Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Once upon a time, an average team faced a simple but frustrating problem: Their basketball was stuck high in a tree.The team captain removed his shoe and threw it at the ball, hoping to knock it loose. The shoe fell back to the ground, while the basketball remained firmly lodged in the branches.On their second attempt, the average team concluded that the issue was the strength of the team captain. After assessing each team member, they chose Joe, whose greatest strength was his throwing power. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better…

(Image credit: Getty Images)A shifting economic landscape is reshaping venture capital in real time. The mandate hasn’t changed — returns still need to materialize within a decade, often sooner — but the path to get there has.Investors are tightening their filters, raising the bar and taking a far more disciplined approach to where they place their bets.The old “spray and pray” model is fading fast. In its place is a more selective, high-conviction strategy: Fewer deals, deeper diligence and far more hands-on involvement. For startups, that means the margin for “almost good enough” has all but disappeared. From just $107.88…

Are you tired of juggling complex bonus categories and jumping through hoops to earn travel miles? Introducing the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.This card is refreshingly simple. You earn a flat rate of two miles per dollar on everything, giving you an effortless way to accumulate miles in a hurry. And it’s your perfect travel-saving companion, earning you five miles per dollar on car and vacation rentals and hotel bookings through Capital One’s travel portal.Is it the right fit for your needs? I’ll break down who this card benefits the most. I’ll also recommend strategies to turn this card…

(Image credit: Getty Images/Gemini Edits)It’s one of the oldest investing principles, the “always look both ways before crossing the street” of finance advice. Diversify.Most people think about two kinds of diversification: investment diversification (don’t put all your money in one stock or sector) and tax diversification (spreading your investments across accounts with different tax treatments). The goal is to reduce the risk of investment losses and unnecessary taxes.But there’s a third kind of risk that’s increasingly on investors’ minds, and it has nothing to do with markets. Many have already experienced it firsthand. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal…

(Image credit: Getty Images)For families with a child or grandchild who has special needs, a properly drafted special needs trust (SNT) can be one of the most powerful planning tools available.It can preserve eligibility for government benefits, provide supplemental support and create long-term financial stability.But there’s a mistake I see far too often — one that can quietly undermine everything a family is trying to accomplish: Naming a special needs trust as the beneficiary of tax-deferred retirement accounts. 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…

The steakhouse restaurant sector has faced a major impact from an increase in beef costs, as steak prices spiked 16% to $12.73 per pound in March 2026, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, WIBC- Radio reported. As the price of beef increases for restaurants, consumer demand for the product has declined as menu prices also rise, reducing sales at steakhouses. Reduced sales have led certain establishments to close their businesses. McCormick & Schmick’s steak and seafood restaurant closed its last Pittsburgh location.ShengImages/Shutterstock McCormick & Schmick’s location closes Restaurant chain owner Landry’s Inc. closed its high-end McCormick & Schmick’s steak…

The emerging agreement between the United States and Iran, which aims to extend a fragile ceasefire for 60 days and initiate negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, represents a victory for Iran in four distinct aspects, while offering only a single advantage to the United States.In my assessment, the current situation reflects an indirect victory for Iran. Despite enduring over a month of bombing, Iran managed to close the strait, maintain its closure, and only agreed to reopen it through a negotiated settlement with the United States. None of the Trump administration’s stated war objectives—regime change, securing a comprehensive nuclear agreement,…

Insurance broker and risk adviser Gallagher has collaborated with FloodFlash, a NormanMax company, to launch a new parametric insurance solution designed to protect golf courses from mitigate financial disruption caused by flooding and severe weather.The new arrangement is designed to provide a faster and more flexible form of financial protection against these risks. Intense rainfall as well as extreme weather events such as hurricanes and coastal surge events can cause flooding and pose significant challenges for golf courses, especially for venues located near rivers, lakes or coastal zones In light of this, the new parametric insurance solution being introduced by…

Homes in Rancho Cucamonga, California, US, on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Kyle Grillot | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesMortgage rates continued their climb last week, making it harder for current homeowners to save on a refinance. Potential homebuyers also pulled back a bit, causing total mortgage application volume to drop 8.5% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $832,750 or less, increased to 6.65% from 6.56%, with points rising to 0.65 from 0.60, including the origination fee, for loans…

Artie Beaty/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysYou can customize your Android Auto through developer mode.This mode is usually for developers and app creators.It’s easy to access, and you can make significant improvements.For most users, Android Auto is simply an easy way to handle navigation, music, and messages while driving. But if you’re willing to tinker a bit, you’ll find several settings that can completely change the look and functionality of your car’s infotainment system. Just like your Android phone, Android Auto has its own developer mode that lets you access settings not intended for everyday…