Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Tax season might feel far off, but the IRS has already set the stage for 2026 — and there are some updates worth paying attention to, especially if you’re retired or nearing retirement.Inflation adjustments are raising income thresholds, standard deductions and the extra deduction for adults age 65 and older.Thanks to a recently passed tax bill, there’s also a new limited-time bonus deduction designed specifically for older taxpayers. 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…

(Image credit: Getty Images)I still remember a turning point early in my career. I was working at a financial firm that had a strict minimum asset requirement for clients. One day, I met with a couple who had about $250,000 to invest, which was below our firm’s threshold.I knew we could make a meaningful difference in their retirement plan. But when I brought it up with the firm’s owner, his response was short and final: “That’s too bad, but they don’t meet the minimum. We have to move on.”That moment stuck with me. Turning someone away — not because we…

(Image credit: Getty Images)RMDs are like colon cancer screenings: You thought they were only for older folks, and ignoring them now could lead to bigger problems down the road.When you get to the current RMD age of 73 (updated in the SECURE 2.0 Act) and you’re forced to take money from your traditional accounts, you’re not just paying taxes on that specific RMD dollar amount.Here are the five biggest mistakes I see retirees make with their RMDs. Learn from these mistakes so that you can plan your RMDs ahead of time and hopefully lower their tax bite. From just $107.88…

Question: I retired at 63 to enjoy my free time, but my grown kids constantly ask for help with childcare. I love my grandkids, but it’s too much. What should I do?Answer: The nice thing about being retired is getting to take back control of your time, as opposed to having to be on an employer’s schedule. That could mean spending your days doing projects at home, enjoying hobbies, or spending time with the people you care about.A recent Transamerica survey of retirees found that 32% are prioritizing time with family. And 19% are taking care of grandchildren. From just…

Key Takeaways Inflation and rising rents, coupled with stagnant wages, have left 65% of renters struggling to stay afloat. The hardest hit are single-income households with children and health issues living in rural or non‑metropolitan areas, where better wages are often harder to come by. Almost two-thirds (65%) of working-age renters struggle to afford basic expenses after paying rent, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. It’s not just low-wage workers who are struggling. The researchers found that, after paying rent, even many middle-income, full-time workers don’t have enough left over to cover basic needs. What’s Driving the…

Key Takeaways For many Americans, peak earning years are between the ages of 45 and 54, and many of them worry about saving enough for retirement. The earlier you start saving for retirement, the more you can benefit from compound interest. Taking advantage of retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans, and individual retirement accounts is a way to build savings and ease retirement concerns. For many Americans, retirement is a constant worry. According to BlackRock, 47% of Americans between the ages of 45 to 54 worry about their retirement savings at least once a day.  These financial moves will help…

Farmers Insurance Group has now successfully secured the one-third upsized $400 million of multi-peril US catastrophe reinsurance protection from the capital markets through its new Topanga Re (Series 2025-1) catastrophe bond issuance, Artemis understands.With the notes now priced, this latest catastrophe bond for Farmers has also priced at lower spread levels than were initially targeted, following the trend seen across almost every cat bond issuance in the current quarter. This transaction was first launched to investors back in October, with Farmers Insurance Group initially targeting a minimum $300 million of per-occurrence catastrophe reinsurance protection from what will be its second…

Mortgage purchase application data The last three years have shown that when mortgage rates fall below 6.64% and head toward 6%, purchase application data improves, especially week-to-week. In the past few years, we weren’t able to hold rates down near 6% long enough to get real traction. This year, we have been able to hold rates below 6.64% for 18 weeks, which has been the best 18 weeks of the year. Below is what the data has shown us for the last 18 weeks:  11 positive week-to-week prints 7 negative week-to-week prints 18 weeks of double-digit year-over-year growth As you…

Key Takeaways An Empower survey showed that almost a quarter of Americans believe that you need to take risks to get richer. Risks are inherent in investing, so you can’t completely avoid them. You can reduce risk by diversifying your holdings and spreading them across a mix of low-, medium-, and high-risk assets. Your risk tolerance is higher when you are younger, which means you can invest in riskier investments. Revisit your portfolio as your situation changes and get older. Risk is a key part of building wealth, and higher returns come with a higher chance of loss. According to…

Key Takeaways According to a new survey, Americans think they’ll need $1.28 million to retire comfortably, yet about half will struggle to reach $500,000. You shouldn’t get caught up in what others think they need. Set your own target based on your own situation. Financial planners advise people who are behind in their savings to start contributing as much as possible and to consider working longer. In its 2025 U.S. Retirement Survey, Schroders found that many Americans are nowhere near reaching the $1.28 million they say they’ll need to retire comfortably. Just under half (48%) of the 1,500 people surveyed…