Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Spring often feels like a fresh start — spring cleaning, a wardrobe refresh, more time outside, and an “out with the old” mindset as we come out of hibernation. While it’s also a great time to review your financial plan, bear in mind that not every check-in requires a change.When facing heightened volatility or high sentiment, investors can become more willing to project recent performance, take on risks they wouldn’t normally take or “refresh” portfolios in ways that are more reactive than strategic.However, investing should be grounded in a long-term financial plan, considering appropriate diversification, thoughtful risk…

(Image credit: Getty Images)A mega backdoor Roth IRA is one of the most powerful strategies available to high-income earners who want to maximize tax-advantaged retirement savings.The name “mega backdoor Roth” sounds big and exciting, and it is. It is a way to get money into a Roth account, where it can grow tax-free and be withdrawn tax-free in retirement, once certain conditions are met.To fully understand how a mega backdoor Roth IRA works, it helps to first look at its predecessor — the standard backdoor Roth IRA — and then explore how this enhanced version expands your retirement investment options.…

(Image credit: Getty Images)It’s always fascinating to me that, every January, big banks and brokerage firms give their stock market predictions for the year. Most of the time, the results are not in line with their predictions by the end of the year.Predicting the market is a futile activity, and when it comes to making investment decisions, predicting is something most retirees and those nearing retirement should avoid, as success comes down to whether you were right or not.Some look to the past to help navigate the future. While the past is observable and instructive, you don’t invest today with…

As we move deeper into the spring homebuying season, the U.S. housing market finds itself at a critical crossroads.While the broader economy remains resilient, geopolitical volatility and stubborn inventory trends are creating a challenging environment for buyers and sellers alike. This week, as mortgage rates continue to be battered by shifting waves of geopolitical tension, one trend stands out as the ultimate “make-or-break” indicator for the 2026 market: the slowing pace of new listings.A ‘steadying’ jobs reportTurning first to the labor market, the April jobs report released on Friday presents a picture of steady, if unexciting, growth. Companies continue to…

Most people think of a mortgage as a burden. A monthly obligation. A debt to be paid off as quickly as possible. Warren Buffett sees it differently. And his reasoning is worth understanding in any rate environment. The Berkshire Hathaway chairman has been making the same argument for decades. He believes the 30-year fixed mortgage is one of the most advantageous financial instruments available to ordinary homebuyers. Not despite the debt, but because of it. Buffett’s exact words on the 30-year mortgage “One of the reasons a home is a terrific buy is because of the 30-year mortgage,” Buffett said,…

Amid renewed market turbulence, investors are turning to time-tested defensive names. These three stocks offer resilient dividends and essential products. They provide stability and income when uncertainty looms. When markets turn choppy and headlines swing between geopolitical risk, inflation scares and shifting rate expectations, dividend-paying defensives often reclaim center stage as investors seek shelter in companies with resilient business models, stable cash flows, and a commitment to returning capital to shareholders. General Mills (NYSE:), Clorox (NYSE:), and Old Republic International (NYSE:) all fit that bill. Each offers an attractive dividend yield and consistent annual payout, plus business models designed to…

Global reinsurer Swiss Re has now secured $250 million of US named storm per-occurrence based retrocessional protection through its Matterhorn Re Ltd. (Series 2026-2) catastrophe bond transaction, while the spreads settled at the low-end of reduced guidance, Artemis has learned.Swiss Re ventured back to the cat bond market in April, to sponsor what will now become the sixteenth takedown under its Bermuda-based Matterhorn Re catastrophe bond program. This marks the reinsurer’s second catastrophe bond sponsorship under Matterhorn Re of 2026 so far, having secured $150 million of annual aggregate retro reinsurance from a Matterhorn Re 2026-1 cat bond in February. You can view details…

A Georgia grandma was left speechless after being named as the winner of HGTV’s 2026 dream home, procuring both an “ultimate lakeside retreat” in North Carolina and a check for $100,000 that she can use to finance her move to her palatial new abode. Retired accountant Eileen Reimer was revealed as the winner of the sprawling $2.3 million property this week, having spent years entering the network’s famed sweepstakes. As first reported by People magazine, Reimer was both bewildered and thrilled when she was given the keys to the home, which is a newly-built dwelling is situated on Lake Wylie and comes complete…

(By Oil & Gas 360) Part II – As U.S. power markets move to reprice reliability, another shift is taking place: the role of oil and gas operators is being reconsidered in the context of grid stability. For much of the past decade, oil and gas have been viewed primarily through the lens of emissions and transition. That framing is now being supplemented by a more immediate concern, the need for dependable, dispatchable energy in a system that is becoming less predictable. Natural gas remains the most flexible large-scale generation resource available. Gas-fired plants can ramp quickly, respond to demand…

Dania Novack lived for nearly four decades in pricey Hawaii, publishing a local food magazine and raising two now-adult children. But after the 2023 Maui wildfires and a drawn-out, contentious and expensive divorce, she decided to return to the mainland for a more affordable retirement. With friends and family still in the Aloha State, she knew she’d visit often. So Novack started looking for a place with reasonable flight connections, a certain cultural vibe and a lower cost of living than, say, Southern California, where she grew up. Novack, now 65, took a road trip through Colorado, Oregon and Washington…