Author: Money Mechanics

ILLUSTRATION – 08 December 2024, Saxony, Altenberg: A man looks at a smartphone and is silhouetted. Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa (Photo by Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images)dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images“I never thought I would be alone and lonely at age 70,” said my friend “Fred.” Several years ago, he became a widower and lives in a rural community. We talked about how loneliness is an epidemic, and isolation only makes it worse. Fred has been struggling with depression, and he told me the episodes are getting worse. I followed the protocol advocated if you know someone who is having…

I still remember the cola wars, where Pepsi and Coca-Cola took swipes at each other through marketing campaigns, television commercials, and competing product launches. Today, these two stand as giants in the industry, and yet, the rivalry continues. But did you know this rivalry extends to their stock prices and, more importantly, their dividends? Right now, given the recent tech decline, these two are attracting renewed attention. But of course, there can only be one clear winner. So let’s have a look at both companies and compare their fundamentals to see which one is the best choice for your income portfolio.…

Redfin awards Murphy a home valued at more than $1 million for being the fastest person to successfully complete a nationwide scavenger hunt in the Redfin app Redfin today announced the winner of the Great American Home Search, a nationwide scavenger hunt for a $1 million home in the Redfin app that kicked off moments after Rocket and Redfin’s Big Game commercial aired on February 8. Kiel Murphy from El Mirage, Arizona won the contest by solving every clue and finding the winning home the fastest. His sleuthing led him to a beautiful home located in Denver—one of America’s most…

New Real Estate ReportingStarting March 1, 2026, many common residential real estate transfers will trigger new federal reporting requirements (the “Rule”) from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).The stated purpose of these rules is to reduce the ability to use real estate to obfuscate ownership, or move funds in a way that the government cannot identify. The rationale for the reporting requirements is that there are estimates that a large percentage of federal money laundering cases involve real estate. FinCEN is seeking information to elucidate opaque ownership structures that can obscure the natural persons behind real estate ownership, regardless of…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Editor’s note: This is the first article in a two-part series on navigating the Great Wealth Transfer. Part two will explore key decisions for couples. Over the next two decades, American families will pass down trillions of dollars in wealth. Yet many families enter the process unprepared.Conversations often happen late — sometimes too late — leaving heirs without the context or clarity they need. 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 FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Many people take the first months of the year to prioritize their financial goals, and for some, that includes retirement planning.Yet studies find that it can also be one of the most uncertain stages of life. According to the 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, only 25% of American workers feel very confident about their ability to afford a comfortable retirement.When meeting with clients, I’ve noticed that individuals farther from retirement often share similar misconceptions about how they’ll achieve their desired level of financial stability post-career. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal…

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldThe US is not considering releasing oil from its strategic petroleum reserve, signalling Washington believes any surge in prices following its attack on Iran will be limited.There have been “no discussions at all about the SPR”, a Department of Energy official told the FT, when asked about preparations the Trump administration had made to prevent a surge in crude prices that could dent the economy and send consumer prices higher. Oil prices are expected to jump on Sunday when markets…

Bitcoin heads for fifth monthly loss as $60,000 support faces pressure. ETF outflows and exchange inflows signal rising sell intent. Fed rate pause and high inflation weigh on crypto demand. February is shaping up to be the fifth straight month of losses for in terms. The recent fall fits into a wider trend that suggests the start of a possible crypto winter. If that plays out, weakness in the market could continue until late 2026. At the start of the month, prices dropped faster after news that Kevin Warsh had been nominated as the next Federal Reserve chair. That announcement…

Everest Group, the global insurance and reinsurance specialist, benefited from a $35 million dividend payment from its Mt. Logan Re Ltd., third-party capitalised sidecar-like structure in 2025, while also earning $7 million of income from its investment into specific Mt. Logan Re cells.It’s a meaningful year-on-year increase in earnings at the Everest Group level from the structure where its third-party reinsurance capital management and insurance-linked securities (ILS) style investment activities occur. 2025’s results sees Everest disclosing earning its highest dividend from Mt. Logan Re yet, reporting $35 million in cash dividends paid to the group. The re/insurer also disclosed that…

NRMLA President Steve Irwin, who signed the letter, said that while the trade association “fully supports seniors receiving counseling before obtaining a reverse mortgage,” it opposes the bill as currently drafted for multiple reasons. The group believes that proposed requirements for reverse mortgage counseling agencies to be physically located in the state, and for their services to be conducted in person, will create a “severe and unnecessary chilling effect on seniors’ ability to obtain a reverse mortgage in New Jersey.” HousingWire‘s Reverse Mortgage Daily reached out to Turner’s office for further information on the bill but did not receive an…