Author: Money Mechanics

Investors have been enamored with the idea of top tech disruptors able to reshape the economy since the dot-com days. Meta Platforms (META) and Tesla (TSLA) didn’t exist 25 years ago, but now they’re among the biggest companies in the world because of game-changing innovations.Today, the most disruptive start-ups are owned by private equity. Typically, they’re small but high-potential firms operating deeply in the red as they chase new applications for big ideas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing or the blockchain.But a number of established, publicly traded stocks still qualify as top tech disruptors and offer the promise of significant…

Falling job growth may be bad news for the economy, but it could bring welcome news for mortgage borrowers. A weaker-than-expected jobs report has already pushed rates lower, easing some of the pressure on today’s housing market.For homebuyers, the shift offers a chance to secure a mortgage at a more affordable level than what we’ve seen in recent months. Lower borrowing costs can translate into smaller monthly payments and, in some cases, the ability to consider a wider range of homes.Homeowners who purchased when rates were higher may also see an opening to refinance. A lower rate can cut monthly…

Buying a second home can be an appealing way to lock in a vacation retreat or create an income-producing property. But the number of buyers taking out mortgages for second homes has fallen sharply — Redfin reports 86,604 mortgages in 2024, the lowest level since 2018 and far below the 258,289 peak in 2021.If you have enough savings, you don’t necessarily need a mortgage to make the purchase. All-cash offers are still common, and they can make transactions faster and more attractive to sellers. But draining your savings may leave you without a financial cushion.The real question is whether it…

Powell: Fed’s Split Risk Makes Policy Moving Forward Tricky 11 minutes ago One reason for the disparate predictions among Fed officials is the tension between a risk of higher unemployment and stubborn inflation. “So we have a situation where we have two-sided risk, and that means there’s no risk-free path,” Powell said at his press conference. “It’s not at all surprising to me that you have a range of views. It’s not so much about having different views for the path of the economy; it’s also partly about what’s the right thing to do in light of this tension between…

As one of our Adviser Intel contributors, Anthony Martin, says: “With savings, it’s not the amount that matters the most, but the consistency.” In his article on how to save for big goals, he goes on to explain that, “If you save $5 every month from the age of 10, you will have saved $1,200 by the time you’re 30.” Getting into the regular savings habit, even if it’s a small amount each month, can add up significantly over time.If you want to know how much you need to save each month to reach your financial goal, use our simple…

Key Takeaways StubHub shares started trading on the stock market today, opening above their IPO price. The company sold 34 million shares for $23.50 each, raising some $800 million for the online ticket reseller.StubHub’s deal was the latest to land in a busy IPO market, with recent listings including share sales by BNPL firm Klarna and Gemini, the crypto exchange owned by the Winklevoss twins. StubHub shares hit the stock market Wednesday afternoon, trading slightly above their IPO price. The online ticket seller’s shares began trading under the ticker symbol “STUB” at $25.35. That’s nearly $2 more than the $23.50…

The trend of working part-time in retirement keeps growing, partly because digital and remote work has made it easy for U.S. seniors to log in and make a buck. But it’s not only about technology and geography. More retirees than ever say they need the extra cash in their golden years.According to the Pew Research Center, 19% of Americans aged 65 and older held some kind of paying gig in retirement in 2023. That’s nearly double the amount in 1987, Pew reports. Their earning power has grown, too: Senior workers earned an average of $22 an hour in 2022, against…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2026-27 academic year will open on Oct. 1.Congressional changes to student loans will change the amount of loans and grants offered to some families.In particular, eligibility will be stricter for the largest federal grant program, the Pell Grant. Changes are coming to the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This FAFSA, which opens on Oct. 1, will determine the amount of federal grants and loans students will receive for the 2026-27 academic year. The Department of Education has updated the way some federal aid is calculated and has…

KEY TAKEAWAYS China has reportedly banned its largest tech firms from buying Nvidia AI chips, adding pressure on the U.S. chipmaker’s sales in the country.The country’s internet regulator told firms including TikTok owner ByteDance and e-commerce giant Alibaba this week to end their testing and orders of the RTX Pro 6000D, Nvidia’s latest tailor-made chip, according to the Financial Times. Speaking in London, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said he is “disappointed” about the reported ban. China has reportedly banned its largest tech firms from buying Nvidia (NVDA) AI chips, adding pressure on the U.S. chipmaker’s sales in the country. Shares of Nvidia,…

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and other democrats have reportedly issued a stern warning to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against any potential policy change that could limit shareholders’ ability to sue companies.Lawmakers Warn SEC Over Its Secretive Arbitration PlanThe SEC is set to discuss on Wednesday the possibility of allowing listed companies to enforce arbitration of shareholder claims, thereby moving disputes out of the public eye. However, this move has sparked concerns among prominent Democrats, including Warren, the ranking member of the Senate banking committee, and Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), as reported by the Financial Times.In a letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins, Warren and…