Author: Money Mechanics

Soundcre/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Soundcore Space 2 debut for $130 in three colors.They are positioned as more premium than the Space One, and less premium than the Space One Pro.They include upgrades to audio hardware, noise cancellation, and battery life.Soundcore’s latest announcement from MWC 2026 is its new Space 2 headphones, the sequel to its budget-focused flagship over-ear set. According to Soundcore, the Space 2 debuts with improved low-frequency noise cancellation, improved diaphragms for audio quality, and AI-powered noise reduction algorithms for clearer voice and better noise-canceling performance. Also: What to expect at MWC 2026:…

Key Takeaways At age 65, the average Social Security payment is $1,607 per month.The average 401(k) balance for people aged 65 to 69 is $252,800—providing about $800 per month to spend under the 4% rule.With an average of about $2,400 per month from Social Security and 401(k) savings combined, many retirees may face financial challenges without additional support or income, particularly in higher-cost areas.Options like downsizing, relocating, part-time work, and reverse mortgages can help stretch limited resources. At age 65, many retirees rely on a combination of Social Security benefits and retirement savings to make ends meet, with the average…

Key Takeaways Graduate students pursuing careers as mental health counselors or lawyers are expected to have the highest number of job openings in the next several years compared with other fields that require a master’s degree.These master’s degrees may be a good option for the increasing number of recent bachelor’s degree graduates who are struggling to find work in the slowing labor market. Recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree, but having a hard time finding a job? Going to graduate school in these fields may give you better options. The labor market has been slow to add workers, with tariffs…

News over the weekend brought a fresh jolt of geopolitical uncertainty for investors to digest as the first trading week of March kicks off. On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military strike on Iran, and U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iranians to overthrow their government. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and Gulf nations. Investors will likely be watching for more developments and their impact in the coming days. Investors will also be watching for employment data from the government’s jobs report for February on Friday. The labor market showed signs of improvement in January after…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If it feels as if investing changed overnight, you’re not imagining it. In a few years, “AI” moved from a buzzword to a building block in how money is managed.Since 2023, we’ve seen models digest earnings calls and scan price data in microseconds. They suggest trades that adapt as conditions shift.The pitch isn’t just speed; it’s a smarter and more personalized portfolio. It’s day-to-day decisions that use more information than any human team could review on its own. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99,…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most families don’t experience a “derailment” in the month following a loss due to a lack of care or commitment. They hit obstacles because administrative requirements move faster than the human capacity to process grief.Within hours of a death, the bereaved are forced to transition from grieving family members to an ad hoc project management team. They’re met with a barrage of high-stakes decisions, frozen credit lines and the cold reality of institutional bureaucracy.Families often mistake this systemic friction for personal failure, but they’re colliding with a complex process for which they were never given a manual.…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Vanguard just answered a question I’ve long had — and it’s a question only someone who lives and breathes retirement income planning, like me, would have: What percentage of people miss their required minimum distributions (RMDs) entirely or take less than the minimum amount?The answer, according to Vanguard, is that about 7% of people who are required to take RMDs take less than the legally required amount. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) miss rate was about three times that.The penalty for the missed amount is 25%. Lowered from a truly punitive 50% as part of the…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Question: We’re 64 with $4.3 million saved. I want to retire now and use some savings to tide us over until Medicare kicks in. My wife says we should work 10 more months so we don’t have to bridge that gap. Who’s right?Answer: There’s a reason many older Americans wait until 65 to retire. Medicare eligibility generally begins at age 65. And since so many people get health insurance through their jobs, waiting until then tends to set the stage for a less stressful transition, financially speaking.But if you’ve saved a lot of money for retirement, you…

(Image credit: Getty Images)In a market dominated by artificial intelligence, international stocks were the sleeper hit over the past 12 months. In 2025, for the first time in 16 calendar years, foreign shares significantly outpaced their U.S. counterparts.Vanguard Total International Stock (VXUS), one of our favorite exchange-traded funds and a member of the Kiplinger ETF 20, gained more than 32% over the 12-month period ending December 2025.By contrast, the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), tracking the U.S. benchmark, returned 18%. Meanwhile, shares in developing countries did even better; the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) climbed nearly 33%…

Key Takeaways Australia’s most affordable retirement cities—from Launceston to Adelaide—offer a lower cost of living than the U.S.While median home values are above those in the U.S., they are about 30% to 50% lower than in the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne.These destinations already have established retiree communities, with 15% to 23% of residents aged 65 and older—meaning infrastructure, health care, and social networks are already in place. Australia offers Americans walkable cities, less crime, stunning coastlines, and a genuine slow-down-and-enjoy-life culture—all in a country where English is the native language, and the coffee is world-class. While the median…