Author: Money Mechanics

KEY TAKEAWAYS The wage gap between non-college graduate workers and college graduates in 2025 was the smallest since 2019.When adjusted for inflation, college graduate wages fell by 5.6% from December 2019 to December 2025, while non-college graduate wages rose by 1.5%.Alternative education, like vocational and trade schools, is becoming more popular, and some jobs that don’t require a degree offer salaries close to those of college graduates. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Workers without a college education are narrowing the income gap with college graduates. In December, the average non-college graduate worker earned about…

Key Takeaways A 401(k) offers liquidity, flexibility, and potential for higher returns, making it the preferred choice for many financial planners. Owning a home provides a place to live without monthly rent or mortgage payments, but comes with ongoing costs like taxes and maintenance. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. In retirement, what would you prefer to have: a $1 million home or a 401(k) with $1 million invested in it? Investopedia posed this hypothetical question to certified financial planners (CFPs), asking them what they would choose and why. Financial planners largely chose the 401(k)…

Key Takeaways Nvidia is set to report earnings after Wednesday’s closing bell, with traders anticipating volatility in the wake of the results.The company’s size and influence means the market reaction to the results could have wide-reaching implications for investors. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. A lot is riding on this week’s earnings report from Nvidia. A strong showing from the company at the heart of the AI boom, due after the closing bell Wednesday, could serve to restore confidence in some previously high-flying corners of the AI trade that have flagged in recent months.…

Key Takeaways Home care rates vary from $25 per hour in Mississippi to $44 per hour in South Dakota—geography, not care quality, drives the biggest price differences.Nearly one-third of families end up paying more than they expected for care, often because they started researching costs after a health crisis forced their hand. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. If you’re hiring a home caregiver for a loved one in 2026, what state you live in may determine a lot about how much you’ll pay. Families paid a median of $34 an hour for a home…

(Image credit: Getty Images)AI disruption has given way to more uncertainty about rules for global trade, even as the leader of an economy-reshaping artificial intelligence revolution prepares to reveal its latest results and its updated vision for the short and long term later this week. Whether it’s Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s or President Donald Trump’s world is a question investors, traders and speculators seem stuck on, at least for today.On Friday, the Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump’s tariffs levied last year under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), subjecting an estimated $175 billion to potential refund. President Trump…

Global property insurance rates accelerated their downward trend in the fourth quarter of 2025, with broker Marsh Risk reporting a 9% global decline, led by a sharp 14% drop in the Pacific region.In its latest report on global commercial insurance rates, Marsh Risk highlighted that growing competition among insurers, coupled with a favourable loss environment and reinsurance pricing were the primary drivers for the rate decline along with increased market capacity. Commenting on the report, John Donnelly, President, Global Placement, Marsh Risk, said: “The global insurance market has been characterized by ample capacity across most lines and regions over the…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. February 23, 2026 Following earlier actions to remove reputation risk from its supervision of banks, Federal Reserve Board requests comment on proposal to codify that removal For release at 5:00 p.m. EST Following earlier actions to remove reputation risk from its supervision of banks, the Federal Reserve Board on Monday requested comment on a proposal to codify that removal. The proposal reiterates the Board’s policy against penalizing or prohibiting an institution from banking…

US President Donald Trump (L) and China’s President Xi Jinping shake hands as they arrive for talks at the Gimhae Air Base, located next to the Gimhae International Airport in Busan on October 30, 2025. Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will seek a truce in their bruising trade war on October 30, with the US president predicting a “great meeting” but Beijing being more circumspect. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) Andrew Caballero-reynolds | Afp | Getty ImagesThe U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs has…

ZDNET’s key takeaways Scosche’s WatchIt plug-in travel charger is on sale now for $34.99.It’s an ultra-compact wireless puck for the Apple Watch and AirPods, allowing you to recharge your Apple Watch from your iPhone.It’s not a power bank in itself – it must be connected to an iPhone to work. more buying choices Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.My Apple Watch Ultra 3 has become a cornerstone of my daily carry. Last year I used it to log hundreds of miles of walks and hikes, many hours of exercise, and it’s the perfect way to deal with notifications…

(Oil Price) – The U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing on Monday arguments by ExxonMobil, backed by the Trump Administration, about the scope of a law allowing American companies to claim damages for seized assets in Cuba. U.S. supermajor Exxon is seeking compensation upwards of $1 billion for assets seized by the Cuban government in 1960. At the time of the confiscation of the assets, then belonging to subsidiaries owned by Standard Oil, they were worth $70 million. However, Exxon wants $1 billion in the current claim because interest has accrued and there is potential of enhanced damages. Legislation from 1996, the Cuban…