Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Forty-two states don’t tax Social Security income.Thirty-seven states don’t tax most military retirement pay.Sixteen states exempt pension income from state taxes.Nine states have no income tax. This count includes Washington, which taxes high earners’ capital gains only. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. After a lifetime of contributing to Social Security, building up a retirement plan, or earning a pension, you may be bracing for a big tax hit in retirement. Now you’re ready to punch your last time card, and your state has its hand out for some tax dollars as well.…

Key Takeaways Interest rates are set by central banks and influenced by economic conditions.The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) determines U.S. short-term interest rates.Retail bank loan rates depend on market conditions and customer credit risk. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Central banks play a central role in setting short-term interest rates, with the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), comprising Federal Reserve governors and regional bank presidents, meeting regularly to guide monetary policy. Long-term rates, however, are shaped by Treasury note yields and overall market demand. Retail banks also adjust lending rates based on…

Key Takeaways A Zillow study showed that mortgage rates in many major U.S. cities would have to drop to about 4.43% nationally to make housing affordable.Not even a 0% mortgage rate would make housing affordable in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, San Diego, and San Jose, given the housing costs there. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Some housing markets are so expensive that they would still be unaffordable even if rates plummeted. In other areas, a small decline in rates would be enough to make homeownership possible for many buyers. A 2025…

Key Takeaways Traders buy and sell securities in capital markets for clients.Investment bankers help raise capital and facilitate mergers.Both careers require strong analytical skills but different educational preferences.Trading and investment banking environments are high-pressure.Traders often need FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses. The financial services industry includes a variety of professionals, including traders and investment bankers. A trader is a person or entity that buys and sells securities and other financial instruments in capital markets on behalf of clients (or themself). An investment banker helps clients access capital through investments and assists with mergers and acquisitions. There are no legal…

Key Takeaways One-third of individuals who left a job withdrew their balance in a lump sum rather than rolling it over to their new job or another account.Cashing out before age 59 1/2 incurs a 10% early withdrawal penalty for most people, and income taxes must be paid for the withdrawal. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Retirement savers are generally putting more into their 401(k) accounts these days, but much of the money Americans are saving for their future doesn’t end up lasting until then. That’s because a large portion of employees withdraw their…

Key Takeaways Saving your first $10,000 by age 30 is possible, even on a modest income.To get there, treat saving as a fixed expense, rather than an afterthought, and use automation to pay yourself first.Start small, contribute consistently, and take advantage of any employer matching for your 401(k) contributions. “I saved my first $10k at 30yo.” That’s the straightforward title of a recent post shared on Reddit’s r/povertyfinance forum, where one user outlined how they reached a major savings milestone despite growing up with limited financial resources and being “100% self-employed.” This post demonstrates that saving $10,000 by age 30…

On February 17, 2026, Logos Global Management LP disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it bought 1,100,000 shares of Immunovant (NASDAQ:IMVT), an estimated $24.53 million trade based on quarterly average pricing. Logos bought 1,100,000 additional shares of Immunovant, a transaction estimated at $24.5 million based on average quarterly closing prices. The full position grew by roughly $6.1 million in total value over the quarter, reflecting both the new shares and price movement in the stock. Logos finished the quarter holding 1,375,000 Immunovant shares, valued at roughly $34.95 million which represents 2.11% of the fund’s AUM, placing it…

Nearly two weeks in, the ongoing war in Iran offers investors some confusing signals that may make it tough to predict how different assets and asset classes might respond. Airline stocks, unsurprisingly, have taken a tumble, but other industries have been less dramatically affected. The whole S&P 500 has only dropped by 2.3% in the last month, a modest decline given high levels of geopolitical uncertainty. Volatile environments often lead investors to fall back on , but with prices of the metal up nearly 80% in the last year, it’s unclear how much upside potential there is for the traditional…

Cloud storage may be more popular than ever, but it hasn’t replaced the need for external hard drives. These devices help free up space on your computer while simultaneously providing a reliable way to store important files without depending on an internet connection. As a bonus, hard drives don’t require monthly subscription fees.There are many great choices available. The iStorage DiskAshur Pro 3 is known for its software-based encryption, while the Lexar ES5 SSD is known for its durability. For our March update, we refreshed our guide and added a few new products. What’s the best external hard drive right now?After dedicating…

Key Takeaways The CAC 40 is an index of the 40 largest and most liquid companies on the Euronext Paris stock exchange.Key CAC 40 companies include L’Oréal, LVMH, TotalEnergies, and Sanofi.Investors can access the CAC 40 through ETFs like BNP Paribas Easy CAC 40 ETF and Amundi CAC 40 ETF.Carefully review expense ratios when choosing an ETF as they affect returns.As of Dec. 31, 2023, the CAC 40 had a dividend yield of 2.98%. The CAC 40 is the benchmark stock index of the 40 largest companies by market cap that are listed on the Euronext Paris, France’s leading stock…