Young people are doom spending. Here’s what it is and how to stop it

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images Some young people are splashing out on luxuries like travel and designer clothes instead of saving, in a trend that’s being characterized as “doom spending” on social media. Doom spending is when a person mindlessly shops to self-soothe because they feel pessimistic about the economy and their future, according … Read more

How to invest for a lower interest rate environment

It could be time to rethink popular portfolio strategies for a lower interest rate environment. The Federal Reserve’s half-percent rate cut on Wednesday marked the first time in more than four years it moved to lower the benchmark interest rate. According to VanEck CEO Jan van Eck, investors should start thinking about how the changing … Read more

Here’s how to reduce a ‘tax bomb’ on an inherited IRA

Greg Hinsdale | The Image Bank | Getty Images If you’ve inherited a pretax individual retirement account since 2020, you could face a sizable tax bill without proper planning, experts say.  Previously, heirs could take inherited IRA withdrawals over their lifetime, known as the “stretch IRA.” However, the Secure Act of 2019 enacted the “10-year … Read more

What ‘No Spend September’ is and how to know if you should participate

Solstock | E+ | Getty Images Victoria Szafarski currently has $10,000 in credit card debt.  The New Yorker’s outstanding balance peaked at $25,000 last year, before she took on a second job as a waitress for a few months. The extra cash Szafarski brought in helped her make headway paying down the debt and increase … Read more

Gold keeps rising to record after record. How to play it from here with options

Gold is at a new record around $2,610 per ounce — more than ten times the low of just over $253 per ounce in 1999. For 2024, the U.S. government is set to spend a record $1.2 trillion on interest payments, surpassing military spending for the first time. These developments are likely related. Here’s how … Read more

How to identify potential cryptocurrency scams

Americans lost billions to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, according to a recent report from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. Financial losses “involving the use of cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin, ether or tether” last year totaled over $5.6 billion, per the agency’s 2023 Cryptocurrency Fraud Report. That’s up 45% compared with 2022, according to … Read more

Here are 5 tips on how to negotiate for more equity at your startup

Bhavik Vashi, 32, made over $2 million after selling his equity in software startup Anaplan. Bhavik Vashi, 32, is living the dream of many Silicon Valley tech workers. He joined a promising startup, did his time and eventually the company was acquired, minting him as a millionaire. Shortly after graduating from the University of California, … Read more

What dorm insurance is and how to know if your college kid needs it

Terry Vine | Getty Images As “DormTok” social media posts entice college students to design elaborate dorm rooms — “the stakes of dorm decor have never been higher,” according to House Beautiful — parents may be wondering if they have the right insurance coverage to protect all those purchases. Enter: “dorm insurance.” Before signing up, … Read more

How to trade Adobe’s upcoming earnings using options

There’s a software stock bucking the tech sell-off that reports earnings this week. I’ll break down various option trade scenarios into the earnings, focusing on one that will benefit from a big move in any direction. Adobe (ADBE) , which reports Thursday, is a global leader in digital media, marketing, and document management solutions. Its … Read more

Chip sector comeback is running out of steam. How to bet on a downturn

September has arrived, a month historically associated with significant market corrections. In four of the past five years, the S & P 500 has experienced pullbacks ranging from 4% to 5% during this time. With major earnings reports behind us and no significant catalysts like Nvidia earnings to drive the market, I’m considering taking a … Read more