Author: Money Mechanics

If you’re not careful, the fees that come with using a checking account can add up quickly.Getting cash from an out-of-network ATM costs more than ever. Average total ATM fees, including both the charge from your own bank as well as from the ATM’s operator, are at a record high of $4.86, according to a recent Bankrate survey.The average minimum balance required to avoid a monthly maintenance fee on an interest-bearing checking account has reached an all-time high, too. Customers have to keep $10,705 in their accounts to sidestep a fee of $15.65, on average. From just $107.88 $24.99 for…

Each week, in our Ask the Editor series, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter Editor, answers questions on topics submitted by readers. This week, she’s looking at five questions on the gain exclusion tax break when you sell your home. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. Will my home sale be taxed?Question: My husband and I are thinking of selling our home next year that we have owned for many years. Will the gain be taxed?Joy Taylor: It depends. Generally, if you have owned and lived in your main home for at least two out…

Key Takeaways Gold’s rise has been fueled by global instability, record central bank buying, and a weaker U.S. dollar. However, one expert warns that a sharp rebound in the dollar or a Fed policy shift could send gold prices lower. Even with these risks, gold remains a cornerstone safe haven—just don’t forget that diversification matters. Gold has been on a remarkable run this year, consistently hitting new highs and nabbing a new record in September. Meanwhile, investors and central banks alike have piled in, treating the precious metal as a hedge against geopolitical and economic risks. But as strong as…

Stock futures pointed mostly lower to end a week that has seen major equities indexes sell off on concerns about AI spending and valuations of big tech firms, while the price of bitcoin continued to fall amid risk-off market sentiment. Futures associated with the Nasdaq were pointing down 0.5% after the tech-heavy index sank 2.2% yesterday, while those affiliated with the S&P 500 ticked 0.2% lower after the benchmark index ended down 1.6% yesterday. Those associated with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% after the blue-chip index lost an early 700-point advance Thursday to close down nearly 400 points, or 0.8%. All three…

Tech stocks have been on a rollercoaster since Nvidia reported earnings, the US added 119,000 jobs in September but unemployment reached its highest level in four years, and the US has formally handed Ukraine a sweeping peace plan drawn up with Moscow. Plus, we’ll go over all the drama that’s ensued in the run-up to the G20 conference in South Africa. Mentioned in this podcast:US tech stocks slide as jolt of volatility hits Wall StreetThe American exceptionalism trade is wobblingUS adds 119,000 jobs in September but unemployment hits four-year peakUS hands Ukraine new peace plan drawn up with RussiaTrump’s total…

edged lower to 4,060 USD per ounce on Friday, positioning the metal for a modest weekly decline. The shift in sentiment follows a stronger-than-anticipated delayed US employment report, which has tempered expectations for a Federal Reserve in December. The Labour Department’s data, delayed by the recent government shutdown, significantly exceeded forecasts: September rose by 119,000, well above the expected 50,000. Markets interpreted the report as confirming the Fed’s October assessment—that the labour market is cooling gradually but remains fundamentally stable. However, the climbed to 4.4%, its highest level since 2021, while wage growth came in slightly above expectations at 3.8%.…

A recent report from Barclays Research indicated that current catastrophe bond market dynamics are perceived as being negative for both the reinsurance market and pricing cycle. Lower new cat bond spread multiples seen in Q4 so far indicate a market firing on all cylinders and a protection buying opportunity, but with ramifications for the traditional reinsurance side.Estimates from Barclays shows that primary insurers now sponsor 58% of all catastrophe bonds, up from 48% from two years ago. Analysts from Barclays note that cat bonds’ importance as a catastrophe and climate risk transfer and reinsurance tool continues to grow, supported by…

Improvement in mortgage rates at the end of the summer boosted home sales, but that gain may be short-lived.Sales of previously owned homes in October rose 1.2% from September to 4.1 million units on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales were up 1.7% year over year. This count is based on home closings, so contracts likely signed in August and September. While contract signings would not be impacted by the government shutdown that started in October, closings, especially those requiring flood insurance or government-backed rural home loans, could be.During that contract-signing period, the…

SanDisk ExtremeFit USB flash drive ZDNET’s key takeaways The ExtremeFit is available in storage options from 64GB ($15) up to 1TB ($110). It’s positively tiny, with file transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s. When not plugged in, it can easily get lost in a drawer or backpack. nov / 2025Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.Remember when the name “thumb drive” was an accurate descriptor? These days, external storage devices are increasingly tiny — and nowhere is this more evident than in the new SanDisk ExtremeFit USB-C flash drive. It’s definitely the smallest thumb drive I’ve tested, measuring 0.73 inches…

Key Takeaways Financial planners typically advise saving enough to replace about 75% of your pre-tax income for retirement.For the median U.S. household income ($83,730), you’d need about $5,233 per month in retirement. Using the 4% rule, that means that you’d need to save $1.57 million in total. When preparing for retirement, you’re probably wondering, will I have enough? To answer this, you’ll need to know a few key numbers. First, how much money will you need per month in retirement? And then, how much money will you need to save in total? Read on to learn how to crunch these…