age, and 73% hope to stay in their communities. At the same time, Harvard University’s Joint Center…

When you live in an older home, it’s very much like stepping into a time capsule. Our home was built in 1984, and it hadn’t been updated much since then when we bought it. From carpet under the oven to a washer/dryer combo in the guest bathroom, it was a wild adjustment.Your first impulse is to modernize. Usually, this refers to cosmetic upgrades like new flooring, cabinetry and a fresh coat of paint. Oh, and removing the washer/dryer combo from the bath.While this will give your home a much-needed facelift, there are smarter upgrades that can save you money on…

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks. Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed. …

Catastrophe bond issuance is expected to exceed $20 billion for the second year in a row in 2026, according to Aon Securities, with the maturity schedule seen as a “constructive” market feature that when added to coupon earnings means cash and capital levels for fund managers and investors have been particularly high this year.Writing in Aon’s latest reinsurance market report, the insurance-linked securities team at the broker’s Aon Securities division describe a catastrophe bond market that has been firing on all cylinders in 2026 so far. With first-half issuance of catastrophe bonds already having set a new record, as we…