Author: Money Mechanics

“Saturday Night Live” alum Rachel Dratch has prepared her New York City apartment for a new stage in life now that her son has moved into his teenage years—and a more grown-up room.Dratch, 60, first settled into a “white brick” apartment building 23 years ago while starring on the legendary sketch comedy show, where she created her iconic “Debbie Downer” character.The Emmy-nominated comedian and mother to Eli Benjamin, 15, upgraded to a two-bedroom unit within the same building about eight years ago. She tells Realtor.com® the space has served as the family’s joyful sanctuary away from the stresses of city…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most people assume retirement planning is primarily a math problem. Save enough, invest wisely, hit your number — and you’re done. If only it were that easy.After working with hundreds of families through the years, we’ve found that the math is rarely what gets in the way. What does is something a little sneakier: The beliefs about money that people carry into every financial decision they make, often without realizing it.These beliefs are called “money scripts,” a term coined by psychologist and financial planner Brad Klontz. They’re the unconscious assumptions about money we develop early in life,…

(Image credit: Getty Images)On the list of things I hope to someday own, a rental property may just be last.My parents owned rental properties near a college campus in the early 2000s and through the Global Financial Crisis. I still have nightmares from the maintenance calls that the world’s least-handy son was tasked with handling. I’m sure my nightmares pale in comparison to my parents’. Okay, there, my biases have been stated.This is the question I get all the time: “Should I sell my rental property?” More specifically, “I’m retired or retiring. I don’t want to be a landlord. What…

(Image credit: Getty Images)In 2023, the U.S. surgeon general released an advisory on a public health issue unrelated to diet, obesity or chronic illness. It also had no connection to opioids, cancer or cardiovascular problems.The subject was loneliness.Vivek Murthy, the nation’s leading health official, declared social isolation and loneliness a public health crisis, affecting about half of American adults and having health effects similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 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 FREE ISSUE…

The so-called “Great Rotation” out of tech and artificial intelligence (AI) stocks appears to have been short-lived. Given that tech and growth stocks have helped power the market higher for much of the past two decades, this probably shouldn’t be surprising. While I wouldn’t completely write off value stocks, growth is still the place to be, and right now, the biggest growth is coming from AI. Let’s look at three AI stocks to buy right now. Will AI create the world’s first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on a little-known company, called an “Indispensable Monopoly,” providing the critical…

A custom-built dome home with two guest cottages surrounded by 28.2 acres of wooded privacy has just hit the market in Weaverville, NC, for $3,495,000.Known as Azura Gardens, the stucco structure was “designed with energy efficiency and artistry in mind.””The sellers describe themselves as artists, and the home is their version of a painter’s painting,” says listing agent Dylan Glasgow of Looking Glass Realty LLC. “When they bought the property, they were looking for something super unique to use as their primary residence.”The extraordinary mountain estate offers a rare blend of panoramic views and privacy, despite being only 17 minutes from…

Welcome to Kiplinger’s My First $1 Million series, in which we hear from people who have made $1 million. They’re sharing how they did it and what they’re doing with it. This time, we hear from a 62-year-old married and retired man in West Lakeland, Minnesota. As a regional business manager in the medical field, he earned a salary of $180,000 to $300,000 and retired at age 51. 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 FREE ISSUE Sign up…

(Image credit: Getty Images)You’re checking out online and see the message: “Add $10 more to get free shipping.” Or you’re in the grocery aisle debating a buy-two-get-one-free cereal deal. In both cases, the offer nudges you to spend more than you planned.That behavior has a name: “spaving”, or spending more money now to save money later. While it can feel like you’re getting a deal, those extra purchases often add up quickly.What seems like a smart move in the moment can quietly drain your budget over time. Understanding how spaving works is the first step to spotting it and avoiding…

Medicare Part B premiums could rise to about $5,000 annually per beneficiary in 2035, according to a recent report from the Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress.The base annual Part B premium is $2,434 in 2026 ($202.90 per month). Some beneficiaries pay higher premiums because they have higher incomes, making them subject to the Medicare premium surtax also known as IRMAA or the income-related monthly adjustment amount. Medicare premiums increase with estimates of the cost of the Medicare Part B program. Premiums are designed to pay 25% of the costs. Each year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid…

Retiring in your early to mid-60s is the sweet spot for countless Americans. After all, at 62, you can begin collecting Social Security benefits, albeit at a lower amount than if you wait until your full retirement age (FRA). By age 65, Medicare kicks in, which covers about 80% of your health care expenses.As it stands, the average age of retirement in America hovers around 62, according to MassMutual. For many people, retiring early is not so much a choice as a necessity due to a job loss, illness, or the need to care for a loved one. Moreover, they…