Author: Money Mechanics

Federal policymakers have been debating whether Americans should be able to pull money from their retirement accounts in order to afford a downpayment on a new home. While financial experts have cautioned against the idea, two studies released this month point to potential benefits.As it stands, homeowners can take out a loan on their 401(k) for a down payment. They must then repay the loan with interest. For an IRA, they can withdrawal up to $10,000 to use on a down-payment on a home. Anything other than that incurs a 10% early withdrawal penalty from either kind of account. But…

Seeking debt relief and wondering whether ClearOne Advantage is a good choice? Look no further. In this article, we’ll review the company, its debt relief services, its reviews and ratings and we’ll break down their services and costs as well when it comes to debt settlement, debt consolidation, credit counselling and other similar services they may offer. Quick reality check before you read on: settlement is just one of several ways out of debt, and it is not the right one for everyone. Our free quiz compares settlement, consolidation, credit counseling and bankruptcy against your actual numbers. Take the Free…

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh speaks during a news conference at Federal Reserve Headquarters on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee | Getty ImagesWall Street has a clear takeaway from this week’s Federal Reserve decision: A hike is likely on the horizon as inflation remains a top priority.The Fed opted to hold interest rates steady at the second meeting led by Chairman Kevin Warsh. But between his commentary about inflation and the dissenting coalition of policymakers, investors are growing increasingly confident that the Fed’s next move will be an increase.While the hold was widely expected by markets, three…

iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysYour phone’s battery is measured in mAh, or milliampere-hours.In 2026, the standard for most phones is 5,000 mAh.How you use your phone matters more to the battery’s longevity.After the camera, display, and latest AI-powered features, perhaps the most important features on a new phone is the battery. Each year, manufacturers boast longer battery life and more capacity. lMeasured in mAh, a phone’s battery is an important factor for many buyers. Also: How much storage does your phone really need in 2026? Probably less…

Investment and deal activity in space technology accelerated sharply in the first half of the year, driven by SpaceX’s IPO, large-scale consolidation and expanding interest in satellite broadband, Earth observation and orbital computing, according to analysts at S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI) Market Intelligence. During a webinar on the emerging space economy, Sarah James, who leads the Tech, Media & Telecoms News team at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said $146 billion of common stock was offered through U.S. IPOs during the first six months of the year. SpaceX accounted for $86 billion of that total. The broader space technology market recorded $338…

One of the most enjoyable aspects of retirement for married couples is finally having more time to spend together and the financial freedom to maximize those years.That’s possible because during their working years and into retirement, they’ve had a unified financial structure that’s worked well — filing taxes jointly and budgeting based on their combined income.But eventually, they must plan for the time when one of them is alone and make sure the survivor will be as financially protected as possible. Most married couples do not plan for that clearly enough. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become…

This is a story about the largest lizard and the largest health care payer in the country. But mostly, it’s about the millions of Medicare beneficiaries who might receive coverage of GLP-1 drugs.Americans have taken to these drugs fast. Eleven percent of U.S. adults now use a GLP-1 for weight loss, while 15% say they’ve used one at some point, according to Gallup.Now Medicare has joined in. As of July 1, it covers weight-loss drugs for the first time in the program’s history. Eligible beneficiaries can get Wegovy, Zepbound or Foundayo for $50 a month through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge.…

Navigating the housing market often means tackling a mountain of unfamiliar real estate terms, complex tax programs, and fluctuating mortgage rates. But today’s home shoppers on Realtor.com® have new tools to answer tough questions.Launched this week, RealAssist AI is a homebuying assistant tool built in collaboration with Google’s Gemini and Google Cloud. It’s designed to turn answer complex real estate questions in effortless, natural conversations. RealAssist guides consumers all the way through their questions, helps them explore properties, and connects them with local agents.Here is a look at the some of the top questions users are asking RealAssist AI on…

There’s not much that can pry investors’ attention away from the fireworks in the stock market this year — but a big jump in Treasury yields will do it.A springtime swoon in the bond market pushed yields on 10-year Treasury notes to nearly 4.7% in mid-May before they settled back to 4.45% by the end of the month. (Prices and yields move in opposite directions.) That’s up from 3.96% before the start of the war in Iran — a big move for bonds.Yields on 30-year bonds reached nearly 5.2% in mid-May — a level not seen since the summer of…

As someone who reviews savings accounts and inflation for a living, it’s become easier to see where things are heading. Understanding how these trends move can be the difference between keeping your money in the right account and missing opportunities to maximize growth.Case in point, inflation remains stubbornly high, and ongoing tensions in the Middle East could keep pressure on energy prices. David Payne of the Kiplinger Letter projects inflation will be around 4.0% to end the year. If higher inflation persists, it could eventually force the Federal Reserve to hike rates. For now, though, the Fed left its benchmark…