Key Points A larger Social Security check each month could do great things for your retirement. While there are different strategies you can use to boost your benefits, there’s one that’s probably the most efficient. Pulling it off, however, requires proper planning. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you…
If you’re setting yourself up to be a member of the financial independence, retire early (FIRE) movement, there is likely a specific number you want to achieve to make it happen. It doesn’t even matter if you are hoping to move out of the country or just sit on your porch every day and watch…
How Inflation Undermines Culture And Values Authored by Daniel Morena Vitonvia The Mises Institute, In the previous article, I discussed the social consequences of the welfare state; now I want to focus on inflation—or more precisely, on central bank policy. Inflation can broadly be defined as an artificial increase in the money supply that ultimately drives…
FBI And DHS Warn Of ‘Elevated Threat’ To Jewish Community After Boulder, DC Attacks The FBI and Department of Homeland Security warned of an “elevated threat” to the U.S. Jewish community following an attack last weekend in Boulder, Colorado, and last month’s killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington. In a bulletin issued on…
The Current Nuclear State Of Affairs Authored by Peter Hussey via RealClearWire, With the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and for now the passing of the immediate danger of a nuclear conflict in South Asia, it would make sense to review the current world-wide nuclear state of affairs, especially as we honor those who sacrificed to protect…
For younger investors or those on a tight budget, investing to generate consistent passive income can be daunting because many top dividend stocks trade anywhere from $25 to over $100 per share. Realizing any significant return on investment can be challenging with a small investing capital base of $1,000. When building a portfolio of stocks,…
“Pharmacist Holding a Box of Ozempic” by chemist4u, CC BY 2.0 “O God, give us the serenity to accept what cannot be changed, the courage to change what can be changed, and the wisdom to know the one from the other.” — Winnifred Wygal “Put the fork down!” — Denis Leary I was going to…
D-Day: The Great Crusade And The Men Who Made It Work Authored by Daniel Oliver via American Greatness, Seventy-one years ago next month, a young man went with his parents and siblings to Europe on a Cunard liner, the MV Britannic. On the liner with them was a middle-aged couple going to France to visit, for…
Syria Allows UN Team Immediate Access To Suspected Nuke Sites The Syrian regime of Al-Qaeda linked President Ahmed Sharaa continues its remarkable degree of cooperation with the so-called international community, this week affirming that it will give inspectors from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, immediate and unprecedented access to the country. While not…
In this economic/financial news report we discuss: Cost of living, Hooters and dining closures, tip culture, jobs added, unemployment, and lots more. This channel contains news and analysis that often includes ‘one mans opinion’. The information conveyed should never be taken as investment advice. Everyone should do their own due diligence and research before making…
Supreme Court Gives DOGE Access To Social Security Data The Supreme Court handed the Department of Government Efficiency – which may or may not exist for long after the recent spat between Musk and Trump – two big wins late on June 6 in its effort to reduce the size of the federal government. The…
Charts Signal: Time To Reload The goal in life—and in markets—is simple: buy low, sell high. In the firearms world, that rule applies just as much to ammunition. During the Covid panic between late 2020 and 2021, many buyers paid top dollar for 9mm and .223 rounds. Today, the market has swung in the opposite direction: Oversupply…
Judge Rules Federal Rule On Gender Discrimination Violates Catholic Beliefs Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times, A rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) violates the beliefs of members of a Catholic association, a federal judge ruled on June 5. The HHS rule requiring members of the Catholic Benefits Association…
Most Russians No Longer View United States As Their Top Enemy: Poll A new public opinion poll shows that most Russians no longer consider the United States to be their number one global enemy, which suggests that Trump administration’s stance on the Ukraine conflict has served to soften public opinion in Russia. “The U.S. dropped…
A Chinese Self-Driving Car Company Stole A Massive Trove Of US Data Authored by José Niño via Headline USA, The Trump administration is rethinking how it deals with Chinese-linked tech firms after a short-lived self-driving truck company was found to have stolen a vast trove of U.S. intellectual property. Founded in 2015 by Chinese entrepreneurs and backed by…
Short-term bonds let you access your cash quickly, but you don’t get a long-term APY. Meanwhile, long-term bonds give you a good APY for an extended period, but it will take longer before the bond matures. Bond ladders serve as a good hybrid. You can get some short-term bonds and long-term bonds. Different maturity dates…
