Author: Money Mechanics

When is Black Friday? In 2025, Black Friday is set for Friday, November 28. It’s one of the best times of the year to score deep discounts on Nintendo Switch consoles, games, and accessories from major retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon. We expect many of these sales to carry over until Cyber Monday, December 1. Is the PlayStation 5 really cheaper during Black Friday? Absolutely! Sony’s PlayStation 5 always sees significant discounts during Cyber Week. Retailers often cut prices on console bundles, controllers, and popular games, with price drops usually exceeding $100. This shopping event is one of the best times…

Key Takeaways It is possible to gift a contribution to another person’s IRA, but the recipient will remain subject to the earned income requirement as if they made contributions of their own.  IRAs have an annual overall contribution limit (as well as an additional “catch-up” limit for those age 50 or older); the total of any gifts plus account holder contributions must remain under that limit. It is possible to contribute above the annual limit, but all excess IRA contributions are taxed at a penalty of 6% per year until both the excess and all income earned on it are…

Key Takeaways The median household income for ages 35–44 was $86,473, according to the latest Federal Reserve data. That’s just behind 45–54-year-olds.Income varies widely across groups, with homeowners and college graduates earning more than renters and those without a degree.Income is only part of the equation—tracking net worth provides a clearer view of your financial health and long-term stability. Household income—and wealth—shift significantly with age. Data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances show that families typically see earnings and assets rise through midlife. For households ages 35–44, this is a key stage for building financial strength. Understanding how…

Key Takeaways Cash-back credit cards return a percentage of your spending as a reward.  Some cards offer flat-rate cash-back while others reward specific categories. Redemption is usually straightforward and flexible, unlike travel-focused cards. They work best when you pay your balance in full to avoid interest. What Is a Cash-Back Rewards Card? A cash-back rewards card is a type of credit card designed to incentivize consumer spending by offering a portion of the purchase amount back to the user in the form of cash or equivalent rewards. For example, a card offering 2% cash-back would return $2 for every $100…

Capital One Kids Savings Account Key Features APY Range 2.50% Minimum Balance to Earn Highest APY No minimum requirement Minimum Deposit $0 Withdrawal Limit 6 per statement cycle (currently not enforced) Monthly Service Fee $0 The Capital One Kids Savings Account is a parent-controlled savings option for young children. It has no minimum balance requirement or monthly fees, making it a useful starter account for kids.  Children under the age of 18 are eligible for the Kids Savings Account. There is no minimum age requirement, so you can open an account for a new baby and start saving on their…

Margaret Wright and Bradley Martin.Courtesy of MartinWright Advisory Atlanta’s newest RIA firm, MartinWright Advisory, launched Monday with seven employees and a clear mission: Bringing institutional-caliber investment management to complex families—and building an advisor-led ownership model designed to last. The firm’s founders, Margaret Wright and Bradley Martin, are both in their 40s and are well-known in the city’s wealth management circles. Between them, they previously managed more than $4.5 billion in cumulative client assets at Truist and Balentine, respectively. Now, they’re betting their combined experience can anchor a new independent firm—one focused on deep customization, next-generation technology and clearly mapped advisor…

Key Takeaways Shares of an AI software giant tumbled on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, even after its earnings report revealed solid growth, while a fast-food company benefitted from strong quarterly results.Palantir Technologies beat third-quarter sales and profit forecasts, but shares of the data analytics software giant fell.A strong performance by Taco Bell helped drive an upbeat quarter for parent company Yum! Brands. Its shares moved higher. An artificial intelligence software powerhouse came under pressure despite a strong earnings report, while shares of a fast-food company rose after it posted strong quarterly results and said it might offload its underperforming pizza…

Investor attention over the past decade has concentrated on mega-cap names even as many midsized public companies have quietly held their own.The famous Magnificent 7 trade – including Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon.com (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Meta Platforms (META), Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA) – has been driving the market. But history suggests the mid-cap universe is consistently full of opportunities.A September 2015 white paper by S&P Global (pdf) found that the S&P MidCap 400 Index had outperformed both the large-cap S&P 500 and the small-cap S&P 600 over the prior 20 years as well as across a range of…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The rate of price increases for daycare in September was 1.5 times higher than the overall inflation rate.Rather than paying for pricy childcare, more parents, specifically women, are dropping out of the labor force to save money and care for their children. With the price of childcare escalating, even faster than rent and college tuition for some families, more mothers are opting out of a job and becoming full-time caregivers for their children. The cost of daycare increased by 5.2% in September compared to the same period last year, according to a report from Bank of America. That…

Key Takeaways Advanced Micro Devices posted record quarterly results that topped analysts’ estimates on strong sales of its data center chips.The chipmaker’s fourth-quarter outlook was also well above the analyst consensus. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) on Tuesday reported record quarterly results above analysts’ projections as booming demand for AI helped boost sales of its data center chips. AMD posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.20 on revenue that jumped 36% year-over-year to a record $9.25 billion in the third quarter, well above analysts’ estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. Sales in AMD’s data center segment—by far its largest—rose 22% year-over-year to…