Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Imagine your spouse or adult child asks, “I am not trying to bother you, but don’t you think it is time to sit down with someone and develop a financial and estate plan?”Will your reply be one of the following?”Things need to settle down first.””Our situation is complicated, so I need to set aside a real block of time.””The business is our retirement plan.””We’re healthy. We have time.”When I ran these ever-so-common situations by a friend of this column, author and regular Kiplinger contributor Cosmo DeStefano — I recently chatted with him about his book Wealth Your…

(Image credit: Getty Images)For many retirees, the decision to drop a trusted Medigap policy for a lower-premium Medicare Advantage plan feels like a high-stakes gamble. What if your favorite specialist is out-of-network, or the copays for a sudden illness stack up? If you’ve made this switch for the first time, the federal government provides a vital safety valve known as Medigap Trial Right #2. This ‘undo’ button gives you 12 months to test-drive a private plan with the legal guarantee that you can return to your previous Medigap coverage if it doesn’t fit.However, once that 12-month clock expires, the path…

Today’s savings account rates still hover well above the national average. However, the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate three times in 2025, which means deposit account rates are also on the decline. It’s more important than ever to ensure you’re earning the highest rate possible on your savings, and a high-yield savings account could be the solution. These accounts pay more interest than the typical savings account — as much as 4% APY and higher in some cases. Not sure where to find the best savings interest rates today? Read on to find out which banks have the…

A key component of the proposal is the push for a single federal standard, with officials warning that a patchwork of state-level regulations “would undermine American innovation and our ability to lead in the global AI race.” “The Administration looks forward to working with Congress in the coming months to turn this framework into legislation that the President can sign,” the announcement stated. Diane Yu, CEO of mortgage technology platform Tidalwave, told HousingWire that a federal standard would accelerate AI adoption in the industry. “We have lenders in all 50 states using our point-of-sale platform today. That means every new…

(By Oil & Gas 360) – Global energy markets are sending mixed signals as war-driven disruptions collide with sudden diplomatic momentum, leaving oil and gas prices caught between physical shortages and shifting expectations. LNG supply has taken a direct hit. Export volumes have fallen to multi-month lows as conflict in the Middle East disrupts flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for both oil and LNG shipments. With tanker traffic constrained and key facilities impacted, supply to both Asia and Europe has tightened, pushing gas prices sharply higher and exposing how dependent global markets remain on a handful…

I’ll leave out the details on , , mining stocks, and copper, but I’ll tell you about the markets that likely triggered the moves in the PMs. You might find this valuable as well.Stock Futures Teeter on the BrinkSo, why did the precious metals sector sold off so heavily in the overnight markets? Probably because of the breakdown in the stock index futures. The breakdown was tiny, but… The whole world is watching it. Everyone at least somewhat familiar with the technical analysis knows that when this support (the late-2025 lows) is truly broken, a huge slide is likely to follow. I…

The US pension fund of global beverage and food giant the Coca Cola Company saw its investments into insurance-linked securities (ILS) increase in value in the last year to $266 million, reaching their highest level since 2022.The Coca Cola fund ILS allocation is one of the pensions investing in insurance-liked securities (ILS) that we’ve tracked over the years, thanks to its disclosures. At one stage, the US pension fund of Coca Cola had a meaningful $600 million or more allocation to the ILS asset class, largely catastrophe bond focused we understand, although the pension has also had collateralised reinsurance investments…

picture alliance / Contributor / picture alliance via Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysAI-powered cybercrime poses a growing risk to businesses.Most of these organizations feel unprotected against the threat.EY highlights some key steps for building up cyber defenses.AI-driven cyberattacks are almost universally considered a grave threat to businesses today. Yet for both financial and logistical reasons, most organizations feel inadequately protected and lack a clear roadmap to shore up their internal defenses.That gap between awareness and readiness is the big takeaway from a report published Thursday by consulting firm EY. Based on a December survey of more than…

Link to Report: Macro Volatility DigestWHAT STANDS OUT:Despite gold’s reputation as an inflation hedge, its track record has been rather poor in recent years. In 2022, gold fell over 20% from the highs as inflation surprised to the upside. It’s down over 15% this month as stagflation risks have reemerged on the back of the Iran war, with the market now pricing in ~30% probability of a rate hike by year-end (vs. pricing in 2.5 cuts a month ago). Positioning in gold options has also shifted, with demand for puts increasing. After being persistently inverted over the past year (i.e.…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most people leave thousands on the table by claiming Social Security too early. But what if you could change your mind? Whether you’re looking for a total “do-over” or just a temporary “pause,” this quick quiz reveals exactly what is — and isn’t — possible.From the 12-month withdrawal rule to the voluntary suspension at full retirement age (FRA), the rules for stopping and restarting benefits are notoriously tricky. Are you a Social Security strategist or just guessing? Test your knowledge with these 10 essential true-or-false questions.And don’t worry if you miss an answer; you can follow the…