Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways The stock market has been volatile so far this year, but one Morgan Stanley advisor is urging investors to stick it out. Stocks should get a lift from the combination of accelerating earnings growth and lower interest rates this year, according to Jim Lacamp. Investors may be tempted, after three years of double digit gains, to ditch the stock market amid this year’s bout of volatility. Jim Lacamp, senior vice president with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, is encouraging them to white knuckle it.  The stock market in early 2026 can feel “really hard to stick with, because of…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The stock market in 2025 was a roller coaster for investors, but it was a fruitful year for those who remained invested.The S&P 500 experienced record highs and a drop, and while it felt rocky along the way, it finished the year up more than 16%. In real time, we saw the benefits of avoiding emotion and sticking to a long-term investment strategy.As we enter 2026, there are lessons from last year that could help dictate your investment decisions. Here are three things you should keep in mind: From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become…

Key Takeaways Ahead of the Fed’s next decision, many low-risk cash options still earn competitive returns in the 3–5% range if you know where to look. The best savings accounts, CDs, brokerage options, and Treasuries continue to offer solid yields without taking on market risk. Choosing the right account can meaningfully change what your cash earns, as our comparison shows for balances like $10,000, $25,000, and $50,000. Where Cash Is Paying the Most Right Now—All in One Chart With the Federal Reserve set to announce a rate decision next week, many savers are evaluating where to keep their cash. Fortunately,…

(Image credit: Getty Images)It was a mixed day on Wall Street, with technology lifting the Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 as Apple (AAPL), Meta Platforms (META), Microsoft (MSFT) and Tesla (TSLA) prepare to report earnings next week. Financials dragged on the Dow Jones Industrial Average after President Donald Trump sued JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon.”The trend is still positive,” writes Louis Navellier of Navellier & Associates, “with the leading risks including geopolitical uncertainties, uncertain timing on when the Supreme Court will rule on tariffs, and the upward pressure on interest rates that is being driven by Japan.”As Navellier…

Key Takeaways Shares of credit card lender Capital One have been sinking since President Trump vowed to cap interest rates on credit cards. They fell even further on Friday. But many analysts are bullish. CNBC’s Jim Cramer said of Capital One: “This is the one to own.” Capital One might be “what’s in your wallet.” Should it be in your portfolio? Credit-card stocks have taken a hit since President Donald Trump earlier this month vowed to cap their interest rates and, more recently, called on Congress to make his proposal law; Shares of companies like American Express (AXP) to Visa…

(Image credit: Getty Images)No one wakes up in the morning planning to get into a car accident. You don’t put it on the calendar between doctor’s appointments and meetings at work. It just happens.One second, you’re driving along, thinking about what to have for dinner, and the next second, your heart is trying to exit your body through your throat.This is the moment when adrenaline kicks in, logic leaves the building, and people start doing things they later wish they hadn’t done. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88…

Key Takeaways Tripling your money over 25 years works out to just 4.5% annually, about half what a basic S&P 500 index fund would have returned.Retirement readiness comes down to whether your savings and income sources can cover your spending for as long as you live.It isn’t defined by a single number or growth rate, but by whether your savings and income sources can sustainably support your personal spending needs. Tripling your money sounds impressive—until you do the math. Over 25 years, that’s a 4.5% annual return, barely ahead of inflation and well below what a simple index fund would…

Key Takeaways The AI rally is alive and well in the shares of memory device makers like Sandisk and chipmaking equipment providers like Lam Research.Meanwhile, software stocks are being left in the dust as investors worry AI could be more threat than opportunity for the industry. Artificial intelligence is once again fueling a scorching tech stock rally, but the rising tide is notably not lifting all boats.  Shares of companies making memory and data storage devices soared in the first weeks of 2026, fueled by a shortage of the hardware essential to training and running AI models. Sandisk (SNDK) stock…

In-brief analysis January 23, 2026 Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration and Natural Gas Intelligence Natural gas daily spot prices at the benchmark Henry Hub rose sharply over the past week, reaching nearly $8.15 per million British thermal units on January 22 as colder weather increased demand for space heating across the country. Higher wholesale natural gas prices generally contribute to higher wholesale electricity prices. This weekend, much of the country is expected to experience severe winter weather. When cold weather hits, especially over a large swath of the country, we often…

Despite a decrease in spread multiples, the private insurance-linked securities (ILS) market continues to remain attractive both in absolute terms and in comparison, to the catastrophe bond market, Stephan Ruoff from Schroders Capital told Artemis.Ruoff, who serves as Co-Head of Private Debt & Credit Alternatives, Chairman ILS at Schroders Capital, recently spoke to Artemis to share what the organisations outlook is for the private ILS sector in 2026. Private ILS strategies, such as collateralized reinsurance, retrocession and other privately negotiated placements, showed demonstrated heightened activity and investor engagement throughout 2025. While public catastrophe bonds grew substantially throughout 2025, private ILS…