Author: troyashbacher

Stock futures pointed sharply higher Thursday, a day after AI darling Nvidia (NVDA) reported quarterly results above analysts’ lofty expectations.  Futures associated with the tech-heavy Nasdaq, benchmark S&P 500, and blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average were up a respective 1.5%, 1.1%, and 0.5%. Yesterday, the Dow and S&P 500 snapped four-session skids ahead of Nvidia’s earnings, while the Nasdaq ended higher for the first time this week. After the bell Wednesday, Nvidia’s fiscal 2026 third-quarter results blew past Wall Street expectations and the company also issued rosy revenue guidance for the current quarter, with CEO Jensen Huang saying sales of its AI Blackwell platform are…

Emily BaryEmily Bary is MarketWatch’s assistant managing editor, tech. She is based in New York.

The Social Security retirement earnings test is a set of rules that determines how much of an individual’s Social Security will be temporarily withheld from their benefit check if they are younger than full retirement age and still earning income while receiving benefits.This article clarifies the nuances of the earnings test, its implications on benefit amounts and how to navigate it effectively.Earnings test fundamentalsThe retirement earnings test (RET or earnings test) applies to Social Security beneficiaries who: From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free…

Chinese tech company Baidu announced Monday it can sell some robotaxi rides without any human staff in the vehicles.BaiduBEIJING — Chinese robotaxi companies are expanding abroad at a faster clip than U.S. rivals Waymo and Tesla — at a time when industry leaders say autonomous driving is finally near an inflection point.”I think robotaxi has reached a tipping point, both here in China and in the U.S.,” Baidu CEO Robin Li said Tuesday on an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. “There are enough people who have [had the] chance to experience driverless rides, and the word of mouth…

Today, we’re joined by Sean Mullaney, an author and CPA who presented at this year’s Bogleheads conference. We dive into smart ways to manage your taxes in retirement and explore the strategies that can make a meaningful difference over the long run. Sean walks us through when Roth conversions shine and when they don’t, and he talks about how tax, retirement, and estate planning all fit together. If you want to feel more prepared for the financial side of retirement, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Sean Mullaney explained that he divides retirement into five distinct phases for…

This heating pad is on sale for $18.99 right now in grey or red.  This can be used on your back or legs.  I have heard great things about this for the back – this could be a fantastic gift for someone that works at a desk all day, gets tension headaches, someone with back pain, someone on a fitness journey that might have sore muscles… so many uses for this.  I think it would be an awesome gift.   This is a massive discount as an early Black Friday sale.  Click here to take a look.   If you prefer dark…

I’m a big believer in using sinking funds to pay for holiday expenses, but things don’t always go as planned. An expensive 2025 and some unexpected household costs meant that in September, I realized I wasn’t financially prepared for the most wonderful time of the year. What’s a Nerd to do to avoid going into debt or raiding her emergency fund for Christmas costs? Improvise.While I’m no stranger to getting a credit card purely for a signup bonus, I had never pursued bank bonuses. Bank bonuses are cash incentives offered by some banks when you open a new checking and/or…

Key Takeaways Walmart is scheduled to share its third-quarter results and discuss its outlook with investors early Thursday.The retailer will weigh in during a time when many are looking for more clarity on consumers’ health. Given its scale, Walmart’s results and outlook are a useful barometer. Walmart’s going through plenty these days—but so are its customers. Both topics are likely to take center stage when the retail giant reports its third-quarter results on Thursday. The update comes during a time of transition for both the company and the economy. Walmart’s (WMT) long-time CEO Doug McMillon will step down at the…

Sapient Capital, an Indianapolis-based registered investment advisor with over $23 billion in assets under supervision, has brought on board Joshua Mandelbaum as a partner and wealth advisor, joining from J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where he managed over $1 billion in client assets. The move marks what Sapient is touting as a recruitment drive for private wealth advisors, following last week’s announcement that it had hired former UBS recruiter David Larado to head its recruitment and retention efforts. Larado said Mandelbaum had been in conversation with the firm before he joined, but he’s the kind of advisor the firm expects to keep…

Key Takeaways The U.S. trade deficit shrank by 24% in August, according to a delayed report released Wednesday. The improvement in the trade deficit is expected to boost economic growth, according to forecasts. The U.S. trade deficit fell sharply in August as newly released information showed imports are declining in the wake of President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging tariff policies.  The trade deficit fell by nearly 24% in August, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data. The delayed report showed the difference between imports and exports narrowed by $18.6 billion to a total of $59.6 billion. Why This Matters for the Economy…