Author: Money Mechanics

Costco is typically known for deals like its $1.50 hot dog combo, and lately, gold bars that keep selling out. But at this moment, the warehouse retailer is in the spotlight due to a high-stakes legal battle over sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.What’s happening? Costco recently filed a lawsuit to preserve its right to a potential refund of an undisclosed amount of tariffs paid. A sticking point is whether the United States Supreme Court will ultimately rule that Trump lacked the authority to impose the levies in the first place.But it’s important to note that Costco’s lawsuit is…

(Image credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)The market for initial public offerings (IPOs) was gaining momentum heading into the fourth quarter of 2025, but quickly lost steam as the record-long government shutdown put a short-term halt to public offerings.According to Renaissance Capital, the 64 IPOs we saw in Q3 raised a combined $15.3 billion, marking the biggest quarter of new issuance since 2021.”Twenty-four IPOs raised $100 million or more, another post-2021 high, led by a wave of high-profile unicorns,” wrote Renaissance Capital in its Q3 2025 Quarterly Review (pdf). “Renewed interest in growth stocks allowed many of these names to price above…

Key Takeaways After a career break, focus on the skills and unique qualifications that you can bring to the position, instead of drawing attention to perceived “deficits.”Upskill affordably with online certifications, free courses, or targeted training in your field.Build or refresh your network through LinkedIn, professional associations, and attending events related to your field.Know your value and negotiate compensation with confidence, as taking a break doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Whether you took time off to raise a child, care for a loved one, recover from illness, or reassess your career path, reentering the workforce can feel overwhelming. You’re far…

Retirement planning is built on projections, but averages shape your financial reality. It’s not enough to know how much you need; you benefit from understanding how your financial picture compares to others. One way to determine this is by looking at the average retirement income in the United States, categorized by age group and state.The breakdown in age, from Empower, shows how the median and mean annual income for retirees change across different age brackets, from the more active 55-59 and 60-64 age groups to the later-stage 75+ age group. We also examine data on average retirement incomes across all…

Key Takeaways Applied math/statistics (BS/MS) and Financial Engineering / Quantitative Finance (MS) graduates are landing the highest-paying fintech roles. Six-figure salaries are the norm, with the median pay for software developers, data scientists, and cybersecurity analysts ranging from the low to mid-$100,000 range. Employers say they are prioritizing candidates who can analyze data, build models, and automate systems. While layoffs have rocked workers across the economy in 2025, one corner of the financial world has kept hiring: fintech. The reason is straightforward: money is going digital, and the companies building that infrastructure, along with other massive technological changes in finance,…

Stock futures pointed higher Wednesday, a day after major indexes resumed their winning ways with technology and cryptocurrency-tied stocks leading the charge, as investors shook off a poor private-payrolls reading.  Futures associated with the benchmark S&P 500, blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average, and tech-heavy Nasdaq advanced 0.3%, 0.2%, and 0.2%, respectively. Yesterday, the three major stock indexes rose for the sixth time in seven sessions. Investors seemed to take in stride the ADP employment reading for November, which indicated that private payrolls fell by 32,000 last month when an increase of 40,000 jobs was expected, with small businesses particularly hit hard. The report…

Caterina Technologies, Inc., a quantitative applied research and development firm building financial technology infrastructure with its initial focus on the catastrophe bond and insurance-linked securities (ILS) sector, has announced the hiring of senior Swiss Re ILS focused product and strategy leader Anthony Russo.Anthony Russo is joining Caterina Technologies as its first Chief Product Officer and also its Interim Chief Operating Officer. Russo joins the company from Swiss Re where he has played an integral role in the adoption of technology by the reinsurance firm’s Alternative Capital Partners (ACP) insurance linked securities focused operations, resulting in the development and roll-out of…

The financial geography of Georgia comprises fast-growing cities and rural communities with limited banking access. With the continuously rising housing costs, utility bills, and everyday expenses in metro areas like Atlanta and Savannah, combined with stagnated wages for many, managing multiple debts from credit cards to medical bills is a real challenge.  Consequently, this means that whether you are living in a suburb, small town, or rural corner of Georgia, there are several debt-relief paths available: nonprofit credit counseling, consolidation, settlement, or, if necessary, bankruptcy. You can also explore our comprehensive guide to debt-relief options across the U.S., which offers…

India has backed away from its plan to force smartphone makers to pre-install a government app on all devices, following backlash and mounting concerns that the mandate would expand state access to users’ devices and weaken privacy protections. On Wednesday, the Indian telecom ministry said Sanchar Saathi, an anti-theft and cybersecurity protection app, would remain voluntary, and that smartphone makers would no longer be required to preload it on devices they sell. The new notice effectively reverses a directive issued to manufacturers last week (and circulated online on Monday) that had instructed manufacturers to bake the app into all devices…

Key Takeaways The average credit card balance per borrower in the U.S. was $6,618 at the start of 2025, up about 1.2% from 2024.Total U.S. credit card debt is approximately $1.21 trillion, an increase of 5.9% from the previous year.Keeping debt in check starts with limiting spending, making extra payments when you can, focusing on the highest-interest debt first, and committing to reducing balances over time. If your credit card bill keeps rising month after month, you’re not alone. Many Americans have seen their balances grow amid inflation and rising living costs. Plus, it can be difficult to keep track…