Author: Money Mechanics

Many people believe their tax bill will drop once they retire, and while that might be the case for some families, it’s not a guarantee.The thinking is logical. If you’re no longer earning a paycheck, you should fall into a lower tax bracket, right? Not exactly.Once they’ve left the workforce, retirees often start drawing income from multiple sources, such as Social Security, pensions and retirement accounts, all of which can be taxed. 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…

You probably know how much you pay in taxes each year when you file your annual return and either (1) aren’t happy about how much you owe the IRS or (2) find yourself looking forward to a tax refund. But have you ever wondered about how all of those yearly payments add up over time?A new analysis takes that long view, estimating that the average U.S. taxpayer will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal, state, and local taxes over the course of their lives. The high six-figure total includes income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, and vehicle-related taxes.And…

The U.S. direct investment abroad position, or cumulative level of investment, increased $438.1 billion to $7.14 trillion at the end of 2025, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The increase was led by a $350.2 billion increase in the position in Europe, primarily in the United Kingdom and Luxembourg. By industry, manufacturing had the largest increase, led by chemical manufacturing.The foreign direct investment in the United States position increased $266.0 billion to $5.86 trillion at the end of 2025. The increase was led by a $182.4 billion increase in the position from Europe. The…

Hannover Re’s Bermuda-domiciled transformer vehicle Kaith Re Ltd. has issued another private catastrophe bond under its Seaside Re program, with a $14.94 million Seaside Re (Series 2026-61) deal that we expect will be exposed to US property catastrophe risks and provide reinsurance or retrocession for an unknown sponsor.Class 3 Bermuda-based insurer and segregated accounts vehicle Kaith Re Ltd., the structure owned by global reinsurance company Hannover Re, issued the $14.94 million Seaside Re (Series 2026-61) private catastrophe bond, or cat bond lite, transaction. The firm’s Class 3 Bermuda-based insurer, reinsurance transformer and segregated accounts vehicle Kaith Re Ltd. has issued…

Maidstone-based housebuilder Golding Homes has completed the transfer of 180 affordable homes to NewArch Homes, owned and managed by Octopus Real Estate. The homes, transferred for an undisclosed sum, are located across Bexley, Dartford, Sevenoaks and Wealden. The properties are a mix of tenures, comprising 111 affordable rent, 68 shared ownership and one leasehold home, and are between two and six years old. The deal forms part of Octopus Real Estate’s affordable housing strategy, which aims to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes across the UK. The strategy includes funding construction of new housing and strategic acquisitions of high-quality existing…

One of the most important things happening on Earth today is the solar energy build-out. Around the world, companies and countries are racing to deploy solar and batteries to achieve energy independence and limit the effects of climate change. That build-out, though, is running into a labor market challenge, with a limited supply of workers to meet a growing demand for installation. Robots could be an answer, but industrial robots have historically struggled in unstructured environments, at least until now. The latest generation of AI models may have changed that equation. That’s the driving idea behind Gritt, a start-up founded…

Former reality star Yolanda Hadid has quietly removed her iconic Pennsylvania farmhouse from the market once again—just three months after the sprawling property was relisted for $10.88 million, having “fallen out of escrow.” Hadid, 62, first brought the sprawling 30-acre sanctuary to the market in September 2025, explaining at the time that she was ready to pass on stewardship of the historic property. Just over a month later, the farm came under offer—however, that deal later fell through, prompting the former model to delist the dwelling altogether.She later explained that she came to see the failed sale of the Bucks…

Wondering how your retirement savings stack up against the rest of the country? While everyone’s financial situation is different, retirement account balances vary dramatically depending on where you live. Retirement savings by state  The latest U.S. Census Bureau data highlights where Americans are the most — and least — prepared for retirement. Explore the map below to see how your state compares. Note: The data in this map is based on median savings; a relatively small number of households with multimillion-dollar accounts can pull the average upward, making it appear that the typical resident has more saved than they actually…

(By Oil & Gas 360) – For decades, the Strait of Hormuz has been the world’s most closely watched energy chokepoint. Roughly one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade passes through the narrow waterway, making it the focal point whenever tensions rise between Iran and the West. Any threat to Hormuz immediately raises concerns about crude supplies, shipping costs, and global inflation. Today, however, oil markets face a broader challenge. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, raising the prospect that another critical maritime corridor could become a geopolitical pressure point. While the Houthis’ ability to…

US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, 14th August 1935. (Photo by FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images)Getty ImagesIn recent weeks, two bipartisan groups of lawmakers—one in the Senate and one in the House—proposed commissions aimed at addressing the impending insolvency of the Social Security Trust Fund. Both deserve credit for proposing something, since most of their colleagues are silent on Social Security reform. But unless carefully designed, these groups are more often excuses for inaction than prods for durable solutions.Without action, the old age retirement system will become insolvent sometime in 2032, just six years from now, threatening a…