Author: Money Mechanics

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. November 25, 2025 Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with former employee of Orrstown Bank For release at 11:00 a.m. EST The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced the execution of the following enforcement action listed below: Consent prohibition order against Krista Murr Former employee of Orrstown Bank, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Misappropriation of customer funds Additional enforcement actions can be searched for here. For media inquiries, please email [email protected] or call 202-452-2955. Last Update: …

Part B costs, deductibles and IRMAA surcharges will all increase at least 8.8% next year. By David Enna, Tipswatch.com It was bad enough when we learned on Oct. 24 that Social Security benefits would increase 2.8% for beneficiaries in 2026, less than the U.S. rate of inflation at 3.0%. And now, the really bad news: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced in mid-November that monthly costs for Medicare Part B premiums, annual deductible and IRMAA surcharges will rise by a much higher amount, 8.8% or more for 2026. The Social Security Administration has already started posting 2026 benefits…

A ‘Now Hiring’ sign sits in the window of a Denny’s restaurant on Nov. 19, 2025 in Miami, Florida.Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesThe U.S. labor market is showing further signs of weakening as the pace of layoffs has picked up over the past four weeks, payrolls processing firm ADP reported Tuesday.Private companies lost an average of 13,500 jobs a week over the past four weeks, ADP said as part of a running update it has been providing. That’s an acceleration from the 2,500 jobs a week lost in the last update a week ago.With the government shutdown still impacting data…

Microsoft’s AI chatbot Copilot will no longer be available on WhatsApp after January 15, the company has shared. After that date, users on WhatsApp won’t be able to chat with the AI unless they switch to Microsoft’s own Copilot mobile apps or use the chatbot via the web. The company explained it’s removing Copilot from the popular messaging app to comply with WhatsApp’s revised platform policies, which were announced last month. At the time, the Meta-owned messenger said it would no longer support general-purpose AI chatbots from using its WhatsApp Business API to serve their customers. Instead, it wanted to…

Key Takeaways Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are private, government-approved alternatives to Original Medicare.   They often feature low or no premiums, annual out-of-pocket limits, and extra benefits like dental and vision coverage. Downsides include limited provider networks, prior authorization hurdles, and frequent plan changes. If you decide to switch back to Original Medicare later, you might also have a hard time getting an affordable Medicare Supplement plan to go with it because of sign-up rules.  Check provider networks, review drug formularies, and compare total costs to determine if an MA plan is right for you.   Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 is currently…

You write that America’s lack of trade schools is partly to blame for our unskilled workforce (“Why Ford Can’t Find Mechanics,” Review & Outlook, Nov. 18). A complementary explanation: We lost our ability to produce such professionals when we lost our cultural connection to manufacturing.We are the nation that invented the assembly line in 1913, instrumental in building Ford Model Ts. We mass-produced aircraft, tanks and other equipment during World War II as the global arsenal of democracy. For much of modern American history, manufacturing was a cultural pillar and an institution for achieving societal goals. Children learned how their…

Key Takeaways Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run by Warren Buffett, took a sizable stake in tech giant Alphabet during the third quarter.Alphabet stock is up 68% since the start of the year, making it an unusual addition to Berkshire’s value-oriented stock portfolio.The majority of Wall Street analysts are optimistic about Alphabet’s stock, with many raising their price targets after its better-than-expected earnings report last month. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has placed a big bet on one of the tech’s hottest stocks. Berkshire (BRK.A)(BRK.B) purchased 17.8 million shares of Alphabet’s Class A stock (GOOGL) in the third quarter, according to a…

Key Takeaways Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump will likely name a new Fed chair by Christmas.Trump is nominating a replacement for Jerome Powell, whose four-year term leading the central bank expires in May.Trump has frequently clashed with Powell and criticized him for keeping interest rates too high. It won’t be long before we know who is on deck to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.There is a “very good chance” President Donald Trump will name Powell’s replacement before Christmas, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday on CNBC. Powell’s four-year term as Fed chair expires in May. How…

As winter approaches, home heating bills are giving Americans chills across the country.Driven by a projected 20% rise in wholesale natural gas prices for 2026, the cost of keeping your home toasty could rise sharply, depending on where you live and the type of fuel you use.Electricity is expected to lead the price hikes, with double-digit jumps in some parts of the country, followed by more modest increases in the cost of residential natural gas. The price of home heating oil, though still the most expensive way to keep a house warm, is expected to remain flat or even drop…

Compliance should be an advantage, not an obstacle.As financial advisers, you’re focused on delivering exceptional advice to your clients. But let’s face it: Compliance can sometimes feel like a roadblock rather than a resource.However, when approached strategically, compliance can become a powerful ally in your practice — not just a box to check. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more – straight to your e-mail. Profit…