Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Real estate investor Grant Cardone said in August that he believes renting is superior to owning, as it can allow a renter to avoid large expenses that come with owning a home.However, several financial advisors told Investopedia that they disagree, and said owning a home remains a reliable long-term investment.Still, many said it’s important to evaluate your own situation to make sure you are financially healthy enough to buy and maintain a home. The conventional wisdom about buying compared to renting a home is that owning a home provides you with an investment that will reliably increase in…

Key Takeaways Warren Buffett recommends letting adult children review your will before signing it to ensure they understand your decisions and their future responsibilities. Buffett said he takes questions and comments from his three children and has often adopted their suggestions when updating his will. Open discussions about inheritance plans can prevent family conflicts and jealousies that often arise after a parent’s death. Legendary investor Warren Buffett has smart estate-planning advice for all parents, regardless of their wealth level: Let your adult children read your will before you sign it. In a revealing November 2024 letter to shareholders, the Berkshire…

Key Takeaways Warren Buffett has pointed out that book value can significantly misstate the intrinsic value of a business. He prefers using intrinsic value, “the discounted value of the cash that can be taken out of a business during its remaining life.” Buffett goes so far as to say, “In all cases, what is clear is that book value is meaningless as an indicator of intrinsic value.” Warren Buffett has repeatedly reminded investors that book value is often a poor measure of a business. The calculation itself is simple: take the total assets minus liabilities. But book value, Buffett says,…

Backyard wiffle ball might seem counterintuitive as an enticing amenity at a private resort community. After all, it has little to do with high-end fitness equipment, cold plunges and infrared saunas — increasingly must-have items at member clubs across the country — much less full-service pool areas and an emerald golf course.And yet, at both The Abaco Club in the Bahamas and Old Edwards Reserve at Lake Keowee, in Sunset, South Carolina, wiffle ball fields are among their most utilized amenities. Decked out in astroturf, they sparkle just as much as the nearby golf courses. At the Abaco Club, called…

When President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at opening a new wave of investment options for 401(k) account holders, he gave retirement savers an opportunity to potentially boost the value of those accounts.At least, they might have such opportunities if the third-party administrators for their workplace 401(k) plans elect to add these alternatives to the mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that make up most accounts.It would be advantageous for plan participants if they do. 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…

Key Takeaways Famed investor Ray Dalio said it’s time to reconsider your safe-haven assets in light of recent government policies and economic changes. He advises investors to allocate 10% to 15% of their portfolios to gold. Dalio says that the primary risk for Treasury holders will be from continued money printing by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Dalio raised a red flag on Treasurys, telling those at a launch event for Abu Dhabi Finance Week that he was instead buying gold as his preferred safe haven. He argued that Treasurys are no longer the most secure investment due to the ballooning…

Retirement is one of life’s biggest milestones, and preparing for it requires foresight, discipline and adaptability. Yet many individuals fall into avoidable traps that can jeopardize their financial security.In fact, nearly half of Americans expect to retire with less than $500,000, according to the Schroders 2025 U.S. Retirement Survey, despite estimating they’ll need about $1.28 million for a comfortable retirement. This gap underscores the critical importance of thoughtful financial planning.These are five common retirement planning traps you can fall into — along with practical ways to help avoid them and keep your savings on track. From just $107.88 $24.99 for…

Question: I claimed Social Security six months ago at 62, but I now realize that my checks are too small. What are my options?Answer: Social Security might end up becoming a very essential source of retirement income for you. And that’s why it’s important to choose your filing age carefully.In 2022, Social Security was the only source of income for 27% of adult recipients, reports Pew Research, citing data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation. And if you expect those benefits to constitute a large portion of your retirement income, then you may not want to…

Key Takeaways In August 2025, the average cost of attending a wedding plus a bachelor/bachelorette celebration was just over $2,000, while the average cost of rent in the U.S. was $2,100.Gen Z and millennials report cutting back on housing expenses by renting a smaller home or living with roommates to afford wedding costs.To lower the cost of wedding attendance, guests can share travel costs with friends, give smaller or no gifts, attend without a partner, or skip celebrations that don’t involve close loved ones. Celebrating a friend’s wedding can cost as much as a month of rent, according to a…

If you’re among the majority of Americans who watch streaming services — 83%, according to Pew Research Center — you may share your plan with family members who live both in and out of your home.At one time, most major streaming providers looked the other way when customers provided their account credentials to people outside their household (say, an adult child who moved away) so that they could watch shows through the plan.But more services have been blocking access to those who don’t live with the account holder, requiring an additional fee to let them join the plan. And even…