Author: Money Mechanics

For many Americans, recent market swings have been emotionally draining. These volatile moments in the market can create uncertainty and may influence how people feel about their financial future in retirement. As markets go down, financial stress can often go up.In the 2026 Annual Retirement Study* from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement®, two in three Americans (67%) said they worry more about running out of money than death.That concern has climbed steadily over the past five years, up 10 percentage points since 2022. This worry is driven by rising costs, healthcare concerns and market volatility. From just…

Many investors know to expect to pay federal capital gains tax when they sell appreciated stocks, mutual funds, cryptocurrency, investment property, or other assets. But state taxes are often an afterthought, even though those levies can significantly impact your total tax bill.Most states tax capital gains as ordinary income, while others have special rules, exemptions, or separate capital gains taxes. So, depending on where you live and how much you earn, your gains may escape state tax altogether or be taxed at rates as high as 10% or more.Here’s more to know about state capital gains tax rates and how…

If something happened to you tomorrow, would your family know exactly what to do … or would they be left guessing?Without a plan, your estate might go through probate, a process that can take months (or longer), incur legal costs and make your personal financial matters part of the public record.According to Caring.com’s 2025 Wills and Estate Planning Survey, less than 50% of respondents said they had estate planning documents drawn up to ensure their wishes were known. Only 24% said they had a will (a significant decrease compared with past years). From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance…

Warren Buffett has issued another warning, stating that the markets are dominated by speculation. However, solid value opportunities can be identified with the right tools. Discover eight opportunities that even Buffett himself wouldn’t turn down. Legendary investor Warren Buffett may have stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway last year, but his views on markets continue to command investors’ attention. In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, July 15, Buffett reiterated his cautious stance, saying attractive valuations have become increasingly difficult to find as speculation has overshadowed long-term investing. “It’s hard to find value when everyone prefers to gamble.” The…

Fermat Capital Management, the specialist catastrophe bond and insurance-linked securities (ILS) investment manager, has reached another high point in terms of its cat bond and ILS assets under management, surpassing the $11 billion milestone recently, Artemis can report.Fermat Capital Management has added around $1.1 billion in ILS assets under management (AUM) in a roughly six month period, having last stood at $9.9 billion in cat bond and ILS AUM as of the end of 2025. Reaching the $11 billion mark by July 1st 2026, this represents an 11% expansion of ILS assets managed over the course of this year so…

Soccer fans gather for a watch party during the World Cup semifinal match between Spain and France at China Basin Park in San Francisco, July 14, 2026.Heather Diehl | Getty ImagesWhile the FIFA World Cup provided a tourism boost to host cities, its positive impact was mitigated by economic weakness seen elsewhere, according to a Federal Reserve report released Wednesday.The soccer tournament, which the U.S. co-hosted, has fetched median admissions prices topping $900, according to TicketData. Yet the latest edition of the Fed’s Beige Book — a recap of regional conditions published eight times a year — indicated that the…

Qi Yang/ Moment via Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysMake your home look like a bad choice for burglars.Smart locks and leak sensors give you peace of mind.Simple steps have a big impact on preparation.I love traveling, and I want to get away as much as I can. Later this summer I’m off to Spain to catch a glimpse of the 2026 solar eclipse, a trip that already has me buzzing with excitement.But I’ve also watched Home Alone, and I know that an empty home can attract the wrong sort of attention. I’ve also seen…

Heather Rae El Moussa is starting to share sneak peeks into the drama that will unfold when she and her “Selling Sunset” co-star-turned-frenemy Christine Quinn return to the action-packed Netflix reality series following a yearslong hiatus.The 38-year-old reality star offered a teasing glimpse at how her complicated relationship with Quinn, 37, has evolved since they were last seen on screen together while answering fan questions about the upcoming season of the Netflix show on Instagram.When asked by one follower whether she or Quinn will be “more bossy” upon their return to the real estate reality series set in Los Angeles,…

JPMorgan (JPM) shares inched higher on Tuesday as investors cheered the largest U.S. bank’s solid Q2 earnings, featuring a 27% year-over-year increase to $58 billion. More importantly, the investment firm posted record net income of $21.16 billion, which translates to $7.7 on a per-share basis, crushing Street estimates set at $5.55 per share.  At the time of writing, JPMorgan stock is up about 20% versus its year-to-date low.  More News from Barchart www.barchart.com What Drove JPMorgan Profit in Q2? JPMorgan’s impressive Q2 earnings were driven primarily by a massive $5.6 billion in one-time pretax gains from a $4.55 billion transaction involving Visa…

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to you.1 Our focus in this conference is financial inclusion, and something that will likely have great consequences for financial inclusion and our economy more broadly in the years ahead is artificial intelligence (AI). As I have explored in a number of speeches over the past several years, AI has the potential to transform lives and the U.S. economy, possibly empowering workers to be more productive, with lower- and middle-income workers benefiting the most.2 But it is also the case that AI may instead exacerbate inequality, eliminating some lower- and middle-income jobs…