Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)In the wake of large IRS budget cuts and the significant loss of its workforce, is the agency turning into a paper tiger?Since President Trump began his second term in office, IRS funding has declined precipitously, and there has been a sharp drop in personnel. Congress set the IRS’s fiscal year 2026 budget at $11.2 billion, 9% less than the IRS’s 2025 fiscal year funding, and House appropriators want to slash it further, to $10.2 billion for 2027. Additionally, the IRS has lost over 20% of its workers since January 2025 through voluntary deferred resignations and layoffs,…

Oil prices are headed for their biggest monthly drop in a year on the makings of an Iran deal, as many oil analysts and Trump haters are shocked at the success of this administration’s management of global oil markets during a time of unprecedented supply disruptions. Oil prices are down again today as the Wall Street Journal reports that a potential breakthrough in U.S.-Iran negotiations is gaining momentum, sparking fresh hopes for de-escalation in the Middle East and more stable energy flows. What will the Trump haters do if he opens the Strait Of Hormuz! What if he secures peace…

AI image for “money in the multiverse.” Perchance.org By David Enna, Tipswatch.com Many of us here are strongly committed to holding investments in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities to maturity. That means trading is not an issue, despite the temptations. It also means the “current market value” of a TIPS becomes a bit irrelevant. So this opens a topic for debate: Which TIPS value should you follow more closely — current adjusted principal or current market value? This is a dilemma I wrote about last year in this post: The unique serenity of holding TIPS at TreasuryDirect. A reader brought this back to…

Will this improve my home Wi-Fi speed? No. It extends your home Wi-Fi coverage, not speed. Your connection may even be slightly slower than your main network, but it’s still very usable for browsing, streaming, and basic work. Also: Slow Wi-Fi? I found 10 proven ways to fix your internet this weekend (most are free) Can any Android phone do this? Most modern Android phones support Wi-Fi hotspot features. Will this drain my Android phone’s battery? Yes, quickly. Keep the phone plugged in if you plan to use it as a permanent Wi-Fi extender. Should I just buy an extender? If…

(Image credit: Getty Images)As many as 40% of retirees survive entirely on Social Security. In 2026 numbers, that is roughly $2,000 a month to support housing, gas, food, utilities and medical expenses.The problem starts decades before retirement: 56 million Americans currently lack access to any employer-sponsored retirement plan. Without auto-enrollment or matching contributions, these workers are left to navigate a complex system alone.President Trump’s recent executive order establishing a new IRA marketplace and match program aims to provide a lifeline. To help it succeed, its private sector partners will need to deliver. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The five years leading up to retirement may be the most important — and most overlooked — window in your financial life.At this stage, the focus should begin to shift from simply accumulating assets to making deliberate decisions about how those assets will generate income.Missteps here — whether taking on too much risk, claiming benefits too early or overlooking tax strategy — can have lasting consequences that are difficult to reverse. If you’re five years from retiring, it’s time to refine the key parts of your retirement plan. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become…

Dear Wealth Wise: We live in New England in a mortgage-free home. I’m 63, and my husband is 65. I collect Social Security Disability and a pension. My husband still works and owns a rental property in Arizona with a $75,000 mortgage at 3.9%. The house is worth $340,000.Between my benefits, my pension, and our annuities, we hope to have enough retirement income to manage without the additional income from the house. But we are concerned that inflation will make that more difficult over time. We currently clear $700 a month after expenses on the rental, barring extra repairs. My…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Millionaire. It’s a word that is a source of envy for many and now a financial indicator for a comfortable retirement.According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2026 Planning & Progress Study, Americans believe they’ll need $1.46 million to retire comfortably. That rising retirement number is showing no signs of slowing down. This year’s figure is up more than 15% since 2025.While becoming a millionaire might seem elusive, it isn’t out of reach. The wealthy practice five financial habits to build and preserve their wealth that everyone can use to make inroads toward greater financial security. From just $107.88 $24.99…

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. According to the Pension Rights Center, only around 18% of Americans participate in a defined benefit pension plan at work (1). Defined benefit pension plans can be valuable because you typically get a set benefit guaranteed to last for the rest of your life. However, pensions can be structured in different ways, and sometimes you have a choice about how to take the funds. Top Picks For example, let’s say we have a worker named Alexander who has been at his job for 30…

Aspen Capital Markets, the third-party, ILS and alternative reinsurance capital management unit that now falls under Sompo after its acquisition of the re/insurer, reported another increase in fee income generated from its work with third-party capital partners in the first-quarter of 2026.Recall that, Aspen Capital Markets grew its assets under management AUM by 23% to a new high of almost $2.73 billion over full-year 2025. At the same time, fee income generated from this business segment rose 15% to $194.4 million for the full-year. Fee income continues to be extremely attractive, with a further increase likely driven in part by…