Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)How did the stock market perform during the first year of the second Trump administration? In short, the main U.S. equity indexes closed 2025 at or near all-time highs after posting double-digit annual gains like they did in 2024 and 2023. And the direction of the major trend remains up.Indeed, equity indexes all over the world rallied in the face of what many market participants describe as historic uncertainty throughout the 12 months. Most encouraging is the fact that upside was driven by earnings growth as opposed to valuation expansion.As Carson Group notes, “The S&P 500’s 17.9%…

Editor’s note: This article is part of an ongoing series featuring the best retirement quotes and wisdom from top financial experts, leaders, and public figures. Other articles feature Warren Buffett, Michael Jordan, Mark Cuban, Jimmy Buffett and Dr. Seuss.For half a century, Bruce Springsteen has taught us how to navigate the everyday struggles and ups and downs of life through his soul-searing lyrics and music.Through the years, the ‘working man’ of rock and roll has also shown us how to age with grace and pizazz. Springsteen’s latest global tour — which ran through mid-2025 — proved that he has no…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you’d like to have a stronger relationship with your primary care doctor — and quick access to them when you want to chat or schedule an appointment — direct primary care may be worth a look. With a DPC arrangement, you pay a membership fee, and in exchange you get unlimited access to certain primary care services, such as disease screenings, chronic-condition management and laboratory tests. DPC practices don’t accept health insurance, and you pay the membership fee out of pocket.Compared with a traditional primary care office, which may manage thousands of patients, a DPC practice…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Life & Arts myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.No, they need better front-stories. This obsession with backstory is now a staple of modern politics. You all know the shtick by now. Politicians competing with each other in a prolier-than-thou contest to prove they are just like us. I’ve had several versions of this question. Do our leaders need to be more normal? Do they need to have overcome adversity? Must they have had a “real” job? Must they have lived our values? But all boil down to more leaders…

(Image credit: Getty Images)These days, most credit card issuers don’t allow people to own a card account jointly, even with a spouse. So if you want to share your account with a family member, adding them as an authorized user is usually the way to do it.An authorized user receives their own card that’s linked to your account, and they can use it to make purchases and access the card’s perks. But as the primary cardholder, you are on the hook for paying the bills.Before you add someone to your card, it’s worth weighing the benefits, potential risks and a…

Key Takeaways Having extra savings in retirement is a good goal to have.Start by saving and investing early, investing aggressively, and maximizing tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Automating your investments is a good strategy to use. It’s a good problem to have: having too much money saved for retirement and having additional money to leave to your heirs. Here’s a look at the types of people who are saving a lot in their lifetimes and how you can be one of them. Who Saves the Most? A National Bureau of Economic Research study reveals what types of people work and save the…

Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR) is one of the most promising mid-cap consumer staples stocks under $100. On January 5, RBC Capital Markets analyst Rishi Jaluria reiterated his optimism on Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR), maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock. He lowered his price target from $13 to $11, which still results in an upside of almost 51%. Cantor Lowers Nerdy Price Target to $1.00, Maintains Neutral Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com Jaluria expects 2026 to be driven by AI-related catalysts, which will help businesses that have positioned themselves to capitalize on such developments. He emphasized on certain peers, who have not prepared themselves for such…

Venezuelan supply has become politically elastic. Volumes now respond to US electoral and foreign-policy dynamics rather than market fundamentals. For global energy markets, this marks a structural change with lasting consequences. Donald Trump is the sitting US president, having taken office in January 2025. Venezuelan oil policy now sits squarely within his administration. Control does not come through ownership of fields. It comes through authority over access. Recent events underline the shift. The first US-authorised sale of Venezuelan crude went to a company whose senior oil trader donated heavily to Trump’s re-election effort and attended a White House meeting with…

With mortgage rates expected to remain flat for the foreseeable future, lenders of all sizes are looking for creative ways to attract creditworthy borrowers who may not fit into the conventional loan box. Below are four trends that will enable lenders to expand their reach to new borrowers in 2026: Non-QM lending goes mainstream A big story in 2025 was the growth of non-QM loans, but many of the companies offering these products have been small- and medium-sized lenders. Now, some of the largest players in the industry are ready to play a bigger role in serving borrowers who may…

Key Takeaways Most households should aim to replace 70% to 85% of their pre-retirement pay, combining savings withdrawals with Social Security. Adjusting the mix of contributions, your claiming age, and products such as annuities lets you hit a personalized replacement target. Reaching $1 million in your 401(k) is a big milestone, but a seven‑figure balance can be a mirage. The question is whether all of your retirement resources—401(k), individual retirement account (IRA), brokerage account, cash, and Social Security—can be counted on to reliably replace enough of your paycheck to keep your lifestyle intact for decades.That percentage is called your income…