Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways With couples who depend on Social Security, the higher earner’s claiming age heavily influences how much income their surviving spouse will receive for the rest of their life.Each year an earner delays claiming can cut their surviving spouse’s poverty risk by about 12%.Couples can protect the surviving spouse by coordinating claims, stress‑testing budgets, and planning for life on one check. The biggest Social Security mistake isn’t a paperwork error—it’s claiming too early, without your spouse in mind.​ This is because when the higher earner files early (say, at age 62), they receive a smaller benefit than if they…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you’re looking for a financial adviser today, you’ve probably seen the word “fiduciary” everywhere.Banks use it. Brokerage firms use it. Insurance companies use it. Independent advisers use it, too.On the surface, that might sound like good news for investors, until you realize that the word is now being applied to vastly different business models, compensation structures and client relationships. 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)Not being on the same page about money is a major relationship stressor. However, it doesn’t have to be.When starting a new life together and having money talks, establishing common ground is essential to keep you both aligned. Additionally, learning to budget as a couple can prevent financial disagreements and strengthen your bond, as you work together to achieve your goals, such as saving for a home or paying off debt.If you’re ready to work together to reach your goals, here is your guide to a collaborative and drama-free budget. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal…

(Image credit: Getty Images)For decades, bonds have played a familiar role in retirement portfolios. They are meant to reduce volatility, provide income and act as a counterbalance to stocks, especially as investors approach and enter retirement.But with the Federal Reserve signaling more potential rate cuts ahead, many investors are facing a key decision: How best to allocate the portion of a portfolio traditionally reserved for bonds.One option worth understanding is the fixed indexed annuity. 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…

(Image credit: Getty Images)As retirement gets closer, most planning conversations stay comfortably focused on income and investments.What often gets delayed — or avoided entirely — are the more important elements of retirement planning: Estate planning, philanthropy and protecting assets against long-term care and health events.The reason is simple. These topics force more difficult conversations. They touch on health, dependency and mortality — subjects most people would rather postpone talking about. But framing this planning as “end-of-life” thinking misses the point entirely. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99,…

Your Social Security Number (SSN) was never designed to be the “master key” for your entire financial life, yet in 2026, that is exactly what it has become. In an era where data breaches are practically a weekly occurrence and AI-powered scammers can generate convincing fake identities in seconds, simply “guarding” your nine-digit number is no longer enough.To truly protect your future, you need to transition from a passive defense to an active one. Locking your SSN is a strategic move that shuts down the two most common avenues for fraud: illegal employment and unauthorized access to your government records.…

Key Takeaways The average credit card balance per consumer in the U.S. was $6,523 in the third quarter of 2025.Total U.S. credit card debt hit a record $1.23 trillion in the third quarter of 2025.Keeping debt in check starts with limiting spending, making extra payments when you can, focusing on the highest-interest debt first, and committing to reducing balances over time. If your credit card bill keeps rising month after month, you’re not alone. Many Americans have seen their balances grow amid inflation and rising living costs. Plus, it can be difficult to keep track of your actual spending and…

February 12, 2026 07:07 AM EST Novocure Stock Surges on FDA Approval for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment FROM 5 minutes ago Novocure (NVCR) shares soared 25% before the bell Thursday, a day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its Optune Pax treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The Switzerland-based firm said that Optune Pax “is the first treatment to be FDA approved in nearly 30 years for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.” Novocure added that it “is a wearable medical device that delivers Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), alternating electric fields that disrupt cancer cell replication to cause cell death,” which…

Key Takeaways In 2026, 19 states will raise their minimum wage on January 1, and three others will make an increase later in the year.Eight states already have a higher minimum wage and won’t raise pay in 2026, after reaching earlier targets or tying increases to inflation.Twenty states—half of them in the South—are still at the federal $7.25 minimum wage, which has not increased since 2009. States Raising the Minimum Wage in 2026 For workers in many states, 2026 will bring a higher minimum wage, though the timing isn’t the same everywhere. Most of the states making changes will boost…

continue to be well supported amid ongoing supply uncertainty Energy – OPEC+ Output Falls in January Oil prices remain well supported, with $70/bbl back in sight for ICE . Lingering uncertainty over Iran continues to buoy the market. Meanwhile, refinery margins also saw some strength following reports of a Ukrainian drone attack on Lukoil’s 300k b/d Volgograd refinery in Russia – the first large attack on Russian refining infrastructure this year. While the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released bearish numbers yesterday, the market largely ignored them. US crude oil inventories increased by 8.53m barrels over the last reporting week, the…