Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Affordable lakefront homes can be found from Arkansas to New Hampshire that deliver waterfront access without coastal price tags.Tennessee and the Carolinas offer many affordable lakefront retirement areas and have low taxes.Many lake communities are within an hour of airports and major medical centers, offering a balance of tranquil living and convenient health care access. Lakefront retirement doesn’t require a million-dollar budget. Across America, waterfront communities are offering retirees stunning views, active lifestyles, and health care access—with homes starting under $350,000. From Arkansas’s gated lakeside villages to New Hampshire’s private beaches, these towns deliver the retirement dream without…

In the field of psychology, Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has long been used to explain what motivates human behavior — from basic survival to self-actualization.What if that same concept were applied to financial planning? For individuals navigating retirement or preparing for it, understanding which financial needs matter most — and in what order — can be a game changer.Here’s a practical take on how to construct your financial life, starting with the essentials and working up to long-term legacy goals. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign…

For many affluent families, the end of the year brings more than holiday traditions and travel. It’s also one of the most critical windows for financial planning.When done right, year-end planning can reduce taxes, align finances with family goals and set the stage for greater confidence heading into the new year.Year-end planning shouldn’t be seen as a scramble for last-minute tax breaks. Instead, planning is most effective when it’s proactive, tax-aware and rooted in long-term values. 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…

Question: I want to help pay for my grandkids’ college. Should I make a large lump-sum 529 plan contribution or spread the funds out evenly over the years?Answer: A lot of people experience sticker shock when they sit down to look at college costs today. For the 2025-2026 academic year, U.S. News & World Report puts the average cost of tuition and fees at a four-year, public in-state school at $11,371.For a public out-of-state school, the average price tag is $25,415. And for private universities, it’s $44,961. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed…

Tech firms will likely command the spotlight during this week’s earnings calendar, though pharmaceuticals and gig economy providers are also likely to be in focus. Artificial intelligence demand will be top of mind for market watchers when chipmakers Advanced Micro Devices, Qualcomm, and Arm Holdings, as well as software provider Palantir, report earnings this week. Results from pharmaceutical firms come amid pressure from the Trump administration to lower prices.  Market watchers are likely to pore over private-sector jobs data for October in the absence of the originally scheduled U.S. employment report, which is likely to be delayed again as the…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The stunning success of the liberal D66 party in Dutch parliamentary elections last week is a good outcome for the Netherlands and for Europe as a whole. The pro-EU centrist party won 26 seats, almost triple its tally from the previous ballot in 2023. It is on level-pegging with the far-right Freedom party, which lost nearly a third of its MPs after voters punished its role in one of the most quarrelsome and ineffectual coalition governments in recent times. The final result…

Beth Pinsker is a certified financial planner, MarketWatch columnist and author of My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving, a new book that comes out November 4. She spoke to Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine about how best to manage a loved one’s financial affairs when they become seriously ill — and the importance of talking openly about estate planning before it becomes an emergency.Kiplinger: Your new book is about becoming a financial caregiver for your mother after she grew seriously ill due to complications from spinal surgery. What is financial caregiving? BP: Financial caregiving is when you step into…

Key Takeaways Sebring and surrounding Highlands County offer a lower cost of living than Florida’s larger cities and many other Sunbelt retirement destinations.Famous for its auto racing track, Sebring has numerous other attractions, including museums, art galleries, and a historic downtown.Outdoorsy types will enjoy its parks, lakes, and golf courses.Sebring’s county offers over 200 healthcare establishments and is within driving distance of several larger cities, including Orlando and Tampa. Sebring, Florida, a small city in the center of the state about 90 miles south of Orlando, stands out as an affordable and attractive retirement destination. With a population of under…

Wednesday’s Federal Reserve decision, along with expectations that the Fed could cut interest rates again before the end of the year, may put more downward pressure on mortgage rates — finally providing a little relief for would-be homebuyers.A 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 6.3% for the week ended Oct. 24, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.Although mortgage rates are now at their lowest level since September 2024, the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is still significantly higher compared to the under-3% levels near the start of the pandemic.Those relatively high mortgage rates, along with high home prices and uncertainty about…

If you overpay the IRS in taxes during the year, they’ll typically return your money in the form of a tax refund. And the IRS refunds taxpayers to the tune of billions of dollars every year. For the 2025 tax filing season, the IRS refunded more than $311 billion to taxpayers as of October 17. The average refund amount was $3,052. While getting a lump sum of money from the IRS after you file your taxes may seem like a pleasant surprise, it’s actually better to avoid overpaying taxes, as you’re essentially extending the federal government an interest-free loan. So…