Author: Money Mechanics

(World Oil) – Energy and natural resources (ENR) executives remain divided on the pace of the energy transition and the timing of peak oil demand, as policy uncertainty, cost pressures and shifting market dynamics reshape investment strategies, according to Bain & Company’s 2026 industry survey. The survey, which gathered responses from more than 800 executives across oil and gas, utilities, chemicals, mining and agribusiness, highlights a growing divergence in how companies are allocating capital between traditional hydrocarbons and transition-oriented technologies. Despite ongoing decarbonization efforts, most executives still expect global oil demand to rise for at least the next decade. However, views on…

The daily average mortgage rate rose to a six-month high of 6.53% on March 20.  Mortgage rates are jumping because the Iran war is escalating, increasing the likelihood that oil prices will stay higher longer, and because of the Fed’s reaction to it.  News broke on March 20 that the U.S. is sending thousands more troops to the Persian Gulf, pointing to a prolonged conflict and propping up oil prices. A brief spike in oil prices would not affect Fed policy or interest rates significantly; the Fed ignores that kind of inflation because their policy tools don’t impact oil prices.…

Anthropic submitted two sworn declarations to a California federal court late Friday afternoon, pushing back on the Pentagon’s assertion that the AI company poses an “unacceptable risk to national security” and arguing that the government’s case relies on technical misunderstandings and claims that were never actually raised during the months of negotiations that preceded the dispute. The declarations were filed alongside Anthropic’s reply brief in its lawsuit against the Department of Defense and come ahead of a hearing this coming Tuesday, March 24, before Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco. The dispute traces back to late February, when President Trump…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Over the course of my career, I’ve sat across the table from many women at pivotal moments in their lives.Rarely do they come in because they suddenly decided it was time to focus on financial planning. More often, they are there because something changed.The most common financial wake-up calls don’t arrive at a particular birthday or milestone. They happen at life’s inflection points, such as a divorce filing, the death of a spouse, a sudden separation or a serious health diagnosis.Article continues below From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor.…

(Image credit: Getty Images)For much of the past decade, tax planning has felt like planning in a windstorm. Advisers and families alike navigated gusts of shifting exemption amounts, threatened sunsets, temporary provisions and headline-driven anxiety about what Congress might do next.Today, the winds have calmed and the landscape feels steadier, creating an opportunity to plan with purpose.Greater clarity around the estate tax exemption and more predictability in core income tax rules allow families to move from reactive decision-making to deliberate strategy. Stability means the time is right to refine, optimize and refocus.Article continues below From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you are thinking about selling your home this year, timing could make a bigger difference than you expect.New housing market data points to a key window in mid-April that may give sellers an edge. Listing during this period could lead to stronger buyer demand, higher offers and fewer price cuts compared to other times of the year.There is no perfect week for every seller. But understanding seasonal trends can help you position your home more strategically and potentially walk away with thousands more at closing.Article continues below From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become…

(Image credit: Getty Images)As mortgage rates ease from their recent highs, Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) are regaining traction among homeowners looking for flexible ways to borrow.At the same time, many homeowners are sitting on record levels of equity after years of rapid home price growth that began during the pandemic. That combination is driving a shift away from cash-out refinancing and toward HELOCs as a more adaptable financing option.But HELOCs aren’t the same as they were a few years ago. New lender rules, evolving rate dynamics and tighter borrowing requirements are changing how these loans work in practice.…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Ask a career professional in their 40s, 50s, and 60s where they’d like to land in retirement, and chances are it would be a coastal town with plenty of sun, cool breezes, and a healthy beach vibe.There’s no reason any near-retiree, or even actual retiree, can’t make this dream come true, but it’s going to take some solid savings and lifestyle due diligence to turn that vision into a reality.The fact is, after age 60, the real financial picture encompasses more than just home prices; it includes insurance premiums, property taxes, access to health care, and climate-related…

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 54-year-old, unmarried network and security engineer in information technology in Nashville who’s still working.See our earlier profiles, including a writer in New England, a literacy interventionist in Colorado, a semiretired entrepreneur in Nashville and an events industry CEO in Northern New Jersey. (See all of the profiles here.)Article continues below From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most parents assume that if something unexpected happens to them, a family member can automatically step in and take care of their children when they can’t. While that may be true for day-to-day life, it may not be true in an emergency.When parents become unavailable to care for their children due to illness, injury or legal concerns, schools and medical providers require written legal authority before allowing another adult to act on a child’s behalf.Without legal authorization in place, even trusted relatives may be unable to help. In some situations, agencies such as Child Protective Services, may…