Author: Money Mechanics

Six Months of Earnings at Various APYs APY Earnings on $10K for 6 months Earnings on $25K for 6 months Earnings on $50K for 6 months 4.00% $198 $495 $990 4.25% $210 $526 $1,051 4.50% $223 $556 $1,113 4.75% $235 $587 $1,174 5.00% $247 $617 $1,235 These examples assume you can earn the stated annual percentage yield (APY) for the full six months, which may not be possible with variable-rate options. Important The rate you earn from a savings account, money market account, cash account, or money market fund can fluctuate, and will almost certainly drop once the Fed begins…

Three new companies will join the S&P 500 later this month. Trading platform Robinhood Markets (HOOD) and mobile app monetization company AppLovin (APP) are set to join the benchmark index on Sept. 22, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices, part of a quarterly rebalancing. They will replace Caesar’s Entertainment (CZR) and MarketAxess Holdings (MKTX), respectively. Emcor (EME), meanwhile, will take the place Enphase Energy (ENPH). Leading up to the decision, investors engaged in a favored niche pastime: trying to guess—and, perhaps, trade ahead of the news—what the picks might be. Robinhood and and Applovin were popular suggestions; so was bitcoin…

Key Takeaways Winning the $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot would instantly make you richer than some of the wealthiest celebrities.If the winner chooses to receive an immediate lump sum, they’d receive around $628.1 million after the IRS takes its cut—before any other income taxes.That’s more than the estimated net worth of stars like Brad Pitt, Serena Williams, Tom Brady, and more. By Sunday morning, one Powerball winner could have more money than Brad Pitt without shooting a single scene or Serena Williams without picking up a tennis racket.  This weekend’s $1.8 billion jackpot is the second-largest Powerball draw in history. If…

IBM IBM has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 2.31% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 16.51%. Currently, IBM has a market capitalization of $231.26 billion. Buying $100 In IBM: If an investor had bought $100 of IBM stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $214.67 today based on a price of $248.26 for IBM at the time of writing.IBM’s Performance Over Last 5 YearsFinally — what’s the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make…

As mentioned in a previous note, we have several economic data points being released BEFORE the FED meeting this month. One of which is the Non-Farm Payrolls, Bloomberg is expecting a larger gain in August’s numbers than in July. This gain is attributed to local government hiring after a temporary freeze in hiring patterns. I would suspect this will be true; however, I do not think this will be significant – we are still betting on one cut this month. Regarding hiring, there is a phenomenon known as the “August Anomaly,” which has been observed over the past 30 years.…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. September 05, 2025 Federal Open Market Committee announces its tentative meeting schedule for 2027 For release at 1:30 p.m. EDT The Federal Open Market Committee on Friday announced its tentative meeting schedule for 2027: Tuesday, January 26, and Wednesday, January 27 Tuesday, March 16, and Wednesday, March 17 Tuesday, April 27, and Wednesday, April 28 Tuesday, June 8, and Wednesday, June 9 Tuesday, July 27, and Wednesday, July 28 Tuesday, September 14,…

Job creation sputtered in August, adding to recent signs of labor market weakening and likely keeping the Federal Reserve on track for a widely anticipated interest rate cut later this month.Nonfarm payrolls increased by just 22,000 for the month, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report Friday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for payrolls to rise by 75,000.The report showed a marked slowdown from the July increase of 79,000, which was revised up by 6,000. Revisions also showed a net loss of 13,000 in June after the prior estimate…

Key Takeaways Freelancing doesn’t mean you can’t save for retirement. Contributions to a Roth IRA are made using after-tax dollars, and your account grows tax-free.SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, and solo 401(k)s let you save more for retirement than a Roth IRA. Save early, maximize your contributions, and speak with a financial advisor. Approximately 14% of the workforce in the United States works in the gig economy as their primary source of income. While freelancing offers you independence, control, and flexibility, it often lacks the benefits that come with traditional employment, such as a workplace retirement savings plan. Exploring Retirement Options…

Key Takeaways 30-year mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest level since March, and real-time data suggests they’re drifting even lower today. The Fed is expected to deliver multiple rate cuts this year, with forecasts strengthening after the weak August jobs report. But mortgage rates don’t always move in sync with Fed policy, since long-term borrowing costs are driven more by bond yields and broader economic forces. For buyers and refinancers, timing the mortgage rates market is difficult—what matters most is financial readiness, with the option to refinance later if rates drop. The full article continues below these offers from…

Key Takeaways The U.S. economy has lost manufacturing jobs for four straight months, with 12,000 disappearing since last month.President Donald Trump’s tariffs were supposed to bring back manufacturing jobs by encouraging companies to build factories in the U.S.Manufacturers have slowed down hiring because tariffs have pushed up prices for materials, while demand for their products has weakened. Tariffs were supposed to bring back manufacturing jobs: instead, the U.S. has lost 12,000 over the past month.August was the fourth straight month of declines for manufacturing jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday, as part of a report that showed an…