Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Standard Medicare Part B premiums are expected to rise by 11.6% next year, eating up much or all of Social Security’s projected cost-of-living adjustment increase for 2026.Medicare Part B and D premiums and cost sharing alone account for nearly a quarter of average monthly Social Security benefits.COLAs haven’t kept up with the cost of living for older Americans in years. Health care expenses for retirees are climbing at a rate that far outpaces Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustments. Each year, the Social Security Administration adjusts benefits for its recipients based on inflation. The Senior Citizens League predicts the…

Editor’s Note: This is part two of a four-part series about how to create your own Estate Planning Playbook. Part one, From Wills to Wishes: An Expert Guide to Your Estate Planning Playbook, introduced the concept and explained how to get started. This article focuses on a powerful but often overlooked tool: the family love letter. When a parent passes away, their children are often left planning a funeral while navigating grief.Driven by love and a desire to honor Mom or Dad, families spend countless hours selecting a venue, arranging catering, notifying friends and relatives. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance…

Shares of Canada Goose Holdings (GOOS), Timberland and Vans parent VF Corp. (VFC), and footwear maker Rocky Brands (RCKY) surged Tuesday after Baird upgraded the stocks ahead of a “favorable 2026 macro scenario.” In a research note on the “Apparel, Footwear & Fitness” sector, Baird analysts wrote that “despite fears of lower consumer spending, Back to School so far looks strong (albeit with some increased bifurcation) even amid tariff-related price increases,” and that “easier upcoming comparisons into the fall could further support the group.” Baird lifted its rating on Canada Goose stock to “outperform” from “neutral” and its price target…

Key Takeaways Affluent travelers who once booked $2,000-per-night suites are said to be increasingly seeking village kitchens, cooking classes, and family-style meals over marble bathrooms.Industry insiders say the “anti-luxury” trend reflects a desire for authenticity and emotional connection, not a rejection of comfort.Tour operators report fewer requests for Michelin-starred dining, with guests instead raving about time spent with local families. Luxury used to mean seaside views, marble bathrooms, and personal butlers. Now, some of the same travelers who pay $2,000 a night for suites are saying their most cherished moments come from cooking in small village kitchens. Michael Kovnick, co-founder…

With each change to the S&P 500, the index that dominates becomes a bit more like the digital world that dominates daily life. Take the latest update: Come Thursday, Interactive Brokers Group (IBKR) will join the broad market measure, taking the place of drugstore operator Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), which is set to be taken private by Sycamore Partners later this year. Shares of Interactive Brokers, which were recently creeping higher, are up roughly 40% year-to-date. (Talen Energy (TLN) will take Interactive Brokers’s spot in the S&P MidCap 400.) Interactive Brokers will be the third fintech firm to join the…

Key Takeaways Bitcoin fell to its lowest level in seven weeks on Tuesday, giving back the gains posted at the end of last week after Fed Chair Powell opened the door to a cut in interest rates. After hitting its new all-time high on Aug. 14, the cryptocurrency has reversed course, potentially laying the groundwork for a bull trap—a trading event where prices rise, before reversing sharply, leaving investors with an unexpected loss.Investors should watch key support levels on Bitcoin’s chart around $107,000 and $100,00, while also monitoring resistance areas near $117,000 and $123,000. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) fell to its lowest level…

June 2025 marked a third strong month for broad-based equity indices with gains near 5% for the S&P 500® Index (SPX®) and the Russell 2000® Index (RUT) benchmarks. Implied and realized volatility trended lower despite continued geopolitical situations, including U.S. action against Iranian nuclear sites late in the month. The Cboe S&P Equal Weight Index (SPEQX) gained 3.23%, slightly lower than the other equity indices. The Cboe Volatility Index® (The VIX® Index) closed the month at 16.73, down more than 5.5 points, one of the lowest close since February. Consistent with lower levels of general concern, correlation among stocks decreased,…

KEY TAKEAWAYS More Americans are behind on payments, and in July, the average credit score fell.Delinquencies are increasing on mortgages and auto loans, and these balances are also growing due to inflation.Even consumers with higher credit scores are struggling, highlighting the strain of prolonged high interest rates. More Americans are falling behind on their debt, and that’s hurting their credit scores. Last month, late-stage credit delinquencies, which are payments that are over 90 days late, increased across all credit score levels. As a result, the average credit score fell by 1 point in July to 701, according to VantageScore, a…

Key Takeaways Home values surged during the first few years of the pandemic, but they have dropped significantly in some regions. If you paid peak prices, a drop in home values may mean you now owe more on your mortgage than your home’s appraised value. Being underwater can limit financial flexibility, but there are ways to solve this challenge. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the real estate market boomed as record-low interest rates and lifestyle shifts created intense competition that helped drive housing prices to record highs across the U.S. Now, however, home values are falling in some areas, which could…

Key Takeaways The richest Americans pay a lower effective tax rate than the country at large, according to a new study. A new paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) calculated total tax rates by combining corporate, individual income, and estate taxes. Wealthy Americans paid an effective tax rate closer to the rest of the country from 2010 through 2017, but that rate fell sharply once President Donald Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect in 2018. Polls have shown for decades that Americans believe the wealthiest among us don’t pay their fair share in…