Author: Money Mechanics

Refresh 2026-01-26T14:55:58.108Z When does Jerome Powell’s term as Fed chair end? President Trump has not been subtle in his dislike of Fed Chair Powell. But the question of whether or not Trump can fire Powell is seemingly moot given that his term as Fed chair is up in just a few months – on May 15, 2026.It’s unlikely that those in Trump’s inner circle will encourage him to disrupt the status quo and replace Powell before his term is over – which could potentially send stocks and bonds tumbling – given that there’s such a small amount of time left.And…

Key Takeaways The price of gold traded at new record highs this morning after surpassing $5,000 per ounce for the first time over the weekend. The precious metal’s recent rise reflects investor demand for hedges amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty, as other precious metals have also climbed in recent months. Gold finally hit the milestone traders have been waiting for. The spot price of the precious metal over the weekend topped $5,000 per troy ounce for the first time, and reached as high as $5,115 Monday morning. The moves came as U.S. stocks ticked higher to start the week. (Read…

The 2025 Goldman Sachs Retirement Survey and Insights Report found that around 40% of Americans making more than $300,000 per year were living from paycheck to paycheck. While this might sound surprising, making a high salary doesn’t guarantee that you’ll use it wisely to build wealth or afford the lifestyle you want without debt. In a YouTube video, money expert and author Rachel Cruze discussed six financial mistakes that high earners often make. Plus, find out which smart alternatives she recommended. You might assume a higher income equals more cash for key goals, but some high earners become comfortable overspending…

Selling a business in Montana is a different game than selling in a big coastal state. The buyer pool is often smaller but highly motivated, many buyers come from out of state, and “local realities” matter more than people expect, like seasonality (tourism and outdoor economy), workforce constraints, and whether your business can run without the owner being the glue holding everything together. This guide walks through Montana-specific preparation, timelines, city-by-city considerations, and the official resources you’ll want bookmarked before you accept an offer. Quick note: This is general educational info, not legal or tax advice. For a real transaction,…

Today’s homebuyers move at a digital speed. They expect answers in minutes, not hours, and seamless conversations to continue across websites, SMS, and digital campaigns, with personalized guidance delivered without delay. Builders, meanwhile, are investing more heavily in digital marketing platforms and lead generation tools. Yet response rates from Online Sales Consultants (OSC) haven’t kept pace with this growth.  The result is a widening gap between how buyers want to engage and how many builders are structured to respond — one that organizations like New Home Star see play out daily as builders scale digital demand faster than traditional sales…

Substack takes a radically different approach to the other platforms on this list. It’s a publishing platform that doubles as both a blogging tool and a newsletter. Every newsletter automatically becomes a blog post, so you can leverage both email and SEO. Its dual publishing approach is a hit among independent journalists and authors, who get to own their audience segment without tying themselves to one platform.Monetization is beautifully simple. When you’re ready to start offering paid subscriptions, just set your price. Substack handles everything else and takes a 10% cut of your earnings. It’s great for new creators who…

Key Takeaways A 2025 study found that more than half of 401(k) plans from 2009 to 2013 offered consumers at least one investment fund option that shared revenue with the plan’s administrator.Those plans had higher hidden costs, which can add up to thousands in lost value by the time you retire. Do you really know how your 401(k) plan is invested? If not, you might be putting your money in costlier mutual funds and not know it, new research suggests. Researchers analyzed the 1,000 largest 401(k) plans between 2009 and 2013—the only years when the Department of Labor required detailed…

Key Takeaways Liquid assets—such as cash, stocks, and brokerage accounts you can tap immediately—create flexibility that other assets can’t match.Growing your income matters more than pinching every penny, especially if you don’t let lifestyle inflation creep up on you.Staying invested during market drops prevents the timing mistakes that cost the average investor over 1% per year. A married couple in their mid-30s recently shared their financial situation on Reddit’s Financial Independence community: they have $2.3 million in liquid assets and a plan to hit $4 million before age 42. They pull in around $550,000 per year combined. “Once someone reaches…

Stock futures were poised for a lower open Monday to begin a busy week of tech earnings and the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates, while gold futures surpassed $5,000 an ounce for the first time. Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed down 0.4%, 0.2%, and less than 0.1%, respectively. The three major equities indexes posted their second straight losing week following a mixed session Friday. Markets seem to be impacted by President Donald Trump’s threatened 100% tariff on imports from Canada if Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reached a trade deal with China, as…

Key Takeaways Eastern Europe offers affordable health care, a low cost of living, and culturally rich, historically significant cities.Countries like Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Croatia are some of the most affordable countries in Europe for retirees.  Although you might think of the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben when envisioning the backdrop of life in Europe, these four affordable European countries demonstrate that looking east can offer the perks of Europe without the high costs of London or Paris. Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, and Montenegro offer the culture, scenery, and cafe lifestyle of Europe at a fraction of the price. Here’s what you need…