Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Traditional savings accounts preserve your balance but rarely outpace inflation, eroding your money’s value. Balances left dormant for too long may be handed over to the state. It’s smart to put your savings somewhere it can earn a high return. The best high-yield savings accounts pay 12 times the national average. Putting cash away in a savings account feels reassuring, but comfort alone can come at a cost. Between inflation and the rising cost of living, any account earning less than 2% or 3% is quietly losing value over time. With the national average savings rate sitting at…

Stock futures pointed lower Monday to begin a new month of trading, as concerns about artificial intelligence resurfaced. Meanwhile, oil futures sold off as President Donald Trump said he believed Iran was negotiating “seriously” with the U.S.  Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.6%, 0.3%, and less than 0.1%, respectively. Last Friday, the tech-heavy Nasdaq, benchmark S&P 500, and blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down a respective 0.9%, 0.4%, and 0.4% as traders digested the news that Trump had nominated Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair. The Dow and S&P 500 finished higher and the Nasdaq…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The One Big Beautiful Bill that Congress passed last summer made a number of wide-ranging changes to tax law — some permanent, some temporary.But a few provisions are especially relevant for anyone in or near retirement. In particular, Americans age 65 and older are eligible for an extra $6,000 deduction. (Married couples filing jointly get an extra $12,000 deduction if both spouses are at least 65.)The window of opportunity for that added deduction is limited, though. It goes away after 2028, so you have a few short years to take advantage of it. Also, not everyone qualifies…

(Image credit: Getty Images)For many entrepreneurs and family business owners, selling a company represents the culmination of decades of effort.What often begins as a single idea grows into a highly concentrated asset that defines both net worth and personal identity. When the business is sold, that concentration turns into liquidity, creating both opportunities and risks.The challenge is not simply negotiating a strong price. Taxes, timing, family dynamics and life after ownership all converge in one defining moment. Without thoughtful preparation, even a successful sale can leave owners feeling uncertain about what comes next. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal…

is entering 2026 with volatility firmly in control, underscoring how quickly sentiment can turn after an extended momentum-driven advance. The metal surged 24% in January, only to give back more than half of that monthly gain in a single session, a sharp reversal that highlights the fragility of pricing after a parabolic climb through 2025. With valuations still elevated, the latest drop is less a surprise than a reminder that corrections are part of restoring balance when markets move too far, too fast. The immediate market reaction has been decisive. Spot gold is down 4.4% at $4,685.59 per ounce, reflecting…

The typical buyer who scored a home for below the list price in 2025 got a 7.9% discount—the largest since 2012.  1 in 4 buyers who got discounts scored 10% or more off the list price—the highest share since 2012.  Nearly two-thirds of all homebuyers got discounts last year—the highest share since 2019. The typical homebuyer who purchased a home for below the list price in 2025 got a 7.9% discount—the largest since 2012. This is based on a Redfin analysis of annual MLS data comparing original list prices with final sale prices. In dollar terms, the typical homebuyer who…

(Investing) – Oil prices fell Friday after the Donald Trump administration eased some sanctions on Venezuela’s energy industry, but were still heading for hefty monthly gains on heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. At 08:55 ET (13:55 GMT),  for March fell 0.6% to $69.16 a barrel, and  fell 0.7% to $64.96 a barrel. While prices fell from a near six-month high, they were set to rise around 13% this month, amid bets that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a bitter snowstorm in the U.S. will disrupt global supplies. Trump administration eases some Venezuela sanctions  The Trump administration on Thursday lifted…

The share price of Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) surged by 7.47% between January 22 and January 29, 2026, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week. Bloom Energy (BE) Initiated with ‘Buy’ Rating, $207 Price Target Carol Gauthier/Shutterstock.com Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) designs, manufactures, sells, and installs solid-oxide fuel cell systems for on-site power generation in the United States and internationally. Bloom’s Energy Server generates power onsite, converting fuels such as natural gas, biogas, and hydrogen into electricity without combustion. On January 28, China Renaissance initiated coverage of Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) with a ‘Buy’ rating…

Selling a business in Alaska can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s not “just like the Lower 48.” Buyers underwrite Alaska differently because logistics, seasonality, staffing, and concentration risk matter more here. If you prep the right way, you can still command a premium, especially in strong hubs like Anchorage, the Mat-Su, Fairbanks, and Southeast tourism corridors. Want a realistic sale price range before you talk to buyers? Run a quick valuation and get a buyer-style range based on cash flow, industry, and risk factors (including seasonal revenue patterns that are common in Alaska). Alaska deal reality check (why buyers ask…

Guests at the Fendi Dallas Highland Park Village Boutique in Dallas, Texas. Rick Kern | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesIn today’s K-shaped economy, lower-income consumers headed out to shop may be hitting Dollar General or a post-bankruptcy Big Lots, but affluent Americans are increasingly headed for the shopping center private club. Membership clubs are increasingly being seen as retail revitalizers, whether that’s in a traditional mall, open-air shopping center, or as a stand-alone commercial real estate tenant. Like their country club cousins, private clubs require monthly dues and often an initiation fee. For instance, Dallas’s Highland Park Village, which boasts…