Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Intel shares hit their highest level in 18 months Friday morning after the chipmaker swung to a profit that sailed past Wall Street expectations, signaling its closely watched turnaround plan is gaining traction.Intel shares have consolidated in a rectangle formation throughout most of October, setting the stage for a continuation of the stock’s recent uptrend.The measured move technique projects a near-term bullish target of $49. Investors should also watch important support levels on Intel’s chart around $36, $32 and $29. Intel (INTC) shares rose Friday morning after the chipmaker swung to a profit that sailed past Wall Street…

Key Takeaways Alaska Air Group reported an IT outage that caused a ground stop of its flights and those of Horizon Air for several hours.It was the second ground stop caused by an IT problem at the airline in three months. Shares of Alaska Air Group (ALK) flew lower Friday after the airline turned in quarterly profits that were less than expected and reported an IT outage that forced a system-wide ground stop of all flights of its namesake carrier and Horizon Air. The company said the IT issues began at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) yesterday, and announced…

Key Takeaways Retirees will see their Social Security benefits rise by 2.8% in 2026, adding about $56 per month to the average benefit. Experts suggest maintaining some equity exposure to help retirees’ portfolios keep pace with inflation better. Rising Medicare Part B premiums—projected to increase more than 11% to $206—could offset some of the boost provided by COLA. The numbers are in: Retirees who receive Social Security benefits will see their monthly checks increase 2.8% come January 2026. The Social Security Administration just released the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which is meant to reduce the impact that inflation has on Social…

If you’re a high-net-worth investor sitting on significant unrealized capital gains, September 30, 2025, may prove to be one of the most important dates you didn’t know about.That’s when the IRS and Treasury Department issued Notice 2025-50, providing the first concrete guidance on the permanent opportunity zone program signed into law in July as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.The headlines tell only part of the story. Yes, the opportunity zone program is now permanent. Yes, there’s a new emphasis on rural investment. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK…

Roth conversions, if done right, can lower your tax bill over your lifetime. But be careful. Roth conversions pose traps, and the unwary can easily get caught. Here are eight factors to consider in deciding whether to convert all or part of a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.1. Present and future tax ratesA Roth conversion is a taxable event in the year of the switch. So, if you expect that the income tax rate you will pay in retirement will be equal to or higher than the rate on conversion, then switching to a Roth IRA can pay off…

It’s been another busy week on the financial front with Kiplinger covering Netflix’s stock slump, estate taxes and Dave Ramsey’s words of wisdom on retirement dos and don’ts, among other stories. But how much do you remember about the week’s financial and business news? Our editors have put together a quiz to test your knowledge… (And if you slip up on an answer or two, you can follow the links below the quiz to refresh your memory.)Test yourself with last week’s quiz, or dig into our quiz archive and play more of our retirement, tax or investing-themed quizzes.Read more on…

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed that President Donald Trump’s tariff policies have had a muted impact on cost pressures. And it all but guarantees that the Federal Reserve will cut rates again when it meets next week.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, headline CPI was up 0.3% month over month in September, slower than the 0.4% rise seen in August and the 0.4% increase economists expected.The CPI was 3.0% higher year over year, a quicker pace than the month prior. Still, the results arrived below the 3.1% increase economists anticipated. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

The backdoor Roth IRA is typically touted as a workaround for the wealthy to boost the amount of retirement income they can withdraw tax-free. But there’s upside for heirs who inherit the retirement account, too.What’s often overlooked is that this retirement savings strategy provides the same tax-friendly perks to heirs — making a backdoor Roth IRA a strategic estate planning tool for high earners looking to secure their wealth legacy. That’s especially true for wealthy folks who don’t open an IRA for their own retirement, but rather with their heirs in mind.“It’s a great estate planning technique because your beneficiaries…

If you’re a coffee lover, it’s likely you’ve been counting down to the return of Starbucks’ iconic Red Cup Day, the unofficial kickoff to the holiday sipping season.The good news is that it’s coming sooner than expected this year, and there are a few new perks and surprises brewing behind the scenes.Whether you’re loyal to the Peppermint Mocha, can’t get enough of the Caramel Brulée Latte, or simply want to snag the coveted reusable red holiday cup, this one-day event is not to be missed. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK…

Key Takeaways Healthcare job growth is strong, and graduates in health-related fields enjoy some of the lowest unemployment rates of any major. Healthcare remains a stable and fast-growing field, but recent Medicaid cuts and tariffs may slow job growth. Yet since overall demand for healthcare services is expected to continue to rise due to an aging population and workforce turnover, recent college graduates can still bet on a career in this industry. There’s always demand for medical care, so pursuing a career in the healthcare industry has long been seen as a stable option, typically leading to generous wages and…