Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways People who don’t have a defined contribution plan, like a 401(k), are more likely to run out of money in retirement than those who do. More than two-thirds of workers have access to retirement plans, but only a little over half participate. If you don’t have a workplace retirement plan, you may consider investing in a traditional or Roth IRA, brokerage account, or an HSA. If you’re not participating in a defined contribution (DC) plan, such as a 401(k), you may be at a greater risk of running out of money in retirement than someone who does, a…

KEY TAKEAWAYS StubHub has raised $800 million from its initial public offering after pricing the deal at the midpoint of a marketed range, as the online ticketing reseller succeeds in its third attempt at going public.The company sold 34 million shares for $23.50 each after setting a price range at between $22 and $25 apiece, valuing the online ticket reseller at around $8.8 billion.StubHub’s deal is coming to a booming IPO market, with recent listings including share sales by BNPL firm Klarna and Gemini, the crypto exchange owned by the Winklevoss twins. StubHub has raised $800 million from its initial…

Apple Stock’s Not-So-Magnificent Year 56 minutes ago The Magnificent Seven is living up to its name this year, with one glaring exception.  Apple (AAPL) shares have stalled out, with the iPhone maker’s stock down 5% in 2025 as of Tuesday’s close. Tesla (TSLA) and Amazon (AMZN), the Mag 7’s next-worst performers, are up single digits, and the remainder of the group—Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia (NVDA), Alphabet (GOOGL) and Meta Platforms (META)—has gained between 20% and 33%. The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS) is up 18% for the year, compared with the S&P 500’s 12% gain. Apple stock is the weakest performer among…

Key Takeaways Starting Sept. 30, physical Social Security checks will no longer be issued. Beneficiaries will have to shift to some form of electronic payment.This is part of the agency’s move to become more modernized, something it says will improve efficiency and security.Beneficiaries can choose to get their checks via direct deposit or a prepaid debit card designed for federal benefit payments. Starting Sept. 30, physical Social Security checks will no longer be issued, and beneficiaries need to make changes before the end of the month to receive electronic payments. While most Social Security beneficiaries are already receiving electronic payments,…

With upcoming Medicare Open Enrollment, learn key factors about your important choices. gettyDeciding how to enroll in Medicare is one of your most important retirement decisions because it will impact your health, longevity, and wallet for the rest of your life. If you’re new to Medicare or considering making a change during Medicare’s upcoming Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7 this year), you’ll want to make sure you understand the fundamentals about Medicare coverage before signing up or electing a change. There are two ways you can enroll in Medicare: You can sign up for Original Medicare (aka…

Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part series about forced Section 721 UPREIT conversions. Part one raised concerns related to some new Delaware statutory trust offerings that force investors into 721 UPREIT conversions at the end of the hold period. In part one of this series, I discussed the risks associated with forced Delaware statutory trust 721 UPREIT conversions.These types of conversions make investors exchange their DST interest for REIT operating partnership units, erasing the investor’s option to choose whether or when to cash out or continue deferring taxes. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be…

More and more, couples are splitting up after or near retirement. However, when a couple divorces, it isn’t as simple as, “You go your way, and I’ll go mine.” This is especially true when a decades-long union ends.The divorce rate among adults 65 and older is rising, even as the national rate of divorce had declined slightly. These later-in-life divorces are often called “gray divorce.”Adults 65 and older represent the only age group with an increasing divorce rate. Later in life, couples may realize they have grown apart and have differing views of what retirement looks like that may lead…

In the midst of the hoopla surrounding a rate cut, it doesn’t diminish the fact that some savings options are still excellent choices to consider. APYs on all savings products will likely dip slightly following the Fed’s decision to cut the federal funds rate, but it doesn’t mean you can’t earn a good return.If you’re sitting on $40,000 and want a risk-free way to grow your money, CDs and high-yield savings accounts are smart options to consider. Both offer you guaranteed returns thanks to FDIC protection up to $250,000.With these things in mind, here’s how much you can earn by…

Key Takeaways Apple shares have declined 5% since the start of the year, making it the only Magnificent Seven stock in the red for the year.The iPhone maker has struggled to roll out artificial intelligence features, leading Wall Street to debate whether the company should make an uncharacteristically large acquisition to close the gap with big tech peers that have gone all in on AI.Low expectations heading into this year’s iPhone upgrade cycle could boost the stock in the near term, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring. The Magnificent Seven is living up to its name this year, with…

Question: I’m 51 and my portfolio is up. I’m planning to retire in nine years, at the age of 60, so I want to start moving out of stocks to lower my portfolio risk. Is that smart?Answer: In the years leading up to retirement, it’s common to start rethinking your investment strategy. And part of that could mean shifting into assets that are less volatile.But how soon is too soon? From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best…