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Investopedia •

Is $1.5 Million Enough for Early Retirement? Uncover the Realities of Financial Freedom

While most Americans consider $1.5 million to be the "magic number" that they need to save in order to retire, experts advise saving more than that.
One reason why more than $1.5 million is needed is due to expenses such as healthcare, inflation, and unforeseen costs.
Those looking to retire early should consider either continuing to work in some capacity or being more aggressive with their savings during their working years.
Investopedia •

The Surprising Hidden Costs of Your Dream Home: Why It's Not Just About the Marble Kitchen

Building prices have had a weak correlation with house prices in the past, but not anymore. Over the past ten years, building prices have had little to no impact on house prices.
According to a working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, the more likely culprit behind sky-high house prices is the rising price of land.
Other elements, like legal costs and insurance premiums, have also placed upward pressure on house prices.
Investopedia •

Save Your First $100K and Unlock Wealth: Charlie Munger Says It's Hard, But Worth It

Legendary investor Charlie Munger called the first $100,000 difficult to earn but pointed out how compound growth makes all your future gains easier.
It takes 9.5 years to save $100,000 if you're putting away $650 per month at an average 7% annualized return.
After that decade, it only takes just under two and a half more to become a millionaire, showing the speed of growth under compound interest once you save six figures.
Investopedia •

Retailers Are Creating Their Own Currency—Here’s What It Means for Your Wallet

The GENIUS Act, a law aiming to regulate stablecoins, was recently signed into law.
In response, major retailers like Amazon and Walmart are exploring their own stablecoins. Companies like PayPal have already launched their own.
These currencies might offer rewards, savings, and yields from digital wallets.
Experts are concerned that digital retailer wallets will result in less financial freedom and decreased data protection for consumers.
Investopedia •

Think $1.5 Million Buys You Freedom? Here's the Truth About Early Retirement

While most Americans consider $1.5 million to be the "magic number" that they need to save in order to retire, experts advise saving more than that.
One reason why more than $1.5 million is needed is due to expenses such as healthcare, inflation, and unforeseen costs.
Those looking to retire early should consider either continuing to work in some capacity or being more aggressive with their savings during their working years.
Investopedia •

Why 'Digital Shoplifting' Is Making It Harder for You to Get Your Online Refunds

Almost half of wealthy Gen Z and millennial shoppers admit to digital shoplifting, which takes many forms, from returns fraud to credit card disputes.
The practice is costly for retailers, who report a loss of 3.75 times the transaction value for each instance of digital shoplifting.
These costs are poised to be passed on to consumers via higher fees for return services, longer wait times for refunds, and higher prices on ecommerce platforms.
Investopedia •

How to Tackle Rising Child Care Expenses Without Accumulating Debt

More than a third (36%) of young Americans (Generation Zers and millennials) saw their child care costs increase in 2025.
Experts stress that taking on debt is not the answer to funding these rising costs. Budgeting, finding secondary income sources, and cost-cutting are better methods.
When even those methods don’t do the trick, out-of-the-box solutions such as moving states, cohabitating with friends, or sharing child care costs and responsibilities with neighbors are becoming more common.
Investopedia •

The Country With the Highest Retirement Age in the World Will Surprise You. Here’s How the U.S. Compares

Denmark will soon be tied with Libya as having the highest official retirement age, at 70 years old.
Other countries with high retirement ages include Australia, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.
Countries with low official retirement ages often have high effective retirement ages, meaning people tend to work until their mid-60s regardless of where they live.
While the United States will avoid a raise in the retirement age this year, from 67 years old, the Republican Party has continually proposed this during budget talks.
Investopedia •

Who Carries Cash Anymore? The Surprising Amount Americans Have on Them Despite Cashless Options

The amount of cash Americans carry is decreasing, but still relatively high, at $67 in the pocket and $306 at home on average in 2024.
The number of cash-based transactions per month has held steady despite non-cash options, implying that cash has staying power.
Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta suggests there are seven reasons people continue to carry cash, including anonymity in transactions and lack of middlemen.
Investopedia •

Is Buying Art at an Auction or a Private Sale More Profitable? Here’s What Experts Say

The global value of ultra-high-net-worth individuals’ art and collectible wealth may reach nearly $3 trillion by 2026.
Art bought at auction faces tailwinds when it comes to resale, but competition between buyers can lead to overpaying for pieces.
Private sales lack transparency, meaning it is harder to know a good price to pay and to find resale values down the line. However, knowledgeable buyers may find discount prices without the distraction of auctions.
Investopedia •

Could the Beveridge Curve Signal Trouble in the Labor Market? Here's What to Watch

The Beveridge curve charts the relationship between the job vacancy rate and the unemployment rate in a labor market.
Typically, movement along the curve represents phases of the economy: from recession to expansion. A shift in the entire curve represents massive changes in the efficiency of labor markets, or the ability to match unemployed people to available jobs.
Many fear that with a rising unemployment rate and rising job vacancy rate, the Beveridge curve is shifting outwards again in the United States, much like it did during the pandemic; this could signal higher unemployment down the line.
Investopedia •

How to Conquer Your Fear of Investing and Start Growing Your Portfolio

Fear of investing is common. According to a 2024 World Economic Forum survey, 40% of people surveyed held off on investing in the market due to fear of losing money.
But waiting to invest can often cost people more money than they save by trying to time the market and invest at the right moment.
There are plenty of low-risk, easy investments that people can start with, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds.
Investopedia •

Do You Need to Dump Your Financial Advisor When You Move States?

A record number of investment advisors are registering at the SEC level, not the state level, meaning they can handle an interstate move.
However, whether or not you should keep your financial advisor when you move states depends on a number of factors.
Factors include whether you want to end an established relationship with your current advisor, if they’re legally registered to advise you where you move to, and if they’re familiar with that market.
Investopedia •

Where the Ultrarich Are Flocking: The Surprising Reasons Behind Their Moves

High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) typically have more than $1 million in net worth, though definitions vary.
The United States was the world’s largest private wealth hub in 2024, holding over a third of global liquid wealth and 37% of all millionaires.
The 2024 election has threatened this dominance, with the number of American millionaires looking to relocate doubling year over year in Q1 2025.
Wealthy Americans are drawn to European residency programs but are also seeking citizenship opportunities in nontraditional countries.
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