Category: personal finance

Three Steps to Defend Your Retirement Against ‘Woke’ ESG Investments

The ongoing push for environment, social, and governance (ESG) policies has driven retirement accounts into a downward spiral. Stagnant and oftentimes fading portfolios are being filled with “woke” investments thanks in large part to new guidance from the White House. On top of politics, mega-money managers like BlackRock are pressuring businesses to focus less on…


You’ll Probably Live Longer Than You Think

Women often don’t score as well as men in surveys of financial literacy. One area where we seem to do better is “longevity literacy,” or understanding how long we’re likely to live. Longevity literacy is essential to smart retirement planning. Overestimate your longevity, and you could retire too late or scrimp too much. Underestimate it…


Is Cash App Safe? 

Many cash apps make it easy to purchase or transfer money. Their convenience makes them popular, and may offer ways to invest your money with just the touch of a few buttons. The ease of use, unfortunately, may also make it just as easy for someone to steal the money you have in your cash…


How AI Is Transforming the Accounting Industry and What the Future Will Look Like

By Matt Bontrager You can’t survive in a fast-paced environment without financial management—there is no argument with that. Bookkeeping is the key to surviving that environment. Historically, bookkeeping has been a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. We are going to see a sweeping shift in how our early adopters in this industry leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) effectively:…


It’s Prime Time for Small-Company Stocks

By Nellie S. Huang From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Small-company stocks are often the canaries in the market’s coal mine. Typically defined as stocks with a market value of less than $10 billion, their prices usually peak and then decline before large-company stock prices do in anticipation of a top in the economic cycle or a…


IN-DEPTH: Shareholder Votes Show Support for ESG Falling

This year’s spring season of shareholder voting is leading some to believe that the tide may be turning against the left-wing corporate pressure campaign that goes under the awkward moniker of Environmental, Social and Governance, or ESG. “The big story this year is the drop in support for ESG proposals,” Scott Shepard, a fellow at…


Closing Prices for Crude Oil, Gold, and Other Commodities (June 9)

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for July delivery fell $1.12 to $70.17 a barrel Friday. Brent crude for August delivery fell $1.17 to $74.79 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for July delivery fell 2 cents $2.59 a gallon. July heating oil fell 3 cents to $2.36 a gallon. July natural gas fell 10 cents to $2.25 per…


How Major US Stock Indexes Fared June 9

Stocks drifted higher on Wall Street, giving the S&P 500 its fourth winning week in a row. The benchmark index edged up 0.1 percent Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a gain and the Nasdaq composite rose. Tesla was at the front of the market, rallying 4.1 percent after announcing that General Motors…


What Climbing Interest Rates Mean for Annuities?

Careful scrutiny of your retirement plans requires you to factor in annuities to balance your investment portfolio. Annuities remain reliable investment vehicles to generate a guaranteed income post-retirement. Meticulously planned annuities often replicate monthly paychecks that reflect in the form of salary amidst rising interest rates. Where Will I Start With My Annuities? Well, you…


Health Savings Accounts Are More Attractive Than Ever: Is It Time to Get One?

Recent changes to health savings accounts (HSAs) make them much more attractive. These accounts double as health insurance and a retirement account. Previously, they only allowed smaller contributions each year, but the limit has been raised for 2024. Money contributed to a health savings account is tax deductible. It enables money to be available for…