All Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8% increase in their benefit amount next year, but the most any retiree can receive monthly in 2026 is $5,251. That amount will go to those who retired in 2025 with the maximum possible benefit and who are now getting a cost-of-living adjustment. It isn’t easy to qualify for the maximum amount. You’ll need a…
Consumer staples stocks are usually a pretty boring group. And yet the sector has long proved a steady source of growing businesses that pay reliable dividends. Generally speaking, the consumer staples sector is out of favor right now. Add in some company-specific issues, and the following three companies are all offering historically high yields despite very impressive business histories. I’m a happy…
The world’s best AI hardware maker – Nvidia (NVDA) – and the world’s best AI software developer – OpenAI – announced the single biggest deal in the history of artificial intelligence. In our view, it looks an awful lot like the Manhattan Project of AI… and it signals that the red-hot AI stock market rally still has plenty of runway left. So, we’ll explain why…
No one enjoys seeing red in their portfolio—but turning paper losses into tax savings is one way to make the most of a volatile year. November’s seasonal strength may even give you better exit points before year-end. I’d rather be feasting on gains than harvesting losses, but smart tax strategy is still part of successful investing. Don’t wait until the…
The best long-term exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are different from the quirky and often unknown funds that make headlines because of big short-term gains. Long-term investing is about diversification and the discipline to stick with it, regardless of the latest headlines. And the best long-term ETFs offer distinct yet complementary paths to building lasting wealth, across any market cycle. The following ETFs…
Investing in real estate is a proven wealth-creation strategy. Real estate investments can also help you diversify your portfolio and protect it from stock market volatility. Let’s look at the most popular options for investing in real estate, the pros and cons, and how you can get started. This post originally appeared at The Motley Fool.
After nearly two years of interest rate hikes aimed at cooling inflation, the Federal Reserve has officially changed course. In September, the Fed cut its benchmark rate by a quarter point to a range of 4.00%–4.25%, citing softening labor markets and growing risks to the broader economy. Core inflation is now running near 3%—well below its 2022 peak—and markets are…
About a week ago, to little fanfare, the U.S. national debt crossed $38 trillion. Now, perhaps you’re scratching your head…“Wait, weren’t we just talking about hitting $37 trillion?” Yep – but that was in August. We then added another $1 trillion at the fastest pace in history outside of the Covid pandemic spendapalooza. But the speed of our mounting debt…
Nuclear energy is back. After decades of stagnation, nuclear power has emerged as a viable clean energy source. It was the world’s second-largest low carbon source of electricity in 2024, and its generation capacity is expected to quadruple in the U.S. by 2050. Given the immense potential for nuclear energy, several companies have been making moves lately to build out their…
Investments that focus on planet-friendly solutions could be long-term opportunities for patient bargain hunters. Stock market investing has traditionally been about one kind of green, money, but it’s increasingly about another kind: the environment. Green stocks and funds offer the opportunity for people concerned about climate change and pollution to align their investment and environmental priorities. With that backdrop in mind,…