Author: Money Mechanics

To help you understand the trends surrounding AI and other new technologies and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe.) You’ll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest…As the smartphone industry battles tariffs and cost-conscious consumers, Apple’s new slate of iPhones figures to be a big hit.Updated mobile software, computer chips and exterior…

Qualified Charitable DistributionsgettyThe end of the year is full of checklists and activities. Whether someone is celebrating the holidays or making sure finances are in order, one thing is certain: December 31 comes quickly for everyone. It is prudent to start early and be methodical when planning for the year ahead. Beginning in January with periodic contributions is often the easiest way to maximize contributions, though this is not always feasible or efficient. Another strategy to consider is a tax-efficient approach that fulfills required distributions while allowing a charity to receive the full benefit without taxation. Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs)…

The 2025 tax landscape has changed due to the GOP tax and spending law, referred to by some as the “big, beautiful bill,” signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025.This multibillion-dollar legislation impacts everything from car loan interest to overtime pay and reported cash tips.While it may provide some taxpayers with opportunities to save, the bill also creates some confusion regarding which income types are really non-taxable and what, if any, new rules apply. 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…

The main U.S. equity indexes opened lower and showed red through most of the last trading session of September. Late-day buying lifted all three into the green for the day, as all three also closed the month and the third quarter with gains.Some stocks and sectors moved more than others, though investors, traders and speculators remain broadly focused on Washington D.C., hours ahead of a potential federal government shutdown at 12:01 am Eastern Standard Time.”Despite a weaker end to the month,” observes LPL Financial portfolio strategist George Smith, “the equity market ‘melt-up’ successfully navigated what has historically been a tricky…

Key Takeaways A pair of pharmaceutical giants spearheaded gains for other stocks in the industry on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, while a new OpenAI partnership weighed on payments providers.Pfizer shares jumped Tuesday after the pharmaceutical firm announced lower prices on several medications in the U.S. with President Trump at the White House.Shares of Paycom and Block shares slid as OpenAI announced a partnership with Stripe. An agreement with the U.S. government and a favorable regulatory decision in Europe helped lift shares of large drugmakers. Meanwhile, the announcement of a collaboration that will integrate shopping functions into a popular chatbot dragged…

Key Takeaways The fourth quarter has historically been the best for U.S. stocks, with a strong first nine months of the year usually pointing to more gains in the last three.Bank of America analysts recently told clients they see bullish seasonal trends across most sectors except for energy and real estate. It’s been a good year for U.S. stocks so far. Some experts are calling for an even stronger finish. An uncharacteristically strong September—the month with a reputation as the worst for stocks—saw the S&P 500 add 3.5% after logging a series of fresh highs, bringing the benchmark index up…

You’ve dreamed of retirement for years. But nobody prepares you for the downsides. You know, those out-of-your-control things that creep up, whether it’s loneliness or a big tax bill.Downsides in retirement can happen to anyone, but they tend to occur more often to those without a plan, who haven’t thought through the what-ifs, says Matt Radgowski, CEO of Halo Investing. “They haven’t had conversations with their partners, heirs or financial adviser,” says Radgowski. “Those who have the biggest surprises, quite frankly, didn’t do the planning up front.”You can’t prevent all the downsides in retirement, but you can prepare and implement…

Key Takeaways Inflation is now 2.9%, so if your savings APY is lower than that, your money is steadily losing value. Fortunately, you can move money into one of the top high-yield savings accounts, which are paying returns of 4%—5%. With Fed rate cuts expected, stashing some savings in a top nationwide CD can help you lock in one of today’s rates for months or even years. The full article continues below these offers from our partners. How to Tell If Your Savings Is Beating Inflation Inflation has been climbing again, with the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) in August…

The past few weeks have seen technology stocks outperform. Over the past month (at Monday’s closing price), the and tech-heavy indices have gained +5.11% and +5.29% respectively, while the has limited its gains to +3.11% and the to +1.69%.Recent weeks have brought several positive developments for the technology sector, including the rate cut. Technology stocks usually perform well when interest rates are cut, and the market anticipates the US central bank will implement two more rate cuts by year’s end.It should also be remembered that massive investments by and in , whose announcement led to a gain of over 40%…

Photo by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty ImagesA government shutdown looms after midnight — and, depending on how long it lasts, could have far-reaching implications for household finances.Those repercussions might include anything from delayed paychecks and layoffs for federal workers to broad effects for other Americans, including disrupted travel plans and an inability to get a mortgage, economists said.Enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act — also known as Obamacare — that have made health plans less expensive for millions of enrollees in recent years are also indirectly at stake.Economists and market analysts are predicting that Democrats and Republicans won’t be…