Author: Money Mechanics

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Gemini Intelligence automates multi-step tasks across apps.It also powers new Rambler and Create My Widget features.Gemini Intelligence will roll out first to Galaxy and Pixel phones.At I/O 2026, Google announced something called Gemini Intelligence. It’s the company’s next step toward turning Android from a mobile OS into a personal AI agent that can get things done for you on your phone.It can automate multi-step tasks across your Android apps and even enable new features in Chrome, Autofill, Gboard, and widgets. How Gemini Intelligence…

(Investing) – Oil prices climbed on Tuesday, extending gains of nearly 3% in the previous session, after U.S. President Donald Trump said a fragile ceasefire with Iran was on “life support,” denting hopes for an imminent peace agreement. As of 09:46 ET (13:46 GMT), , the global oil benchmark, rose 3.6% to $107.96 a barrel, while  advanced 3.5% to $101.52 a barrel. Market sentiment remained dominated by fears that the more than two-month old war in the Middle East could further tighten global supply, particularly after Trump rejected Tehran’s latest response to an American peace proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable.” He described…

(Image credit: Getty Images)In a modern economic system, some level of inflation is expected and largely unavoidable. Population growth increases demand. Fiscal spending injects money into the economy. Even productivity gains, while beneficial, can lead to higher consumption, which feeds back into pricing pressures.Because of its impact on everyday life, inflation is a major concern for policymakers. It affects housing affordability, food costs, transportation and overall living standards. Left unchecked, it can erode purchasing power and contribute to economic instability.For investors, inflation can eat into their real returns. While nominal returns are the headline numbers you see — the percentage…

It’s a common headline: a billionaire public petitions for higher taxes on the ultra-rich. Yet, you rarely see those same individuals cutting voluntary checks to the U.S. Treasury.That’s because the American tax system isn’t built for donations, but rather for taxable income, deductions, and incentives. So, even if a high-net-worth person sent money to the federal government, that extra cash would simply go toward the nation’s $39 trillion national debt — without changing the donor’s tax liability.This disconnect is key since it helps explain a broader frustration with the IRS tax code. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance…

With gas prices climbing amid tensions in the Middle East (averaging $4.50 a gallon according to AAA, up more than 50% since the start of the war with Iran), President Donald Trump says he wants to suspend the federal gas tax “for a period of time” to help drivers.But some economists say the policy would likely have only a limited effect, since gasoline prices are driven mainly by global oil markets rather than federal taxes.What’s a driver to do as we head toward the Memorial Day holiday? Read on. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter,…

Amazon Ring, facing a surge in customer-support calls during last year’s holiday season, evaluated more than 40 AI voice vendors before choosing startup Vapi to handle its inbound phone traffic. Today, Ring routes 100% of its inbound calls through Vapi’s platform. That deployment helped Vapi raise a $50 million Series B led by Peak XV Partners at a valuation of around $500 million after investment, according to a person familiar with the matter. Ring turned to Vapi in mid-Q4 last year, when it was weighing whether to expand call-center capacity, rely more heavily on traditional automated phone systems, or deploy…

(Image credit: Getty Images)For founders and C-suite leaders in private companies, employee stock options awarded as part of bonuses or overall compensation packages can be both a powerful wealth-building tool and a complex financial puzzle.Now is an excellent time to think about when and how to exercise your options — especially if you receive any during bonus season.Understanding the fundamentals and applying a disciplined approach can transform your stock options into a tool for long-term wealth creation while aligning your growth with the growth of your company. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Under what circumstances should university students be allowed to take their final exams before the scheduled date or after? Could a professor who denies a request get into trouble if a student complains?”Ada” teaches history at a major West Coast university. She phoned our office, worried that two of her students in an online course were going to file a grievance against her.”Mr. Beaver, I have read you in Kiplinger for years and need your help. My syllabus lists all exam dates and times, along with my policy on rescheduling an exam, which is the same as…

(Image credit: Getty Images)We’re often told about the importance of seeking financial advice, but what isn’t talked about as much is how to prepare for your first meeting with an adviser.What information should you have on hand?What questions do you ask?And how can you determine if an adviser is the right fit for you?Understanding what to expect and how to prepare can make the process much easier.Prepare basic paperworkBefore heading into the first meeting, do some preparation on your own. Knowing what documents to bring depends on your specific situation, but financial statements and recent tax returns are a great…

Find out which banks are offering the top rates. Money market accounts (MMAs) can be a great place to store your cash if you’re looking for a relatively high interest rate along with liquidity and flexibility. Unlike traditional savings accounts, MMAs typically offer better returns, and they may also provide check-writing privileges and debit card access. This makes these accounts ideal for holding long-term savings that you want to grow over time, but can still access when needed for certain purchases or bills. Where are the best money market interest rates today? Even though rates have been falling over the…