Author: Money Mechanics

They say you are what you eat – but you may also be what you invest in.That’s because your investment choices reveal more than just your portfolio’s strategy. They can reflect your personality, your fears and hopes, and most importantly, your relationship with risk.But while 80% of consumers understand the concept of investment risk, according to a FINRA survey, only 55% can identify ways to manage it. 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 best of expert advice…

Key Takeaways 25,000 attendees gathered at the fifth annual Invest Fest, the biggest wealth festival on earth. Held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, the event included headline speakers like Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Issa Rae, and Jack Dorsey. Attendees learned about innovations in ETF investing from Invesco QQQ and other financial service firms. Caleb Silver, Editor in Chief of Investopedia, led conversations on the history and future of Invesco QQQ, and investing and innovation in sports.  Something very special happens when 25,000 people gather under one roof for a weekend with the common goals of financial education and…

Key Takeaways Lake Havasu City offers a lower cost of living than many parts of Arizona and the U.S., allowing retirees to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle on a fixed income.The city’s lakefront location and desert landscape provide endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, making it ideal for active retirees.With historic landmarks, a thriving art scene, and cultural activities, retirees will find plenty to explore.Lake Havasu’s strong sense of community and frequent social events ensure retirees remain connected.With accessible healthcare, convenient public transportation, and a major airport nearby, the city is a practical retirement option. Dreaming of a retirement filled with sunny…

Whether to take the standard deduction or itemize deductions is an important decision you’ll make when preparing your federal income tax return each year.Most taxpayers claim the standard deduction, but do you know exactly how it works in 2025? Take this quick quiz to test your knowledge — you might be surprised by what you find out.If you miss a question or two, there are links to Kiplinger tax team articles at the end of the quiz to refresh your memory before tax season arrives. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK…

Key Takeaways Forecasters expect Thursday’s inflation report to show consumer prices rose 2.9% over 12 months, the highest annual inflation since January.Officials at the Federal Reserve are widely expected to cut the central bank’s key interest rate, making loans cheaper to boost the hiring market, despite inflation still well over the Fed’s 2% target.Economists say tariffs are pushing up prices as merchants pass the cost of Trump’s sweeping import taxes on to consumers. Tariffs continued to push up prices and squeeze household budgets in August, if forecasters are right about this week’s highly anticipated inflation report.A report from the Bureau…

The post-Labor Day initial public offering (IPO) market is heating up, with Renaissance Capital citing “clarity on trade policy, a summer rally in growth stocks, and the prospect of rate cuts” as the catalysts behind the much-anticipated rebound.”Heading into the fall season, we expect the fastest pace of deal activity since 2021, as more companies accelerate listing plans amid the current momentum,” the IPO experts say in their fall 2025 U.S. IPO preview (PDF).This week alone, there are six large deals expected, most notably a more than $1 billion offering from buy now, pay later firm Klarna (KLAR). And Renaissance…

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a high dividend payout.Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting Analyst Stock Ratings page. Traders can sort through Benzinga’s extensive database of analyst ratings, including by analyst accuracy.Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the real estate sector.Easterly Government Properties, Inc. DEA Dividend Yield: 7.89% RBC Capital analyst Michael Carroll maintained an Underperform rating and cut the…

price climbed in early trading on Wednesday following the news of an Israeli attack against Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, along with reports that President Donald Trump had asked the European Union to slap a 100% tariff on China and India to make them stop buying Russian crude. At the time of writing, was trading at $67.09 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $63.32 per barrel, both up from Tuesday’s close but modestly, by less than 1%. Earlier this week, the Financial Times reported that EU officials were discussing further sanction pressure on Russia, after 18 packages of sanctions…

An aerial view of homes in a neighborhood on Aug.27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesA sharp drop in mortgage interest rates finally got some homebuyers off the fence. It also helped more current homeowners save on their monthly paymentsTotal mortgage application volume jumped 9.2% last week compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. The week’s results include an adjustment for the Labor Day holiday.The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $806,500 or less, decreased to 6.49% from 6.64%, with points decreasing to…

Key Takeaways Nebius shares jumped to a record high Tuesday morning after the Amsterdam-based AI infrastructure provider said it has inked an agreement with Microsoft worth up to $19.4 billion over five years.The price broke out from a pennant, a chart pattern that signals a continuation of the stock’s uptrend.The measured move technique forecasts a bullish price target of $176.40. Investors should watch major support levels on the Nebius chart around $87, $76 and $54. Nebius Group shares jumped Tuesday after the Amsterdam-based AI infrastructure provider said it has inked an agreement with Microsoft worth up to $19.4 billion over…