Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Fernando Mendoza announced his intention to be available in the upcoming NFL draft today, a rollout that included a post on the career-oriented platform LinkedIn.His move illustrated how professionals use social media not only as a tool for applying for work but also as a place to make a statement about how one wants to be perceived professionally. Fernando Mendoza may or may not end up taking his talents to South Beach someday. In the meantime, he’s taken to LinkedIn. The star Indiana University quarterback, who recently led the Hoosiers to their first college football championship, announced on…

Key Takeaways TikTok said Thursday it has finalized a deal bringing its U.S. operations under a joint venture majority owned by American investors.The deal ends a yearslong push by the U.S. government for American control of the formerly Chinese-owned platform on national security grounds. TikTok has finally ironed out a deal giving American investors a majority stake in its U.S. business. One of them is a big name in tech. The social media platform on Thursday said it has finished the details of an agreement bringing the previously Chinese-owned app’s U.S. operations under a joint venture controlled by a group…

Key Takeaways Among the 14.9 million federal student loan borrowers ages 35 to 49, the average borrower in this age group holds about $45,295 in student loan debt.This age group has the highest delinquency rate among student loan borrowers. Are you a federal student loan borrower between the ages of 35 and 49? Here’s how your balance and repayment status compare with other borrowers your age. About 14.9 million borrowers ages 35 to 49 hold $674.9 billion in student loan debt as of September 2025, according to the Department of Education’s most recent data. This age group holds the most…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If your household earns around $350,000 and you still feel behind, you are not alone. Many high earners are financially savvy. They understand the basics. They invest. They avoid obvious mistakes.Yet confidence does not always rise with income.That disconnect exists because most financial wellness advice was designed for simpler financial lives. One primary income. Fewer tax variables. Fewer competing priorities. Less decision fatigue. 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…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you’re on vacation and get in an accident or become seriously ill, what’s your plan? If you don’t have an answer, it’s time to put one together. Depending on where you’re going, how long you’ll be gone and your current health status, the plan could be as simple as “jot down the address of the nearest U.S. embassy and call it a day.”But for many travelers, it helps to have a more robust plan that includes some amount of travel insurance and potentially an emergency assistance membership to ensure you can get the care you need…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most beginner investors don’t fail because they pick the wrong stocks. They fail because they’re overwhelmed by too many choices and too much complexity right out of the gate.When everything is available at once, doing nothing often feels safer than doing something wrong.If you open an account with any of the best online brokers and trading platforms for the first time today, you’re immediately flooded with choices. 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…

It’s all very well to pop down to the club for a game and a catch-up with friends, but for real golf fans, there’s little more exciting than exploring a trip to somewhere new and very different. The research, the organizing, the anticipation are all part of the package.If you’re thinking of booking a golf vacation in 2026, consider these four brilliant and very different golfing destinations.Each resort is perfect on its own but has plenty of other courses, visitor attractions and nearby activities to make it a worthwhile trip. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a…

January is often when many couples talk about their financial intentions whether it’s saving more, paying down debt or finally getting organized. But one of the most important financial conversations often gets skipped because it feels uncomfortable or unnecessary: making sure both partners can step in if the other suddenly can’t.Emergencies don’t arrive with instructions. A medical crisis, accident, extended travel, or even something as simple as a forgotten password can leave one partner locked out of critical accounts at the exact moment they’re needed most. Financial transparency isn’t about control or monitoring; it’s about preparedness.Here’s what every couple should…

(Image credit: Getty Images)I am hooked on a podcast called Acquired, in which two smart guys do a deep analytical dive, typically lasting three or four hours, on a single successful company such as Coca-Cola (KO) or Trader Joe’s. Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, a pair of venture capitalists, are especially adept at explaining what’s behind the success of such tech giants as Alphabet (GOOGL), the former Google, which recently merited 11 hours and 42 minutes of dialogue all by itself.What have I learned? The big winners have a clear mission, they’re adaptable, and they’re willing to spend money on…

Key Takeaways The Caribbean offers retirees stunning natural beauty, warm weather, and a relaxed lifestyle—often at a fraction of U.S. living costs. Saint Lucia and Grenada top most lists for their safety, natural beauty, and affordable monthly budgets of $1,500 to $2,500. Budget-conscious retirees can live in Belize or the Dominican Republic for as little as $1,500 to $2,000 monthly, while Saint Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda offer more upscale experiences at higher costs. The Caribbean ticks a lot of the right boxes as a retirement destination. This tropical part of the Americas, comprising the islands and coastal…