Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways South Beach, Florida, is a small town located on the Miami Beach barrier island.Real estate is expensive, but Florida doesn’t impose an income tax, inheritance tax, or estate tax.Fifth Street south to the Atlantic Ocean is renowned for its walkability, and Lincoln Road Mall is pedestrian-only. An ideal retirement locale depends on whether you prefer sun or snow, and what you can do to pass your newfound time in your favorite weather. South Beach, Florida, is one of three small-town neighborhoods that make up the barrier island of Miami Beach, and it offers plenty of sunshine. Nestled at…

Congratulations, you’ve decided to launch a new business or a side hustle. You’re in good company.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 16.9 million Americans are self-employed as of mid-2025, representing approximately 10% of the U.S. workforce.Whether owners, freelancers, or sole proprietors, the self-employed span every field — from skilled tradespeople and creatives to real estate agents and consultants in every niche. 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 up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Think your portfolio is diversified? If it’s just stocks and bonds, you might be missing a crucial layer: Including government balance sheets.Municipal bonds — issued primarily by states and cities — bring something different to the table. They’re secured by independent government revenue streams and local financial strength, offering investors steady income and a way to help maintain stability when conditions shift at the federal level.In today’s uncertain environment, adding munis to your mix isn’t just an effective tax-management strategy — it’s also a way to build resilience into your portfolio. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

(Image credit: Getty Images)I spend more time within our tax planning software and on the tax tab of our financial planning software than anywhere else in our tech stack — significantly more than I spend in our investment analytics tool.Probably the only thing I spend more client time on is asking questions about their values and goals so that I know we are walking together down the path that leads to their destination.For retirees with $2 million to $10 million invested, tax planning is often among the most impactful technical work we can do. For clients with more than $10…

Question: I’m retiring later this year at 67 with $2.6 million, most of which is in a traditional IRA. I’m worried about RMDs and taxes. What should I do?Answer: As of 2022, the last year for which there’s data available, the average 67-year-old retiree had about $609,000 in retirement savings, according to the Federal Reserve. Moreover, retirement savers in their 60s only averaged $257,000 in their IRAs. So if you’re retiring later this year at age 67 with a $2.6 million IRA, you’re clearly ahead of the game.If that money is in a traditional IRA, though, you’ll have to start…

(Image credit: Getty Images)As 2026 kicks off, the “Trump 2.0″ economic agenda has moved from campaign promises to portfolio realities. Between trade tensions, the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and a new regulatory environment, investors are facing a significantly altered landscape from recent years.However, before you overhaul your portfolio like a Trump rally, it’s important to maintain perspective.”History strongly suggests that making wholesale portfolio changes based on the party or person in the White House is unlikely to improve long-term outcomes,” says Bo Ramsey, co-managing partner and chief investment officer at Oxford Financial Group. The U.S. equity market…

As a multinational logistics giant, United Parcel Service (UPS) is seen as something of a bellwether for the economy. Sadly for shareholders, UPS stock has grown only about as fast as the global economy for decades.Partly that’s a function of UPS being a capital-intensive business. Operating a fleet of more than 500 planes and 100,000 vehicles, alongside a highly unionized workforce, means UPS is tethered to “old economy” margins. Meanwhile, the market over the past 20 years has favored “capital-light” tech giants with fat margins over value names that pay hefty dividends.However, a general market preference for growth stocks isn’t…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The first computer-driven advisory service, otherwise known as a robo adviser, launched just over 15 years ago. Since then, the S&P 500 Index has returned more than 700% — an eightfold increase. And automated investment advisers now manage an estimated $1.2 trillion in assets, says David Goldstone, manager of investment research at Condor Capital Wealth Management, which tracks robo advisers in The Robo Report.As the industry matures, many investors have outgrown digital-only offerings and are ready to graduate to a so-called hybrid adviser service, which uses the same technology that drives robo advisers but gives you access…

Key Takeaways Coastal lifestyle, sophisticated healthcare, and expat-friendly communities are cheaper in smaller Middle Eastern cities than in Dubai or Doha.Single retirees in Fujairah, Antalya, Salalah, and Northern Cyprus can expect monthly budgets of $1,000 to $1,500, especially if renting a modest flat and living like a local.UAE retirement visas include stricter income and wealth criteria, whereas Turkey offers flexible residence permits, and Oman offers longer-term residency cards.​ If your retirement dream includes warm seas, sunny winters, and a slower pace of life, parts of the Middle East can deliver all of that at a fraction of what you’d pay…

Key Takeaways Mortgage rates are expected to dip slightly in 2026, which may improve affordability, but borrowing costs will remain relatively high.Housing costs will vary widely by location, with better deals more likely in parts of the Midwest and South than in high-cost coastal and Northeast markets.Buyers may find value by considering adjustable-rate mortgages or new construction, since ARMs offer lower initial rates and homebuilders are offering buyers incentives. Home sales remained near historic lows in 2025, as high housing costs and elevated mortgage rates continued to keep buyers on the sidelines. But housing affordability is expected to improve in…