Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways A certified check is a bank-guaranteed check ensuring sufficient funds.Certified checks verify the account holder’s signature authenticity.They are used for transactions requiring assured payment methods.Unlike cashier’s checks, certified checks are signed by the issuer.They’re ideal for high-value or trust-sensitive transactions. What Is a Certified Check in Banking? A certified check is a type of check for which the issuing bank guarantees that there will be enough cash available in the holder’s account to cover it when the recipient cashes or deposits it. A certified check also verifies that the account holder’s signature on the check is genuine. Situations that…

Key Takeaways “Cornering a market” refers to dominating enough of an asset to control its price or share significantly.This requires substantial financial resources to acquire a major stake in a company or commodity.Only investors with considerable capital can effectively corner a market. What Does “Corner a Market” Mean? Cornering a market means acquiring enough shares of a particular security type, such as those of a firm in a niche industry, to be able to manipulate its price. It can also result from holding a significant commodity position. The term implies that the market has been backed into a corner. There…

By Rick Rosenthal, Director, Derivatives SalesWhen clients need to borrow money, financial advisors typically rely on familiar tools like margin loans or pledged asset lines.But there’s another long-standing approach that’s starting to get more attention in advisory conversations: the SPX short box spread.When used in the right situation, a short box spread can offer an established way to meet certain short-term liquidity needs, sometimes at lower borrowing costs. The challenge is that many advisors simply have not spent much time with them However, many advisors are simply not familiar with the strategy and therefore do not feel comfortable implementing it.I…

Key Takeaways An accumulated dividend refers to unpaid dividends on cumulative preferred stock carried forward until payment is possible.Shareholders of cumulative preferred stock receive accumulated dividends before common shareholders.Accumulated dividends indicate a company’s financial inability to pay shareholders timely.Understanding accumulated dividends helps investors gauge a company’s financial health and dividend policy priorities. What Is an Accumulated Dividend? An accumulated dividend is an unpaid dividend connected to cumulative preferred stock. These dividends accumulate when a company can’t pay them in the current period. They’re carried forward from previous periods. This is usually because dividend-issuing companies are not financially equipped to pay…

Key Takeaways Rivian is launching the R2, a smaller and more affordable SUV, starting at $59,485.First deliveries of the Premium model will start this spring, with R1 owners first in line for them. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Rivian has unveiled eagerly awaited details on its R2 model, a launch that experts say could turn out to be a make or break moment for the EV maker. The R2, which was introduced Thursday at the SXSW festival in Austin, is a smaller, more affordable SUV the company has made its goal since introducing a…

Key Takeaways A home inspection contingency allows a buyer to inspect a property and cancel the contract without losing earnest money if serious defects are found. The contingency typically includes a short deadline, often five to 10 days, to review the inspection and notify the seller in writing. Home inspections evaluate major systems and structural components but are limited to visible and accessible areas. Inspection findings can influence repair negotiations, purchase price adjustments, and financing decisions. Waiving an inspection contingency may strengthen an offer, but it increases the buyer’s financial risk. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Rising property insurance costs contributed to higher mortgage delinquencies last year, new data showed.Home insurance costs have risen 72% since 2019, but have recently shown signs of slowing due to flattening home prices and increased policy switching. Property insurance payments hit an all-time high in 2025 and it could be pushing more people into delinquency. The average annual home insurance payment rose by 6.6% in 2025, with homeowners paying a record $201 a month, according to mortgage data firm Intercontinental Exchange’s (ICE) Mortgage Monitor report for March. And rising insurance costs could be a factor pushing homeowners into…

Key Takeaways ETFs focusing on emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and robotics charge higher fees due to specialized management needs.Investors should review the holdings of thematic ETFs regularly to ensure they align with evolving investment strategies.While these ETFs offer high growth potential, they come with volatility and should be balanced with conservative investments in a portfolio.Thematic ETFs are generally more tax-efficient than mutual funds, but individual tax obligations may vary.ETFs in these sectors face foreign exchange risks due to their global reach, impacting overall performance. Some of the most popular new investments focus on advanced technology such as artificial intelligence…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks tumbled at the open Thursday as oil prices resumed their uptrend after Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said the Strait of Hormuz, which sees roughly a fifth of global oil pass through it on a daily basis, will remain closed in order “to pressure” the United States.Even after the International Energy Agency agreed on Wednesday to release 400 million barrels of oil from its emergency reserves, with the U.S. committing 172 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of the efforts, front-month crude futures jumped 9.7% today to settle at $95.73 per barrel.Oil…

Key Takeaways The Star Wars franchise, created by George Lucas in the 1970s, is one of the most successful in the world.Disney purchased the franchise from Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in 2012 in order to make more content that could leverage its popularity.The success of the Star Wars franchise is due to three factors: great story, innovative marketing, and the clever targeting of many demographics. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. The Star Wars movies are part of one of the most famous and successful film franchises ever. By franchise, we mean a collection of…