Kremlin Says Threat Is ‘Existential’ After Trump Likens Ukraine War To ‘Two Kids Fighting In The Park’ The Kremlin on Friday responded to President Trump’s prior day’s comments which likened the Ukraine war to a schoolyard fight. “Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy, they hate each other and they’re fighting in a…
Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court To Allow Dismantling Of Education Department The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on June 6 to allow it to resume dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, following a lower court’s previous order halting the process. A federal district court issued an injunction last month blocking the process, directing the…
This post Crashout: Musk vs. Trump, the Real Story appeared first on Daily Reckoning. The word of the day is crashout. That’s what the kids say these days instead of cluster*u*k. What we have witnessed over the last 36 hours was indeed a crashout of epic proportions. It started out somewhat innocently, with Musk and…
North Korea Raises Capsized Warship After ‘National Humiliation’ Of Botched Launch Last month we described how North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was left humiliated and outraged after personally witnessing the May 21st botched launch of a new, 5,000-ton destroyer, after which he called it a “criminal act” and a “political issue directly related to the prestige…
“The Fabled Fourth Turning Enters Full Churn…” Authored by James Howard Kunstler, What Movie Is This? “MAGA is developing “tech right” fatigue.” – Cernovich on “X” In this age of info overload, when everybody’s brain has become a memory hole, we’ll see how long anyone remembers Elon Musk’s epic tantrum. The latest news is that…
Key Points A Reddit user is concerned about his credit score. After decades of responsible borrowing, he accidentally missed a payment, and his score dropped by over 100 points. He may be able to fix the situation if his credit card company is willing to help him out. Did you know some credit cards can…
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, often referred to as “the Dow,” is a stock market index that tracks the performance of 30 large, publicly traded companies in the United States. Think of it as a gauge of the overall health of the U.S. stock market and a general indicator of economic trends. The index was…
Key Points A Reddit user was disturbed by learning that the typical user of store cards could take years to repay a single purchase. Repayment of credit card debt is going to be slow and expensive if you pay only the minimums. Paying even a small amount extra each month can help you to become…
Deported ‘Maryland Father’ Heads Back To US… Now Faces Federal Charges Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported El Salvadoran man—also known as the “Maryland Father” by leftist corporate media —whom Democrats rushed to defend, is now headed back to the U.S. to face federal charges for allegedly running a human trafficking operation. He was previously accused of gang…
Proud Boys Sue DOJ For $100 Million Over Jan. 6 Prosecutions Five leaders of the Proud Boys are suing the Department of Justice after the Biden administration found them guilty of engaging in a seditious conspiracy related to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol. The lawsuit, filed by Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs,…
The Deficit Crisis Is Really A Recession Problem Via RealInvestmentAdvice.com, The graph below provides a clearer understanding of the US fiscal deficit. First, focus on the red line below, graphing the ratio of federal debt to GDP. Note that it is at the same level today as it was in 2021. Similarly, before the pandemic,…
Power CEO: US Risks Losing AI Race Without Transmission Grid Overhaul Ukrainian-American entrepreneur Michael Polsky, CEO of energy developer Invenergy—the firm behind the proposed $11 billion Grain Belt Express power superhighway—warned that the U.S. risks falling behind in the global artificial intelligence race if its outdated transmission infrastructure isn’t urgently modernized. Polsky’s warning is especially timely, given…
Scott Walter’s Written Testimony to House DOGE Subcommittee Written Testimony: HTML or PDF (House website) Oral Testimony: HTML or video Full Subcommittee Hearing (House website) Oral Testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, chair Hearing on “Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild” Scott…
Right before the school shutdowns of 2020, a teacher in my former school district in Salinas, California, made a simple, routine call home to a parent. But what happened next was anything but routine. The teacher used the new name and gender identity the student had adopted at school, but the parent on the other…
India Central Bank Shocks With Biggest Rate Cut Since Covid As Growth, Inflation Stall India’s central bank shocked markets this morning when it slashing interest rates (in a 5:1 vote) by a deeper-than-expected half a percent – the third cut in a row – and the largest rate cut since the covid crash, amid falling…
Key Points in This Article: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer diversified, low-cost exposure to various asset classes, trading like stocks with high liquidity and tax efficiency. Covered call ETFs have grabbed investor attention as they try to generate income by selling call options on their equity holdings, boosting yields but capping upside potential in strong markets….
