Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Babies born from 2026 to 2028 will receive seed money in their Trump Accounts.For older kids like mine who don’t qualify for the free money, Trump Accounts have looked inferior to other savings options.But a potential loophole could turn these accounts into a golden opportunity—if contributions qualify for a Roth conversion at age 18.Flipping a Trump Account to a Roth individual retirement account (IRA) would be powerful since most young adults owe no tax, creating a lifelong tax-free nest egg.It all hinges on IRS guidance still to come, which is why I’ll be watching closely to see if…

Key Takeaways The S&P 500 added 0.3% on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, as a sharp downward revision to jobs numbers raised economic concerns but boosted rate-cut expectations.UnitedHealth shares surged after the insurer provided an optimistic outlook for the ratings of its Medicare Advantage plans.Shares of Fox Corp. lost ground after the Murdoch family settled a years-long dispute over who would take the reins of the media empire. Major U.S. equities indexes advanced to record closing highs after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced a significant downward revision in job growth between March 2024 and March 2025. While the data raised…

Oracle shares soared in late trading Tuesday after the cloud computing giant said it added several large new clients and boosted its outlook for cloud infrastructure sales on booming AI demand. Shares of Oracle (ORCL) were up over 25% in after-hours trading. The stock has added close to half of its value in 2025 through Tuesday’s close, with most of the gains coming after the company posted strong quarterly results in June. Oracle on Tuesday said it now sees cloud infrastructure sales jumping 77% to $18 billion this fiscal year as AI demand grows, up from a June forecast of more…

Key Takeaways Federal Reserve interest rate changes can directly influence borrowing costs for small businesses.Falling rates create expansion opportunities for small-biz managers who are prepared.Rising rates squeeze cash flow and can increase business debt.Higher interest rates can translate into lower consumer demand.Financial resilience comes from planning ahead to be flexible. The Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions affect more than just macroeconomic policy. They also shape the financial playing field for Main Street. When the Fed raises rates, key business expenses become costlier, including loans, credit lines, and day-to-day financing. Conversely, monetary easing by the Fed can improve access to cheap…

Apple (AAPL) launched its latest iPhone lineup Tuesday, with a number of updates that CEO Tim Cook called the company’s “biggest leap ever for iPhone.” The event, themed “awe dropping,” showcased four models including the iPhone 17 Air, Apple’s most durable and thinnest phone ever. Cook said he believes the iPhone 17 Air will be a “game changer” with its slimmer design. (You can watch the streamed event here.) Meanwhile, Apple’s entry-level iPhone 17, iPhone Pro, and iPhone Pro Max come with longer battery life, more scratch-resistant materials, and better cameras than earlier models. Apple said its iPhone 17 will start…

Revisions to recent estimates of U.S. job growth indicate the employment situation is weaker than markets had reason to believe. In the short term, that probably means the federal funds rate is heading lower from here.The bigger-picture concern – with incoming producer and consumer price data due on Wednesday and Thursday – is a combination of slowing growth and rising inflation.Results of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the economy added 911,000 fewer jobs than previously reported from April 2024 through March 2025. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal…

It’s crunch time if you are in your 50s and saving for retirement. You may not think so — after all, you can likely work another 15 or more years — but the actions you take today can have a big impact on the riches you amass tomorrow. That’s even more the case if saving for retirement hasn’t been at the top of the priority list up until now.“Your 50s can be a pivotal decade for retirement readiness,” says Sabino Vargas, CFP, senior financial advisor at Vanguard. “You may need to recalibrate your retirement expectations, but with 10 to 15…

Fresh off an unprecedented “mortgage rate sale” last month, Chase Home Loans is at it again. This time, the interest rate discount is on refinances. With national home loan rates at an 11-month low — and refinancing once again gaining loan market share — a rate sale may be very welcome news to homeowners wanting to refinance into a lower rate or tap into their equity to receive cash. Read more: The best mortgage refinance lenders right now The Chase promotion is on rate-and-term and cash-out refinances from Monday, Sept. 8, through Sunday, Sept. 21. Customers must lock in their…

SoundHound AI, Inc. SOUN, a provider of voice and conversational AI, said Tuesday it has agreed to acquire Interactions, a pioneer in AI-powered customer service, in a deal aimed at accelerating its push into enterprise markets.The acquisition, valued at about $60 million in cash plus milestone-based payments, is expected to boost profitability immediately.The deal adds global consumer brands, insurers, automakers, and technology companies to SoundHound’s client portfolio while strengthening its IP base to nearly 400 patents.Also Read: SoundHound AI Plunged 35% In 2025 – Is It Still Worth Owning?By combining Interactions’ voice assistant technology with its platform, SoundHound aims to…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. September 09, 2025 Agencies announce third public outreach meeting as part of their review of regulations Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Reserve Board Office of the Comptroller of the Currency For release at 3:00 p.m. EDT Federal bank regulatory agencies will hold a hybrid public outreach meeting on October 30, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri, as part of their review of regulations. The Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act (EGRPRA) requires…