Author: Money Mechanics

Protect your retirement savings against the risk of cognitive decline.gettyMany pre-retirees and retirees appropriately worry about market risk (stock market crashes) and longevity risk (outliving your money). Cognitive decline is another serious risk that retirees need to address because it directly affects your finances. So, when you’re developing strategies to build lifetime retirement income and protect against market and longevity risks, you’ll also want to take into consideration the risk of cognitive decline in your later years. What’s The Financial Risk Of Cognitive Decline?According to a recent study by the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA), about 14% of…

For decades, fame seemed to be the only guarantee for a quick, splashy, and profitable home sale. A celebrity’s ties to a property would create instant buzz—and served as a sure-fire tactic for luring in a line of prospective buyers.But in recent years, that playbook seems to have faltered, leaving many of Hollywood’s most famous faces in an uphill struggle to shift their opulent homes. Few stars seem to be immune to this trend, which has affected everyone from Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck.According to celebrity real estate broker and “Selling Sunset” star Jason…

Restaurant operators face a perfect storm of rising costs and declining customer spending. “Well, we’ve seen overall labor and food costs go up 35% since the pandemic,” National Restaurant Association (NRA) Chief Economist Chad Moutray told Scripps News. “But it’s not just those costs. We’ve seen insurance and taxes and everything else go up, utility costs, et cetera.” “Those extra costs have really eaten into the bottom line,” he added. Traditionally, restaurants would pass those costs, at least some of them, onto customers. That’s not possible right now, according to the James Beard Foundation’s 2026 Independent Restaurant Industry report. Establishments…

An incredibly cozy five-bedroom home in the heart of the Berkshires has recently come back on the market for $1.49 million. The striking post-and-beam mountain retreat in Hancock, MA, offers buyers rustic, warm interiors crafted by local artisans and the chance to own a home with access to year-round adventure.Located just 3.5 miles from Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, which is known for its ski slopes, mountain coaster, and four-season recreation, the property is perfectly positioned as a private escape for outdoor enthusiasts. The nearby Appalachian Trail also provides endless hiking opportunities, while the college town of Williamstown (just 20 minutes…

(Oil Price) – Despite tense bilateral relations, the United States and South Africa held this week their highest-level meeting so far this year to discuss potential resource deals in critical minerals, the Financial Times reported on Friday, quoting attendees of the meeting in Johannesburg. The two countries have been in tense relations since U.S. President Donald Trump took office for his second term last year and accused South Africa of “white genocide.” However, the Chinese grip on the global critical minerals market seems to have prompted the U.S. to seek opportunities for resource deals in South Africa, which produces minerals including manganese, vanadium,…

Woman at home places coins into a piggy bank while jotting down notes about finances. Use the average retirement savings by age as a reference point to see if you’re on track to retire but not a target.GettyRegardless of where you are in your career, life stage or financial plans, comparing your retirement savings with national benchmarks can help you gauge whether you are on track to meet your goals. That context is especially valuable in 2026 as inflation, interest rates and market uncertainty continue to affect how Americans save, invest and plan for retirement.The average retirement savings balance is…

An elegant North Carolina property has become something of an architectural mystery after undergoing an incredible restoration that shed new light on its centuries-old heritage. Located on a lush parcel in Charlotte, the four-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom dwelling, which is known as the William Lee House, has recently come to market for $4.2 million, more than 200 years after it was first completed.However, the exact date of its original build is now the source of some speculation after an extensive multiyear renovation brought to light new design details that led historians to believe it could be even older than its listed 1828…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Children. Parents. Pets. Mortgage. School projects and work projects. Charitable endeavors. Sneaking in a workout during Little League practice.Our lives leave no room for our lives, and it seems that we are all trying to balance these obligations simultaneously, with varying degrees of success.It’s no surprise we feel like a juggler, constantly adding items to the mix while trying to keep everything from crashing down. 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)A slowing labor market was the Federal Reserve’s main focus in mid- to late 2025. Attention has shifted to inflation in 2026 as energy prices spike amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.Since late February, when the war between the U.S., Israel and Iran began, oil prices have spiked to their highest level in four years and gas prices have jumped above $4.50 per gallon.”No matter how long the Iran war goes on, the economy is bound to suffer from it,” write David Payne and Matthew Housiaux of The Kiplinger Letter. “How much and how severely…

To help you understand what’s going on in business and the economy and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You’ll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest…Another commodity facing Iran war fallout: Industrial metals. The Middle East conflict has disrupted supplies, increased production costs and created another headache for U.S. manufacturers already…