Author: Money Mechanics

Empty-nest baby boomers own many more 3-bedroom-plus U.S. homes than younger families raising children, underscoring a mismatch between who has space and who needs it.  Millennials with kids are facing both affordability and inventory challenges–but at the same time, baby boomers have little financial incentive to move–and there’s limited inventory of reasonably priced, small, one-story homes for them to go to.  More large homes could hit the market as affordability improves, the lock-in effect eases and it becomes easier for sellers to test the market via the new Redfin-Compass partnership.  Empty-nest baby boomers own more large homes than millennials with…

Startups are often quick to say they value diversity but are slow to implement hiring practices that reflect that. It is the path of least resistance for a growth-stage company to hire from the familiar Silicon Valley pipelines, but if a founder wants a diverse team, that value has to be put into practice from the very first hire.  Leah Solivan, the founder of Taskrabbit and founder and managing director of Precedent.VC, joined Isabelle Johannessen on Build Mode to discuss how she thought about hiring while leading Taskrabbit. As the company scaled from being bootstrapped on Solivan’s personal credit cards…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Every business owner eventually leaves their business. It’s preferable to leave it on your own terms, confident that the business can continue to thrive after you’ve stepped away.The key to getting there is to start planning your exit long before the day you anticipate handing over the keys, which gives you time to map out your ideal business exit.Talk succession before it’s an emergencyStart your business exit planning three to five years before your exit, which gives you options you won’t have if your exit is a panicked scramble. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Spring is in the air. The weather is warming up, March Madness basketball is concluding, and baseball has begun. The markets, meanwhile, aren’t sharing in the seasonal optimism.Recent global events have had cascading effects on energy markets, global central banks, interest rates and equities around the world.The result was a first quarter where few corners of the investable universe were spared and where the traditional hedges many investors rely on largely failed to provide shelter. 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…

(Image credit: Getty Images)One of the biggest challenges facing younger generations today is preparing for retirement in an increasingly uncertain world. Encouraging Americans to begin saving and investing early is one of the most effective ways to build long-term financial security.One proposal that has recently generated discussion is the concept of the “Trump account.” The idea behind the account is simple but powerful: Provide young Americans with an investment account early in life so they can benefit from decades of compounded growth before retirement.Encouraging Americans to begin saving early is a strong step in the right direction. However, there may…

(Image credit: Getty Images)As financial advisers, we are asked for opinions every day. Should I pay off my mortgage before retiring? Should I finance the new car or pay cash? Should I invest extra savings or keep it liquid?On the surface, these seem like straightforward financial questions. But over the years, I’ve noticed something important: Sometimes people aren’t actually looking for advice. They’re looking for validation. And in retirement planning, that distinction matters more than most people realize.A lesson that applies beyond financeYears ago, a longtime client shared something that stuck with me. He was the only man in a…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Question: We want to feel like we’re living in a resort, rather than just “aging in place.” What are the best remodeling projects to turn our home into a sanctuary for retirement?Answer: For decades, your home has been the backdrop for the beautiful chaos of family life — the muddy cleats in the hall, the crowded kitchen island and the constant hum of activity. But as you enter this new chapter, your space should stop serving everyone else’s needs and start prioritizing yours. Transforming a family home into a retirement oasis isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about…

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rushed higher worldwide, and oil prices eased Wednesday as hopes built that the war with Iran could end soon. That’s even though some of the signals investors saw as hopeful are already under dispute, and several earlier bouts of optimism in financial markets quickly got undercut by continued, fierce fighting in the war. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% and added to its leap from the day before, which was its best since last spring. That followed even bigger gains for stock markets across Europe and Asia, including an 8.4% surge in South Korea, which were…

(By Oil & Gas 360) –  The first phase of the U.S.–Iran conflict has exposed immediate stress in refined product markets. The second phase is already taking shape, and it is less about price spikes and more about how fuel actually moves around the world. Global trade flows are being rewritten in real time. As Middle East supply becomes less reliable, refiners and traders are redrawing routes. Cargoes that would normally move through the Strait of Hormuz are being delayed, rerouted, or replaced altogether. That shift is forcing longer shipping distances, higher freight costs, and tighter prompt availability of fuels in…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX has confidentially filed to go public, firing the starting gun on what is expected to be the biggest initial public offering in history.The Texas-headquartered company had this week filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the listing, said two people familiar with the matter. Confidential filings allow companies to advance their listing plans without publicly revealing their financials. SpaceX last month acquired Musk’s lossmaking AI start-up xAI for $250bn.SpaceX was seeking to raise about $75bn…