Author: troyashbacher

President Trump began his second term with a trade war, and the sentiment among US workers has been anything but great. Last week, however, the president surprised his cabinet and introduced a new idea: sending out a $2,000 “dividend” check to Americans. Using revenue from the trade war, Trump is proposing the influx of money be put into people’s pockets as well as “lower our debt.” What’s old is new. This isn’t the first time the president has floated sending out checks, and the idea faces countless hurdles were it ever to become law. However, one thing remains certain: sending out…

Key Takeaways The median net worth of Americans 45–54 is $246,700, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest data.Wealth gaps in this age group reflect salaries, inheritances, home equity, spending habits, and investment size.To grow wealth before retirement, focus on maximizing earnings, managing spending, and investing through tax-advantaged accounts. The Average Net Worth for Ages 45–54 and What It Reveals About Retirement Readiness Americans between 45 and 54 have a median net worth of $246,700, according to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. “Median” is a middle-of-the-road number that means that half of people in this age group have more…

Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller said he supports another quarter-point cut in a key U.S. interest rate in December to help an ailing U.S. labor market — and he doubts he’ll change his mind.

Jeffrey Gundlach, CEO of DoubleLine Capital LP, speaks during an interview with CNBC on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, U.S., May 7, 2025.Brendan McDermid | ReutersWall Street veteran Jeffrey Gundlach said many assets are extremely overpriced right now, urging investors to keep about 20% of their portfolios in cash to protect against a major downturn.Speaking on Bloomberg’s Odd Lots podcast released Monday, the DoubleLine Capital CEO warned that the stock market looks dangerously speculative, saying it’s among the least healthy he’s seen in his entire career. The Dartmouth grad, who started his Wall Street…

This is a great deal- purchase a gift card for $100 or more and get a $10 Target gift card back.   This is specialty gift cards only but there are a ton to choose from. Chipotle, Ulta, Starbucks, Dick’s, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Nordstrom and so much more.. There is a limit of one $10 reward per account.  I am eyeing that Netflix card personally.  I pay $7.99 monthly and picking up the $100 card would prepay a year of service so I don’t have to bother with the monthly withdrawals. Plus $10 back.   Click here to take a look.

High-yield savings account and one-year CD rates were unchanged from yesterday. Top accounts remain competitive.The average high-yield savings APY is 3.89% (unchanged from yesterday).The average 1-year high-yield CD APY is 3.79% (unchanged from yesterday).How high-yield averages are calculatedThe national average rates are 0.40% for savings accounts and 1.64% for one-year CDs.Banks can adjust deposit rates on savings accounts and newly issued CDs at any time, but broader shifts to the entire savings landscape tend to be gradual. If you’re shopping for a better yield, compare savings accounts side-by-side and consider locking some funds in a CD if you want to…

Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / PlayerFM The cold winds of volatility have been blowing through the markets, leaving many to question the durability of this bull market. Is this just good old-fashioned sector rotation, or the beginning of the unwinding of the risk trade that has propelled the stock market to multiple record highs this year? Keith Lerner of Truist Wealth helps us navigate these recent shockwaves and identifies new opportunities for investors seeking stability. Plus, don’t call it a comeback, but bonds are having their best run in over a decade. And, all eyes will be on…

Financial advisors’ confidence in both the overall economy and the stock market was essentially unchanged in October. According to the latest monthly reading of the Advisor Sentiment Index, advisors were slightly more optimistic about the prospects for the stock market, rising two points to a reading of 122. At the same time, sentiment on the economy, at a reading of 106, remained unchanged from the previous month. The ASI is a monthly survey of financial advisors to gauge their sentiment on the stock market and the economy. A benchmark of 100 reflects an entirely neutral view, while any reading above 100 indicates…

Ben Chester had no money. In fact, it was worse—he had $120,000 in debt. He was sleeping at work and renting out his own rented apartment just to survive in America’s most expensive market—New York City.Now, six years later, he has eight rental properties, is debt-free, and even owns Billy Joel’s former residence (yes, you read that right).If you’re living in an expensive market and think it’s impossible to invest, Ben has the formula for you. He turned very little money into a one-bedroom apartment empire—buying whatever he could in New York City, knowing it would all be worth the…

Key Findings The Highway Trust Fund, created in 1956 to finance the Interstate Highway System and other roads through fuel excise taxes, has depended on general revenue transfers for nearly 20 years. The funding shortfall stems from several trends: the gas taxA gas tax is commonly used to describe the variety of taxes levied on gasoline at both the federal and state levels, to provide funds for highway repair and maintenance, as well as for other government infrastructure projects. These taxes are levied in a few ways, including per-gallon excise taxes, excise taxes imposed on wholesalers, and general sales taxes…