Does Consumer Spending Drive Earnings Growth? Authored by Lance Roberts via RealInvestmentAdvice.com, It would seem evident that most investors would understand that consumer spending drives economic growth, ultimately creating corporate earnings growth. Yet, despite this somewhat tautological statement, Wall Street appears to ignore this simple reality when forecasting forward earnings. As discussed recently, S&P Global’s current…
An Econlib article by Peter Boettke on “Virginia Political Economy: James Buchanan’s Journey” shows how political philosophy and economics were enmeshed in Buchanan’s work, and how he made major contributions to both fields. It also reminded me of an interesting two-part video of an interview of Buchanan by Geoffrey Brennan. The two economists often worked…
Netanyahu Arming ISIS-Aligned Jihadis In Gaza, Israeli Defense Sources Confirm At the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the State of Israel is arming an ISIS-aligned Jihadist gang in Gaza, unnamed Israeli defense officials confirmed to the Times of Israel on Thursday. While refraining from validating that particular characterization of the weapon recipients, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel…
Key Points in This Article: Dividend Kings like Kimberly-Clark (KMB) and Procter & Gamble (PG) demonstrate financial resilience by increasing dividends for over 50 years, with recent restructurings aimed at enhancing profitability. Kimberly-Clark’s $3.5 billion Kleenex sale and Procter & Gamble’s plan to cut 7,000 jobs and divest non-core brands focus on streamlining operations for…
Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) gained 0.30% over the past month following a rally that saw it rise by 18.66% from its year-to-date low on March 7 through June 2. That brings the stock’s 2025 gain to 11.35%. When Costco reported its Q3 earnings on May 29, it announced net income of $1.9…
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has long held an attraction for its ergonomic approach toward computing and communications among students and tech-minded users. Its popularity soared in the 1990s, and its high-growth stock was even referenced in the Tom Hanks movie, Forrest Gump. 24/7 Wall St. Key Points: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the…
Key Points A Reddit user is trying to figure out how to handle his retirement savings. He has thousands of dollars in credit card debt and just $40K saved for retirement. If he maxes out his 401(k) over the next 15 years, he should still be able to set himself up for a secure future….
On June 3, Elon Musk unleashed a firestorm on his social media platform X, branding President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB) a “disgusting abomination” that would “massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion” and burden Americans with “crushingly unsustainable debt.” Musk, who recently departed from his Department of Government Efficiency…
The Day After: Trump ‘Not Interested’ In Talking As Musk Continues To Make Case Against BBB After Thursday’s grand meltdown between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump over the Big Beautiful Bill, it looked like things were set to simmer down – with Musk posting several things on X that suggested he was open to…
Live Updates Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published. Undercover AI Stock 11:30 am by Gerelyn Terzo Wells Fargo is showing strong conviction in Shopify (NYSE: SHOP). The Wall Street analyst firm touted Shopify’s tech innovations within an e-commerce playing field that is increasingly embracing AI capabilities. Wells Fargo raised its price target…
One of the things that everyone hopes to achieve at some point in their life is a net worth milestone. Whether it’s for retirement, to buy a home, or some other accomplishment, there is a number everyone hopes to hit at some point in their life. Key Points This Redditor has achieved remarkable financial success…
Key Points Social Security takes care of people whose spouses pass away. Your survivor benefit could be worth up to 100% of what your spouse was entitled to. It can be challenging to figure out when to claim a survivor benefit, so consulting a financial advisor could be a smart bet. Are you ahead, or…
Live Updates Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published. Stealth AI Play 11:26 am by Gerelyn Terzo Wells Fargo is bullish on this stealth AI stock: Shopify (NYSE: SHOP). The analyst firm cheered Shopify’s innovations in an e-commerce landscape that is increasingly integrating AI capabilities. Wells Fargo increased its price target on SHOP…
Models are indispensable. Reality is insanely complex. Mapping every possible interaction would be computationally impossible and utterly useless for understanding the world. Instead, we flatten things down to key causal variables and use them to help us make predictions and decisions. But models come in different shapes and sizes. Which model is useful depends on…
Key Points Costco is one of the top leaders in the membership warehouse club bulk retail industry. With a trailing dividend of only 0.50%, Costco is more growth oriented; its market price per share is high, thus it only amounts to a handful of shares. Nevertheless, at over $1,000 per share, a handful of shares…
Key Points A Reddit member took on a heap of debt to help his elderly parents who were facing homelessness in retirement. This family is not alone, as many Americans are finding themselves ill prepared for retirement as they grow closer to their golden years. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool…
Key Points Social Security doesn’t just pay retirement benefits. The problem also pays benefits to widows and even children. It’s important to know how the program’s survivor benefits work if you’re eligible. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today….
Key Points Lululemon dropped over 22% following a guidance cut and tariff-related worries. Lululemon can’t control tariffs, but it can innovate its way back to the top. The “cheap” stock is a lot cheaper and is probably worth picking up. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a…
Key Points The MSTY ETF features an annual yield that’s hard for income-focused investors to resist. On the other hand, savvy income collectors should consider the SPYI ETF’s potential tax benefits. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that…
