Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)There’s a point in nearly every financial plan when the numbers are clear — you can afford to do the thing you’re thinking about.Whether it’s retiring early, helping your kids or moving across the country to be near family, the math lines up.Still, people ask, “Should I really do this?” 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 the best of expert advice on investing,…

Key Takeaways For many Americans, peak earning years are between the ages of 45 and 54, and many of them worry about saving enough for retirement. The earlier you start saving for retirement, the more you can benefit from compound interest. Taking advantage of retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans, and individual retirement accounts is a way to build savings and ease retirement concerns. For many Americans, retirement is a constant worry. According to BlackRock, 47% of Americans between the ages of 45 to 54 worry about their retirement savings at least once a day.  These financial moves will help…

(Image credit: Getty Images)A successful career often includes risk-taking to master greater responsibilities, earn more income and substantially increase your savings for retirement.But when you’ve reached the finish line of your working life, even if you’ve done a great job of putting money away, the risks aren’t necessarily over.Inflation, market volatility and health care costs are among the factors that can eat away at your nest egg, especially if you haven’t planned how to combat them well before retiring. 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…

Key Takeaways The best time to claim Social Security isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. It depends on your health, finances, marital status, and others, according to experts. In 2026, retirees can expect higher earnings limits, a 2.8% COLA, and a new senior tax deduction if aged 65 or older when filing their taxes. When it comes to retirement planning, deciding when to collect Social Security is often a significant decision. Collecting early, at age 62, can help ensure you have a steady stream of paychecks for a longer period. However, waiting at least until your full retirement age, which is age…

Find out how much you could earn by locking in a high CD rate today. The Federal Reserve cut its federal funds rate three times in 2024, and it recently announced its third rate cut of 2025, so now could be your last chance to lock in a competitive CD rate before rates fall further. CD rates vary widely across financial institutions, so it’s important to ensure you’re getting the best rate possible when shopping around for a CD. The following is a breakdown of CD rates today and where to find the best offers. Generally, the best CD rates…

A Christmas market in Cottbus, Germany. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesEuro zone inflation stood at 2.2% in November, marking a slight rise from the previous month, flash data from data agency Eurostat showed Tuesday.The latest consumer price index reading is just a shade above the European Central Bank’s 2% target. Economists polled by Reuters expected a reading of 2.1% for the twelve months to November.Looking at the main components of euro area inflation, services is expected to have the highest annual rate in November, at 3.5% compared with 3.4% in October, Eurostat said. Core inflation, which excludes more volatile energy,…

Precious metals just enjoyed one of their greatest years ever, if not the greatest! , , , and their miners’ stocks skyrocketed in 2025, multiplying contrarian investors’ wealth. More importantly, this year’s enormous gains radically improved mainstream investors’ sentiment on precious metals. After mostly ignoring this important sector for long years, now everyone finally realizes PM allocations are essential. Year-end is always a time of reflection. Around Christmas, the tyranny of the present and our endless busyness yields to a much-wider temporal perspective. As we spend joyous time with our families, we contemplate the past when our kids were younger.…

Selling a business in Connecticut can be a huge win, but it’s also one of those “details matter” projects. If your numbers are messy or your processes live in your head, buyers either pay less or start pushing for seller-friendly terms (earn-outs, heavy holdbacks, endless diligence).Below is a practical, friendly game plan you can follow, plus a Connecticut-specific list of places you can go for help (mentors, official filing and tax portals, and professional directories). I’ll also cover the state’s most populous cities and what tends to matter most in each local market. Selling a $1M+ revenue business in Connecticut?…

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Each ChatGPT plan offers different benefits for different users.Paid tiers get early access and fewer usage limits.You may not need to pay, depending on how often you use ChatGPT.It’s been a few years since ChatGPT burst onto the scene, and over that time, the AI chatbot has continuously updated with new models, features, products, and limitations. While there’s a lot you can do with the free tier, which does provide access to the latest and most powerful GPT-5 model, some features and perks…

(Investing)– Brazilian oil workers union FUP said on Monday it plans to accept a counteroffer from state-run company Petrobras for a labor deal, paving the way to end a week-long strike. In a statement published on social media, FUP said a majority of its board had approved signaling it would accept the oil firm’s counteroffer, which still requires approval from workers. It did not provide further details. Petrobras in a separate statement confirmed it had made “adjustments” to its latest collective labor proposal, “including advances on key union demands,” and added the strike has not affected production or market supply. The…