Author: Money Mechanics

Mortgage purchase application data The last three years have shown that when mortgage rates fall below 6.64% and head toward 6%, purchase application data improves, especially week-to-week. In the past few years, we weren’t able to hold rates down near 6% long enough to get real traction. This year, we have been able to hold rates below 6.64% for 18 weeks, which has been the best 18 weeks of the year. Below is what the data has shown us for the last 18 weeks:  11 positive week-to-week prints 7 negative week-to-week prints 18 weeks of double-digit year-over-year growth As you…

Key Takeaways An Empower survey showed that almost a quarter of Americans believe that you need to take risks to get richer. Risks are inherent in investing, so you can’t completely avoid them. You can reduce risk by diversifying your holdings and spreading them across a mix of low-, medium-, and high-risk assets. Your risk tolerance is higher when you are younger, which means you can invest in riskier investments. Revisit your portfolio as your situation changes and get older. Risk is a key part of building wealth, and higher returns come with a higher chance of loss. According to…

Key Takeaways According to a new survey, Americans think they’ll need $1.28 million to retire comfortably, yet about half will struggle to reach $500,000. You shouldn’t get caught up in what others think they need. Set your own target based on your own situation. Financial planners advise people who are behind in their savings to start contributing as much as possible and to consider working longer. In its 2025 U.S. Retirement Survey, Schroders found that many Americans are nowhere near reaching the $1.28 million they say they’ll need to retire comfortably. Just under half (48%) of the 1,500 people surveyed…

Key Takeaways According to Guinness World Records, between 2021 and 2023 Elon Musk suffered the greatest loss of a personal fortune in history. His loss, which was on paper and due primarily to a drop in Tesla’s share price, amounted to nearly $200 billion. Since that time Musk has recouped his losses and is believed to be the world’s richest man by a considerable margin. Elon Musk is referred to as “the world’s richest man” so frequently that you might think he trademarked the phrase. But the South Africa-born billionaire also holds another distinction: the largest loss ever of a…

Key Takeaways Doctors face many hurdles, including high student debt loads, late career starts, low starting salaries, and long workweeks. Physicians should consider ‘Financial Independence, Retire Early’ (FIRE), which works on the principle of saving aggressively to achieve financial freedom as early as possible, a solid option for anyone with a proclivity for saving and high earning potential. Achieving financial freedom and retiring on your own terms requires a strategic plan. This is especially true for many doctors, who end up with significant amount of student loan debt and don’t start earning high salaries until later in life. Despite these…

This week, the Federal Reserve takes center stage. The U.S. central bank is expected to cut rates again on Wednesday, and remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell could shed light on the Fed’s plans for 2026. U.S. stock indexes posted modest gains last week, with the Nasdaq leading the way higher. Market watchers will also be following earnings reports from companies including Oracle, Broadcom, GameStop, Costco, Adobe, and AutoZone. Trade deficit data, jobless claims, and the latest update on the federal government budget are due as well. Read to the bottom for our calendar of key events—and one more thing.…

Key Takeaways Women face unique challenges requiring a customized financial security plan at all life stages.A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged savings account that can double as retirement savings once an account holder reaches 65.When used correctly, HSAs can save money, boost retirement savings, and improve financial security. With longer lifespans, lower average earnings, and a persistent gender wage gap, women need to take proactive steps to build financial security. One strategic yet often overlooked tool is a health savings account (HSA), which offers a combination of tax benefits, investment opportunities, and long-term financial security. This short guide…

FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer commented on along with the recent macro rally. Cramer highlighted that he thinks the company will have a “good run,” as he said: “I think FedEx is a coiled spring. We’ve yet to hear a single disappointing e-commerce story, save Target. Fantastic setup for FedEx, also for J.B. Hunt and ArcBest. I think they’ll have a good run.” Fedex Ground FDX obi-onyeador-8LCZb66I4wg-unsplash FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) provides transportation, shipping, and logistics services, including express and freight delivery, e-commerce solutions, and supply chain management. A caller sought Cramer’s advice on the stock…

ZDNET’s key takeaways KeySmart’s SmartCard is available on Amazon for $40 (3-pack for $90). It’s super thin, has a wireless rechargeable battery, and is IPX7-rated. It needs to be recharged every 5 months or so. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.Apple AirTags have changed my life, saving me countless hours looking for keys and other items that I absent-mindedly misplaced.But AirTags have a few design flaws. First, the replaceable battery means you’re chucking away handfuls of CR2032s every year. Then there’s the shape and size. These tiny UFO-shaped devices don’t have a lanyard hole and are too bulky…

(World Oil) – The oil and gas industry could capture more than $320 billion in savings over the next five years by accelerating digital adoption across core operational domains, according to new analysis from Rystad Energy. The findings underscore how digital technologies—once considered optional enhancements—are rapidly becoming essential tools for efficiency, resilience and long-term competitiveness.   Rystad identifies five priority areas where digitalization can deliver the largest near-term gains: drilling optimization, autonomous robotics, predictive maintenance, reservoir management and logistics optimization. Together, these technologies could reshape cost structures for operators and oilfield service (OFS) companies as they contend with shifting market conditions…