Author: Money Mechanics

(Oil Price) – Europe is expected to import a record-high volume of liquefied natural gas this year as stronger demand for replenishing storage sites, the phase-out of Russian supply, and continued pipeline exports to Ukraine will drive increased demand, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday. After setting a record in 2025, European LNG imports are poised to reach a new all-time high of over 185 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2026, the agency said in its Gas Market Report Q1 2026. Europe’s LNG imports hit an all-time high of over 175 bcm in 2025, surging by 30% (or 40 bcm) from…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Fewer self-employed workers who accept payments through a third-party service, such as PayPal or Square, will receive a form reporting their 2025 income. That means it will be up to them to calculate how much they earned.The new ‘no tax on tips’ will likely lower the tax bill of many self-employed workers who have typically received tips for their work. The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ has made many tax changes that will affect 2025 returns, which the IRS will start accepting on Monday. The most important changes for self-employed workers are the increase in the threshold for 1099-K…

Key Takeaways If you’ve worked hard to save $30,000 or more, it’s time to make that money work for you. A high-yield savings account can pay 13 times more than a traditional savings account, which often pays nearly 0% interest. By switching to an account that pays 4.50% APY (or better), you could earn hundreds of dollars more every year, helping to grow your savings faster. Consider high-yield savings, checking, and money market accounts, which all pay high rates of 4.00% to 6.75%. For many, saving $30,000 can take years. So if you have $30,000 in your bank account, you’re doing relatively…

Key Takeaways The stock market has been volatile so far this year, but one Morgan Stanley advisor is urging investors to stick it out. Stocks should get a lift from the combination of accelerating earnings growth and lower interest rates this year, according to Jim Lacamp. Investors may be tempted, after three years of double digit gains, to ditch the stock market amid this year’s bout of volatility. Jim Lacamp, senior vice president with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, is encouraging them to white knuckle it.  The stock market in early 2026 can feel “really hard to stick with, because of…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The stock market in 2025 was a roller coaster for investors, but it was a fruitful year for those who remained invested.The S&P 500 experienced record highs and a drop, and while it felt rocky along the way, it finished the year up more than 16%. In real time, we saw the benefits of avoiding emotion and sticking to a long-term investment strategy.As we enter 2026, there are lessons from last year that could help dictate your investment decisions. Here are three things you should keep in mind: From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become…

Key Takeaways Ahead of the Fed’s next decision, many low-risk cash options still earn competitive returns in the 3–5% range if you know where to look. The best savings accounts, CDs, brokerage options, and Treasuries continue to offer solid yields without taking on market risk. Choosing the right account can meaningfully change what your cash earns, as our comparison shows for balances like $10,000, $25,000, and $50,000. Where Cash Is Paying the Most Right Now—All in One Chart With the Federal Reserve set to announce a rate decision next week, many savers are evaluating where to keep their cash. Fortunately,…

(Image credit: Getty Images)It was a mixed day on Wall Street, with technology lifting the Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 as Apple (AAPL), Meta Platforms (META), Microsoft (MSFT) and Tesla (TSLA) prepare to report earnings next week. Financials dragged on the Dow Jones Industrial Average after President Donald Trump sued JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon.”The trend is still positive,” writes Louis Navellier of Navellier & Associates, “with the leading risks including geopolitical uncertainties, uncertain timing on when the Supreme Court will rule on tariffs, and the upward pressure on interest rates that is being driven by Japan.”As Navellier…

Key Takeaways Shares of credit card lender Capital One have been sinking since President Trump vowed to cap interest rates on credit cards. They fell even further on Friday. But many analysts are bullish. CNBC’s Jim Cramer said of Capital One: “This is the one to own.” Capital One might be “what’s in your wallet.” Should it be in your portfolio? Credit-card stocks have taken a hit since President Donald Trump earlier this month vowed to cap their interest rates and, more recently, called on Congress to make his proposal law; Shares of companies like American Express (AXP) to Visa…

(Image credit: Getty Images)No one wakes up in the morning planning to get into a car accident. You don’t put it on the calendar between doctor’s appointments and meetings at work. It just happens.One second, you’re driving along, thinking about what to have for dinner, and the next second, your heart is trying to exit your body through your throat.This is the moment when adrenaline kicks in, logic leaves the building, and people start doing things they later wish they hadn’t done. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88…

Key Takeaways Tripling your money over 25 years works out to just 4.5% annually, about half what a basic S&P 500 index fund would have returned.Retirement readiness comes down to whether your savings and income sources can cover your spending for as long as you live.It isn’t defined by a single number or growth rate, but by whether your savings and income sources can sustainably support your personal spending needs. Tripling your money sounds impressive—until you do the math. Over 25 years, that’s a 4.5% annual return, barely ahead of inflation and well below what a simple index fund would…