Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway reported that its profit rose in the third quarter, while its cash pile ballooned to a new record of more than $381.7 billion.The company did not announce share buybacks. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A; BRK.B)’s cash stockpile hit yet another high, according to the conglomerate’s third quarter earnings released Saturday. Berkshire reported third-quarter operating earnings of $13.5 billion, up from $10.1 billion a year ago and $11.2 billion in the prior quarter. The gains were largely attributable to a surge in insurance income. Its cash and equivalent holdings grew to $381.7 billion, hitting a record. Why This…

Sitting at a kitchen table, George Kinder asked a question of a young woman. Her response opened the door to a decision that could genuinely transform her life. She might reconsider having kids after all.George Kinder has helped transform the world of financial planning without a single quantitative calculation, focusing instead on finding the right questions. His legendary 3 Questions exercise has helped many connect meaning to money, but now he’s asking even bigger questions, and he’s asking them of institutions as well as individuals.Are we asking the right questions?gettyI recently had an opportunity to speak with George about his…

As an experienced real estate investor who has witnessed countless market cycles and navigated the intricacies of tax-advantaged investing, I can confidently assert real estate investing offers superior returns compared to traditional investment vehicles.While financial advisers routinely recommend diversified portfolios of stocks and bonds, groundbreaking research and decades of tax policy innovations have created a compelling case for making real estate the cornerstone of any serious investment strategy.Kiplinger’s Adviser Intel, formerly known as Building Wealth, is a curated network of trusted financial professionals who share expert insights on wealth building and preservation. Contributors, including fiduciary financial planners, wealth managers, CEOs…

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 73-year-old married retiree based in South Carolina. He has three children, nine grandchildren and only just recently retired from the sales industry. 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,…

My husband, Tom, has served for 19 years. Currently, he’s a full-time pilot in the Air National Guard, and he previously spent more than a decade as an active-duty member of the Air Force.Military life comes with plenty of challenges: frequent duty-station relocations, irregular work schedules and overseas deployments, to name a few that we’ve been through. But servicemembers also have access to some significant financial benefits. In recognition of Veterans Day this November, I’m sharing below a few that are impactful for my family.1. Housing allowanceOne helpful perk is a tax-free subsidy, known as the basic allowance for housing,…

While retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy life, many retirees quickly discover that stress did not go the way of their paycheck. From minor inconveniences, such as sitting in traffic, to major economic strains like inflation, life is rarely perfect, even for the luckiest retirees.Life can be perfect for a little while, though.You just need to find the right spa resort to escape, indulge your senses, and enjoy unparalleled pampering. We’ve found four luxurious U.S. spas that cater to older travelers, where you can schedule a weekend or even an extended visit. Don’t blame us if you…

, , and mining stocks are not doing much, but at the same time, today’s session is very meaningful. This is the case because of how the precious metals sector is moving lower today, because of what the is doing, and given how it all fits gold’s big picture. In short, my gold price forecast for November 2025 remains up-to-date. Gold, silver, and miners moved lower today, and miners are leading the way. Taking a closer look at the most recent upswing reveals that miners were the first to move higher, and silver caught up. This is typical for movement…

Just 28 out of every 1,000 U.S. homes changed hands in the first nine months of 2025, the lowest rate since the 1990s. Affordability challenges and uncertainty about the economy are keeping buyers and sellers on the sidelines. Homes turned over the most in Virginia Beach, VA and West Palm Beach, FL, while turning over the least in New York and Los Angeles. Only 28 out of every 1,000 (2.8%) U.S. homes have changed hands in 2025—the lowest turnover rate in at least 30 years.   That’s according to a Redfin analysis of home turnover rates, based on MLS data…

virtualmage/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysIT, engineering, data, and AI teams now lead responsible AI efforts.PwC recommends a three-tier “defense” model.Embed, don’t bolt on, responsible AI in everything.”Responsible AI” is a very hot and important topic these days, and the onus is on technology managers and professionals to ensure that the artificial intelligence work they are doing builds trust while aligning with business goals. Fifty-six percent of the 310 executives participating in a new PwC survey say their first-line teams — IT, engineering, data, and AI — now lead their responsible AI efforts. “That…

Where Else People Age 55-64 Are Saving Money Asset % Households with Asset Median Value for Asset Holders Savings Bonds 8.5% $3,000 CDs 6.6% $25,000 Stocks (directly held) 19.2% $30,000 Retirement Accts 57% $185,000 Bonds (directly held) 1.2% $400,000 Source: The Federal Reserve’s “Survey of Consumer Finances” (2022) “Directly held” means the asset is not in a retirement account. The value of bonds in this table looks much higher than the other categories, especially given that only a tiny fraction of 55-64-year-olds owns directly held corporate or municipal bonds. This small group either holds numerous bonds, bonds with high values,…