Author: Money Mechanics

Average 401(k) Contributions, Balance, and Employer Contribution by Generation Average 401(k) Contribution Average Employer Contribution Average 401(k) Balance Baby Boomers 11.9%  5.0% $249,300 Gen X 10.2% 5.0% $192,300 Millennials  8.7% 4.6% $67,300 Gen Z  7.2% 3.7% $13,500 Source: Fidelity (as of December 31, 2024) According to Fidelity data representing nearly 25 million retirement plan participants, as of the end of 2024, the average employee 401(k) contribution across generations (Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z) was high enough to earn all but the loftiest of employer matches. Baby Boomers saved the largest percentage of their income at 11.9%. Gen…

Key Takeaways Major U.S. equities indexes rose Monday afternoon amid optimism Congress could soon agree on a spending plan to end the record U.S. government shutdown.Palantir Technologies shares surged, as the provider of software for government agencies stands to benefit from the end of the shutdown.Health insurance stocks dropped after President Trump suggested federal health insurance subsidies could go directly to Americans instead of insurers. Major U.S. equities indexes climbed Monday afternoon amid optimism Congress could soon agree on a spending plan to end the record U.S. government shutdown. The S&P 500 was up close to 1%, and the Nasdaq…

Key Takeaways Options pricing suggests traders anticipate shares of CoreWeave could rise or fall up to 14% this week.The cloud computing company is expected to say its losses narrowed and revenue more than doubled from last year when it reports third-quarter earnings after the closing bell on Monday.CoreWeave has only reported earnings twice since going public in March; the stock, after big run-ups into those prints, fell on both occasions. CoreWeave (CRWV) is slated to report third-quarter results after the closing bell on Monday, with traders expecting a big post-earnings move for the stock.  Options pricing suggests traders anticipate shares…

Key Takeaways The Federal Reserve will meet on Dec. 9 and 10 to decide whether to cut the fed funds rate for a third consecutive meeting.Both sides of the Fed’s “dual mandate” are worsening, and the Fed also lacks data because of the government shutdown. The Federal Reserve’s policy committee meets next on Dec. 9 and 10, and officials are expected to cut the central bank’s key interest rate to lower borrowing costs in an effort to stabilize the deteriorating job market. What To Expect From The December Meeting The Federal Open Market Committee will meet to consider whether to…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.People get very cross about credit ratings. Issuers get cross when the individual ratings they’re assigned are, in their opinion, too low. Politicians can throw tantrums, or even issue arrest warrants for analysts daring to dish out a downgrade. And not every firm with a spotless payment history is thrilled to be handed a rating at the low end of junk (although there is one notable exception we can think of). Meanwhile, everyone gets cross when ratings turn out to be collectively…

This photograph shows a general view of Nexperia headquarters in Nijmegen on November 6, 2025.John Thys | Afp | Getty Images Shares of Wingtech Technology, parent company of chipmaker Nexperia, extended gains on Monday after Beijing agreed to further talks with a Dutch delegation, easing concerns about a global auto supply crunch.Shanghai-listed Wingtech Technology saw its shares jump as much as 6.4% on Monday, according to LSEG data, after surging 9.7% in the final minutes of trading last Friday on signs of de-escalation in a battle over control of the Dutch-based Nexperia.The Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement Sunday that…

Key Takeaways A new study found that more than half of 401(k) plans from 2009 to 2013 offered consumers at least one investment fund option that shared revenue with the plan’s administrator.That means higher hidden costs, which can add up to thousands in lost value by the time you retire. Do you really know how your 401(k) plan is invested? If not, you might be putting your money in costlier mutual funds and not know it, new research suggests. Researchers analyzed the 1,000 largest 401(k) plans between 2009 and 2013—the only years when the Department of Labor required detailed public…

Key Takeaways Warren Buffett turns market crashes into opportunities by following his own advice to “be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.” Focusing on strong business fundamentals rather than short-term price movements has been central to Buffett’s success, as demonstrated by his long-term holdings in companies like Coca-Cola Co. (KO) and American Express Company (AXP). Since 1965, shares of Warren Buffett’s conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), have delivered a compounded annual return of 19.9%—almost double that of the S&P 500 over the same period. Unlike many of Wall Street’s famous money managers, Buffett has thrived during…

Key Takeaways Tiny homes can lower your cost of living, but zoning and depreciation make the financial math more complicated than smaller homes, equating to automatic savings. Minimalists, eco-minded individuals, retirees, and small families are more likely to opt for tiny living. Downsides include limited space, challenging financing, and hidden expenses that detract from the appeal. Many might think that tiny homes guarantee instant savings and a debt-free life, citing prices as low as $30,000 compared with about $364,000 for the typical U.S. home. But does slashing square footage truly deliver financial freedom, or are costs and lifestyle sacrifices hiding…

Creeping stagflation and a sour job market have workers clinging to their jobs — whether they like it or not.Because workers are stuck in jobs they don’t want, they are “quiet cracking,” a damaging new turn in the employee-employer relationship that is creating even greater strain on the companies that are allowing these cracks to grow.Like quiet quitting before it, the trend of quiet cracking stems from dissatisfied and disengaged employees who revert to doing the bare minimum to collect a paycheck. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE…