Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)When people ask me why I’m such a strong advocate for fee-only financial planning, my answer is simple: I’ve seen the entire financial advice ecosystem from the inside — how it works when financial adviser incentives are aligned with the client and how it breaks down when they’re not.My perspective wasn’t formed overnight. It evolved over more than four decades, beginning long before “fiduciary” became a household word and well before fee-only advice was widely understood or accepted.Learning to see the whole financial pictureI began my career in 1982 as an accountant, earning my Certified Public Accountant…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The first months of a new year are often a time to reflect, reset priorities and make plans for the future. Many people use the moment to review their finances, revisit goals and make resolutions designed to create greater peace of mind.Yet, one critical part of a financial plan is often overlooked: The estate plan. Even a well-crafted estate plan can become ineffective if it no longer reflects your current life, relationships or financial situation.Having a plan in place during your lifetime is an important step toward long-term security. But what happens if you are no longer…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Many people spend a lot of time thinking about their estate plans and ensuring that family members who depend on them will be cared for after they’re gone.But even the most carefully crafted estate plans can overlook those most cherished loved ones — the family pets.It’s important to consider how your pets will be taken care of if you can no longer provide for them. Whether your faithful companions are dogs, cats or even tortoises, here’s what you should know about pet trusts. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor.…

Key Takeaways Brands are releasing teasers for their Super Bowl commercials, which this year are set to feature well-known figures such as Lady Gaga, Ben Stiller, Bowen Yang and Emma Stone.Companies are spending some $10 million for 30 seconds of airtime during one of the most watched events. And some people are betting on which companies will pony up. Companies are encouraging football fans to do some pregaming. Brands are teasing Super Bowl commercials, encouraging those who can’t wait for the Seattle Seahawks to take on the New England Patriots next weekend—or for the glitzy ads and elaborate half-time show…

Agents can follow other agents, track listings and share properties with clients from their mobile devices. The app is intended to simplify how users interact with MLS information while staying focused on active market data, leaders said. “Learning a whole new way of doing things just to use one app is always a pressure point for adoption, but Tuesday is an MLS app that’s user-friendly and feels easy to pick up,” CRMLS CEO Art Carter said. “The feeds, profiles, and overall user experience on Tuesday will feel right at home for anyone who’s used social media, which means our brokerage…

The founder of David Protein, maker of popular high-protein nutrition bars, announced on X on Monday that longevity guru Dr. Peter Attia “has stepped down from his role as Chief Science Officer at David.” The announcement comes after Attia’s name appeared in more than 1,700 documents, including email correspondence, released on Friday as part of a massive file dump related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to The New York Times. Attia served on the executive team of the food startup and was also an early investor. For those unfamiliar, Attia is a Canadian American physician who has become…

(World Oil) – The U.S. government is preparing to issue a general license allowing companies to pump oil in Venezuela, part of the Trump administration’s plan to ease sanctions and rebuild the nation’s moribund energy industry. The new license could be issued by the Treasury Department as soon as this week, according to people familiar with the measure who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. The Treasury Department and the White House didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. The move is a key step to attract companies with U.S. ties to step in and…

Key Takeaways Advanced Micro Devices is scheduled to report its quarterly results after the closing bell Tuesday, with analysts expecting record revenues from the chipmaker.Options pricing suggests traders expect AMD’s stock could move about 8% in either direction in the days after its results. Advanced Micro Devices is scheduled to report earnings after the closing bell Tuesday. Traders are anticipating a big move in the chipmaker’s stock. Options pricing suggests traders expect AMD (AMD) stock could move nearly 8% in either direction by the end of this week. A shift of that size from Monday’s closing price of around $246…

Key Takeaways Net worth is valuable as a personal progress tracker rather than a comparison tool.  Keep your debt-to-income ratio below 36%, and prioritize eliminating high-interest debt first.  Traditional retirement benchmarks suggest having 1x your annual salary saved by age 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, and 10x by 67.  Maintain an emergency fund of three to six months of essential expenses in a high-yield savings account. Most people know how they feel about their finances—they may feel stressed, secure, behind, or ahead on their goals. However, relying on your feelings alone will not give you…

Key Takeaways The latest deal, announced Monday, reportedly values the combined SpaceX-xAI at $1.25 trillion ahead of a potential mega IPO later this year.Musk in a SpaceX blog post said the deal would “accelerate humanity’s future.” Earth’s richest man wants to build a mega company. Its mission is as ambitious as its reported valuation. Elon Musk yesterday confirmed earlier reports that his private space exploration company, SpaceX, had acquired xAI, his private artificial intelligence company—the latter which, by the way, owns X, his private social media company. The overarching goal, he said in a blog post, is to put satellites…