Author: troyashbacher

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva attends the 1+10 Dialogue with leaders of International Economic Organisations, with China’s Premier Li Qiang (not pictured) in Beijing on December 9, 2025. Pedro Pardo | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China needs to “accelerate” support for domestic consumption and reduce its reliance on exports for growth, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has said.”As the second-largest economy in the world, China is simply too big to generate much growth in exports and continuing to depend on export-like growth risks [and] furthering global trade tensions,” Georgieva told reporters Wednesday.She said the…

Recently, I’ve been experiencing a bout of financial hopelessness that’s been surprisingly hard to shake. Rationally, I know I’ll be OK, but mentally, I’m stuck in this negative loop. It started after I decided to save money by flying Basic Economy to surprise my father for his 80th birthday. Saving ~$180 off Economy and ~$1,300 off First Class felt like a small win – something frugal, efficient, and strategically aligned with the whole Financial Samurai mindset. Then we got into a small fender bender. The repair will cost our insurance company around $4,200, and we’ll likely face higher premiums when…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Retirees have long expressed their frustration that a portion of the Social Security benefits they’ve spent a lifetime earning could be subject to federal income taxes. And for years, those concerns have sparked debate across the political spectrum.During his 2024 campaign, President Trump proposed exempting Social Security from federal income tax. And in recent months, lawmakers in Congress (both Republicans and Democrats) introduced legislation with that same goal in mind.So far, however, the tax on benefits — which is based on a person’s filing status and income — remains in place. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most people have at least a little familiarity with annuities, which are attracting more attention.Sales set a record for the first half of the year: $223.0 billion in total, up 3% from the same period last year and a record, according to LIMRA, an industry research group.More people are concluding annuities are right for them. That doesn’t mean an annuity is right for you. Different types of annuities do very different things. One type might fit your needs precisely, while another might not at all. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better…

Question: I’m retired with $2.2 million in savings and work two retail shifts a week for fun. My young colleague just got her hours cut, and I don’t need the money. Should I quit so she can have my shifts?Answer: There’s a reason so many people end up having to work in retirement.The Social Security Administration puts the average monthly retirement benefit today at $2,012. Meanwhile, the median retirement savings among Americans ages 65 to 74 at just $200,000 as of 2022, the last year for which data are available. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a…

A recent post went viral for arguing that the new poverty line should be at $140,000 for a family of four (two parents, two kids).  Let’s talk about it!  While I do understand that prices have gone sky-high on a lot of things, I think it is a bit ridiculous to suggest that $140,000 is anywhere near the poverty line for most American families.  (And saying so seems insulting to those in true poverty, such as people without homes and/or regular access to food.) The reality is that an awful lot of American families make less than $140,000 and still…

Realtor.comThe actor has taken a key role in leading the build on the propertyPublished: Dec. 10, 2025 at 5:03 a.m. ET“Full House” star Dave Coulier has revealed he is undergoing treatment for tongue cancer—just over a year after he was diagnosed with “aggressive” non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Coulier, 66, shared the devastating health news during a phone interview with the “Today” show, explaining that he learned he had HPV-related oropharyngeal tongue cancer in October, seven months after he was told he had beaten his Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

December 10, 2025 – Welcome to another post on the ERN blog. This is the third installment in the “How to Lie with Personal Finance” series (please also check out Parts 1 and 2). As always, this is not an instruction manual for deception, but precisely the opposite: it points out the misunderstandings circulating in personal finance. Think of it as an homage to the classic book “How to Lie with Statistics.” On the program today are the lies and misunderstandings surrounding diversification. Don’t get me wrong, I worked in finance, math, and statistics long enough to appreciate the beauty of diversification. But…

I can’t count how many times I’ve heard someone, when talking about disability insurance, say, “I’m healthy, I don’t need it” or “My group policy is enough,” or, even, “My parents will take care of me.” Others assume disability is something that only happens to “other people”—until it isn’t. For high-income professionals, your ability to earn an income is your most valuable financial asset. Losing it, even for a short time, can derail everything you’ve worked so hard to build. In this article, we’ll break down the most common misconceptions about disability insurance and why falling for them could cost…

Unmanned trucks transport containers at Dapukou Container Terminal in Zhoushan Port, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, on December 9, 2025. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Supply chain diversification away from China is about to move from just talk to action.That’s what Jens Eskelund, president, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the launch of a report on supply chain risks, and as businesses look ahead to the new year after a tumultuous 2025.”Dependencies are being discussed in much more detail than they were before … Are we even sure Europe can manufacture toothpaste without…