Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways The traditional retirement model at 65 is no longer the norm. Many workers today retire in stages, sometimes referred to as phased or micro-retirements. Working in retirement is increasingly common, whether through part-time jobs, consulting, or passion projects. There is no one “right” way to retire. Use tools like lifestyle audits, vision planning, financial modeling, and test driving to create the retirement of your dreams. Retirement is transitioning away from a one-size-fits-all milestone. As life expectancy increases, pensions dwindle, and an increasing number of Americans worry about outliving their savings, the concept of retirement is evolving away from…

For millions of Americans, the start of the year brings one urgent question: “When will I get my W-2?”While the legal mailing deadline for employers is typically January 31, that date falls on a Saturday in 2026. Consequently, the official IRS deadline for W-2 access has shifted to Monday, February 2, 2026.Beyond the calendar, the 2026 tax filing landscape has transformed. The IRS is entering this season with a 26% reduction in staff, causing uncertainty about taxpayer support and whether tax refunds will be delayed. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe…

Key Takeaways Intel and AMD shares surged Tuesday after KeyBanc analysts upgraded the stocks, pointing to signs of strong AI demand. The analysts said their checks suggest both chipmakers have nearly sold out of their expected 2026 capacity for server CPUs, and are considering raising prices. A pair of chipmakers were among the top performers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Tuesday after the stocks won fresh bullish calls on Wall Street. Shares of Intel (INTC) were up nearly 9%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) surged over 6% in recent trading even as broader markets declined, after KeyBanc analysts upgraded the…

U.S. presidents are some of the most quotable Americans in history. This five-question quiz draws on their colorful advice on aging gracefully, retirement, and financial matters.Despite holding the highest office, many presidents impart relatable advice to older Americans. Can you match the president to the quote in our quiz, below?Read More 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 Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement,…

Federal tax policy often dominates headlines, especially since President Donald Trump and the GOP enacted a sweeping tax overhaul last year. But many people don’t realize that state tax laws tend to have a more immediate impact on household budgets.For 2026, dozens of states enacted changes to income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and senior and Veteran tax relief programs. These may impact everything from take-home pay and retirement income to property taxes and the cost of everyday purchases.Here are some significant 2026 state tax changes and what they may mean for you as a resident and taxpayer. From just…

Short-term swings in the USD/JPY pair at the start of the week reflect several forces acting mainly on the US dollar. Last Friday, provided mild support to the US dollar. Even so, it remains difficult to argue that a broader trend shift is underway, particularly given the sizeable downward revisions seen in recent months. At the same time, the growing clash between President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is weighing on the US dollar. The threat of criminal charges linked to the renovation of federal buildings has unsettled markets, though many view this as an effort to…

Following the recent closure of its inaugural reinsurance sidecar transaction with QBE Re, Calidris Investment Partners has announced key leadership hires, with Marcus Foley joining the firm as Director of Quantitative Strategies, and Natasha Osborne as Director of Finance and Operations.Calidris was launched last year by former Ontario Teachers’ insurance-linked securities (ILS) specialist Philippe Trahan and former Blackstone insurance transaction specialist Daniel Miller. As Artemis reported, QBE Re, the international reinsurance arm of QBE, closed its first casualty reinsurance sidecar vehicle earlier this month, securing over $550 million in fully collateralised quota share reinsurance through George Street Re. The George…

Core inflation held at 2.6%, a 5-year low for a completed year. By David Enna, Tipswatch.com U.S. inflation rose 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, with annual inflation holding steady at 2.7%, same as reported for November. The annual rate ended up higher than expectations, but that was balanced off by a lower-than-expectations increase for core inflation, which removes food and energy. Core inflation increased 0.2% for the month and held steady at 2.6% for the year. So this looks like a fairly mild inflation report. The December report closes the…

Google on Tuesday updated its Veo 3.1 AI video generation model with the ability to create native vertical videos for social platforms using reference images. The changes will also make the videos generated from reference images more expressive and dynamic. When producing AI-generated videos for YouTube Shorts or other platforms like Instagram or TikTok, Veo users can now natively choose the 9:16 vertical format to avoid any cropping. Google is also adding the feature directly to the YouTube Shorts and the YouTube Create app. Google first released Veo 3.1 in October 2025 with improved audio output and more granular editing…

Key Takeaways Inflation was cooler than expected in December as prices for used cars fell, driving down the overall inflation rate.However, food prices rose at their fastest pace in more than three years.Tariffs hurt less than expected, with prices for goods other than food and energy staying flat for the first time since May. A key measure of inflation rose less than expected in December, offering some relief to household budgets strained by years of steep cost-of-living increases.The Consumer Price Index rose 2.7% in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday. That was the same annual increase as in…