Key Takeaways Many Americans are unaware of the average life expectancy in the U.S., according to a study from the TIAA Institute and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center. The study highlights how poor longevity literacy—an understanding of how long individuals tend to live upon reaching retirement age—can make planning challenging. Underestimating how much time […]

After 18 odd years, stocks are finally back in vogue. According to analytics company Gallup, 62% of Americans reported owning company shares in 2024 and 2025, a level previously not seen since 2007, the year the Great Recession began. No reason for this upturn in stock market participation was given, but popular tech stocks delivering

Key Takeaways More than 60% of respondents to a Realtor.com survey said they see a recession on the horizon, and nearly 30% said that an economic downturn could present a homebuying opportunity. A recession could mean lower mortgage rates and fewer competitive bidders, the report said. Potential buyers saw several obstacles to a home purchase,

Last year, Walmart (WMT 0.62%) soared 71.9%, making it one of the best performers in the S&P 500 and the second-best performing component in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (behind only Nvidia). Walmart is following up on that impressive performance with a 6.7% year-to-date gain at the time of this writing, which is far better than

People who are married are far more likely to own stocks, whether personally or jointly with their spouse, than single adults. The higher household income achieved with two paychecks is a big factor but it isn’t the only one. Research finds that economic risk-sharing nudges married couples into the market while many singles remain on

Key Takeaways Oddly, wages are both too low and too high, posing an obstacle to reviving manufacturing jobs. U.S. manufacturing workers are paid well compared to those in other countries, meaning companies have to build more automated, more expensive plants to remain competitive if they set up shop in the U.S. At the same time,

Since the early 1990s, modern payday lending has been a source of short-term financing for individuals who need funds fast. However, it’s also a controversial practice that’s undergone many state and federal reforms to protect consumers against predatory lenders. With a potential recession looming, will an economic downturn—and the resulting financial strain on consumers—lead to

In this podcast, Motley Fool analyst Jason Moser and host Ricky Mulvey discuss: Investing in companies with a “singular” leader, like Tesla‘s Elon Musk. Earnings results from Home Depot. A listener’s suggestion to create a “laziness” stock basket. Then, Motley Fool personal finance expert Robert Brokamp answers listener questions about Roth IRAs and dividend investing.

Editor’s Note: Investopedia will not publish daily CD news on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. We will return to our daily coverage on Tuesday, May 27. Key Takeaways CD shoppers gained a third new option this week for locking in the top nationwide rate of 4.50%: a 6-month certificate from SouthEast Bank.

Key Takeaways The S&P 500 fell 0.7% on Friday, May 23, 2025, as possible tariffs on smartphones and key trading partners regained the spotlight ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Shares of footwear company Deckers Outdoor and retailer Ross Stores tumbled after both firms opted not to offer full-year guidance, citing tariff uncertainties. Intuit shares surged