The American retirement system is still in pretty good shape compared to those in other countries. But a lot of that rosy scenario relies on the assumption that lawmakers will act in the best interests of seniors. They may well do so going forward, but the latest actions in Congress are concerning, as is the latest report from the trustees of Social…
The artificial intelligence (AI) boom promises to revolutionize many industries, but it’s also guaranteed to guzzle a lot of water. Between the water needed to cool computer equipment at data centers and generate the electricity needed for those centers, researchers estimate that global AI demand could account for 4.2 billion to 6.6 billion cubic meters of water withdrawal in 2027. And that’s…
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…
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…
Just because you don’t hear too much about low-priced stocks under $20 on Bloomberg Business, CNBC, or Fox Business, doesn’t mean you should ignore or avoid them. There can be tremendous potential in lower-priced stocks, and neglecting them can cost you. High-quality stocks that happen to be trading at below $20 often fly under the radar of Wall Street and…
It can be hard to invest in AI through stock picking alone. To do it well, you’d need a firm grasp of advanced technical concepts, deep insight into competitive dynamics, and a close eye on evolving global regulations. For the average retail investor, that’s a tall order. “We’re in the early stages of the AI cycle, and proper diversification is extremely important – be…
There’s no shortage of tax-sheltered investment accounts available to ordinary Americans looking to minimize their annual bill to the IRS. Some of the most popular options include workplace 401(k) plans, Roth IRAs and even health savings accounts (HSAs). Depending on the account, you might benefit from upfront deductions, tax-deferred growth or even tax-free withdrawals. But all three have one thing…
Wall Street analysts make new stock picks on a daily basis. Unfortunately, not all analysts and the stocks they pick are winners. Analyst opinions and ratings can vary significantly for a particular stock, making it difficult for investors to know which analysts to trust. Fortunately, WallStreetZen has implemented a system to track analyst stock picks based on average return, win…
Everyone tends to pay attention when big-name stocks make their initial public offerings (IPO). That’s in part because in hindsight, the debut of certain companies provides a life-changing investment opportunity. Consider Tesla Inc. (ticker: TSLA), which hit public markets in 2010 with a valuation of just $2 billion or so – and now, the company is worth more than $1 trillion.…
Down and discouraged for the first four months of the year, the U.S. stock market has bounced back in May. The benchmark S&P 500 is up 12.5% over the past month and is back in the black year to date, returning 1% as of the May 20 close. That doesn’t mean the stock market is fully recovered, as many threats…