Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
I keep hearing from readers who wonder whether the classic 60/40 mix of stocks and bonds is obsolete in a world of higher rates, longer lifespans, and crypto-fueled speculation. The short answer is that the 60/40 idea is very much alive, but it is no longer a one-size-fits-all solution you can set and forget. To…
If you want one more new car before you hang up your keys for good, the smartest move is to pick something that can comfortably run 15 to 20 years with routine care. I look for models with a track record of crossing high-mileage milestones, strong reliability data and reasonable ownership costs so they can…
Every generation pays tuition to the school of hard financial knocks, but baby boomers have had to learn some of the most expensive lessons in real time. I’ve pulled together 17 of the biggest money takeaways boomers earned the hard way so you can skip the regret, keep the wisdom, and build a more resilient…
I approach retirement planning as a long game, and the most useful guidance I have seen treats it that way too. When a retirement expert lays out eight specific ways to help your money last, the common thread is not a single magic product but a series of disciplined choices that work together over decades….
With short-term interest rates still elevated, I see a rare window for retirees to earn 4% or more on cash without taking stock-market-level risk. Instead of leaving savings in a checking account that pays almost nothing, it is now possible to combine insured bank products and government-backed securities to build a safer income foundation for…
Maxing out a 401(k) in 2026 will take more discipline than it did in 2025, but the payoff is a bigger tax-advantaged cushion for retirement. I want to walk through exactly how much I would need to save each month to hit the new limits and how those numbers change if I am over 50,…
Dave Ramsey, a well-known financial advisor, advocates for claiming Social Security benefits as early as age 62 rather than waiting until full retirement age. His advice, shared in February 2025, emphasizes the importance of securing immediate income to prevent the depletion of personal savings. Ramsey suggests that retirees invest each early Social Security check in…
As of November 15, 2025, concerns about Social Security’s financial future are causing widespread anxiety. Many fear that benefits could be reduced or even eliminated, especially as retirees worry that proposed tariffs might increase inflation, negating the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) announced earlier this year. Meanwhile, younger workers, particularly millennials, are anxious about outliving their savings,…
Transferring a 401(k) to an IRA is a common step for many individuals seeking greater control over their retirement savings. However, this process is fraught with potential pitfalls that can lead to unnecessary taxes, penalties, and financial setbacks. Understanding these mistakes is crucial to ensuring a smooth transition and maximizing the benefits of your retirement…
Financial expert Dave Ramsey and the AARP are sounding alarms about significant changes to Medicare that are set to take effect in 2026. These changes could have profound implications for millions of retirees, potentially leading to increased out-of-pocket expenses and reduced benefits. With healthcare costs on the rise, Ramsey and AARP are urging retirees to…