Author: Money Mechanics

KEY TAKEAWAYS Graduate students pursuing careers as mental health counselors or lawyers are expected to have the highest number of job openings in the next nine years, compared to other fields that require a master’s degree.These master’s degrees may be a good option for the increasing number of recent bachelor’s degree graduates who are struggling to find work in the slowing labor market. Recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree, but having a hard time finding a job? Going to graduate school in these fields may lead you to some better prospects. This year, the labor market has been slow to…

Key Takeaways Investment professionals have started to talk about market downturns in a positive way, calling them “healthy” or an “opportunity.”A 25% correction in the S&P 500 would not be the end of the world, one told Investopedia, but a 50% rally from these levels could actually be bad news. A lot of people are talking about a market downturn lately. And they’re saying it might be a good thing. Morgan Stanley chief Ted Pick recently said the firm would “welcome the possibility” of 10%-to-15% drawdowns. Investment strategists at Charles Schwab (SCHW), Edward Jones, and Invesco have called recent market…

When facing a financial emergency, accessing money in a 401(k) plan can feel a bit like being stranded at sea: surrounded by water, yet unable to take a drink. Your money is there, it’s just not designed to be accessed today.gettyFor many Americans, their largest single source of savings isn’t a checking account or savings account — it’s their employer-sponsored retirement plan. Yet it’s also one of the most difficult accounts to access. That’s by design. Qualified defined contribution plans like 401(k)s come with rules, restrictions and potential tax penalties that make early withdrawals challenging. When facing a financial emergency,…

Key Takeaways The tech sector helped drive Monday’s rally, in what could point to improving sentiment after a recent pullback. Markets also got a boost from growing optimism about a potential rate cut by the Federal Reserve next month. Are investors ready to buy back into the AI trade? Monday’s market rally, bolstered by a number of AI investor favorites, could point to improving sentiment surrounding the sector, along with growing optimism about a rate cut by the Federal Reserve next month. After a particularly tough stretch for tech stocks in recent weeks, the sector was one of the strongest in…

Key Takeaways REITs and crowdfunding make property investments accessible to everyone.House hacking and seller financing reduce housing costs while building equity.Wholesaling requires hustle and offers entry with minimal cash risk.Always do your homework and consult professionals before committing funds. Think you need thousands of dollars to invest in real estate? Think again. Real estate can seem like an investment option available only to the wealthy—but that’s not true. In the past, you may have needed enough money to purchase or finance a rental property or office building on your own. However, today’s creative financing tools, online platforms and strategic partnerships offer…

Key Takeaways The Federal Reserve is set to hold a policy meeting Dec. 9 and 10, before several important economic reports are due to be published.Experts are speculating whether the Fed will choose to delay its meeting by a week so it can assess the job market’s condition in November before deciding whether to cut rates or not.The Fed can and has delayed meetings before, to avoid scheduling conflicts and Vietnam War protests. The Federal Reserve has a tough choice at its next policy meeting: cut borrowing costs to boost the job market, or keep them steady to fight inflation—but…

Key Takeaways The average down payment for 2024–25 buyers hit 19%, the highest in more than three decades.First-time buyers typically put down about 10%, while repeat buyers averaged 23%, according to the National Association of Realtors.If you can manage to put 20% down, it will allow you to skip PMI—potentially saving hundreds each month and thousands over time. Where Down Payments Stand Now Buying a home today takes more cash up front than at any point in decades. Down payments have kept climbing while borrowing costs have remained high. For homebuyers between July 2024 and June 2025, the average down…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Renewed hope for another rate cut in December and refreshed faith in the AI trade carried stocks to a second day of gains to start Thanksgiving week. The Nasdaq led the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher as investors, traders and speculators await more shutdown-delayed economic data amid a slowdown for earnings flow.Markets are closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday, while the stock and bond markets will close early on Friday. Still, the economic calendar includes initial jobless claims for the week ending November 21. We’ll also see retail sales and the Producer…

The US dollar strengthened again last week. The US dollar index (DXY) moved higher and approached the 100.2 resistance level. This momentum came from more careful messaging from the Fed, softer US data that still signalled the economy is holding steady without recession pressure, and a slight easing in geopolitical tensions. Overall, this shows that the US dollar has reached a short-term support level, and the Fed’s shift in tone has lifted market demand for the currency.Fed Signals: Cautious, if Not Hawkish, Stance ReturnsThe key headline last week came from the Fed’s October meeting minutes. Many in the market expected…

Nearly 41.2% of active single-family listings include price reductions. The median cut is 4%, amounting to roughly $17,230 off the typical $427,900 listing price. Homes are sitting on the market for a median of 77 days, and 10.2% of listings are being relisted — a sign that deals are falling through or sellers are testing lower price points. In most metro areas, the typical reduction falls between $10,000 and $25,000. Where discounts run deep — and shallow Austin ranks high with 52.5% of listings marked down, with an average reduction of $22,236. In Pittsburgh, 47.2% of homes listed saw cuts,…