Author: Money Mechanics

In an era defined by deep political polarization, a major housing package cleared the House of Representatives with an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 396 votes. Yet despite its popularity, it remains stalled in Congress.The 21st Century Road to Housing Act is the biggest housing bill package in decades. The legislation aims to address the housing crisis by cutting regulatory red tape and expanding the use of less-expensive housing options, such as modular and manufactured housing.Yet the bill remains gridlocked over minor differences in the House and Senate versions, including technical provisions related to banking and large institutional homebuyers.The slow process…

After lawmakers approved HJR 1-F during a special session on June 2, a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at expanding property tax relief for homeowners is headed to the November ballot, setting up one of the most closely watched tax debates in recent Florida history.For homeowners, the proposal could mean significant savings. Under the measure, Florida’s existing $50,000 homestead exemption would increase to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, reducing the portion of a home’s value subject to tax.A homeowner with a $400,000 primary residence could save thousands of dollars annually, depending on local tax rates. And for supporters, that…

The financial professionals who contribute to Kiplinger’s Adviser Intel are always here to make sure you have the information you need to make critical decisions about your retirement planning, estate planning and tax planning.They’ve recently written about the growing number of Americans working past retirement age — and why the consequences can be more complicated than you might think in terms of Social Security, healthcare and tax.This quiz is designed to test what you’ve learned. Let’s see what you know! (And don’t worry if you miss an answer: You can follow the links below the quiz to brush up on…

In-brief analysis June 16, 2026 In the first five months of 2026, utility-scale solar generation surpassed natural gas generation in CAISO. Solar electricity generation in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) over the first five months of 2026 increased 21% compared with the same period in 2024, and natural gas generation decreased by 60%, data from our Hourly Electric Grid Monitor shows. In CAISO, utility-scale solar generated more electricity than natural gas on a daily basis on 82% of days in the first five months of 2026, up from 21% in 2024 and 2025.…

It’s time to play the 70’s Trump Victory March YMCA as the Strait of Hormuz is set to open. Pull out the wide ties and disco music as is trading back to the nostalgic seventies as in 70 dollars a barrel as the deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is on track and already, we are getting reports on how quickly some hope to get things back to a state of almost normal. In fact, Qatar whose natural gas production was one of the first energy casualties of the war announced today that they expect to restore half of…

Renting remains more economical than buying a home, as a surge in new supply continues to drive prices down across the country.“Rent continues to fall in many of the major metros across the United States for a variety of reasons,” explains Joel Berner, a senior economist at Realtor.com®. “The biggest one is that rent is still correcting itself from the dramatic run-up of 2021 and 2022, when several years’ worth of rent gains were seen over the span of a few months.””As we approach summer, we expect the median asking rent to tick up monthly—a typical seasonal pattern,” adds Realtor.com…

When SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) closed its first day of public trading with a valuation of over a $2 trillion, the market structure shifted entirely. The company shattered global capital-raising records at its IPO on Friday, June 12, raising $75 billion through 555.5 million shares priced at $135 each. By the closing bell, SpaceX surged 19% to settle at $160.95. Monday premarket action shows relentless institutional accumulation, pushing SpaceX up another 6% toward the $170 mark. Zero Gravity: A Highly Engineered Float Beneath the headline numbers, an acute supply-and-demand imbalance is dictating immediate price action. Participating brokerages also made retail allocations…

Every May, Small Business Month shines a spotlight on entrepreneurship. Just as the coverage slows down in June, so does visibility of small business ownership after launch.The leap of faith, the ribbon cutting, the early momentum — these are all important moments. But they are only the beginning.If a business’ launch is the pilot, the real test is whether the business gets picked up for a second season. For most entrepreneurs, the real story is a tale of stabilization in the face of pressure — when and how they grow — and, ultimately, preparation for transition. From just $107.88 $24.99…

On a recent episode of his HBO Max show, Last Week Tonight, John Oliver leveled a brutal attack on JG Wentworth and other financial companies that promise “fast cash” for structured settlement injury victims.His commentary has racked up 1.8 million YouTube views, so it clearly struck a nerve. Watch for yourself (Caution: Strong, but, in my opinion, appropriate language): Structured Settlements & Factoring Companies: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) – YouTube Watch On A fellow attorney and friend who’s spent her career representing accident victims called me this week and asked if I’d seen Oliver’s comments and wanted…

For most of my life, I’ve worked as an innovator in the financial services space, with a particular focus on life insurance and annuity products.For 40 years, that was my job and specialty. One of my “first of a kind” product inventions — the Accumulator — offered downside protection on the income that a variable annuity could provide and eventually created a $1 trillion industry.In my current role as an investment adviser focused on retirement planning, my innovations address the current needs of retirees regarding greater longevity, concern about Social Security, high inflation, taxes and increasing medical and long-term care…