Author: Money Mechanics

gremlin/E+ via Getty ImagesZDNET’s key takeaways:AI tools are taking over some mundane, narrow tasks for workers.Most respondents said AI could also help their work-life balance.The tech is raising concerns about burnout and other issues.Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers.Artificial intelligence is accelerating a cultural slide away from in-office work, according to a new study conducted by IT software company GoTo and market research firm Workplace Intelligence.Also: Stop using AI for these 9 work tasks – here’s whyBased on a survey of 2,500 workers (representing even samples of in-office, hybrid, and…

Retirement can mean lazy mornings, taking an online class, drinking coffee on the porch, starting a new hobby — and perhaps even a nap or two. But for many retirees, it can also bring far too many quiet days and not enough chatter. That’s no small deal. Loneliness has become a real struggle for many retirees, weighing down their golden years and undermining the enjoyment they hoped retirement would bring.Today, 43% of adults over 65 feel lonely, which can lead to depression and health issues, per the National Academies of Sciences. The fix? A part-time job. And, it’s not just…

As Social Security celebrates its 90th birthday, it time to find a long-term financing solution so the program continues for the next 90 years.Getty Images/iStockphoto Happy birthday, Social Security! President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law on August 14, 1935, establishing a program that would grow over 90 years to become the foundation of retirement security in the United States. As we celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of Social Security during this anniversary month, it’s also important to keep an eye toward the future. Social Security currently faces a financing gap. As a result of factors that…

Apple (AAPL) is reportedly planning to make all four of the iPhone 17 models it will sell in the U.S. in India, the first time the company is making its latest lineup in the South Asian country. The iPhone 17 is due to debut next month. According to Bloomberg, citing people with knowledge of the matter, the tech giant is expanding its iPhone production in India at five factories, including two plants that were opened recently, and producing all four iPhone 17 models in the Asian nation. The India expansion is part of Apple’s efforts to reduce its dependence on…

Financial decisions are rarely made in an emotional vacuum, yet many advisers continue to approach client conversations as though they were.Simply telling anxious clients to “stick to the plan” during market turbulence often falls flat, even if it is the ideal approach for long-term results.Advisers who acknowledge and skillfully address the emotional ups and downs of investing can improve client retention by fostering relationships that withstand market cycles and generate meaningful referrals. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of…

Every good retirement plan accounts for market volatility, inflation and longevity. But the biggest threat to retirement success is one that is often overlooked: human behavior.Whether it’s fear during a market downturn or greed during a furious rally, investors routinely undermine their own long-term interests by reacting emotionally to short-term noise.Health shocks or unexpected medical expenses can trigger similar emotionally driven missteps, causing retirees to make reactive financial decisions at precisely the wrong time. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the…

Approximately 26 million people in the U.S. speak English less than “very well” and are considered to have limited English proficiency. To better understand how financial institutions are serving consumers in languages other than English, the CFPB recently engaged with industry associations, financial services providers, and other stakeholders. Through this engagement, we observed increasing recognition that consumers with limited English proficiency are an underserved market. Stakeholders described growing momentum for incorporating multilingual strategies in the financial services industry, largely driven by business considerations.Though the scale and scope of language services programs vary, the CFPB identified a diverse range of financial…

In January 2026, several changes to Social Security will take effect, impacting everything from credits and taxes to benefit checks and full retirement age (FRA) rules. Knowing about these updates ahead of time can help you be prepared for the year ahead and adjust your plans to make sure you collect the maximum benefit.These changes don’t only impact retirees — they impact current workers. Workers need to keep an eye on accumulating enough Social Security credits to get benefits, correct errors in their earnings record, and understand how much of their wages will be subject to the 6.2% Social Security…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. July 15, 2025 Minutes of the Board’s discount rate meetings on May 19, June 9, and June 18, 2025 For release at 5:15 p.m. EDT The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday released the minutes from its recent meetings to review and determine the discount rates provided to depository institutions through the discount window. Today’s minutes cover the Board meetings that occurred on May 19, June 9, and June 18, 2025. The Board’s process…

(Oil & Gas 360) – Don’t Miss The Energy Transition and Emerging Technology Session at EnerCom Denver – The Energy Investment Conference, celebrating its 30th anniversary this August! Registration is still available for EnerCom Denver – The Energy Investment Conference. The full schedule for the conference can be found at  www.enercomdenver.com. Login to join. In recent years, the Energy Transition and Emerging Technology session at EnerCom Denver has highlighted early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs working to reshape the global energy industry, tackling complex challenges, advancing technologies, and exploring new sources of energy.   EnerCom’s Energy Transition and Emerging Technology Session will…