Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)For most of your career, saving pretax dollars in such accounts as a 401(k) or IRA has been a smart move. You got the upfront tax deduction, your money grew tax-deferred, and it felt like the right play year after year.But once retirement hits, that same strategy can become a double-edged sword. Suddenly, every dollar you withdraw is taxable income.If most of your nest egg is sitting in pretax accounts, you’ve effectively made an unspoken deal with your “silent partner,” Uncle Sam, to decide how much of your retirement he’ll own. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

Key Takeaways Micron Technology shares hit a fresh record high Wednesday after Wall Street analysts boosted their price targets for the stock ahead of the company’s earnings report next week. Analysts say that surging demand for memory chips made by Micron and other companies is causing a shortage and a massive increase in prices, which should boost Micron’s sales and profits in the coming quarters. One of the hottest AI stocks appears to have more room to run. Shares of Micron Technology (MU) have surged to all-time highs this week as analysts continue to raise their targets for the memory…

The Nasdaq-100 Index® (NDX®) fell from its October all-time highs as it finished a turbulent November 2025 lower by 1.6% though a strong last week of the month helped to temper the losses. NDX is still up by 21% YTD. Despite a strong Q3 earnings season, AI capex concerns, elevated valuations, and shifting market pricing of Federal Reserve rate cuts led to the sell-off in November. The reversal in risk appetite also hit cryptocurrencies with Bitcoin falling by over 30% at one point from its highs. Performance across Nasdaq’s suite of indexes finished modestly lower in November with 62 of…

For Toll Brothers, whose enviable core customers are ones whose financial wherewithal effectively shields them from worries about high prices and high interest rates, the question is not “can they buy?” It’s will they? And will they buy now? “America’s Luxury Homebuilder” continues to rely on its move-up, active adult, and luxury segments — and their pursuit of “the home of their dreams” — to navigate a languishing housing market, where other large, medium, and small enterprises have been largely hampered by affordability constraints, economic uncertainty, low consumer confidence, and stubbornly high interest rates. This product-mix strategy helped Toll Brothers…

A pregnant woman in San Francisco gave birth inside a Waymo robotaxi Monday night en route to UCSF Medical Center, marking the latest milestone in the driverless car saga that no one saw coming — except everyone with more than six months of experience behind the wheel of a ride-share vehicle. According to The SF Standard, Waymo’s remote team detected “unusual activity” and called 911, though the vehicle beat emergency services to the hospital. Some traditions, it seems, are immune to disruption. For decades, expectant mothers have been racing against biology in the back seats of taxis and Ubers from…

(Investing) – U.S. power consumption is projected to reach record levels in the next two years, according to the Energy Information Administration’s short-term energy outlook released Tuesday. The EIA forecasts power demand will climb to 4,199 billion kilowatt-hours in 2025 and further increase to 4,267 billion kWh in 2026, up from the 2024 record of 4,110 billion kWh. This surge in electricity demand is partly attributed to data centers supporting artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency operations. Additionally, homes and businesses are increasingly shifting from fossil fuels to electricity for heating and transportation needs. For 2025, the EIA projects power sales will reach…

Key Takeaways Younger Americans grew their savings more in the first half of this year than older generations, a Santander Bank survey found. More than half of Gen Z and Millennial respondents said their savings increased during the first half of the year. High-interest CDs are on Gen Z’s radar, with 74% expressing interest while rates are elevated. After years of hand-wringing and criticism about spending on items such as avocado toast and expensive coffee, younger Americans are outpacing older generations in terms of their savings rates. According to a survey conducted by Santander Bank from April to June 2025,…

Key Takeaways Cracker Barrel Old Country Store reported weak sales as the blowback from its unpopular rebranding effort continues.The restaurant chain’s revenue and comparable store sales slumped, and the company cut its full-year outlook.The company’s shares hit their lowest level since early 2009 on Wednesday morning, and have lost half their value since the start of the year. The fallout continues over Cracker Barrel Old Country Store’s (CBRL) ill-fated logo change and restaurant revamp. Shares of the country-themed chain fell as much as 6% in early trading Wednesday, hitting their lowest level since early 2009, after the company posted mixed…

Key Takeaways Elizabeth Holmes notoriously took the “fake it” concept into the world of finance in 2003 when she launched Theranos, Inc., and was ultimately sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison.Successful financial management can depend on personal skills and knowledge, and not just feeling good about what you’ve convinced yourself you can achieve.It’s okay to start small by creating a solid personal budget and establishing emergency savings rather than spending to play a role. A 2024 report by Empower revealed that one in five Gen Zers and millennials tag the “fake it ‘til you make it” philosophy…

Key Takeaways When an adult child moves in, set boundaries with them. Let them know how long they’re welcome to stay and how they’re expected to contribute to the household.Stay focused on your own retirement needs. Continue to contribute to your company’s 401(k) and your individual retirement account. Make use of catch-up contributions if you are 50 or older.If you’ve helped an adult child financially and are behind your retirement savings, try to delay retirement by continuing to work. Waiting to claim Social Security benefits until age 70 can provide a big financial boost. Adult children are moving back home…