Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Researchers found that the quality and timing of a graduate’s first job explain most of the earnings gap between low- and high-income students five years after college. Lower-income graduates are more likely to land in lower-paying firms and earn about 12% less five years out, even after accounting for grades, major, and college. Graduates who secure a reliable job before or soon after graduation and stay at least two years earn thousands more later on. Research from Columbia University and the National Bureau of Economic Research reveals a troubling pattern: your first job after college can lock in…

(World Oil)– Halliburton has appointed veteran oil and gas executive Timothy A. Leach to its board of directors, effective Dec. 2, 2025, adding one of the U.S. shale sector’s most recognizable leaders to the company’s governance team. Leach will stand for election at Halliburton’s 2026 annual shareholders meeting. Leach retired earlier this year after a 40-year career that included senior leadership roles at ConocoPhillips and, notably, his long tenure as chairman and CEO of Concho Resources, which he led from its formation in 2006 through its 2021 acquisition by ConocoPhillips. He later served as ConocoPhillips’ executive vice president for the Lower 48 before…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Act created different student loan limits for graduate students and “professional” graduate students.Professional students, such as those in medical and law fields, will receive a higher loan limit than other graduate students.Critics argue that excluding degrees such as nursing and social work from being considered “professional” makes it more difficult for students to afford their master’s degrees. A new classification could make it harder for some graduate students to afford their degrees. The “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Act, passed in July, directed the Department of Education to reduce the amount of student loans available to…

Key Takeaways About 10% of Americans say luxury handbags could fund their retirement, according to TIAA’s new survey. Some designer bags, like Hermès Birkins, have significantly climbed in value—but that’s the exception, not the rule. Experts say handbags can have resale potential, but they’re not a reliable plan for retirement income. About 10% of Americans say their best shot at funding retirement might come from either winning the lottery or investing in luxury handbags, according to a new TIAA survey. It sounds like a punchline—until you realize the gut punch behind it. Dig into the data in this and other…

Income for single-filers Income for married couples filing jointly Marginal Income Tax Rate $640,601 or more $768,701 or more 37% $256,226 to $640,600 $512,451 to $768,700 35% $201,776 to $256,225 $403,551 to $512,450 32% $105,701 to $201,775 $211,401 to $403,550 24% $50,401 to $105,700 $100,801 to $211,400 22% $12,401 to $50,400 $24,801 to $100,800 12% $12,400 or less $24,800 or less 10% Tax Brackets Can Be Used To Help Guide Your Withdrawal Strategy Patrick Huey, a CFP and owner of Victory Independent Planning, suggests that knowing where you fall within the tax brackets can help you make smarter decisions about…

Medicare Part D open enrollment ends Dec. 7. Compare drug plans now to avoid higher costs and coverage gaps in 2026gettyIn mid-January 2025, I received a very ballistic email from a woman new to 65 Incorporated. It appears she was writing to anybody and everybody who might be associated with Part D, prescription drug coverage. She was angry because she was put into a new plan with a premium that was $90 more. She read everything; it seemed that nobody wrote anything about this. It’s doubtful she read everything. There were several news stories discussing the many changes–the $2,000 cap,…

Key Takeaways Traditional savings accounts preserve your balance but rarely outpace inflation, eroding your money’s value. Balances left dormant for too long may be handed over to the state. It’s smart to put your savings somewhere it can earn a high return. The best high-yield savings accounts pay 12 times the national average. Also consider some longer-term options, such as a certificate of deposit (CD) or investment in the stock market. Money turned over to the state can sometimes be recovered, but requires navigating some bureaucratic red tape. Putting cash away in a savings account feels reassuring, but comfort alone…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ reinstates and makes permanent a tax rule that allows those who do not itemize their taxes to deduct up to $1,000 of their charitable contributions starting next year.Some taxpayers who give to charity at the end of the year may want to postpone their gift until next year to take advantage of the expanded deduction. The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ will allow taxpayers who do not itemize to deduct their charitable contributions starting next year. That means donations made in January or later can lower your 2026 tax bill. This partial deduction is…

Key Takeaways Florida’s governor is supporting a proposal to eliminate property taxes for homeowners.Eliminating property taxes could push housing prices up as much as 9%, a Realtor.com report found. Florida homeowners have seen their property values soar by 42% since 2019, but they have fallen by 3% over the past three years. Residents of one state could see a big jump in their home value if voters make a key change to property tax collections. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed eliminating or reducing property taxes for Florida homeowners who live on the property as their primary residence. The cut would…

Gold () remains the most resilient asset in global markets as traders recalibrate ahead of the Federal Reserve’s December 10 decision. Spot prices trade around $4,218 per ounce, holding firmly above the six-week high reached Monday when bullion touched $4,236.10 before easing slightly. Futures on COMEX hover near $4,250, down about 0.6%, reflecting light profit-taking rather than a shift in sentiment. The broader narrative remains bullish as investors assign an 88% probability to a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut, while Treasury yields edge higher but fail to dent long-term demand for non-yielding assets like gold. The short-term pullback to the $4,180–$4,200…