Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Jim Cramer told “Investopedia Express” podcast listeners that speculative stocks tied to AI hype and data center buildouts are due to “revert” to previous levels.He also provided his 2026 playbook: shifting from companies making the technology for AI to established firms using it to cut costs and boost profits. CNBC’s “Mad Money” host is waving the yellow flag. In other words, he’s urging caution: After a run-up in AI and other tech plays in 2025, Jim Cramer says “the year of magical investing” is coming to an end. In a recent interview on the “Investopedia Express” podcast, the…

Key Takeaways The affordability challenges that first-time homebuyers have been facing aren’t likely to improve much in 2026.Mortgage rates are expected to continue to hover around 6%, while home prices are likely to rise by 4%, according to the National Association of Realtors. The housing market has become a challenging environment for individuals seeking to purchase their first home. And in 2026, conditions don’t look like they will improve much. High housing costs and interest rates have served as a barrier for many looking to buy a house, but especially those looking to buy their first home. In fact, National…

Key Takeaways Americans ages 65–74 have a median net worth of $410,000, the highest of any age group.About 76% own a home and 51% have a retirement account, making home equity and savings the biggest drivers of wealth at this stage.Debt is less common but still present, with roughly 65% carrying some debt and about a third holding a credit card balance. How Wealthy Are Americans Ages 65–74? Americans ages 65–74 are typically in retirement or just a few years removed from full-time work, making this a key moment to assess how wealth looks once paychecks have largely stopped. For…

(Image credit: Getty Images)There is an age when self-doubt — questioning our decisions, seeking approval of family and trusted friends for our choices — can prevent us from becoming victims of financial abuse, consumer fraud or even ourselves.Like three-quarters of Americans over the age of 50, “Walter” and “Patty,” both in their late 70s, decided to “age in place” — remaining in the home they had lived in for many years, where they’ve formed friendships, have good neighbors and access to health care resources and much more.Patty deals with severe mobility and dexterity challenges that require their primary bathroom to…

(Image credit: Getty Images)For many ultra-high-net-worth families — those with $30 million or more who have spent decades building significant wealth — asset protection can feel like building a fortress during peacetime. You hope it’s never tested, but you sleep better knowing it’s there.In today’s world, a single lawsuit, business dispute or opportunistic claim can threaten the stability you’ve worked so hard to create.Despite this reality, only about a third of ultra-high-net-worth families report having asset protection plans in place. That means most have not thoughtfully integrated asset protection into their overall wealth strategy. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

(Image credit: Getty Images)”You’ve got to be kidding me — we can’t afford that.”That was my future mother-in-law’s response when I suggested some 30 years ago that she start an IRA and set up automatic monthly contributions .My future in-laws were blue-collar workers juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet, with two kids in college and two in high school. They lived within their means but weren’t familiar with investing, and my mother-in-law didn’t have a workplace retirement plan. 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…

Question: I’m 61 with $1.6 million. What New Year’s resolutions can help me retire by the end of 2026?Answer: The start of a new year is typically a good time for self-reflection. And it can be an especially good time to do some goal-setting if you’re gearing up for retirement in the not-so-distant future.If you’re 61 with $1.6 million saved and are making plans to retire by the end of 2026, you may have some pretty lofty goals for the upcoming year. Here are some resolutions you may want to focus on as you begin that final retirement countdown. Here…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The best mutual funds to invest in for 2026 paint a picture of optimism – though they stop well shy of implying that everything that trades will go up and to the right across the entirety of the coming year.That’s OK! Stock-market pundits entered 2025 with puffed chests and elevated hopes, believing equities were set to soar under a new, business-friendly administration. And sure, they did – the S&P 500 is set to finish the year with a gain in the high teens that easily surpasses its long-term annual average.But while the destination was right, the journey…

Key Takeaways For people in their 60s, retirement accounts typically hold more than $300,000 in stocks on average—but the median balance is closer to about $100,000.Taxable brokerage accounts vary widely, but industry data show engaged near-retirees often hold low- to mid-six-figure balances. As retirement nears, many wonder if their investment portfolios will provide the income they’ll need. For most Americans, the bulk of these investments is in qualified retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans and IRAs. Indeed, while more than 80% of Americans in their 60s are invested in retirement plans, only about 35% have brokerage accounts. That leaves us…

The good news for long-suffering 3M (MMM) shareholders is that the stock is beating the broader market over the past year, and Wall Street is collectively bullish on MMM for the first time in 15 years.The bad news is that shares in this once-illustrious blue chip stock have been a dismal buy-and-hold bet.That may come as a shock. After all, few multinational industrial conglomerates enjoy 3M’s household recognition. The inventor of masking tape, Scotch Tape and Post-it Notes likely resonates with consumers in ways that peers such as PPG Industries (PPG) or Illinois Tool Works (ITW) do not. From just…