Author: Money Mechanics

Mistral AI, the French company behind AI assistant Le Chat and several foundational models, is officially regarded as one of France’s most promising tech startups and is arguably the only European company that could compete with OpenAI. It is reportedly in the process of raising another round that would value it at $14 billion, up from about $6 billion in June, 2024. While Mistral AI describes itself as “the world’s greenest and leading independent AI lab” it is still not as well known as its biggest competitors.   “Go and download Le Chat, which is made by Mistral, rather than…

(World Oil)– India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the country will continue buying Russian oil, signaling its intent to defy U.S. President Donald Trump’s persistent demands to halt the purchases. U.S. President Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on India in retaliation for Russian oil purchases “Where we buy our oil from, especially a big-ticket foreign exchange item where we pay so much, highest in terms of import, we will have to take a call on what suits us best,” Sitharaman said in an interview with News18 television on Friday. “We will undoubtedly be buying.” The comments come as New Delhi…

If something happened to you tomorrow, could your family access your photos, bank apps, or business website? For most Americans, the answer is no. While the average person values their digital assets at nearly $200,000 according to our Bryn Mawr Trust 2024 Digital Assets Survey, fewer than 15% have an estate plan that covers them. That planning gap leaves loved ones vulnerable to being locked out of assets that may be just as valuable as anything held in a bank account. Beneath these staggering numbers lies a concerning reality: most people don’t even know what digital assets they own, let…

To help you understand what’s going on in politics, the economy and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You’ll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest…A big shift in economic policy is underway. One that includes more federal involvement in parts of the private sector that were once off-limits. The shift began…

Question: I waited to claim Social Security and never got around to filing by my 70th birthday. Did I goof?Answer: Given that many private-sector employers have phased out pensions and that the median retirement savings balance among Americans 65 to 74 was only $200,000 as of 2022, Social Security is clearly an extremely important income source for retirees. Many older Americans rely on Social Security to cover their basic expenses. And even those with decent savings appreciate having those benefits to supplement their retirement plan withdrawals.Of course, the tricky thing about Social Security is figuring out when to start taking…

Grandparents Day is September 7th, 2025. But wait — isn’t that today?!Fortunately, there’s still time to give your loved ones a meaningful gift. For instance, planning a special outing to a local museum, botanical garden, or family picnic is just one way to create cherished memories.Or, if your grandparents don’t live nearby, you may send them a heartfelt gift today, like a curated playlist or a ticket to a future event. 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…

The Washington Post recently profiled a man from Baltimore County, Md., who spends his free time — actually, pretty much all of his time — retrieving illegally abandoned tires from stagnant creeks and mosquito-infested swamps.Since 2013, Jon Merryman has dug up an estimated 15,000 tires and has set a goal of picking up tires in every county in the U.S. The average tire weighs 25 pounds, so he doesn’t need to go to the gym to stay in shape.While most of us aren’t as driven as Merryman, just about everyone I know has expressed a desire to volunteer in retirement.…

Key Takeaways Strategies like designating “fun money,” values-based budgeting, or paying yourself first can help you get control of your spending while still having money for small splurges.Avoid an all-or-nothing mindset to save for goals like retirement, and use rewards and challenges to gameify paying off debt.Understanding your values and motivations can help you work toward your savings goals. Working toward long-term financial goals doesn’t have to mean cutting out all the luxuries and small joys from your life. In fact, an all-or-nothing mindset can actually hold you back from reaching your goals. Instead, here are five strategies that can…

KEY TAKEAWAYS edThe de minimis exemption allowed imports worth $800 or less to enter the United States tariff-free. Last week, President Donald Trump suspended the exemption for all countries.The prices of many cheaper products sold at online retailers are expected to rise since they will now be subject to Trump’s tariffs.Lower-income households tended to order more products that qualified for the de minimis exemption. A loophole that allowed some imports to come into the United States tariff-free ended, increasing the cost of cheap products and primarily affecting low-income households. The de minimis rule exempted imports worth $800 or less from…

It’s been a whirlwind of a week in the world of politics and finance. Here’s a quick recap of the top stories that made headlines over the weekend.Trump Warns Of $15T Investment CancellationPresident Donald Trump cautioned that a potential $15 trillion investment in the U.S. could be “immediately cancelled” if his tariff policies are struck down by the courts. The President expressed his concerns on the Truth Social platform, emphasizing the potential detrimental impact on the American economy.“We would become a Third World Nation, with no hope of GREATNESS again,” Trump wrote.Read the full article here.McConnell Compares Tariff Era To 1930sSenator…