Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Families can pay nearly $1,500 a year on sports for just one child, with wealthier families spending far more ($2,361) and low-income households spending significantly less ($890). Being transparent with children about trade-offs helps them understand the financial commitment while encouraging responsibility and practice. Parents can save by carpooling, meal prepping, and collaborating with neighbors or local businesses to share costs and resources. Carlie Ransom is the mom of two boys, ages 10 and 12, who play lacrosse and basketball. When Ransom, a certified financial planner (CFP) at Equal Path Investments, talks to her kids about sports, she’s…

You can be a CrossFit champ or an inveterate poolside sunbather, but regardless of where you travel — and we’ve chosen five outstanding spots on the globe — there’s an active way and a serene way to experience them. So don’t cross anything off your list if you’ve heard it’s too physically challenging — or too chill (i.e., boring). And if you are a couple with different energy levels, these destinations are for you.1. Rome: active vs chill (Image credit: Drew Limsky)Chill: There’s so much to experience in Rome, Italy, that most visitors exhaust themselves despite their best efforts. On…

Bust out the record collection. Not only might it be worth something, there’s a valuable retirement lesson in there, too.Since the launch of Record Store Day in 2008, vinyl has made a serious comeback. How big? In 2022, vinyl outsold CDs for the first time since 1987, racking up more than $1 billion in sales. A key reason why records are hip once again is cultural nostalgia.And that’s not the only thing people are nostalgic for these days. An overwhelming number of workers would happily rewind to the era of pensions. According to a recent Nuveen and TIAA Institute survey,…

Apple Inc. AAPL is reportedly developing its own artificial intelligence-powered web search tool, internally dubbed “World Knowledge Answers,” for integration into Siri by 2026.Check out the current price of APPL stock here. Perplexity AI demonstrates the growth Apple seeks, processing 780 million queries with over 20% month-over-month growth and achieving $150 million in annual recurring revenue, according to a Fortune report. The startup has attracted backing from Nvidia Corp. NVDA, SoftBank and Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos.World Knowledge Answers Take ShapeThe new system will function as an “answer engine” similar to ChatGPT and Alphabet Inc.‘s GOOG GOOGL Google AI overviews, providing…

Silver demand surges post-holiday as it surpasses $40 per ounce driven by industrial needs. US and India lead global silver markets with growing demand from investors. Silver eyes $50 mark with Federal Reserve policy and tariffs key to reaching highs. Looking for actionable trade ideas to navigate the current market volatility? Subscribe here to unlock access to InvestingPro’s AI-selected stock winners. After the holiday slowdown, demand in the metals market, including silver, has surged. Silver has risen above $40 per ounce, reaching its highest level in over a decade. This increase is driven by similar factors to those affecting gold,…

“This new law is a major victory for mortgage borrowers that will protect them from the barrage of unwanted calls, texts and emails they too often received immediately after applying for a mortgage,” Bob Broeksmit, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), said in a statement. “It will create a more efficient, responsible, and respectful home buying process when it goes into effect on March 5, 2026.” Broeksmit added that the MBA will “work with our members and federal agencies to ensure a seamless transition over the next six months.” The law bars companies from making offers of…

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.Like clockwork, a new iPhone has made its way through the rumor mill in August, and users are beginning to wonder if they should buy what’s currently available or wait until fall to see how things play out.Based on past trends, there’s a good chance Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 series next Tuesday. So, should you pick up an iPhone 16 from your local Apple store today or play the long (but not that long) game? Also: Apple iPhone 17 event live blog: The biggest announcements we’re expecting on Sept. 9Having tested every…

Traditional market hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., are becoming increasingly irrelevant as technology connects investors across the globe at all hours of the day and night. Twenty-four-hour trading, initially limited to foreign exchange (forex) and cryptocurrency, is slowly expanding to include stocks and ETFs, driven by investor demand, globalization, and technological advancements.  Whether you’re a night owl interested in East Asian economic policy or a disciplined investor seeking to capitalize on global breaking news outside traditional business hours, 24-hour trading requires you to do your homework. Trading after hours offers flexibility and the opportunity for investors to react…

Technical analysis uses statistical trends in a stock’s price movement and trading volume in an effort to identify opportunities for advantageous trading. Rather than a company’s fundamentals, this type of analysis uses past trading activity and price changes as indicators of the security’s future performance. While technical analysis is often associated with day trading, it is commonly used by both retail and institutional investors across multiple settings. It can even be valuable for off-hours trading as well. In this case, technical analysis can help an investor to prepare for the following day’s market activity through the analysis of chart patterns,…

The traditional U.S. trading window is 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays. Twenty-four/seven trading allows investors to continue trading certain assets outside these standard market hours. With increasing numbers of U.S. investors holding global assets, the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies, and the popularity of forex, investors want to answer when opportunity knocks, even if it’s 3 a.m.  To execute 24/7 trading, investors must use special trading platforms. Most U.S. equities still trade during the standard trading hours, but even the major markets like the NYSE and Nasdaq are expanding with pre-market and after-hours trading and exploring 24/7…