Author: Money Mechanics

When you sell your house, the costs can add up quickly — and one of the biggest expenses is often real estate commissions.Over the years those commissions ballooned to inflated levels, sparking lawsuits over whether the industry kept rates artificially high. That’s what led to a major National Association of Realtors (NAR) settlement in 2024.The $418 million settlement was intended to bring more transparency and lower costs for sellers. But nearly a year later, the changes aren’t having the widespread impact many had hoped for. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK…

The September Federal Reserve meeting is right around the corner. On September 16-17, members of the Federal Open Market Committee will determine if the dwindling job reports will be enough incentive to cut rates for the first time this year.The CME FedWatch is 92% certain that a rate cut of 25 basis points will happen this month. When the Fed does cut rates, it will impact savers. If you have money in a high-yield savings account, you’ll likely see a slight reduction in APY, as this can occur days to months after the Fed’s announcement, depending on your financial institution.However,…

When people enter early retirement, they frequently have unspoken concerns — both financial and otherwise.This year is a bit unusual. We have record-high stock market values, so many new retirees see strong promise for their investment portfolios to generate income throughout their retirement years.However, many people are concerned those high values won’t last. 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 of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more – straight to your e-mail. Profit…

Key Takeaways Bitcoin treasury company Strategy was passed over for a spot in the S&P 500 during the benchmark index’s latest rebalancing, with spots instead going to AppLovin, Robinhood and Emcor.Strategy technically meets all of the index’s eligibility requirements, but S&P’s Index Committee considers other factors, like sector weighting, when deciding which companies to include.The Index Committee has added several bitcoin-owning firms to the S&P 500 this year, and Strategy could join them if pending deals open up a spot or the committee decides to add it in December’s rebalancing. Bitcoin true believers were dealt a blow on Friday when…

Key Takeaways Paris’s low cost of living can help retirees stretch their savings, with median monthly housing costs that are less than half the national median.Despite its small size, health care is surprisingly accessible in Paris, which contains one of Henry County’s two major hospitals.Bordering an 841-acre forest and a 160,000-acre lake, Paris offers easy access to nature and outdoor recreation.Paris’s welcoming community, creative spirit, and long-standing local traditions provide plenty of opportunities to feel connected. It may not be the pride of France, but Paris, Tennessee, is still a worthwhile destination—at least for retirement. Nestled in the heart of…

Valued at $239.7 billion, Salesforce (CRM) has established itself as the leading player in the customer relationship management (CRM) market. The company had a slow start to the year, with the stock rising just 3.1% over the last 52 weeks. Despite strong results in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 that highlight both financial momentum and the scope of its artificial intelligence (AI) transformation, CRM stock is down 25% year-to-date (YTD). Nonetheless, Wall Street believes the stock has the potential to rally by 71% over the next year. Let us find out why. www.barchart.com Salesforce’s CRM platform enables businesses to manage…

Meta Platforms Inc. META faces mounting internal tensions after CEO Mark Zuckerberg‘s artificial intelligence recruitment drive sparked employee departures and compensation disputes.Elite AI Unit Creates Status DivisionsThe company’s secretive TBD Lab operates from a restricted-access area near Zuckerberg’s Menlo Park desk, housing Meta’s most elite AI researchers, reported The Wall Street Journal. The unit’s members remain invisible on internal organization charts, while other employee names appear publicly, creating new status distinctions within the $2 trillion company.At least 21 recruits joined from OpenAI, with additional hires from Alphabet Inc. GOOGL GOOG, Apple Inc. AAPL and Elon Musk‘s xAI. However, several high-profile…

“The best reading of the ‘for cause’ provision is that the bases for removal of a member of the Board of Governors are limited to grounds concerning a Governor’s behavior in office and whether they have been faithfully and effectively executing their statutory duties,” Cobb wrote. Trump has accused Cook of committing mortgage fraud by signing documents in 2021 that listed more than one property as her permanent residence. Those mortgages were obtained before President Biden appointed her to the Fed in 2022. Cook’s lawyer Abbe Lowell said in a statement that Cobb’s decision “recognizes and reaffirms” the Fed’s independence…

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysFlyoobe can upgrade an unsupported Windows 10 PC to Windows 11.You can install Windows 11 without the usual apps and bloatware.The tool is easy to configure and use.Looking to upgrade your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 before the OS loses Microsoft support in October? That’s a good idea. But what if your computer doesn’t meet Microsoft’s stringent requirements for version 11? You can always buy a new PC.  Before you shell out your money, though, another option is to upgrade your…

(BOE Report)– Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX: CVE) (NYSE: CVE) today announced it has reached an agreement for the sale, indirectly through wholly-owned subsidiaries, of its 50% interest in WRB Refining LP (WRB) to its joint venture partner Phillips 66. The consideration will consist of US$1.4 billion in cash, or approximately C$1.9 billion, subject to customary closing adjustments. “This transaction aligns with our strategy of owning and operating the assets that are core to our business. After the sale of WRB, our downstream business will be more focused, comprised of assets we control, which provide physical integration and egress for our leading…