Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Equifax cut prices in response to Fair Isaac’s decision to offer credit score data directly to companies that provide credit scores to mortgage providers.Equifax will offer its VantageScore 4.0 credit scores at a reduced price or free to customers.The firm accused Fair Isaac of monopolistic practices in the credit score industry. A price war is now underway in the credit score industry. Equifax (EFX) has responded to a move by score provider Fair Isaac (FICO) by slashing the cost for the information to its customers, news that sent Equifax shares up on Wednesday. Fair Isaac announced last week it…

Refresh (Image credit: Getty Images)Review Changes to Your Coverage to Get Ready for Medicare Open EnrollmentOne week from today, on October 15, Medicare Open Enrollment will begin. The annual enrollment period runs until December 7. It’s an important opportunity for all Medicare beneficiaries to review their current coverage and make any changes to plan selections. The first step is to review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Whether you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan, you should have received this information by September 30. If you haven’t received your copy, call your plan…

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) has amassed the largest pile of cash ever held by a public company. At $344 billion, Berkshire Hathaway’s war chest is more than the combined cash reserves of Apple Inc. (AAPL), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Alphabet Inc. (GOOG), Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), and NVIDIA Corp (NVDA)—despite them being collectively 14 times Berkshire’s market value. Also striking is that the record-breaking stockpile has doubled in just over a year. So what gives? As in everyday life, companies save for three main reasons: to prepare to weather an economic storm, to make a major purchase, or because they think…

Key Takeaways Return on investment (ROI) measures the gain or loss on an investment compared to how much you put in.A good ROI depends on factors like investment type, industry, risk, and time horizon.ROI should beat inflation, pay you for your risk, and beat or exceed any benchmarks.You can use an investment’s ROI to determine whether it’s a good investment and to make changes to your portfolio.The downsides of ROI are that it doesn’t factor in risk, time, and inflation. Markets may perform well, but that doesn’t mean every investment is a good buy. There are different tools you can…

If you earn money through a side hustle, run a small business, or get paid through apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App, or sites like eBay, you’ve probably come across a lot of mixed messages about the 1099-K form.You’re not alone. Over the past couple of tax seasons, many online sellers and freelancers have shared that same uncertainty.Much of the confusion stemmed from IRS back-and-forth on the 1099-K reporting threshold. That included changed policies and postponed deadlines for implementing an initial “$600 rule,” which left sellers and payment platforms in limbo. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance…

Key Takeaways AST SpaceMobile and Verizon Communications will partner to provide space-based cellphone service in the continental U.S.The service will be available to Verizon customers in 2026. Shares of AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) blasted off, trading at an all-time high after the provider of space-based cellphone service announced it had struck a deal with Verizon Communications (VZ) to offer direct-to-customer broadband service across the continental U.S. AST said the service will be available to Verizon customers next year and will allow them to have cell reception wherever they are without the need for specialized equipment.  Why This Matters to You Verizon…

Palm Valley Capital Management, an investment management firm, has released the “Palm Valley Capital Fund” third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the third quarter, Palm Valley Capital Fund appreciated 2.35% compared to a 9.11% gain for the S&P SmallCap 600 and a 7.99% rise in the Morningstar Small Cap Total Return Index. At the start of the quarter, the Fund invested 73.5% in cash equivalents, increasing slightly to 74.1% by the end of the quarter. Small-cap stocks performed ahead of large caps during the period, with the anticipation of Fed easing and reduced…

Thank you for the invitation to speak to you today.1 I value the opportunity to spend time with community bankers and fellow federal and state bank regulators. This conference, now in its 13th year, is always a great forum for those interactions. All of us benefit from the research presented here, which helps us understand the opportunities for banks to strengthen communities, and the challenges that community banks face. So, I want to thank the researchers presenting. Thank you also to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) for co-sponsoring this gathering, and…

The market has confirmed a powerful bullish breakout, trading at $4,068.30, up 1.6% on the day and marking a decisive shift above the critical $4,000 psychological and structural pivot. The Variable Price Momentum Indicator (VC PMI AI) model identifies this move as a continuation of the larger mean-reversion cycle that began at the Buy 2 Weekly level ($3,735) and accelerated once price surpassed the VC PMI Daily mean ($3,994). The rally aligns with the 30-day harmonic expansion pattern derived from the Square-of-Nine geometry, projecting targets between $4,125–$4,180 as the next critical resistance window. From a structural perspective, the current price…

Living in California comes with undeniable perks—year-round sunshine, world-class innovation hubs, and stunning natural beauty. But there’s one downside that hits particularly hard come tax season: the Golden State’s income tax rates are among the steepest in the nation. For high earners facing California’s top marginal tax rate of 13.3%, every investment decision carries significant tax implications that can significantly impact portfolio returns. Here’s where many California investors miss a golden opportunity. While Treasury bonds offer solid, government-backed returns with federal tax exemption, they are still subject to California’s state income tax. Municipal bonds issued by California entities, however, offer…