Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Value investing enjoyed 15 minutes of sunshine in early 2025, when the S&P 500 sank 19% from its February peak to its early April trough. Dodge & Cox Stock (DODGX) — a member of the Kiplinger 25, our favorite no-load mutual funds — held up better, albeit with a 15% decline.Since then, the large-company value fund has rebounded 21% through September. That’s impressive, but it lags the S&P 500, which has bounced 34%. All told, over the past 12 months through September 30, Dodge & Cox Stock has climbed just over 9%, far short of the nearly…

Key Takeaways For Americans, retiring abroad often means a lower cost of living, from housing to food to healthcare.U.S. retirees must still meet visa, health and income requirements for long-term stays.Medicare doesn’t cover medical care outside the U.S., so private or local insurance is essential.Global tax rules can be complex. Professional guidance is crucial to avoid double taxation. For some American retirees, a vacation abroad isn’t enough. Instead, many are moving abroad during retirement in search of affordability and adventure in their golden years. But this type of move requires more than wanderlust. It demands detailed planning for healthcare, taxes…

Key Takeaways Financial freedom before the age of 50 is rare, and the number of retirees at 50 has declined since the early 2000s.Most people aren’t close, as only about one in 10 Americans say they’ve achieved financial freedom on their own terms—and more than half admit they’re “nowhere near” it.Cutting debt and boosting income are key since earlier financial freedom depends on widening the gap between what you earn and what you spend. Want to achieve financial freedom before you turn 50? You’d be joining an exclusive club: just 1% of Americans in their early 40s are retired, and…

The North Carolina Farm Bureau has now secured the 54% upsized $500 million of reinsurance limit from its new Blue Ridge Re Ltd. (Series 2025-1) catastrophe bond issuance, while pricing settled well below guidance for most of the tranches of notes on offer, Artemis has learned.The North Carolina Farm Bureau (NC Farm Bureau) is a non-profit general farm organisation that also provides financial services, which includes insurance products, to its member base. The NC Farm Bureau had returned to the catastrophe bond market for a second time earlier this month, initially aiming to secure $325 million of reinsurance protection from…

For the past decade, rate marketing has been the dominant gravitational force in mortgage acquisition. Whoever shouted the lowest 30-year fixed rate the loudest won the most attention. But attention has never been the same as intent, and intent has never been the same as a closed loan. What’s happening now is more fundamental than a rate cycle or a marketing shift. It’s a reordering of how borrowers discover homes, evaluate affordability, and choose which lender earns their trust first. The market is emerging from a prolonged affordability crisis, and with it comes a simple truth: buyers don’t shop for a…

When is Black Friday? In the US, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday falls on Nov. 28, but you can already find great discounts on high-end and midrange TVs from brands like Samsung, Sony, and more, both online and at brick-and-mortar retailers. Are TVs really cheaper during Black Friday? They can be! Televisions are one of the few big-ticket tech items that regularly see sales and markdowns throughout the year, but especially during Black Friday and the entire holiday shopping season. Both big-name brands like LG and Sony, as well as smaller names like TCL and Hisense, will…

Key Takeaways Americans plan to spend an average of $2,800 this holiday season—an increase of more than $1,000 from last year.Tariffs and lingering high prices are prompting 62% of shoppers to change how they shop.However, retail sales are projected to surpass $1 trillion this holiday season, signaling strong consumer demand, even amid cost pressures. The holidays are here after a bumpy year for the U.S. economy, and Americans still expect to spend far more this year than they did in 2024. Shoppers anticipate spending $2,800, on average this holiday season, up more than $1,000 from last year, according to a…

Key Takeaways Dick’s is the latest retailer to prioritize trading cards, opening Collectors Club Houses in some of its stores.Many sports and Pokémon cards are scooped up by adults, who see them as investments. Americans’ love of trading cards has retailers lining up to sell them. Dick’s Sporting Goods’ (DKS) has opened what it calls Collectors Club Houses in 20 shops, and plans to include them in more locations, CEO Lauren Hobart said on a conference call this week. The spaces, which feature trading cards and signed sports memorabilia, come as retailers rush to capitalize on soaring demand for collectibles.…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Social Security benefits change for each beneficiary depending on their current and past income, and the age at which they claimed benefits.The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment boosted benefits by 2.8%, and the average retired worker will receive more than $2,000 in Social Security benefits a year. The average monthly benefit for a retired Social Security beneficiary in 2026 will be $2,071. Social Security benefits vary for each person, depending on a multitude of factors. Americans can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits at 62, but their payments will be reduced if they don’t wait until their full retirement age.…

Key Takeaways Black Friday refers to the day after Thanksgiving and is symbolically seen as the start of the critical holiday shopping season for retailers.In the lead-up to Black Friday, stores typically offer big discounts on electronics, toys, clothing, and other popular gift items.Also important to retailers: Cyber Monday, the first day back to work for many consumers after the long holiday weekend, during which online retailers offer major discounts. What Is Black Friday? Black Friday refers to the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. It has become a day of special shopping…