Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways A BlackRock survey suggests nearly one in four retirement plans might add alternative assets in the coming year, making them more mainstream than ever. Private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and private credit each play different roles—from growth to inflation protection to steady income. Alternative investments have evolved into an essential part of a portfolio for many, with their market size projected to roughly double from $18.9 trillion in 2024 to $37.8 trillion by 2032. Hedge funds have a mixed performance overall but typically outperform during market downturns, while commodities have a low correlation with traditional markets, making them…

Some economists are depressed by job market weakness and tariff jitters. But one thinks that the coming boom in artificial intelligence could energize the economy just as it’s starting to lose momentum.  “I believe tailwinds from AI will continue to drive investments and fill cracks in the U.S. economy,” Capital Group Economist Jared Franz wrote in a recent note. While he acknowledged that there are reasons to worry about the economy, Franz laid out four signals that indicate the U.S. economy could stay resilient in the coming months. AI Spending is Booming Tech companies have spent hundreds of billions of dollars…

Key Takeaways A common mistake is parking a lot of money in your Venmo account, since your Venmo balance isn’t automatically FDIC insured and earns no interest. Moving that money to a top high-yield savings account increases protections and could earn you free money—with APYs as high as 4%–5%. If you send money to someone in Venmo using a credit card, you’ll be charged 3% of the amount sent and likely won’t earn any points or rewards. Venmo also charges a 1.75% fee for instant bank transfers, but slightly slower standard transfers are free. The full article continues below these…

Key Takeaways Gen X and Millennials are set to inherit a staggering $124 trillion in assets over the next 23 years in what many call America’s Great Wealth Transfer.A new report by The Harris Poll showed that while over 80% of younger generations said they’re confident in their ability to manage an inheritance, it also comes with complicated emotions.Heirs say they feel sadness, pressure, anxiety, and guilt over their impending inheritance.  As Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation prepare to pass on their assets to younger generations, there are plenty of practical and emotional issues to contend with. It’s called…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Klarna scored a valuation just over $15bn in its US initial public offering, a major milestone for the Swedish fintech company after tariff-driven market volatility halted its previous attempt to go public.Klarna priced its shares at $40, above the $35 to $37 marketing range outlined earlier this week, said a person familiar with the matter. They added the company raised just less than $1.4bn in an offering that was roughly 26 times oversubscribed. At $40 a share, Klarna is valued at about…

Defiance ETFs launched its newest leveraged product on Sept. 3, the Defiance Daily Target 2X Short LLY ETF LLYZ. The new fund is designed for traders seeking to short pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co LLY.The new fund offers investors -200% of Eli Lilly’s daily performance, before fees and expenses, in a straightforward manner, eliminating the need to short the stock or use a margin account. Through the use of derivatives like swaps and options, LLYZ creates single-stock, leveraged inverse access to one of the most closely followed names in healthcare with precision.Also Read: Eli Lilly Meshes AI With Drug…

On Tuesday, the price of hit an all-time high of $3,650 per ounce. Year-to-date, gold is now outperforming digital gold – Bitcoin – at 37% vs 16% respectively. Nearly three weeks ago, we anticipated this scenario by covering gold mining stocks. Specifically, since that coverage, stock is up 7.5%, is up 13.5%, and is up 7%. In all three cases, their current prices exceed their average price targets from less than a month ago. Year-to-date, the best-performing gold mining stock that we covered is Newmont, having gained 97% value. We also acknowledged that the Federal Reserve is the primary driver…

As insurance and reinsurance markets continue to deliver competitive returns, Lloyd’s of London is emerging as a focal point for investors seeking diversification and growth. However, alongside the surge in appetite for the market, particularly for exposure to fast-growing new syndicates, comes a need for careful consideration of the additional capital those businesses may require, according to executives at Argenta Private Capital Limited (APCL).Artemis spoke with Robert Flach, Managing Director and Kate Tongue, Executive Director of APCL around the annual meeting of the reinsurance industry in Monte Carlo to discuss current investor appetite for accessing insurance-linked returns via Lloyds, the…

Last year’s TechCrunch Disrupt Side Events drew hundreds of founders, investors, and operators after hours — from intimate roundtables to lively happy hours to full-on pitch competitions. Each event unlocked new opportunities for the hosts: investor deal flow, talent connections, and brand exposure with the startup community. This year, you can do the same. As a Side Event host during “Disrupt Week” (October 25–31), you’ll tap into an audience of 10,000+ attendees, plus the broader Bay Area tech community. Why host a Side Event? Visibility: Your brand featured in Disrupt 2025 Side Event listings on the event site, event app,…

Key Takeaways Zillow estimates that the entire housing market in the U.S. is worth a collective $55.1 trillion. At the state level, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Pennsylvania gained the most in home values over the last year, while properties in Florida, California, and Texas posted the biggest declines. Two things may make housing more affordable: the home value growth is slowing compared to 2020 through 2022, and mortgage rates are coming down. The U.S. housing market is worth an estimated $55.1 trillion, per a new estimate from online real estate platform Zillow. That’s a gain of about 57%,…