Author: Money Mechanics

Mandy Xu ▬ September 2, 2025 Link to Report: Macro Volatility DigestWHAT STANDS OUT:Implied volatilities gained modestly across asset classes last week – albeit from low levels. Gold was the biggest mover, with GLD 1M implied vol gaining over 2.2 pts wk/wk to 16.2% – the only asset class where volatility is trading above its long-term average currently. The jump in GLD implied volatility is especially notable as realized volatility has collapsed to near a 1-year low of 10.4%. Much of the demand for GLD optionality has come from the call side, driving a further inversion in the skew.NVDA’s tepid…

Key Takeaways Traditional retirement planning focuses solely on the goal of retirement, while “die with zero” planning focuses on achieving many goals throughout your life. “Die with zero” encourages spending on memorable experiences and generous giving during your lifetime, but it doesn’t allow you to leave an inheritance to your loved ones and comes with the risk of running out of money in retirement. It’s possible to balance traditional retirement planning with a “die with zero” mindset to maximize enjoyment throughout your life while minimizing financial risk in retirement. Traditional retirement planning encourages saving throughout your working years, often by…

KEY TAKEAWAYS OpenAI is taking on LinkedIn with a plan to develop an AI-powered hiring platform aimed to connect businesses and employees.OpenAI CEO of Applications Fidji Simo wrote in a blog post Thursday that OpenAI Jobs Platform will allow people to “use AI to help find the perfect matches between what companies need and what workers can offer.”LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft—itself a backer of OpenAI. OpenAI is taking on LinkedIn with a plan to develop an AI-powered hiring platform aimed to connect businesses and employees. OpenAI CEO of Applications Fidji Simo wrote in a blog post Thursday that the site,…

When it comes to financial planning, many families want more than just financial advice; they want wise guidance that aligns with their values. That’s where the Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®) designation comes in.This credential is more than a title — it’s a calling.The CKA, offered by Kingdom Advisors, is a nationally recognized certification for financial professionals committed to integrating biblical principles with sound financial advice. 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 on investing,…

Watching news reports about tariffs this year may have led to a rise in the number of cases of whiplash.One day, tariffs were happening. The next day, they weren’t. They were going to be raised to astronomical levels — or maybe not.Markets struggled to keep up with the ever-changing tariffs news cycle. And investors, perhaps especially retirees, didn’t know what to make of it and were probably unsure what to do. 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…

The August jobs report came in weaker than expected, signaling a massive slowdown in the labor market. This is good news for those who want the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, with a September rate cut all but guaranteed at this point and two more expected by year’s end.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, missing economists’ estimate for 75,000 new jobs. Figures for June were revised down by 27,000, from +14,000 to -13,000, while July job growth was upwardly revised by 6,000 (from 73,000 to 79,000 additions).With these revisions, the U.S.…

When I was in college, Dave Ramsey’s voice echoed in my head every time I stood at the checkout line. His words, “You must gain control over your money, or the lack of it will forever control you” were often enough to stop me from buying things I didn’t need, like another pair of shoes.Instead, I ate rice and beans, lived frugally and focused on one goal: Becoming debt-free. For someone just starting, his strict plan gave me the structure I needed at the time.More recently, I discovered Caleb Hammer on YouTube. His “Financial Audit” show hooked me with its…

Key Takeaways If you want to invest like Warren Buffett, the first thing to focus on is strong businesses at fair prices. Hold core stocks for years and let compounding work, while ignoring short-term ups and downs in the market. Focus on companies with durable “moats”—advantages like strong brands, loyal customers, or unique technology. Warren Buffett’s approach to investing sounds deceptively simple: buy great businesses, pay a fair price, then hold them for a long time while compounding does the work. Even though he’s been running the same playbook for decades, his principles still apply today. The hard part is…

Each week, in our Ask the Editor series, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter Editor, answers questions on topics submitted by readers. This week, she’s looking at questions on the state and local tax deduction. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. How did the OBBB affect the SALT deduction?Question: What changes did the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) make to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction? Joy Taylor: The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) imposed a $10,000 federal cap on the deduction for state and local taxes claimed by itemizers on Schedule…

Stock futures moved higher Friday morning as investors prepared for the release of labor market data that will factor into the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision on interest rates.  Futures tied to the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq were recently up 0.2% and 0.5%, respectively, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell less than 0.1%. Stocks are coming off a winning session on Thursday, when the benchmark S&P 500 closed at a record high and the other two major indexes finished the day fractionally below new highs of their own. Market participants are bracing for the release of the August…