Author: Money Mechanics

Tariffs, rising inflation, stock market volatility, oh my…and that’s just this year.It’s understandable to get more conservative with your investments the closer you are to retirement or if you’re already there. After all, the money has to last decades. Plus, you worked hard amassing your nest egg, so who can blame you for wanting to protect it!It’s why conservative portfolio constructions — such as 40% stocks, 60% fixed income — exist, or why annuity sales in the third quarter alone reached nearly $120 billion. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from…

Key Takeaways Carvana, CRH, and Comfort Systems USA will join the S&P 500 prior to the opening of trading on Dec. 22, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.The three stocks will replace LKQ, Solstice Advanced Materials, and Mohawk Industries. Carvana, CRH, and Comfort Systems USA shares climbed Monday after S&P Dow Jones Indices said the stocks are set to join the S&P 500. Shares of used car retailer Carvana (CVNA) were up over 10% in recent trading, while construction materials provider CRH (CRH) jumped 6%, and mechanical and electrical services company Comfort Systems USA (FIX) added about 2%. (Read our…

Key Takeaways The federal government shutdown froze economic data releases, and agencies are still working to catch up. While a handful of reports have been rescheduled, some have also been consolidated or canceled. Other new release dates are still expected for several key reports for September, October and November. The government shutdown ended three weeks ago and statistical agencies are working to catch up on economic releases they missed. After being closed for 43 days, the federal bureaus that track inflation, employment, and economic growth are behind schedule on several reports, but they are beginning to catch up. This week, we’ll…

Key Takeaways About 37% of Americans already use AI for some aspect of money management, but only 10% trust it more than a human advisor. Trust remains the dealbreaker as almost two-thirds of Americans tell surveyors that AI can’t understand how emotions shape financial decisions. Retirement is keeping Americans up at night. Almost 7 in 10 say financial uncertainty has made them feel depressed and anxious, up 8% from 2023, according to Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning and Progress Study. Meanwhile, 51% told surveyors they’ll outlive their savings. That anxiety is pushing people to seek help, as Americans are increasingly turning…

The financial markets are starting the week in a steady mode as investors wait to see what the will do. Most expect a 25 basis point rate cut, with over an 85% probability. If there’s no surprise, the focus will shift to the Fed’s guidance on future moves after the new year. Meanwhile, delayed US economic data is coming in, including the important , while we still await and figures. In currency markets, has been moving sideways since June, and a neutral Fed statement is likely to keep it stable until the next key data is released.Powell’s Final Months at…

Migdal Insurance Company’s sponsorship of a $100 million Turris Re Ltd. (Series 2025-1) Israel earthquake catastrophe bond, which delivered an entirely new peril to the cat bond market, represents an important development for Israel and a strong example of the work Howden Capital Markets & Advisory (HCMA) is delivering across global markets, according to Jarad Madea, CEO, HCMA.Howden Capital Markets & Advisory served as the Sole Structuring Agent and Sole Bookrunner for the transaction, which is intended to expand Migdal’s capital sources for earthquake risk management. In October, Migdal Insurance became the latest first-time sponsor to debut in the catastrophe…

A hiring sign is displayed in the window of a business in Manhattan on Nov. 27, 2025 in New York City.Spencer Platt | Getty ImagesThe U.S. labor market slowdown intensified in November as private companies cut 32,000 workers, with small businesses hit the hardest, payrolls processing firm ADP reported Wednesday.With worries intensifying over the domestic jobs picture, ADP indicated the issues were worse than anticipated. The payrolls decline marked a sharp step down from October, which saw an upwardly revised gain of 47,000 positions, and was well below the Dow Jones consensus estimate from economists for an increase of 40,000.Larger…

T-Mobile is offering people the opportunity to get the iPhone 17 Pro at no cost… for the most part. You will need to sign up for the Experience Beyond plan with AutoPay Enabled, which is $100 a month. You’ll also need to cover taxes, fees, and a $35 connection charge. Still, it’s a nice break compared to having to pay $1,100 up-front for a 256GB iPhone 17 Pro.Also: iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Why I’m upgrading my three-year-old modelThere is one requirement that you must meet. You must trade in an eligible phone. T-Mobile doesn’t specify exactly what qualifies as an…

What You Need to Know Just a few years ago, Carvana’s shares looked like lemons. Now the company is on track to see its stock join the S&P 500. The company went public in 2017 at a $15 IPO price. The stock is now well above $400. It hasn’t been a straightforward trip here. Carvana may have staged a comeback for the ages.  The digital car seller is joining the benchmark S&P 500 just a few years after Wall Street had written off the company as a zombie. Carvana (CVNA), along with building materials supplier CRH (CRH) and construction services…

Key Takeaways Gold prices have hit a series of record highs this year, leading experts to suggest that investors should consider increasing their exposure to the precious metal. Exchange-traded funds are a convenient option for investing in gold, though they have unique characteristics that should be evaluated before making an investment. Your investment objectives should guide your choice of ETF and how much you ultimately allocate. With gold prices recently hitting all-time highs, gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a convenient way for investors to get exposure to one of humanity’s oldest stores of value. They offer accessibility without the hassles…