Author: Money Mechanics

The IRS may revise its CP53E notices after months of taxpayer backlash and practitioner complaints.During a recent meeting with tax practitioners, the IRS Chief of Taxpayer Services said the agency may consider changes to the notices in light of widespread confusion, according to nonprofit publication Tax Notes (paywall).As Kiplinger has reported, hundreds of thousands of CP53E notices tied to direct deposit verification have reportedly been sent, and by some estimates, several million. In either case, those numbers represent a significant share of taxpayers hearing from the IRS during filing season. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a…

Most 401(k) plans provide a little-known tool that can increase an account’s flexibility, expand the available investments and potentially increase total returns. The tool can be especially valuable during the retirement years if the account owner wants to generate more income.The tool is known as a self-directed brokerage account or brokerage window. Many plans have the option but don’t publicize it. The plan sponsors don’t want to be blamed when participants make risky investments they don’t understand, potentially incurring losses. The plan administrators also might earn less money from an SDBA than from the funds offered through the core plan…

(Image credit: Getty Images)George Bernard Shaw is credited with saying that if all economists were laid end to end, they wouldn’t reach a conclusion. And President Truman said, “Give me a one-handed economist. All my economists say ‘on the one hand…’ then ‘but on the other hand.'”If you read the business news, it often seems that Shaw and Truman were right. Some economists seem to always favor one viewpoint, while others favor another. Often, it seems that their opinions line up with their politics.And yet, there are many areas where there is common thought among economists. One way to find…

(Image credit: Getty Images)As we near this summer’s 250th anniversary of America’s creation, the independent spirit is strong. It’s certainly creating more millionaires, a number that has doubled since 2020.The next-level wealth is out there, too, with Forbes reporting that $1.17 million to $2.7 million in net worth puts someone in the nation’s top 5%.For independent advisers seeking more of these HNW clients, the opportunity — and challenge — is clear: How do you stand out in a landscape crowded by banks, major wire houses and other independents?There’s a reason you became an independent adviser, and that needs to show;…

(Image credit: Getty Images)In recent years, portfolio construction conversations often centered on where returns might come from next.For the remainder of 2026, the starting point is shifting back toward a different question of how portfolios may behave if markets don’t move as expected.That change reflects a broader reassessment of diversification and downside management, particularly after recent market shifts challenged long-standing assumptions. 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 for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper…

(Image credit: Getty Images)As retirement approaches, you may be considering a move to a college or university town. Whether you want to retire near your old alma mater or are considering a different college town, you know the allure. These areas often have a high quality of life, with good walkability, attractive architecture, great restaurants and of course, access to a vibrant community.Buying a home in a college town you love could work out well if you can swing it based on current property values. Your analysis will need to go beyond home values, however, as property taxes, access to…

Over the past five or so years, the global electric vehicle (EV) market has been rapidly transforming from a niche segment into a mainstream industry thanks to plunging battery costs, aggressive emissions standards and an influx of affordable models from major manufacturing hubs, most notably, China. Back in 2022, the EV sector achieved an important milestone after global sales crossed 10 million for the first time ever. But now, the sector has crossed another milestone, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) reporting that 20.7 million EVs were sold worldwide in 2025, good for a healthy 20% Y/Y growth. EV sales…

Key Takeaways Silver remains under tactical pressure as markets prepare for US PCE and GDP data Real yields and USD stabilization continue shaping participation across precious and industrial metals Copper leadership and resilient shipping conditions still support the broader industrial layer The active silver structure is now centered around the 72.20–75.00 participation corridor enters the May 28 session with markets increasingly focused on today’s  US release and preliminary data, while positioning across metals continues reorganizing around real yields, stability and moderating growth expectations. The macro environment has become more sensitive over the last several sessions because investors are now trying…

French global reinsurance company SCOR has highlighted its pleasure with the investor support received for its recently priced $75 million Atlas Capital DAC (Series 2026-1) catastrophe bond and the fact the issuance structure has now been reused for a fourth issuance, delivering efficiency gains.As we’d been reporting, SCOR returned to the catastrophe bond market earlier this month, with an initial target to secure $75 million of fully-collateralized catastrophe retrocession through sponsorship of what now becomes its twenty-first cat bond. The reinsurer successfully secured the targeted coverage at attractive pricing, with the notes finalised to pay a spread at the low-end of initial…

By now readers will be well aware of USDi, the cryptocurrency whose price represents how many of today’s dollars you would need to buy a December 2024 dollar. (The answer at the time of this writing, according to https://usdicoin.com, is $1.044755). That construction means that USDi is inflation-proof, since as the price level increases so does its price. It is a ‘real’ dollar, always buying what a December 2024 dollar bought. Now, I have recently pointed out that since recent NSA CPI prints were extremely high, USDi is accruing at a 12.6% rate in May and will accrue at a…