Author: Money Mechanics

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has officially headed off on maternity leave ahead of the arrival of her second child with husband Nicholas Riccio—and she’s wasted no time in settling into life at home with her family as she prepares to expand her brood.Leavitt, 28, who tied the knot with Riccio, 61, in January 2025, days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, took to Instagram to share several professional photos her family, while opening up about her excitement at welcoming a second child.”There is no greater blessing than motherhood. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” she wrote alongside two photos…

(World Oil) – OPEC+ is likely to agree another symbolic production increase for June, in the group’s first move since the surprise departure of the United Arab Emirates, three delegates said. Seven major nations led by Saudi Arabia and Russia will probably add 188,000 bpd to their output target during a video conference on Sunday, two of the delegates said, even though they’d be unable to implement it with the Strait of Hormuz blocked. The OPEC+ delegates asked not to be identified as any deliberations are private. The group is continuing the process—at least on paper—of restoring output halted several…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Investors don’t hire financial advisors because they want to — they do it because they believe they need help making important financial decisions.But too often, that relationship leads to frustration, confusion and a lingering question: “Am I actually getting good advice?”As I’ve been interviewing individual investors for my newest book — and listening carefully to their real-world experiences — clear patterns have emerged. The frustrations aren’t random. They’re systemic. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues CLICK FOR…

(Image credit: NurPhoto / Getty Images)If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “What time is the race?” at 6 a.m. with coffee in hand, welcome back. It is Formula 1 season.Racing season is a chance to follow some of the fastest drivers in the world as they compete across a global stage. The 2026 calendar is packed with high-speed weekends and is shaping up to be one of the longest seasons yet, with stops from Miami to Monaco to Las Vegas.But this year, there is a major shift off the track: how you watch. Gone are the days of flipping between…

(Image credit: Getty Images with Gemini edit)Question: We’re New Yorkers retiring with $3.8 million and considering a move to South Carolina for better weather and lower taxes. We can sell our $1.3 million home and buy a similar one for $600K. My wife worries about rebuilding a social life and making friends. I think we will be fine. Am I being unrealistic?Answer: New York can be a great place to raise a family and launch a successful career. But it can also be an expensive place for retirees.With a top tax rate of 10.9% and just a small pension exclusion,…

To help you understand what’s going on in business and technology and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You’ll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest… (Image credit: Getty Images)The Iran war has reinforced a new fact of life: The importance of drones in modern warfare. They’ve helped Tehran hold out against…

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 five questions on inherited IRAs and the 10-year cleanout rule for non-spousal inherited IRAs. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. 10-year cleanout rule for inherited IRAsQuestion: Last year, I inherited a traditional IRA from my 89-year-old father. Do I have to withdraw all the money within 10 years or can I take distributions over my lifetime?Joy Taylor: Before 2020, deceased owners of IRAs could leave their accounts to…

(Image credit: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)The Federal Reserve kept the federal funds rate unchanged after this week’s meeting, a pause driven in part by worries that rising oil prices will fuel higher inflation.The concern over elevated inflation risks, stemming from higher oil costs, suggests that long-term interest rates will likely remain high, as noted by David Payne of the Kiplinger Letter. The war in Iran created a 20% spike in fuel prices in March. This increase will raise the cost of everyday goods.For consumers, the Fed’s decision has mixed impacts. While it helps savers by keeping annual percentage yields…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.This article is an on-site version of our Unhedged newsletter. Premium subscribers can sign up here to get the newsletter delivered every weekday. Standard subscribers can upgrade to Premium here, or explore all FT newslettersGood morning. The S&P 500 hit another record yesterday and is now 14 per cent off the low of late March. Strong earnings reports from companies ranging from Google to Caterpillar to Eli Lilly helped, as did a lower oil price. But this feels, suddenly, like a market…

Is your income safe from taxation this year? As we approach the midway point of 2026, you might be thinking about next year’s income tax bill already.The 2025 Trump tax bill has made headlines by making certain tip income and overtime pay “tax-free” via new deductions.At the same time, other income — like credit card referral bonuses, small gambling winnings, or even certain life insurance payouts — could still trigger a bill. Even a simple gift might have hidden strings attached. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99,…