Author: Money Mechanics

Senior couple embracing in front of residential homegettyAsk nearly any financial economist and they’ll tell you retirees ought to have at least some of their savings in a life annuity—a financial product that provides a steady source of guaranteed income over the buyer’s lifetime. Consumers also say they like the idea. But here’s the weird thing: Almost nobody buys life annuities. Even people who do purchase annuities don’t buy this kind.In a new paper for the National Bureau of Economic Research, an all-star team of financial and retirement experts explains why these products are so valuable for older adults, yet…

A Kentucky couple, Lester and Helena Peters Hurst, recently returned from a work trip to find their custom-built 26-foot tiny home stolen from their 10-acre property in Burning Springs. Thieves meticulously cut hitch locks, moved the home off its blocks, and towed it away in the night, leaving behind muddy tracks and a demolished deck. The couple is now grappling with the total loss of their uninsured home and all their personal and irreplaceable sentimental belongings, likening the devastating experience to a house fire.FULL STORY: Thieves Steal Tiny Home, Leaving Kentucky Couple HomelessKey TakeawaysThe Hursts’ distinctive 26-foot tiny home, which…

The term “ticker-tape parade” originated from stock trading. In New York City, parades would be held to celebrate something, and people would throw the closest thing they had to confetti: the tape used to communicate stock prices.On Tuesday, the city of New York will once again celebrate with a ticker-tape parade through the Financial District, this time in honor of the Knicks winning the NBA title for the first time in 53 years. The Knicks brought the city alive over the last two months as they worked their way through the playoffs with the steady determination of Jalen Brunson and…

Stocks jumped out of the gate and stayed higher through the close as market participants cheered news of potential peace in the Middle East. Oil prices, meanwhile, cratered as reports of a deal to end the months-long war circulated, though the Federal Reserve is still likely to stay on hold at this week’s meeting.Over the weekend, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on X “that the Peace Deal between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran has been REACHED.” President Donald Trump later confirmed the news.”The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” Trump…

When it comes to earning more on your savings, money market funds (MMFs) and certificates of deposit (CDs) are often two of the first options savers consider. Both can offer higher returns than a traditional savings account, and both are generally considered lower-risk places to keep your cash. But despite their similarities, these accounts work differently. If you’re looking for the best place to keep your cash, here’s what you need to know about money market funds versus CDs — and how to decide which option is right for you. What is a money market fund? A money market fund…

has always had a way of testing investors’ expectations. Just when the headlines appear most supportive—inflation is rising, geopolitical risk is escalating and confidence in fiat currency is being questioned—gold can suddenly move in the opposite direction. I get it. To many investors, this behavior can feel frustrating. But for contrarian investors like you and me, these moments can also create opportunity. Take a look at the chart below. Our 60-day percentage change oscillator for gold, measured daily over the past five years, shows the metal has moved deep into oversold territory. Historically, readings near these lower bands have represented…

I have been writing about consumer finance for more than twenty years, and if there is one question that lands in my inbox more than any other, it is some version of this: “Should I just file bankruptcy, or is there a way out that doesn’t blow up my whole life?” The fear in those messages is almost always the same. People treat bankruptcy like a financial death sentence and debt relief like a magic eraser. Neither picture is accurate, and the gap between the two is where most folks make expensive mistakes. So let me do what I wish…

(Oil & Gas 360) By Greg Barnett, MBA, Part 1 of 3- The United States possesses one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world, supported by an extensive pipeline network, mature production capabilities, and decades of operational expertise. Yet despite this structural advantage, natural gas has never been fully deployed as a transportation fuel at national scale. This is not the result of technical infeasibility, nor a lack of economic merit. Rather, it reflects a persistent gap between resource capability and coordinated policy execution. The most practical and immediate application for natural gas in transportation lies not in…

Is that Medicare card legitimate?gettyYou’ve heard the saying about something in the water. It seems to happen often where Medicare is involved. Last week, I heard from clients who had just received a letter from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It seems that Medicare found an issue with their Medicare numbers and sent them new cards. They wanted to know whether these cards were legitimate and what they should do.Data incidents affecting Medicare accounts often lead to fraudulent activity. For example, in April 2026, one incident received national attention. CMS reissued new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBI or the…

A $1 million retirement nest egg used to sound like a golden ticket—and for many Americans, it still represents a major financial milestone.But retirement has gotten more expensive. Americans now estimate they need $1.46 million to retire comfortably, according to Northwestern Mutual’s 2026 Planning & Progress Study. At the same time, nearly half (48%) of the study’s respondents worry they’ll outlive their savings.Whether $1 million can last 30 years often has less to do with someone’s investment portfolio and more to do with their expenses.And when homeownership can easily be one of your biggest expenses, it can quickly affect how…