Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Comfort in retirement depends on factors like your lifestyle, the cost of living, and how long you’ll need your money to last. The age at which you retire impacts how long your savings need to last and how much income you’ll need each year. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. In 2025, BlackRock, the asset manager, surveyed Americans to see how much they thought they needed to retire comfortably. The average was $2.09 million. “That’s a lot,” BlackRock CEO Larry Fink wrote. “More than I was expecting. And almost no one is close.”…

Key Takeaways A message Tuesday from CFTC Chair Mike Selig prompted both fans and critics of prediction to sound off on the agency’s defending the burgeoning business.The debate around which regulators have jurisdiction over prediction markets pivots around events contracts related to sports events. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. A federal regulator just jumped into the turf war over prediction markets. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Mike Selig in a series of social media posts said that the regulatory agency would defend its jurisdiction around prediction markets, and that it filed a legal brief…

KEY TAKEAWAYS After almost a year of forgiveness being paused under the Income-Contingent Repayment and Pay As You Earn plans, more than 11,500 borrowers will soon have their student debt discharged.The Department of Education will also soon forgive the loans of 10,873 borrowers under the Income-Based Repayment plan. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. After almost a year of delays, thousands of borrowers will soon receive student loan forgiveness under several income-driven repayment plans. In January, 10,729 borrowers in the Income Contingent Repayment plan and 820 in the Pay As You Earn plan were identified…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The “One Big Beautiful Bill” made over 100 changes to the 2025 tax code, and taxpayers could miss out on savings if they don’t take advantage of the new tax breaks.Filing electronically and setting up direct deposit for refunds could shorten the time it takes for taxpayers to receive their refunds. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Most Americans struggle to understand the United States tax code, and mistakes stemming from these misunderstandings could mean they pay too much in taxes, receive a lower refund or get audited by the IRS. The “One…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The main U.S. equity indexes were up and down to start a holiday-shortened week on Wall Street, but all three managed to post modest gains. Uncertainty about artificial intelligence (AI) has replaced President Donald Trump’s tariff policy as the primary variable for price action so far in 2026, with markets struggling to make sense of this revolution in terms of return on investment.The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) spiked to 22.96 from 21.20 on Friday but settled at 20.24. The market’s “fear index” is up from 14.95 at the end of 2025, and sits just above the high…

Key Takeaways A money audit helps you understand your income, spending, debt, and savings. Reviewing last year’s numbers can highlight patterns and areas for improvement. Using the SMART framework helps you set realistic, achievable money goals. Adjust one budget category at a time to keep changes easier to manage. Set up monthly check-ins to keep your financial habits consistent throughout the year. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. The start of a new year often brings mixed feelings about money. Holiday spending might have pushed your budget off track, and tax season is already on…

Key Takeaways Berkshire Hathaway trimmed its stake in Apple and sold more than three quarters of its Amazon holdings last quarter, longtime CEO Warren Buffett’s last at the helm of the company. Berkshire has been paring its Apple holdings since late 2023; the stake, once worth more than $175 billion, was valued at about $60 billion as of Tuesday’s close. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)(BRK.B), the conglomerate formerly led by famed investor Warren Buffett, reduced its holdings in tech giants Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) in the final quarter of 2025, according to a regulatory filing released Tuesday.  Berkshire sold about 10.3…

Key Takeaways Palantir said Tuesday it’s moving its headquarters to Miami, Florida from Denver, Colorado.It’s the latest tech firm to move or grow its footprint in Florida. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. An artificial intelligence darling just became the latest tech firm to announce a move to Florida. Data analytics software provider Palantir (PLTR) said Tuesday that it plans to move its headquarters to Miami from Denver, Colo., a win for the “Sunshine State.” The company, founded in Palo Alto, Calif., moved its headquarters to Denver in 2020. Why This Is Significant A number of…

Yen strengthens as fiscal caution and weak GDP delay BOJ hike expectations. Markets watch BOJ board nominations for clues on 2026 policy direction. USD/JPY consolidates near 153 with 151 downside target in focus. For most of last week, the Japanese yen gained against the US dollar. This happened after the new government signaled a cautious approach toward large fiscal stimulus plans. The ruling majority has strong public support and the power to shape fiscal policy. However, financial markets will closely monitor spending levels, especially if public expenses begin to rise too quickly. At the same time, weaker-than-expected growth in the…

Despite tighter spreads in the catastrophe bond market, Legal & General (L&G) intends to maintain its exposure to the asset class, with Alex Turner, Fund Manager Assistant, and Martin Dietz, Head of Diversified Strategies, noting the firm is prioritising portfolio integrity while awaiting more favourable entry points, rather than rotating out of the space.Legal & General Investment Management maintains a cat bond portfolio that is split across a number of its diversified multi-asset strategy funds, with the company investing into individual cat bonds directly. The organisation’s cat bond portfolio has reached hundreds of millions of dollars in size, although the…