Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Market watchers argue that reverse stock splits do nothing to improve a company’s fundamentals. They simply raise the stock price by reducing the number of shares available. Reverse splits are often seen as distress signals—last-ditch efforts to avoid delisting or to mask deeper woes. When a company announces a reverse stock split, experienced investors typically view it as a warning sign. The move, which boosts the share price by shrinking the number of shares outstanding, is rarely a sign of business strength. As Robert R. Johnson, a professor of finance at Creighton University, told Investopedia, “Healthy companies don’t…

Key Takeaways Side hustles are getting more popular because they help people make extra money and fit easily around their busy schedules.With ChatGPT, people can make some extra income without advanced skills or significant investment.ChatGPT opens the door to a wide range of beginner-friendly income opportunities, including tutoring, virtual assistance, content writing, and social media management. Working a side hustle to earn extra income has never been more common and accessible than it is now. As the cost of living continues to rise, more people are turning to tools like ChatGPT to work smarter, streamline everyday tasks, and generate extra…

Key Takeaways The Labubu craze is not a new phenomenon; comparable trends, such as the Cabbage Patch Kids doll in the 1980s and the Beanie Babies fad in the 1990s, have occurred in the past. Labubu toys are exclusively sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese retail chain known for its vibrant brick-and-mortar stores and robo-vending machines. Supply cannot meet demand for Labubu dolls, so consumers often have to resort to secondary marketplaces such as eBay and StockX to purchase them, frequently at inflated prices. Investing in collectibles such as Labubus often involves high initial costs and significant risks that the…

Let’s be clear: You’re on the edge of a transformation that will redefine how you work, think and create. This isn’t hype. It’s a pivotal moment, much like when business first embraced Taylor’s Principles of Scientific Management or The One Minute Manager.The new game-changer is artificial intelligence (AI).AI is the biggest business breakthrough in the last century. It’s not theoretical. It’s here, it’s real, and it’s evolving fast. So, let’s lean into it to give us back something precious: time. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up…

Like it or not, taxes can take a bite out of your investments, leaving you with less money than you may have anticipated. But is that tax bite larger than it needs to be?For many people, it is. They don’t invest their money in the most tax-efficient ways and, as a result, miss out on opportunities to pay a lower tax rate (or no tax at all) on their investment gains.With better planning, you can keep more money for your own needs and pay less to Uncle Sam. Let’s explore three tax mistakes you may be making with your investments…

Throughout 2025, the Federal Reserve has kept interest rates steady after cutting them by a full percentage point in 2024. But signs are emerging that change may be on the horizon.Inflation appears to be cooling, the job market is showing signs of softening, and at the August Jackson Hole, Wyoming, conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that rate cuts could be on the table in upcoming meetings.So why does this matter? 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…

Just as cooler temperatures signal that school is back in session, sometimes after a summer of golf, a reset might be in order. Fall marks the perfect time to start thinking about your game for next season. Consider attending a golf school, where you can learn about your swing, improve your technique and perhaps find some new friends and playing companions.As more people turn to adult camps to meet and make friends, they may very well find what those of us who have been playing golf have always known. Golf is a great equalizer and a game for camaraderie. As…

Earthquake insurance, Google’s multi-million-dollar lawsuit and the “Taylor Swift tax” are subjects Kiplinger has written about this week — but why? Test your knowledge of this week’s financial and business news.If you’ve been following Kiplinger, you should have no trouble. And if you slip up on an answer or two, you can follow the links below the quiz to refresh your memory.Stories making the newsRead more on the Kiplinger stories featured in our news quiz: 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…

Key Takeaways Eightco Holding, Bitmine Immersion Technologies, and Sharplink Gaming, and others like them are scooping up non-bitcoin digital assets and seeing their stocks surge.The new wave of crypto-proxy stocks created in the style of Michael Saylor’s Strategy could have legs if token prices keep up.A crypto market indicator has been signaling a revival in altcoins, which go in and out of vogue during crypto cycles. Hoarding is a vice—unless it involves cryptocurrency. Then, it’s a hot business strategy. There’s money to be made buying up all kind of crypto these days. Eightco Holding (ORBS), Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), and…

Key Takeaways The Federal Reserve is tasked with keeping inflation low and employment high.Investors are certain the Fed will cut rates at its meeting next week after two reports Thursday.Thursday’s inflation report showed inflation ticked up in line with expectations. Experts say it’s unlikely to be a large enough move to deter the Federal Reserve from lowering interest rates next week.The number of jobless claims added to concerns about the weak labor market. Inflation stayed hot in August, but not hot enough to discourage the Federal Reserve from cutting its key interest rate next week as widely expected.Thursday’s report on…