Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)For many ultra-high-net-worth families — those with $30 million or more who have spent decades building significant wealth — asset protection can feel like building a fortress during peacetime. You hope it’s never tested, but you sleep better knowing it’s there.In today’s world, a single lawsuit, business dispute or opportunistic claim can threaten the stability you’ve worked so hard to create.Despite this reality, only about a third of ultra-high-net-worth families report having asset protection plans in place. That means most have not thoughtfully integrated asset protection into their overall wealth strategy. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

(Image credit: Getty Images)”You’ve got to be kidding me — we can’t afford that.”That was my future mother-in-law’s response when I suggested some 30 years ago that she start an IRA and set up automatic monthly contributions .My future in-laws were blue-collar workers juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet, with two kids in college and two in high school. They lived within their means but weren’t familiar with investing, and my mother-in-law didn’t have a workplace retirement plan. 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…

Question: I’m 61 with $1.6 million. What New Year’s resolutions can help me retire by the end of 2026?Answer: The start of a new year is typically a good time for self-reflection. And it can be an especially good time to do some goal-setting if you’re gearing up for retirement in the not-so-distant future.If you’re 61 with $1.6 million saved and are making plans to retire by the end of 2026, you may have some pretty lofty goals for the upcoming year. Here are some resolutions you may want to focus on as you begin that final retirement countdown. Here…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The best mutual funds to invest in for 2026 paint a picture of optimism – though they stop well shy of implying that everything that trades will go up and to the right across the entirety of the coming year.That’s OK! Stock-market pundits entered 2025 with puffed chests and elevated hopes, believing equities were set to soar under a new, business-friendly administration. And sure, they did – the S&P 500 is set to finish the year with a gain in the high teens that easily surpasses its long-term annual average.But while the destination was right, the journey…

Key Takeaways For people in their 60s, retirement accounts typically hold more than $300,000 in stocks on average—but the median balance is closer to about $100,000.Taxable brokerage accounts vary widely, but industry data show engaged near-retirees often hold low- to mid-six-figure balances. As retirement nears, many wonder if their investment portfolios will provide the income they’ll need. For most Americans, the bulk of these investments is in qualified retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans and IRAs. Indeed, while more than 80% of Americans in their 60s are invested in retirement plans, only about 35% have brokerage accounts. That leaves us…

The good news for long-suffering 3M (MMM) shareholders is that the stock is beating the broader market over the past year, and Wall Street is collectively bullish on MMM for the first time in 15 years.The bad news is that shares in this once-illustrious blue chip stock have been a dismal buy-and-hold bet.That may come as a shock. After all, few multinational industrial conglomerates enjoy 3M’s household recognition. The inventor of masking tape, Scotch Tape and Post-it Notes likely resonates with consumers in ways that peers such as PPG Industries (PPG) or Illinois Tool Works (ITW) do not. From just…

Key Takeaways Many people open new bank accounts without closing their old ones, a trend known as soft switching. Having multiple accounts can help you take advantage of higher interest rates, protect larger balances, and keep your money organized. Pay attention to bank fees, balance requirements, and dormancy rules when you open a new bank account while keeping your old one. Soft switching is the trend of opening a new bank account without closing your current one. This allows you to, say, try new account features or a higher interest rate without disrupting your financial setup. It’s OK to have…

Social Security Payments for January 2026: Here’s When to Expect Yours 2 minutes ago The Social Security Administration distributes benefits to almost 74 million people each month. Here is when to expect yours in January. Payments are primarily distributed according to beneficiaries’ birth dates. However, for those who began receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997, they typically receive their payments on the 3rd of every month. Supplemental Security Income, a program that provides additional income for people with disabilities and adults aged 65 and older with limited or no income, is distributed separately from Social Security benefits…

This live blog is refreshed periodically throughout the day with the latest updates from the market.To find the latest Stock Market Today threads, click here. Happy Tuesday. This is TheStreet’s Stock Market Today for Dec. 30, 2025. You can follow the latest updates on the market here in our daily live blog. Good morning. The dawn rises on the second to last trading day of 2025. This year has had its ups and downs, but this storied year will soon be history — and we aren’t just saying that. Barring some meltdown of biblical proportions, the U.S. markets will have notched a third consecutive…

posted its strongest weekly gain since 1998, surging 18%, driven by the “China factor”—specifically, Beijing’s announcement of mandatory export licensing effective from 2026. This echoes the 1979 silver squeeze, when inflation soared and the Hunt brothers attempted to corner the market. An ounce of silver now costs more than a barrel of , and daily trading volume in the reached USD 9.6 billion, a frenzy not seen since the peaks of 2011 and 2021. Octavio Costa of Crescat Capital even interprets this rally as a sign of hidden hyperinflation, largely overlooked by mainstream financial media. The shift in sentiment has…