Author: Money Mechanics

KEY TAKEAWAYS The Department of Education is pausing wage garnishments for the millions of defaulted student loan borrowers.This is a significant reversal: The Department had previously said it would start cutting part of the defaulted borrowers’ income in early February. The Department of Education backtracked from previous plans this week, saying it will not cut the wages of defaulted federal student loan borrowers yet. In a press conference on Monday, the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, said in response to a question about the resumption of wage garnishments for defaulted student loans that the Department is pausing wage garnishments for…

Key Takeaways Micron stock rose more than 5% Friday after board member and former TSMC co-CEO Mark Liu disclosed a $7.8 million share purchase.The buy comes amid strong AI-driven demand for memory chips, which has propelled Micron’s stock price in recent months. Micron (MU) just got a powerful vote of confidence. Shares of the chip maker jumped Friday after Mark Liu, a current member of Micron’s board of directors and a former co-CEO of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM), purchased 23,200 Micron shares earlier this week, according to a regulatory disclosure filed late Thursday. The shares were worth about $7.8…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Following President Donald Trump’s proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10%, new Bilt credit cards offer rewards for making rent or mortgage payments and a 10% APR for the first year.However, many other credit card companies offer longer introductory periods with APRs as low as 0% for a year and a half.Consumers should be aware that when the introductory period on their credit card ends, the actual APR applies, which can make any remaining balance much higher. New Bilt credit cards will offer interest rates of 10% for the first year, echoing President Trump’s recent proposal…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most people don’t think of their insurance company as their best friend — unless your idea of friendship involves premiums, paperwork and hold music that sounds like it was recorded a hundred years ago.But stick with me here: Your insurance, the right insurance, deserves a little gratitude.Let’s be honest. Insurance has a PR problem. Nobody throws a party when they renew a policy. People don’t carve “I ❤️ My Homeowners Insurance” on a tree trunk or engrave “Best Policy Ever” on a trophy. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor.…

(Image credit: Getty Images)It’s not too late to set goals for the year, so I’m going to add one more to your plans to get a gym membership and eat more healthily: Complete a financial plan in 2026.While it’s good to have a financial plan at any time, there are a few reasons why it’s particularly important to get planning this year:1. Interest rates have fallen Interest on money market accounts and CDs is generally decreasing following the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts in 2024 and 2025. Cash may be less attractive than it used to be. It may be time…

In-brief analysis January 16, 2026 Electricity generation by the U.S. electric power sector totaled about 4,260 billion kilowatthours (BkWh) in 2025. In our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we expect U.S. electricity generation will grow by 1.1% in 2026 and by 2.6% in 2027, when it reaches an annual total of 4,423 BkWh. The three main dispatchable sources of electricity generation (natural gas, coal, and nuclear) accounted for 75% of total generation in 2025, but we expect the share of generation from these sources will fall to about 72% in 2027. We expect the combined…

Swiss Re has returned to the catastrophe bond market for its first sponsorship of this year, seeking $125 million or more in peak peril aggregate and subsequent event retrocession covering North American wind and earthquakes from a Matterhorn Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) transaction, Artemis can report.The global reinsurance giant is back with what will be the fifteenth takedown under its Bermuda-based Matterhorn Re catastrophe bond program. This new deal is the first catastrophe bond issuance from the Matterhorn Re vehicle in 2026 and follows Swiss Re having used the structure for three cat bond deals last year. Swiss Re has…

Living in Idaho might feel and sound like an affordable idea, but Idaho debt relief is becoming a very significant service as Idahoans are challenged by rising housing expenses, irregular incomes, and unexpected bills. Whether in Boise, Idaho, or in other parts of the state, the availability of financial advice can be an issue. For a comprehensive overview of national options, see our Debt Relief Overview. Why Is Debt Relief Unique in Idaho? The debt situation in Idaho is not the same as in coastal or expensive states. Even though the overall costs might be lower, the residents still have…

A version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Property Play newsletter with Diana Olick. Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family offices, institutional investors and large public companies. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.For the second month in a row, heat came out of the commercial real estate market in November. Transaction volume was 10% lower than November 2024, with just 1,800 deals overall, according to monthly data provided by Moody’s as a media exclusive to CNBC’s Property Play. It tracks the top 50 commercial…

On Tuesday, U.K.-based Iranian activist Nariman Gharib tweeted redacted screenshots of a phishing link sent to him via a WhatsApp message. “Do not click on suspicious links,” Gharib warned. The activist, who is following the digital side of the Iranian protests from afar, said the campaign targeted people involved in Iran-related activities, such as himself. This hacking campaign comes as Iran grapples with the longest nationwide internet shutdown in its history, as anti-government protests — and violent crackdowns — rage across the country. Given that Iran and its closest adversaries are highly active in the offensive cyberspace (read: hacking people),…