Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Americans can expect to pay anywhere from about $5,000 to $30,000 per month for nursing home care, depending on the market.Medicare covers 100% of the costs of nursing home care for only 20 days. After that, families must handle the costs.There are steps families can take to try to shield themselves from these high costs, but it’s important to prepare early. There are many reasons why people don’t put their parents in a nursing home as their care needs mount. They may want to help their parents maintain their independence, for example, or protect them from potentially elder…

Key Takeaways Most Americans say estate planning matters, but fewer than one in three have a will. Two surveys found the main reasons for not having one include procrastination and the belief that their assets aren’t worth the effort. A Trust & Will survey found shifting priorities, with more people including plans for pets and naming friends or professionals instead of family as executors. Most Americans say they understand the value of a last will and testament and the estate planning process, but far fewer take steps to decide what will happen to their assets after death. Experts recommend that…

Key Takeaways You may be able to curb climbing health care expenses by using all your health care benefits before the end of the year.If you’ve met your annual deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, consider scheduling non-emergency services or refilling prescriptions before Dec. 31.Use dental, vision, and preventive care coverage to avoid costly illnesses and take advantage of annual allowances on advanced care.Maximize 2025 tax breaks by contributing to your health savings account (HSA) and calculating qualified medical expenses.Prepare for 2026 by ensuring your preferred physicians are in-network and that your new plan covers your prescription drugs.  Health care and insurance…

Quite often these days, when Americans tell me they want to move to Portugal, the conversation tends to start with: “I just want to get my money out of the U.S.”Whether it’s fatigue due to the ongoing political maelstrom, lifestyle aspirations or a desire to invest in euros, the motivations are understandable. But the financial implications of moving from the U.S. to Portugal are often misunderstood.As a cross-border financial adviser who’s lived and worked in both the U.S. and Portugal, I’ve seen firsthand how complex this transition can be. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter,…

My mom was just 48 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because of her age, her doctors suspected a genetic component and urged her to undergo genetic testing.This was 20 years ago, well before the Affordable Care Act mandated that those tests be covered. My mom wanted to pay for it so we might have a clue about my own risk level, but I didn’t want her to spend $10,000 or more.I was in my late 20s then. If her tests came back positive, I would need to be tested, too. At an additional $5,000, that felt financially out…

Tired of watching your grocery bill climb higher and higher each year? You might be tempted to move to a lower cost of living area to help cut your monthly budget. Whether that move really makes a difference depends on where you’re coming from. Even the cheapest city on the list is only paying 8.3% less than the national average on groceries.If you’re moving from San Francisco or another city with the most expensive groceries, the price difference at the store will be more dramatic. But if your current town is close to the national average already, you might hardly…

Editor’s note: This article is part of an ongoing series featuring the best retirement quotes and wisdom from top financial experts, leaders, and public figures. Other articles feature Warren Buffett, Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban.Jimmy Buffett, the legendary singer, songwriter, and successful entrepreneur, taught generations to slow down, let the good times roll and that happiness is what it’s all about. Though he may not be with us anymore, he left an ocean of wisdom through his words.From his 32 albums to his three #1 best-selling books, the world can learn a lot from the Mayor of Margaritaville. From just…

has started the month of December higher, rising around 1% by mid-morning London trade. The gains come after the metal recorded a 4-month winning streak in November thanks to a sharp 3.75% rise last week. Gold was still some 3% below its all-time high of $4381 hit in October, while silver broke to new unchartered territories overnight following last week’s impressive 12.8% gains. The key question is whether gold will now kick on from here, and find support from a weaker , or will rising bond yields in Japan also hit gold as it has equity markets overnight. As traders,…

The Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF is gaining momentum with a surge in trading volumes over the last two months and its assets under management (AUM) surpassing the US $25 million mark.The Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF (ticker ILS), listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the beginning of April, becoming the first catastrophe bond investment fund strategy to be US exchange-listed and traded. Brookmont Capital Management, LLC is the manager behind the first US cat bond ETF, while King Ridge Capital Advisors LLC acts as the sub-adviser to the fund and manages the cat bond portfolio for it. In recent…

Weak buyer demand, weakening home prices and overall uncertainty in the economy are combining to make home sellers change their minds and step out of the market. Close to 85,000 U.S. sellers took their homes off the market in September, up 28% from September 2024 and the highest level for that month in eight years, according to Redfin. Sellers are delisting because so many listings are going stale, sitting on the market longer and longer. Redfin reported that 70% of listings in September were on the market for 60 days or longer. Homeowners are seeing prices weaken significantly and would rather…