Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Your 35 highest-earning years are what determine how much you get in Social Security benefits. If there are years with no income, they could drag your average down. Replace your low-wage years with higher-earning years to lift your 35-year average and significantly increase your Social Security benefits. Check your wage record at SSA.gov to see how many $0 years you have—and then decide the smartest year to retire. How a Few $0 Years Can Add Up to Smaller Social Security Benefits Most people who earn paychecks and pay into Social Security know they’ll qualify for monthly benefits in…

Key Takeaways Microsoft stock is expected to move about 4% by the end of the week, according to recent options pricing data, as the company gets set to release its quarterly results on Wednesday after the closing bell.Shares jumped to a record high following strong results in July but have been trending sideways ever since.Wall Street analysts are overwhelmingly bullish on Microsoft stock, which they expect to get a boost from another quarter of robust cloud computing growth. Microsoft (MSFT) is scheduled to report quarterly results after markets close on Wednesday, and some investors expect the stock to jump to…

Key Takeaways A semiconductor maker got a boost from plans to enter a key market on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, while a decline in gold prices weighed down a major miner. Qualcomm stock jumped higher after the chipmaker entered the booming AI data center market with a pair of new products.Shares of mining giant Newmont tumbled alongside a decrease in gold prices. A chipmaker’s stock soared Monday after it launched new products targeting the competitive artificial intelligence data center market, while falling gold prices pressured shares of a top mining company. Major U.S. equities indexes jumped to all-time highs, bolstered…

Maybe it’s just me? By David Enna, Tipswatch.com TreasuryDirect has posted an updated notice about the upcoming change in rates for U.S. Series I Bonds, and this time it almost nailed it. At times in the distant past, TreasuryDirect would have posted nothing at all about the I Bond rate change. But after the I Bond mania of 2022 it began trying to give investors a heads up about the upcoming changes and when they would actually take effect. Sometimes the warning was a little too “nuanced” to make effective sense. This is what it posted last year at this…

Virtual private server (VPS) hosting services are popular these days because they offer more flexibility in hosting than shared plans. When you’re looking to start a new online project or business, or upgrade from a shared pool, there are many options available to you. Services offer varied pricing and plans, customizable resources, reliable security, and scalability to suit your needs. Overall, a VPS can give you far more power and more control over your web hosting in comparison to a shared hosting plan. In addition, website visitors’ experiences improve when you aren’t competing with others for power and bandwidth. Also: Best email hosting services and best virtual private networks Get…

Key Takeaways The Fed will likely cut rates this week, which will push savings and CD yields gradually lower—but it’s not too late to lock in a strong APY. Opening a top nationwide CD can secure one of today’s 4%-plus rates, guaranteeing your return for months or years despite Fed cuts. For cash you want to keep flexible, top high-yield savings accounts still pay in the 4% to 5% range, but those rates are expected to slip. The full article continues below these offers from our partners. A Fed Rate Cut Is Likely This Week—What It Means for CD and…

Key Takeaways Inflation is one of the biggest drivers of mortgage rates, and it just inched up to 3%. That stubborn trend could keep mortgage costs high. Most forecasts see 30-year mortgage rates holding near the mid-6% range this year, then dipping closer to 6% by late 2026—but there are no guarantees. Since timing rates is almost impossible, it’s best to buy when you find a home that fits your needs and budget, then refinance later if rates fall. The full article continues below these offers from our partners. What the Inflation Report Reveals—and Why It Matters for Mortgage Rates…

Key Takeaways President Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping are set to meet in South Korea Thursday and hammer out a trade deal.The two countries have tentatively agreed on a framework that would defuse threats of higher tariffs and export restrictions that both countries have made in recent months.The deal is likely to represent a de-escalation of the trade war, but not settle it completely. Upcoming talks between President Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping could defuse several major economic flashpoints in the trade war between the two countries.The leaders of the world’s two largest economies are expected…

Key Takeaways Meta is scheduled to report its quarterly results after the closing bell Wednesday, with Wall Street analysts expecting growing revenues on strong gains in its ad business.Options pricing suggests traders expect Meta’s stock could move about 6% in either direction in the days after its results. Meta is scheduled to report its third-quarter results after the bell Wednesday, with traders betting on a big move in the social media giant’s stock that could bring it to record highs. Options pricing suggests traders expect Meta Platforms (META) stock could move close to 6% in either direction by the end of…

Family members help themselves and fill their plates for their Christmas Day lunch, on 25th December 2024, in Nailsea, North Somerset, England. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)In Pictures via Getty ImagesWith increased life expectancies and people delaying retirement, there are five generations working together in the workplace. But once we leave the workforce, the people we tend to interact is usually not as diverse. Think of the friends with whom you tend to socialize with the most. My guess is that they are all about the same in age. It is natural for us to…