Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)At one point in my life, I thought I had it all.I had the title, the responsibility, the power, the big salary, the upward trajectory, the perfect house, a cute family — a life that looked perfect.In reality, I missed dinners with my family, was always preoccupied with work, thought our house wasn’t big enough compared with others, and still worried about finances. And … I was dying on the inside. 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…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Money-market funds and savings accounts are liquid and stable, and can offer competitive rates. What’s not to love? Well, you could be earning more on your money elsewhere, especially now that money-fund rates have declined and may be heading lower.While you need full access to some of your money to pay the usual bills and as a safety valve for surprises, such as an expensive auto repair or a medical bill, overinvesting in cash-equivalent funds has an opportunity cost. The key is to strike the right balance.Most fixed-rate annuities and bank certificates of deposit (CDs) yield more…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The writer is chief executive of corporate and institutional banking at HSBCTokens have so much power to reshape the financial ecosystem over the next decade. Some sceptics might ask what the point is of using these digital representations of assets or money. After all, there are systems in places such as the UK, EU and India that allow for near real-time electronic payments. But it’s a bit like asking the question: what’s the point of 5G telecoms services when you have 4G?Look…

If you’re thinking about selling your home in Seattle, a behind-the-scenes industry debate could shape how your home comes to market.  Redfin supports a seller’s choice in how their property is marketed, including premarketing to test pricing and demand. But home sellers in Seattle don’t have this choice because Northwest MLS (NWMLS), the region’s multiple listing service, currently prohibits all premarketing.  We’ve asked NWMLS to update its rules to better align with what our customers want. And this comes at an apt moment. A new Washington State law addressing private listing networks will take effect in June. It requires agents…

(BOE Report) – The heads of the U.S. Interior and Energy Departments will hold a call on Thursday with CEOs from energy companies including Exxon and Chevron on their potential to boost oil and gas output, an administration official said, as the Iran war hikes global energy prices. The prices, which are returning to levels seen during the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, are a risk to President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans in the November midterm elections. Global oil prices spiked about 4.6% on Thursday to above $99 a barrel as traders questioned whether peace talks between the…

Home Depot is the biggest retailer by market capitalization, and its share price reflects the rise in earnings over the years. While the company rewards its C-suite executives handsomely for meeting internal targets, it also pays attention to its frontline workers in its retail stores. Here’s who gets paid the most at Home Depot and what the median compensation among employees is. Home Depot’s top executives were among the highest-paid employees in fiscal 2025 as the retailer continued to post strong earnings and meet company targets. CEO Ted Decker had a base salary of $1.4 billion, but stock options and…

Broking giant Aon has estimated that global insured catastrophe losses amounted to at least $20 billion in the first quarter of 2026, 6% above the 21st-century average, which came off the back of an economic toll of $37 billion, down sharply from $113 billion in the same period of 2025.As per Aon, economic losses of $37 billion marked the lowest first-quarter total since 2015 and was 43% below the 21st-century Q1 average. According to the broker’s latest Global Catastrophe Recap, the largest contributors to the overall insurance toll were winter storms and severe convective storm (SCS) outbreaks across the United…

These tags all survived a couple of days of heavy rain. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysApple AirTags remain the most reliable and precise tracking option.Third-party tags work well for both iOS and Android.Any tracking tag dramatically increases the chances of recovering lost items.Out of all the gear I’ve tested over the past few years, none has changed my life for the better like Apple AirTags. My grandpa had a saying — “a place for everything, and everything in its place” — but try as I might to be a tidy person like he…

Key Takeaways Conveyance involves the legal transfer of property ownership from one party to another.It often uses legal documents like deeds, titles, or leases.Real estate transactions may incur a conveyance tax.Fraudulent conveyance aims to avoid taxes or creditors and is illegal.Conveyance is also applicable in industries like oil and gas for rights transfer. Conveyance is the legal transfer of property ownership from one individual or entity to another. This is done using an instrument of conveyance—a legal document such as a contract, deed, title, or lease. Such transfers may be subject to a conveyance tax. What Is a Conveyance? The…

Key Takeaways Fed data shows that retirees have an average net worth of almost $288,000, boosted in recent years by significant gains in home values and investments.Retirees’ finances vary widely, with mortgage, auto loan, and credit card balances influencing outcomes as much as assets do.Protecting wealth in retirement often means earning strong yields, managing spending and debts, and perhaps earning a modest income to make your savings last longer. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. The Average Net Worth for Retirees The most recent data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances shows that…