Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways In a 2025 survey of over 1,000 investors, about 86% of high-risk retirees failed to meet a basic asset diversification benchmark.Financial experts caution against overly relying on cash and bonds to avoid market risk and instead recommend balancing cash, bonds, stocks, and other investments for long-term growth.Dynamic withdrawal strategies and adjusting asset allocation are key to managing market risk in retirement. As retirement nears, many investors shift their focus to minimizing risk, often by pulling away from stocks in favor of safer assets like bonds and cash. However, a 2025 study reveals that this strategy may leave retirees…

Key Takeaways Buffett urges investors to stick to a “circle of competence,” investing only in businesses they fully understand. His top priority is a company’s durable competitive advantage, not trends, forecasts, or buzzwords. Warren Buffett, revered for turning Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) into a global powerhouse, credits his success not to complexity, but to discipline. “You don’t have to be an expert on every company, or even many,” he wrote in a 1996 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. “You only have to be able to evaluate companies within your circle of competence. The size of that circle is not…

February 05, 2026 08:13 AM EST Ciena to Replace Dayforce in S&P 500 FROM 2 minutes ago Ciena (CIEN) has been tapped to move up to the S&P 500. After markets closed yesterday, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced that the networking systems company will join the benchmark index from the S&P MidCap 400, effective before the opening bell next Monday, Feb. 9. Ciena will be replacing Dayforce after it was acquired and taken private by Thoma Bravo in a deal that closed Wednesday. Ciena will be joining the S&P 500 next Monday, Feb. 9. Joan Cros / NurPhoto via Getty…

Key Takeaways A reintroduced House bill would let employees age 50 and older roll over some or all of their 401(k) savings into an annuity.Financial advisors warn that annuities can be complex, costly, and illiquid.The legislation also aims to make 401(k) rollover information easier for workers leaving a job to understand. Many workers don’t fully grasp their distribution options. Older workers who have 401(k)s may soon have a new investment option thanks to a proposed bill. The legislation, known as the Retirement Simplification and Clarity Act, aims to allow workers age 50 or older to invest some of their 401(k)…

Hey baby boomers, your kids are doing a good job saving for their own retirements and amassing their own wealth. Which may have you thinking: do they even need an inheritance?Sure, they aren’t going to turn it down, but you may be wondering whether it’s worthwhile to spread that wealth a little differently — maybe even back to yourself.But should you? Here’s how to know, and what you can do with it instead. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues CLICK…

Do you have a long-term savings goal as you approach retirement? You may want to save for a down payment on a house as you plan to downsize or upsize, or maybe you’re saving for a big vacation with family or friends.If you have a goal in mind, finding the right savings solution can help you stay on track to achieve it. This is where the best five-year CD rates can be useful. A five-year CD is a fixed savings option that requires you to deposit your money and leave it for the entire term. It also offers fixed interest…

Key Takeaways It’s possible to enjoy the sea, nature, good weather, laid-back lifestyle, and other benefits of island life on a much lower budget than in the U.S.The islands on this list offer natural beauty, tranquillity, the ability to get by in English, and accessible visas.The downsides of island life include fewer food choices, potential boredom, and being far from home and specialist health care. Ever dreamed of spending your post-working years on an island but figured you’d never be able to save enough to make it happen? Think again. The warm climate, ocean views, natural beauty, and laid-back lifestyle…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Financial conflict isn’t a guarantee of marital dissatisfaction, but when it’s pervasive and goes unresolved, it can be a limiting factor in a relationship’s growth.Effective money management and conflict resolution are a winning combination for financial intimacy, according to a 2023 study published in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues.The power of a shared futureIt’s likely you already have a vision of what your ideal retirement will look like, and maybe you’ve already taken some steps to get to that retirement eventually. But what does your partner’s ideal retirement look like? In their mind, they might…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most high-net-worth families don’t fail at estate planning because they skipped the legal work. They fail because the plan can’t be implemented at the moment it matters.For years, I’ve seen carefully drafted documents stall for weeks, either because the latest version was buried in an email chain, the trust was never funded, or the only signed power of attorney was locked up somewhere that no one could access.That gap is growing as wealth and information move online. Brokerage platforms, private investment portals, digital titles, password managers and cloud storage have become part of the estate. From just…

(Image credit: Getty Images)In these transactions, the rights and remedies available to shareholders in the minority vote vary widely across jurisdictions, shaped by each state’s statutory framework and judicial interpretation.In general, these protections may include the ability to dissent from the transaction, seek payment of the fair value of their shares and challenge the sale in cases involving fraud, self-dealing or other unfair conduct.Many states provide some form of appraisal or dissenters’ rights, though the scope, procedures and available remedies differ significantly. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88…