Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Starting in 2026, workers aged 50 and older earning over $145,000 will have to make 401(k) catch-up contributions on a Roth basis rather than pre-tax. The $145,000 income threshold is indexed to inflation, and not all plans may offer a Roth feature—meaning some high earners may lose access to catch-up contributions altogether. While Roth contributions require upfront taxes, they allow for tax-free withdrawals in retirement, which could benefit those expecting higher tax rates later. Starting next year, some older workers making catch-up contributions to retirement plans, like 401(k)s, may have to do so on a Roth basis. Secure…

“How to invest for rising data-integrity risk…” What does that even mean?If you’re reading this story, you’re probably an investor. And, if you’re an investor, you’re probably well aware of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and what those agencies do, generally speaking.So you probably have an opinion about questions of data integrity. At the same time, as a trader friend of mine, a pro, likes to say, “Price is the only thing that pays.” From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE…

Maxing out your 401(k) and IRA has long been the de facto way to save for retirement. But it’s not the only tax-smart way to build wealth to carry you through your golden years.Wealthy savers also tend to focus on everything from investing in income-generating assets to implementing tax reduction strategies to grow their retirement nest eggs.“When someone has been maxing out their traditional accounts most of their lives, it starts to hit them, ‘I have most of my wealth in the stock market or bond market,’” says Nick Hamilton, national manager at Alliant Retirement and Investment Services. “I want…

Millions of older Americans reach the point of needing help in order to remain in their homes. When adult children are involved, and they try to assist, they often meet resistance. It is uncomfortable for a lot of reasons. How do you do this when it comes up for you?The ConflictElders can think they’re fine when they’re notGetty ImagesThe parent, step-parent, grandparent or other is often a symbol of authority for the adult children. They looked up to, respected, or sometimes feared the elder in question. One’s own emotions get in the way of trying to assume authority, often over…

Stocks opened modestly higher Wednesday, though the enthusiasm quickly faded. A continued sell-off in artificial intelligence (AI) heavyweights and worries over a potential government shutdown weighed on sentiment, while some end-of-quarter profit taking likely created pressure on the three main indexes.At the close, the blue chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.4% at 46,121, the broader S&P 500 was off 0.3% at 6,637, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was 0.3% lower at 22,497. Still, the three indexes are poised to end the quarter and the month with impressive gains.Materials was the worst performer of the 11 S&P 500 sectors,…

Key Takeaways Amazon is ending a program called Prime Invitee that allowed Prime members to share their free shipping benefit with someone outside their home.The program will be replaced with Amazon Family, with Prime shipping only able to be shared between a few accounts with the same primary residence.Amazon joins Netflix and Costco, among others, that have made efforts in recent years to encourage people to sign up for their own subscriptions instead of sharing benefits. Amazon is joining the wave of companies pushing consumers to get their own subscriptions and not share benefits, as the online retail giant recently…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The median student loan borrower has cut $1,590 out of their typical yearly spending since student loan repayments resumed in 2023.The majority of borrowers have been able to manage the hit to their budget. But more borrowers are behind on their payments than usual. Student loan borrowers are cutting back spending in order to restart loan payments, according to new data. Most are successfully managing their loans, but more borrowers than usual are struggling. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education paused all student loan payments. When payments restarted in October 2023, according to research from the…

Zillow Group Inc ZG Z shares are moving higher on Wednesday following the release of a robust new residential sales report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Here’s what investors need to know.What To Know: The report revealed a surge in new single-family home sales in August, which rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 800,000. The data shows a substantial 20.5% increase from the previous month and a 15.4% jump from August 2024.The strong sales growth suggests a healthy and active housing market, a key driver for Zillow’s business. Higher transaction…

Good morning.1 I would like to thank the Kentucky Bankers Association for the opportunity to join you again for your annual convention, this time with an important difference. Earlier this year, the President nominated, and the Senate confirmed, me as the Fed’s Vice Chair for Supervision. It’s the first time someone with community banking experience has served in this role, and I am working to make sure that the Federal Reserve is addressing the issues I have discussed with you and other community bankers over the past nearly seven years that I’ve been a member of the Board of Governors.…

In-brief analysis September 24, 2025 Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), September 2025Note: Total distillate inventories include distillate fuel oil, renewable diesel, and biodiesel inventories. In our September Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast U.S. total distillate inventories to end 2025 and 2026 at lower levels than previous years because of significant inventory draws in 2025, strong export demand, and domestic production declines stemming from refinery closures. In the weeks since the publication of this forecast, U.S. distillate inventories have increased substantially, but they remain relatively low. Distillate fuel…