Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
President Donald Trump has finally put a branded health proposal on the table, and the reaction from the policy world has been less a sigh of relief than a collective double take. The Great Healthcare Plan arrives with sweeping promises to slash costs, protect patients and send cash directly to households, yet even seasoned analysts…
Retirees looking for predictable income have spent the past year rediscovering an old workhorse: high quality corporate bonds packaged in low cost exchange traded funds. One fund in particular, the iShares Investment Grade Bond ETF, delivered more than 10% in total return while still sending out monthly cash flow. That combination of steady payouts and…
Social Security is rolling out a package of upgrades that will touch nearly every part of how Americans interact with the system, from the size of monthly checks to the way people log in, call, and get paid. The changes combine a fresh cost-of-living boost with a rapid shift toward digital tools that the agency…
Social Security benefits are rising again in 2026, but a new idea gaining traction in Washington could mean millions of retirees eventually stop receiving the full inflation bump they have come to expect. The proposal would scale back annual cost-of-living adjustments for some beneficiaries in the name of stabilizing the program’s finances, shifting more of…
For all the complicated formulas and market forecasts that surround retirement, one surprisingly simple behavior stands out as a potential game changer. Americans who adopt it are ending up with roughly twice as much set aside for their later years as those who do not. The habit is not a hot stock tip or a…
For millions of Americans, turning 65 is when retirement planning stops being theoretical and starts showing up as a dollar figure in the bank each month. Knowing what the “average” Social Security check looks like at that age is one of the clearest ways to see whether your own benefit is on track or needs…
Shopping at Costco can feel overwhelming when you are retired, living alone, and watching every dollar. Yet many Kirkland staples are both healthy and easy to portion so nothing goes to waste. I focus here on 15 finds that keep cost per serving low while supporting long-term health. 1) Kirkland Signature Organic Eggs Kirkland Signature…
Decluttering in retirement is not just about tidiness, it is about protecting hard-earned savings from slow financial leaks. By identifying specific clutter traps that quietly drain cash, retirees can redirect hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year back into their budgets. I focus here on 16 of the most expensive offenders and how to…
UnitedHealth is back under the regulatory spotlight, with fresh scrutiny of its Medicare business arriving just as investors are still digesting earlier legal and political blows. The new accusations raise questions about how much legal risk is already reflected in UNH’s valuation and how much more volatility shareholders should brace for. I see a company…
The Trump administration’s health team tried to quietly pull roughly $2 billion from the country’s mental health and addiction safety net, then scrambled to put the money back after a political and public health firestorm. The Department of Health and Human Services is now racing not only to restore the grants on paper but also…