In an era when political debates make middle school assemblies look like Mensa meetings, it’s no wonder investors are looking for something—anything—reliable. Enter the dividend. Dependable. Predictable. Comforting, even. Like a warm cup of decaf in a world that runs on espresso and outrage. But don’t let that siren song of a 12% yield lull you into financial narcolepsy. Sometimes,… 

The tax bill passed by the House of Representatives on May 22 includes some big changes for families. It increases the child tax credit, introduces a new tax-deferred account with government contributions for new babies, expands eligible expenses for health savings accounts, and proposes a tax break for interest on certain car loans. It would also make a variety of… 

Rare earth stocks took a hit Friday after China indicated it would approve new exports of rare earth minerals to the U.S.  This, after the White House announced a deal had been reached between the two largest economies in the world. The U.S. automotive industry cannot function without a steady supply of rare earth minerals.  They’re used for everything from transmissions and… 

Dividend stocks are often thought of as income instruments, and they certainly can be. Many retired investors derive a significant portion of their income from dividends, and there are lots of stocks with excellent track records of consistent dividend payments over decades. However, dividend stocks can also be excellent compounding instruments, especially for investors who still have many years until… 

If nothing else, a large stockpile of excess cash tells us that a company literally generates more profit that it can spend, which isn’t exactly a bad sign. And regardless of which path the economy takes, they will be in a better position to respond. Should the financial markets suffer some type of shock, there’s nothing more buoyant than U.S… 

Sometimes, it’s better to have a low guaranteed return than it is to take a big risk that might pay off (or might not). That’s the approach more people are taking amid tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Fixed index annuities offer guaranteed returns for their investors. The baseline interest is different for each annuity, but fixed index annuities have the potential… 

China oil demand is set to peak two years ahead of schedule. This, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest analysis which indicates that China’s oil consumption will top out at 16.9 million barrels per day by 2027.  This is actually a big deal as China is the world’s second largest consumer of oil. Of course, random natural disasters… 

There’s a potentially major shakeup brewing in the financial tech (fintech) space. Over the past week, both Walmart and Amazon have quietly signaled plans to explore launching their own stablecoins. To make sure we’re all on the same page, a stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a consistent value – typically $1 – by holding cash or… 

Quantum computing is often considered the next frontier for the tech industry. Unlike traditional computers, which store their data separately in binary bits of zeros and ones, quantum computers can process those bits simultaneously in qubits. That difference allows them to process a lot more data at a faster rate than traditional binary computers. However, quantum computers are also bigger, pricier, and… 

For many retirees, the biggest financial challenge isn’t how to grow their nest egg—it’s how to avoid outliving it. That makes the retirement withdrawal strategy just as important as the accumulation phase. Unfortunately, far too many people enter retirement with a vague plan—or worse, no plan at all—about how they’ll draw down their savings. What’s needed is a thoughtful, flexible…