Author: Money Mechanics

Westend61/Westend61 via Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysMany designers now use AI in their day-to-day work.Some hope the tech will function as a creative partner.Others worry AI will erase the serendipity in their work. AI companies are pushing the tech as a solution for every productivity problem. While it’s shown promise in some mundane tasks, there is still a chasm between implementation, ROI, and human buy-in. Fast Company recently asked nine designers: In a perfect world, what are the capabilities you’d like to see from AI? Here’s what they said, and what it tells us about the…

Key Taekaways Concentration in company stock exposes you to outsized risk if your employer falters. Diversifying your retirement portfolio helps preserve income stability. Tax-smart strategies like NUA and tax-loss harvesting can ease the impact of selling company stock. Charitable giving through a donor-advised fund (DAF) with appreciated stock can reduce tax burdens. A gradual, multi-year diversification plan helps balance growth and safety. If you’re happy at your job, it can feel natural to be loyal to your employer by holding onto its stock, especially if it has performed well. But when too much of your retirement savings—more than 5% to…

Key Takeaways Amazon rolled its private food labels into a new brand, Amazon Grocery, and said it will continue to expand its offerings.The move comes as other food companies try to reach a rising number of consumers shopping store brands. Amazon is priming its grocery lineup for the private-label craze as shoppers look for more ways to save on food. Amazon (AMZN) rebranded its private food labels Wednesday after seeing a 15% jump in the number of company-branded products sold. The new brand, Amazon Grocery, pulls in items sold under the Amazon Fresh and Happy Belly labels, and adds new…

Cost of Living Breakdown Santa Rosa State Average National Average Median monthly housing costs $516 $963 $1,338 Average monthly food $951 $1,244 $1,174 Average monthly taxes $957 $961 $1,156 Average monthly transportation costs $1,500 $1,532 $1,098 Average monthly healthcare costs $1,931 $1,743 $1,214 Taxes and Retirement Income Only a handful of states still tax Social Security benefits, but New Mexico is not necessarily one of them. The state has a high income threshold for exempting Social Security, so single filers can enjoy a high income (up to $100,000 per year as of 2025) without having to pay taxes on the…

Key Takeaways A power generator’s stock surged on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, after reports of a possible takeover, while a separation plan weighed on a seed and crop protection company.Shares of AES took off following reports that BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners could be approaching a deal to acquire the utility company.Corteva stock lost ground after the agricultural sciences firm said it would split into two separate companies. Reports of a potential acquisition helped shares of a utility company power higher, while an agricultural sciences firm faced pressure after it announced a plan to separate into two independent entities. Major U.S.…

Mayflower Advisors.Courtesy of Mayflower Advisors Firm: Mayflower Advisors Name: Lawrence Glazer Location: Boston, MA Team Custodied Assets: $5.1 billion Background: Lawrence (“Larry”) Glazer grew up in the Boston area in a household where money was never a taboo subject. His father, who still works at Mayflower Advisors today, was a financial advisor for decades, and his uncle had introduced him to the business. “We’re really three generations of advisors,” Glazer says. “It allows us to see five decades of working with clients.” Glazer studied economics and political science at Duke University, where he had his first entrepreneurial experience. When popular…

Key Takeaways 30-year mortgage rates have moved higher since the Fed’s September rate cut, taking the flagship average well above an 11-month low that was registered before the Fed’s move. Mortgage rates don’t necessarily follow the interest rate the Fed sets. They can rise even when the central bank makes a cut. Industry forecasts suggest only gradual rate relief in the coming year, meaning buyers may need to focus on the right home now and refinance later if rates ease. The full article continues below these offers from our partners. Mortgage Rates Have Jumped Since the Fed Meeting Just before…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The Department of Education has sent mass emails to student loan borrowers who have made the number of payments required to receive loan forgiveness, saying their loans will be discharged in a few months.Many of these borrowers were hoping to receive their forgiveness before the year ends, so they won’t have to pay taxes on it.The government is currently shut down because of a funding gap, so borrowers will likely have to wait until it opens before the Department of Education does anything more. After months of waiting, federal student loan borrowers are seeing progress on their forgiveness.…

Key Takeaways Side hustles are getting more popular because they help people make extra money and fit easily around their busy schedules.With ChatGPT, people can make some extra income without advanced skills or significant investment.ChatGPT opens the door to a wide range of beginner-friendly income opportunities, including tutoring, virtual assistance, content writing, and social media management. Working a side hustle to earn extra income has never been more common and accessible than it is now. As the cost of living continues to rise, more people are turning to tools like ChatGPT to work smarter, streamline everyday tasks, and generate extra…

Key Takeaways Buffett urges investors to stick to a “circle of competence,” investing only in businesses they fully understand. His top priority is a company’s durable competitive advantage, not trends, forecasts, or buzzwords. Warren Buffett, revered for turning Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) into a global powerhouse, credits his success not to complexity, but to discipline. “You don’t have to be an expert on every company, or even many,” he wrote in a 1996 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. “You only have to be able to evaluate companies within your circle of competence. The size of that circle is not…