Author: Money Mechanics

Lambert quoted Pulte as saying: “I anticipate that the president will make a decision either this quarter or early next year as it relates to the IPO.” The future of Fannie and Freddie has been a hot topic in President Trump’s second term as the two government sponsored enterprises spend their 17th year in conservatorship following the great financial crisis. Releasing them from that conservatorship is complicated, since they now backstop about 70% of all mortgage loans in the U.S., providing liquidity and stability in the market. Privatizing Fannie and Freddie would take years, experts say, because it will require…

Rivian has given its founder and CEO RJ Scaringe a new performance-based stock award that could ultimately be worth around $5 billion if all the underlying goals are met, according to a new filing. Scaringe’s salary is also being doubled to $2 million per year, and he was given a 10% stake in Rivian’s newest spinout Mind Robotics, the filing shows. The announcement comes just one day after Tesla shareholders voted to approve a compensation package for its CEO Elon Musk that could be worth $1 trillion — the largest in corporate history. Unlike Musk’s pay package, Scaringe’s isn’t subject…

Key Takeaways Median monthly housing costs for homeowners with a mortgage rose to $2,035 in 2024, and median gross rent reached $1,487, outpacing the rate of inflation. These costs are 43% (homeowners) and 31% (renters) of the median household income, both higher than the 28% that financial experts recommend for housing costs. A household earning $5,000 per month ($60,000 per year) before taxes should aim to spend no more than $1,400 on monthly housing costs (rent or mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and utilities). Financial experts recommend spending no more than 28% of your monthly pre-tax income on housing costs. But…

It’s a good problem to have: having too much money saved for retirement and having additional money to leave to your heirs. Here’s a look at the types of people who are saving a lot in their lifetimes and how you can be one of them. Who Saves the Most? A National Bureau of Economic Research study reveals what types of people work and save the most. According to the study, married men work in the labor force and save “substantially” throughout their lifetimes. Married women’s time in the labor market peaks in middle age. Single men show a decline…

Key Takeaways Ted Weschler is one of Warren Buffet’s top investment managers at Berkshire Hathaway.Weschler met Buffett when he was a hedge fund manager, paying millions at a charity auction for the chance to have lunch with the legendary investor.It’s been revealed that Weschler grew his retirement savings to more than $269 million, through exhaustive research, investing in stocks only, making concentrated bets, and focusing on long-term value. In a remarkable tale of investment success spanning three decades, Ted Weschler—now one of Warren Buffett’s top lieutenants at Berkshire Hathaway—transformed a modest retirement account into a fortune worth hundreds of millions.…

Key Takeaways Cities like Memphis, Detroit, Lexington, Atlanta, and Kansas City show you don’t have to live in pricey cities like New York and Chicago to enjoy great live music.From blues and bluegrass to hip-hop and jazz, these towns prove that great sound doesn’t have to break your budget, offering vibrant music scenes and affordable homes. If your idea of a perfect night out involves live music, local flavor, and a price tag that doesn’t sting, there are plenty of U.S. cities that hit the right notes. While legends like Nashville, which is in fact becoming pricier to live in,…

I’ve been practicing elder law for decades, and I’ve sat at too many kitchen tables explaining one hard truth: A marriage license isn’t just a piece of paper. It unlocks a long list of legal rights and protections that unmarried couples simply don’t get despite how long they’ve been together.For same-sex couples who aren’t married, the gap between what you think happens and what the law actually says can be huge.When something goes wrong, such as an illness or death, that gap can swallow everything you’ve built together. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better…

Recent tax changes gave many retirees reasons to cheer.The jubilation is limited, though, so take advantage while you can before the opportunity to reduce your tax bill slips away.Changes to certain income tax rules and deductions were included in what President Donald Trump referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which was signed into law July 4, 2025, and amended the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. 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 Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best…

Editor’s note: This is part three of a four-part series about how to create and use your own Estate Planning Playbook. Part one introduced the concept and why it matters. Part two focused on the family love letter, a heartfelt guide to end-of-life preferences. In this article, we cover the often-overlooked details that can cause real stress if not addressed: family heirlooms, pet care and day-to-day bills.When most people think of a will, they imagine a formal document that lays out how money, real estate and high-value possessions will be distributed after death.While those financial assets are important, the biggest…

Welcome to Kiplinger’s My First $1 Million series, in which we hear from people who have made $1 million. They’re sharing how they did it and what they’re doing with it. This time, we hear from a 67-year-old retired public school educator/administrator in Greenville, South Carolina, who’s been married for 47 years.See our earlier profiles, including a writer in New England, a literacy interventionist in Colorado, a semiretired entrepreneur in Nashville and an events industry CEO in Northern New Jersey. (See all of the profiles here.)Each profile features one person or couple, who will always be completely anonymous to readers,…