Author: Money Mechanics

KEY TAKEAWAYS The “One Big, Beautiful Bill” is expected to lower the amount owed and increase refunds for 2025 taxes, which are filed in 2026.Preliminary data on the 2026 filing season show tax refunds are higher than at the same time last year.The IRS is falling behind on processing tax returns compared to the 2025 filing season. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Tax refunds so far this filing season are higher than last year. The “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” passed in July, made more than 100 changes that impact 2025 taxes, which are filed…

Key Takeaways Nationally, about 22% of homeowners ages 35–44 spend 30% or more of their income on their housing, which makes them “cost-burdened.”Homeowners in this age group who live in Hawaii, California, and Florida ranked as the most cost-burdened, while those in Kentucky, Nebraska, and Missouri ranked among the least. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. More than one in five homeowners ages 35–44 with a mortgage are cost-burdened—that is, they spend at least 30% of their household income on housing costs. That’s according to a new Investopedia analysis of the most recent Census data.…

(Oil & Gas 360)- Energy policy is entering another period of strain, and the tension now runs through institutions as much as markets. The United States is openly questioning whether the International Energy Agency has moved too far from its original energy security mandate toward climate advocacy. At the same time, Europe is confronting the rising cost of meeting its climate targets while protecting its economy from physical climate risk. A decade after the Paris Agreement, the once-assumed policy alignment around the energy transition appears increasingly fragmented. The debate over the IEA reflects a broader divide. The agency was created…

Key Takeaways A new closed-end fund from Robinhood aims to “open the doors to private investing,” chief Vlad Tenev said Tuesday.Some institutional investors have started to lean away from private equity as the industry underperforms. Wall Street is removing the velvet rope from a once-exclusive club. But is the party inside worth attending? News this week has investors asking that question—in this case, about putting money in companies that haven’t gone public yet. Robinhood (HOOD) wants to open up access to private equity for retail investors through a closed-end fund, which raises capital through an IPO and trades on an…

Key Takeaways Baby Boomers are more likely than other generations to spend $6,000 or more when on vacation.This generation can afford it, given their greater overall wealth and fewer ongoing expenses than other age groups. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Baby boomers are more likely than any other generation to spend big when they travel. In a 2025 survey by Phocuswright, 23% of baby boomers reported spending $6,000 or more while at their destination. By comparison, 16% of Gen X and 17% of millennials and younger travelers hit that level of spending, with almost…

What You Need to Know Anyone earning six figures a year and still owing student debt may feel frustrated, having worked hard to earn a degree and land a job, only to still face financial strain. With a high income, you may be tempted to throw all your earnings at the debt and live frugally for a few years to get on track. But for many high-income earners, other options may be worth considering. Consider an Example To see how debt can still saddle a higher-income earner, let’s use a hypothetical example. Maya is 33, a lawyer with an income…

Key Takeaways The benchmark S&P hadn’t moved much through Tuesday’s close. But that quiet action obscures more drama within the index. More than a fifth of the stocks in the index have moved by at least 20% this year, according to a new analysis. Wall Street is behaving like Capitol Hill this year.  As of Tuesday’s close, the S&P 500 was down 0.03% since the start of the year. That’s about as unexceptional as it gets—but it belies a lot of churn below the surface.  According to a recent analysis by Bespoke Investment Group, 117 stocks in the S&P 500…

Key Takeaways Well-structured prompts improve clarity and compliance.Define persona, objective, audience, tone, and format.Exclude recommendations, forecasts, and client data.Treat AI as a drafting assistant and not a final authority. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Financial advisors have a wealth of specialized knowledge, and LinkedIn is an ideal platform to share it with prospective clients. However, any public-facing content from your firm must remain compliant with industry regulations, such as those set by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). AI can help you draft and refine communications that…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most financial advice is aimed at people just starting out or those already planning their exits into retirement. But for millions of women, the real pressure point sits squarely in the middle.Your 40s and 50s are what I call the messy middle. You’re often at your peak earning power just as your financial responsibilities — college tuition for your kids, mortgages, aging parents, rising health costs and the emotional toll of being everyone else’s safety net — explode.(I’m exhausted just typing all that.) From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor.…

Key Takeaways Role-playing with AI can help advisors prepare for high-stakes conversations.Clear prompts lead to more controlled, compliant messaging.Practicing different tones and formats can help build stronger communication skills.AI is a drafting and rehearsal tool, not a substitute for professional judgment. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Few parts of a financial advisor’s job are as challenging as navigating a tough client conversation. Market volatility, unexpected losses, or emotionally charged decisions can test even seasoned advisors. In those moments, clarity and empathy matter—especially when time is limited. Artificial intelligence can serve as a rehearsal tool—not…