Author: Money Mechanics

Stock futures pointed to a higher open Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, as investors mulled a slew of corporate earnings reports, including from a trio of Magnificent Seven tech firms. Meanwhile, gold and silver futures soared to their latest records.  S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 futures were up 0.2% apiece, while those affiliated with the Dow Jones Industrial Average were 0.1% higher. Safe-haven gold and silver futures continued their ascents Thursday. A day after surpassing $5,300 an ounce, gold surged to nearly $5,600 and recently was trading up 4% to above $5,525. Silver was trading up…

(World Oil) – Diezani Alison-Madueke accepted cash bribes and “vast quantities” of luxury perks in exchange for handing over lucrative government contracts when she served as Nigerian oil minister, prosecutors said on the first day of a London trial. The 65-year-old former OPEC president is charged with five counts of accepting bribes from people linked to energy groups and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery between 2011 and 2015, according to an indictment. Alison-Madueke served as Minister for Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015, while in 2014 she became the first female president of OPEC. “We live in a…

Key Takeaways Tennessee’s tax structure, including no state income tax and no tax on Social Security or retirement income, can significantly help savings go further.Nashville, Tennessee, offers retirees a culturally rich, socially active environment with museums, universities, and year-round events.Housing costs run higher than the national average, and most residents still depend on a car, so planning carefully for housing and transportation expenses is important. Nashville, Tennessee, is famous for being a center of American music, but it has also developed into a popular destination for retirement. And it is among Investopedia’s top 100 places to retire in 2026. Beyond…

Key Takeaways Older workers were the most likely to max out their 401(k)s, according to a recent report.Those who feel behind on saving can improve their outlook by increasing contributions, delaying Social Security, or working longer. If you’re approaching retirement but aren’t on track to have enough money saved, now might be a good time to try upping your 401(k) contributions. Of all age groups, those aged 55 to 64 were the most likely to have maxed out their 401(k)s, according to Vanguard data on about a million retirement plan participants. Nearly one in five (19%) were maxing out their…

(Image credit: Getty Images)It’s common for families to treat college tuition like buying a car and to make decisions based on published (sticker) prices. But college pricing is highly individualized.In reality, the published rate is seldom the actual cost of attendance after financial aid is applied.For instance, a college might list a tuition fee of $50,000, yet after accounting for scholarships and financial aid, a family might pay $20,000. 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…

Key Takeaways Americans report far more confidence in pop culture knowledge than in saving money.Widespread misconceptions about savings accounts may be limiting how much interest people earn.Small improvements in financial literacy can meaningfully strengthen everyday savings habits. Americans Feel More Confident About Pop Culture Than Saving Money A new survey of 2,000 Americans commissioned by LendingClub and conducted by Talker Research revealed that, on a scale from one to 10, America’s number one area of expertise is reality TV show drama at 6.4. This is followed by social media trends and home improvement/DIY projects, both at 6.0, and trending music…

Key Takeaways Social Security benefits change depending on your current and past income, and the age at which you started claiming benefits.The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment boosts benefits by 2.8%.The average retired worker gets more than $2,000 per month in Social Security benefits in 2026. The average Social Security benefit in 2026 is $2,071 per month. Social Security benefits vary for each person, depending on a few factors. You can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but your payments will be lower than if you had waited until your full retirement age (FRA). (If you were…

Georgia can be a great state to sell in when you plan it properly. You’ve got a deep buyer pool in Metro Atlanta, strong logistics demand tied to Savannah, and plenty of roll-up activity across home services, healthcare, B2B services, trucking, and specialty trades. The big “Georgia advantage” is simple: buyers like durable growth, clean books, and businesses that don’t depend on one person, one customer, or one channel. Want a realistic sale price range before you talk to buyers? Earned Exits can help you estimate what your Georgia business could sell for, based on real-world buyer math (cash flow,…

Construction on the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, Jan. 12, 2026.Pete Kiehart | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday at the conclusion of its first policy decision of the year. In the face of escalating political pressure from President Donald Trump, a softening labor market, persistent inflation pressures and an uncertain geopolitical landscape, “there is no shortage of confusing narratives,” said certified financial planner Stephen Kates, a financial analyst at Bankrate. “That puts the Fed in a difficult position.”For Americans struggling to keep up with sky-high interest charges, the central bank’s decision does…

Earlier this month, Meta laid off 10% of the staff for Reality Labs, its virtual reality unit, reportedly cutting as many as 1,000 employees. Now, in a development that seems directly related, the company has revealed that the unit lost many billions of dollars last year. On Wednesday, Meta’s earnings report showed that its embattled virtual reality business had lost some $19.1 billion in 2025, which is slightly more than it lost in 2024 (that year, the losses hovered around $17.7 billion). In its fourth quarter, the unit posted a loss of $6.2 billion, the report shows. Those losses stood…