Author: Money Mechanics

Palantir (PLTR) shares tumbled Tuesday afternoon, extending recent losses as a high-profile short seller fueled worries the stock could be overvalued after a strong run earlier this year.  The shares were down 9% around $158 in recent trading. Still, they’ve more than doubled in value in 2025, leaving Palantir the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 for the year so far as demand for the data analytics software company’s Artificial Intelligence Platform drives record sales. Short seller Andrew Left of Citron Research, who voiced concerns about the stock’s valuation in a Fox Business interview last Wednesday, said in a report…

For many high-net-worth families, financial stress doesn’t come from a lack of wealth — it comes from not being able to access it when needed.Executives with concentrated stock positions, business owners between liquidity events and professionals with most of their assets in retirement accounts often find themselves “asset-rich but cash-poor.”Even with a multimillion-dollar net worth, they might feel financially constrained when navigating major expenses, unpredictable markets or significant life changes. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice…

Eventually, you become tired of the incremental price hikes cell phone providers assess. That’s why it pays to shop around.Recently, I made the switch from Verizon to T-Mobile. And since making the switch, I’ve saved around $40 per month. If you’re looking to save on your cell phone plan, you’re not alone. The average phone bill in the US is $157, according to WhistleOut.Here’s one T-Mobile deal for seniors I found offering plenty of cost-saving perks. I’ll break down what you have to do to obtain these deals so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you. Subscribe…

In early May 2025, Warren Buffett announced his plan to retire as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), the struggling textile company he took over in 1965 and transformed into a sprawling conglomerate (189 subsidiaries) and a legendary investment vehicle (stock in 40 companies worth nearly $280 billion in the first quarter, according to CNBC, plus some $348 billion in cash).Come year-end, Buffett, who turns 95 in August, hands the reins to Greg Abel, 63, who joined Berkshire in 1999 when it acquired a controlling interest in MidAmerican Energy, an Iowa utility.Buffett isn’t disappearing. He’ll remain chairman of the board, and…

What’s better than two property tax relief programs? Three. And New Jersey residents have recently received their third through Stay NJ.The new program is designed to assist eligible homeowners aged 65 or older (or those with disabilities) with their property taxes. Payouts are expected to roll out as early as next year. And the relief may just be in the nick of time.A recent AARP report shows that 41% of New Jerseyans aged 50 or older have considered leaving the state, with 83% of respondents stating they’d likely do so for lower state taxes and cost of living elsewhere. Subscribe…

Key Takeaways Federal Reserve officials and their global colleagues often deliver remarks at the Jackson Hole Symposium that have implications for interest rates.Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Friday will command attention, along with remarks from European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.Powell is expected to discuss the Fed’s path forward on interest rates and likely address proposed changes to the central bank’s framework for economic analysis. The investment world will turn its attention away from Wall Street and toward Wyoming this week. Some of the world’s leading economists and monetary policymakers will meet for the 48th annual Jackson Hole…

Last week, on August 14, 2025, the Social Security Act celebrated its 90th anniversary — a milestone for one of the United States’ most important so-called safety nets. The program has lifted millions of older adults out of poverty, steadied some households through economic shocks, and provided dignity for many in retirement.But old tax rules are quietly undermining the program’s promise. A big reason why? The income thresholds for taxing Social Security benefits haven’t changed in more than 30 years.That stagnation has caused more retirees to pay federal taxes on SS benefits, often on money they spent decades earning and…

Key Takeaways President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign has broken down some foreign barriers to U.S. trade.The preliminary agreements could be especially significant if they open foreign markets to U.S. autos, one trade expert said.The tariffs have also brought in billions in revenue to government coffers.The trade war victories have come at a cost to the economy, potentially stoking inflation and slowing down economic growth, according to experts. Seven months into President Donald Trump’s campaign to rebalance global trade in America’s favor, the White House can point to several “wins,” but experts say the victories have come at a cost to…

Key Takeaways U.S. equities were mixed at midday with new corporate earnings and the semiconductor industry in focus.Japan’s SoftBank invested $2 billion in Intel.Nvidia’s CEO sold 150,000 shares of the chipmaker’s stock. U.S. equities were mixed at midday as the market weighed more corporate earnings reports and news from the chip sector. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell. Intel (INTC) was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 when Japan’s SoftBank Group made a $2 billion investment in the struggling chipmaker. Shares of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) advanced after the cybersecurity firm…

Frontier Airlines has come up with a new approach to attract customers. In an effort to get more people to fly it, the ultra-low-cost carrier—whose parent, Frontier Group Holdings, has a ticker symbol of ULCC—unveiled a limited-time promotion offering Elite Gold status through the end of 2026 for members of four rival airlines’ frequent-flyer programs for $69. The promotion is aimed at people who were part of the membership programs of Southwest (LUV), JetBlue (JBLU), Alaska (ALK), or Spirit (FLYY) as of Monday. Notably, it is not available to members of the three biggest U.S. airlines: Delta (DAL), United (UAL), or…