Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Many advisers rely on ETFs and mutual funds to gain equity exposure, typically by allocating across broad categories, such as domestic and international, large‑cap and small‑cap stocks. While this approach is convenient, it introduces meaningful limitations.Advances in direct indexing technology now address many of these issues, providing a compelling alternative to portfolios built with wrapped products.This article examines the structural challenges of pooled vehicles and highlights how rules‑based direct indexing can deliver more precise, transparent and targeted equity exposure. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Annuity buyers saw a surge in payouts in 2022 and 2023 because of persistent Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. Now, after two years of cuts, economists believe rates could be back on the rise later this year owing to inflationary pressures stemming from the Iran war.These shifting dynamics highlight why it’s essential to reevaluate older annuities — helping ensure your clients continue to maximize their retirement income potential, no matter how the market evolves.Annuities remain a foundational tool in retirement planning, offering stability and guaranteed income. However, they are not set-it-and-forget-it products. They require regular reviews to…

(Image credit: Getty Images)While over half of American seniors have traded original Medicare for the “perks” of private Medicare Advantage plans, Alaska remains the nation’s sole outlier. In 2026, it is the only state where individual Medicare Advantage plans are completely unavailable for general enrollment. This isn’t due to state law, but rather a unique clash of geography and economics: in a state with among the highest care costs in the U.S., private insurers have found it impossible to build the low-cost provider networks that make the Advantage model profitable.There were attempts in 2022 and 2023 to introduce individual plans…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Dominic Rizzo, manager of the T. Rowe Price Global Technology Fund (PRGTX), loves his job. “It’s exciting. This is the moment for technology,” he says. Since taking over Global Technology in late 2022, he has delivered a 33% annualized return, ahead of the 24% average gain of tech-fund peers.Rizzo favors companies with linchpin technologies in innovative, growing markets, among other things. Roughly half of its assets are invested in semiconductor stocks, such as Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO), that are benefiting from the boom in spending on artificial intelligence (AI).”That’s been the right call,” he…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The EU is planning the biggest relaxation of its rules on corporate mergers in decades as Europe faces increasing pressure to build global champions capable of taking on US and Chinese rivals. The European Commission will give greater weight to “innovation, investment and resilience of the internal market”, when deciding whether to sign off on deals, according to draft guidelines seen by the FT. The proposed change would mark the most radical shake-up by Brussels since the 2000s, when competition regulators put…

In-depth analysis March 12, 2026 This analysis was completed in conjunction with the February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). The results may differ slightly from the most recent forecasts published in the March STEO. Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), February 2026Note: Other regions include the New York Independent System Operator (ISO), New England ISO, Florida, Southwest, Northwest, California ISO, and Southwest Power Pool ISO regions. Electricity load by region is measured as net energy for load in the STEO. Electricity demand has been rising steadily since 2020…

In-brief analysis March 13, 2026 U.S. marketed natural gas production reached a new record in 2025, growing by 5.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) to average 118.5 Bcf/d, according to our latest Natural Gas Monthly. Three regions—Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville—accounted for 67% of the total marketed gas production in the United States in 2025 and for 81% of the growth last year. Our Short-Term Energy Outlook breaks out U.S. Lower 48 (L48) marketed natural gas production data for the Appalachia, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, and Permian regions and also includes Alaska and Gulf of…

Your phone system shouldn’t hold your business back. If you’re dealing with dropped calls, confusing bills, or struggling to sound professional on your personal phone, it may be time to switch services.VoIP technology has evolved business communication by bringing phone calls into the cloud. The catch? Not every provider delivers equal value, and pricing structures can be complex. I tested all the leading small business VoIP platforms to help you find a solution ideal for your business’s budget and communication preferences.Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers. Best personal data removal service…

A former Google executive has reportedly off-loaded his enormous San Francisco mansion for the sky-high price of $56 million—which marks the city’s most expensive residential real estate sale since late Apple founder Steve Jobs’ widow paid a whopping $71 million for a nearby dwelling in 2024.The latest extravagant deal involved a sprawling Beaux Arts-style home in the city’s exclusive Pacific Heights community, which was reportedly just sold by tech and media mogul Daniel Alegre in an off-market deal. As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, the $56 million price tag is nearly five times the figure that Alegre and…

EquipmentShare.com Inc. (NASDAQ:EQPT) is among Jim Cramer’s recent stock calls as he urged investors to stand by the defense sector. Answering a caller’s query about the stock, Cramer said: Yeah, I misjudged, this one is not, you know, I honestly, God, I mean, it’s a profitable company. It’s down low. It hasn’t done anything in the last few months. I have to say, I still like it. I know that it seems gutsy to do that, but I still like the stock. I would actually buy more here. Photo by Adam Nowakowski on Unsplash EquipmentShare.com Inc. (NASDAQ:EQPT) provides a digital…