Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)If it feels as if investing changed overnight, you’re not imagining it. In a few years, “AI” moved from a buzzword to a building block in how money is managed.Since 2023, we’ve seen models digest earnings calls and scan price data in microseconds. They suggest trades that adapt as conditions shift.The pitch isn’t just speed; it’s a smarter and more personalized portfolio. It’s day-to-day decisions that use more information than any human team could review on its own. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99,…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most families don’t experience a “derailment” in the month following a loss due to a lack of care or commitment. They hit obstacles because administrative requirements move faster than the human capacity to process grief.Within hours of a death, the bereaved are forced to transition from grieving family members to an ad hoc project management team. They’re met with a barrage of high-stakes decisions, frozen credit lines and the cold reality of institutional bureaucracy.Families often mistake this systemic friction for personal failure, but they’re colliding with a complex process for which they were never given a manual.…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Vanguard just answered a question I’ve long had — and it’s a question only someone who lives and breathes retirement income planning, like me, would have: What percentage of people miss their required minimum distributions (RMDs) entirely or take less than the minimum amount?The answer, according to Vanguard, is that about 7% of people who are required to take RMDs take less than the legally required amount. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) miss rate was about three times that.The penalty for the missed amount is 25%. Lowered from a truly punitive 50% as part of the…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Question: We’re 64 with $4.3 million saved. I want to retire now and use some savings to tide us over until Medicare kicks in. My wife says we should work 10 more months so we don’t have to bridge that gap. Who’s right?Answer: There’s a reason many older Americans wait until 65 to retire. Medicare eligibility generally begins at age 65. And since so many people get health insurance through their jobs, waiting until then tends to set the stage for a less stressful transition, financially speaking.But if you’ve saved a lot of money for retirement, you…

(Image credit: Getty Images)In a market dominated by artificial intelligence, international stocks were the sleeper hit over the past 12 months. In 2025, for the first time in 16 calendar years, foreign shares significantly outpaced their U.S. counterparts.Vanguard Total International Stock (VXUS), one of our favorite exchange-traded funds and a member of the Kiplinger ETF 20, gained more than 32% over the 12-month period ending December 2025.By contrast, the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), tracking the U.S. benchmark, returned 18%. Meanwhile, shares in developing countries did even better; the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) climbed nearly 33%…

Key Takeaways Australia’s most affordable retirement cities—from Launceston to Adelaide—offer a lower cost of living than the U.S.While median home values are above those in the U.S., they are about 30% to 50% lower than in the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne.These destinations already have established retiree communities, with 15% to 23% of residents aged 65 and older—meaning infrastructure, health care, and social networks are already in place. Australia offers Americans walkable cities, less crime, stunning coastlines, and a genuine slow-down-and-enjoy-life culture—all in a country where English is the native language, and the coffee is world-class. While the median…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Is there really such a thing as a safe stock? When you buy a share, you own a tiny piece of a business, and any business can develop problems no one suspects.Consider Enron, a consistent money-maker in energy trading, which went from $90 a share to 26 cents in a little over a year. Or Sears, once a solid retail giant and now reduced to just a handful of stores. Eastman Kodak, Polaroid and Blockbuster were all solid citizens that went bankrupt.No stock is safe in the sense that a short-term Treasury bill is safe. But looking…

Key Takeaways Recent research shows that married retirees withdraw about 2.1% of their savings annually, while spending 80% of their guaranteed income, like Social Security. Morningstar’s latest analysis suggests retirees can safely withdraw 3.9% to start, close to the classic 4% annual withdrawal rule Those willing to adjust spending based on market conditions could take out up to almost 6%. Research from Morningstar in December 2025 raised its recommended safe withdrawal rate from retirement savings to 3.9%, up from 3.7% the prior year. But actual retiree behavior tells a different story. The Morningstar figure comes close to the 4% rule,…

Key Takeaways Career breaks are common, with 62% of workers having taken one and 35% considering it in the future.Affordable upskilling, networking, and returnship programs can help professionals reenter the workforce successfully.Know your value and negotiate compensation with confidence, as taking a break doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Whether you took time off to raise a child, care for a loved one, recover from illness, or reassess your career path, reentering the workforce can feel overwhelming. You’re far from alone. LinkedIn surveyed 23,000 employees and found that 62% had taken a break from their careers and 35% expressed interest in…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the UK energy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.Eight former UK energy ministers have called for the government to curb restrictions and taxes on the North Sea oil and gas industry, arguing that current policy is worsening energy security while doing little to cut global carbon emissions.The cross-party group — which includes former Tory energy secretary Amber Rudd and one-time Labour business and energy secretary Lord John Hutton — expressed their “deep concern” over the decline of UK oil and gas production. “The premature curtailment of domestic production is not primarily…