Author: Money Mechanics

When two industry giants like Compass and Anywhere Real Estate come together, it’s natural for independent brokerages and solo agents to feel uneasy. The word monopoly gets whispered. The fear of being squeezed out creeps in. And many professionals quietly ask the same question: “Do I still have a fighting chance?” The short answer is yes. The longer answer — and the more important one — is only if you focus on what you can control. Industry consolidation makes headlines, but real estate remains a local business built on trust, expertise and relationships. Those fundamentals haven’t changed, and they won’t…

Victrola/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways The Victrola Soundstage is a soundbase for turntables and record players.It can replace bookshelf or tabletop speakers in a vinyl setup.It sits under your turntable to save space.Modern vinyl enthusiasts often face two options: spend money and time building a hi-fi system complete with external speakers, receivers, and a multitude of wires, or opt for a compact, all-in-one system that sacrifices sound quality for convenience. Victrola’s CES 2026 announcement aims to bridge this gap for its customers, offering a high-quality solution to a wide range of listeners.A…

Key Takeaways News that Sun Country planned to merger with fellow low-cost airline Allegiant lifted the former’s shares today.Analysts approved of the move, calling it a “merger of two equally well-run low-fare airlines.” Investors see sunshine for Sun Country Airlines stock following news that it plans to merge with another ultra-low-cost carrier. Sun Country (SNCY) shares were up some 12% Monday, a day after the airline agreed to combine with fellow ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Travel Company (ALGT) to “create a leading leisure-focused U.S. airline.” Allegiant’s stock was down about 6%. (Read Investopedia’s live coverage of today’s trading here.) Las Vegas-based…

Key Takeaways Bank stocks fell Monday after President Donald Trump said over the weekend that credit card interest rates should be capped at 10% for at least a year.How a cap would be put in place and why for only a year remains unclear. A number of banking and financial stocks slumped Monday morning after President Donald Trump over the weekend suggested capping credit card interest rates. Trump posted on social media late Friday that Americans are being “ripped off” by interest rates of 20% to 30%, and said that effective Jan. 20 he would be calling for a one-year…

Key Takeaways With a health savings account (HSA) can be used as a long-term savings account.HSAs come with triple-tax benefits that can be used to increase retirement savings.After age 65, maximizing the tax benefits of HSAs can supersede the retirement savings benefits of both IRAs and 401(k)s with tax-free withdrawals for qualifying medical expenses.For 2025, you can contribute up to $8,550 for family coverage and up to $4,300 for self coverage. For 2026, those numbers are $8,750 and $4,400, respectively.If you’re 55 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000 to an HSA. An account for medical expenses probably isn’t…

Key Takeaways The best U.S. city for Gen Z, based on its affordability, employment, and social scene, is Madison, Wisconsin.Other top cities include Minneapolis, Minnesota; Des Moines, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; and Nashville, Tennessee. The shaky job market is hitting Gen Z harder than other generations. As of December 2025, younger workers had much higher unemployment rates (4.1%-13.7%, depending on age) than those age 35 or older (3.4% or lower). However, when it comes to job prospects, not all cities are created equal. Employer services platform Checkr recently created a ranking of the best cities for Gen Z workers. What Makes…

Key Takeaways Morningstar’s new analysis suggests a 3.9% starting withdrawal rate gives retirees a high probability of not running out of money during a 30-year retirement.Delaying Social Security until age 70 can meaningfully boost lifetime retirement income, but it may require temporary spending cuts or bridge strategies. You’ve done the work of saving for retirement, but now that you’ve reached your golden years, do you have a plan for how you’ll spend down your nest egg? For future retirees, Morningstar suggests withdrawing 3.9% of your portfolio the first year and then adjusting for inflation every year after that, according to…

(Image credit: Getty Images)On the morning after the sale of your business, the wire hits your account. You open your phone.There it is — $5 million. For a few seconds, your shoulders drop. The stress, the deadlines, the payroll worries — all of it seems to fade into quiet. You think, “This is what I’ve worked for my entire life.” 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 and prosper with…

(Image credit: Getty Images)In today’s fast-moving investment environment, stability is more valuable than ever. Markets react sharply to interest rate changes, global events and sector-wide sentiment.While traditional diversification across stocks, bonds and real estate remains essential, recent years have underscored a challenge: These asset classes often move together.As a result, more investors are exploring assets outside the usual mix, such as investments that behave differently and offer income that isn’t tied to daily market swings. 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…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most Americans are keeping their cash in the wrong place — and they are paying for it in lost interest.With more than $18 trillion in bank deposits right now and an average savings account rate of 0.4%, Americans are missing out on billions of dollars of interest they deserve.With the latest Federal Reserve rate cut, and the expectation of further cuts in 2026, now is the time to make sure you are getting the best rates on your bank money — and perhaps even locking in some of those rates if the timing is right for you.…