Author: Smart Wealthhabits

According to Yelp’s recent rankings, Americans are in line for certain food and beverage trends this year. The mix of newcomers and familiar names is drawing crowds, and what connects them says a lot about how people want to spend their time and money. In its third annual Fastest Growing Brands report, Yelp ranked 50 brands using a weighted metric of net new business openings, consumer interest and searches on Yelp in 2025 compared to 2024. Three food trends run down the list, and each gives customers their own take on what they order. 1. Drive-Thru Beverages The fastest growing…

© George Rudy / Shutterstock.com an investor who bought Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT | msft price prediction) paid closer to $50 per share compared to $45 ten years ago. Based on Microsoft’s current $0.91 quarterly payout, those shares now pay a dividend of $3.64 per year. This is a yield of about 7% on cost, even though the stock’s current yield is about 1%. The early yield helped, but the dividend growth did most of the work. This is a benefit available to investors who do not yet need a portfolio paycheck. The job is not to maximize today’s yield. It…

By your late 50s, the American dream says you should own a home, you should have years of equity and you may be thinking about paying off the mortgage. A lot of houses are following a different script. US Census Bureau third quarter 2025 housing vacancy survey The home ownership rate for households headed by someone aged 55 to 64 remains at exactly 76%. This leaves 24%, who are probably living on rent. For many people approaching retirement, renting can solve the money challenges that arise with home ownership, even with a home paid off. owning a home is expensive…

© Michael Petrov / Shutterstock.com The mathematics is simple. Generating $100,000 of annual income from a $1 million portfolio requires a compound yield of 10%. This can be achieved today, but only by working hard at the aggressive end of the dividend spectrum. This article answers the question: What does that portfolio really look like, and what happens when the highest yielder reduces its payout? Income goal: $1 million to $100,000 Dividing the income target by the yield gives the capital required. To reach $100,000 in annual dividends, the blended yield across the entire portfolio would need to get closer…

Michigan and at least two dozen other states are reporting rising cases of cyclosporiasis, a foodborne infection caused by a stomach parasite that causes severe and sometimes explosive diarrhea. More than 1,000 infections have been reported as of July 9, according to STAT, citing a report by the Associated Press, a health and medical news source. Michigan has officially recorded 1,251 cases so far. Cyclosporiasis is not usually considered a life-threatening disease, although it can cause severe dehydration. The disease is caused by consumption of the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis as well as contaminated food or water. It is not…

It may seem like retirement is something to think about until later in life, but the financial decisions you make today can shape the quality of your future. You can protect your financial independence and peace of mind by planning, whether you’re just starting out, supporting a family, or nearing retirement. Many people delay saving for retirement because they believe they need more income before they can get started. However, financial expert Sonja Stein, strategic head of wealth management at Momentum Financial Planning & Advice, agrees that stability is often more important than the amount you save. Read more: At…

On June 21, Galen Sekulich began feeling nauseous. She was clammy, her heart was beating fast and she had no appetite for her favorite foods. She dismissed it as a worry and went to bed. At 2 o’clock in the night, the urge to vomit woke him up from his sleep. Some anti-nausea medications stopped the vomiting, but symptoms persisted for several days. The 33-year-old man was feeling dizzy and woke up drenched in sweat. She couldn’t keep food down. “Every time I tried to eat, I had to go to the bathroom, or I wanted to throw up,” Sekulich…

Cars queue for gasoline at the Lukoil gas station in Nakhabino outside Moscow, Russia, on July 8, 2026. Russian cities are facing automobile fuel shortages due to several Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries.Contributor | Getty Images News | getty imagesUkraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian fuel tankers in the Sea of ​​Azov, trying to disrupt supplies to occupied Crimea, after drone attacks have caused gasoline shortages across the country.Ukraine’s drone force commander Robert Brovdy, known as Magyar, said Telegram 14 Russian ships were attacked in the Sea of ​​Azov on Thursday evening, bringing the number of Russians…

ShapeCharge/Getty Images Commitment to our readers The GOBankingRates editorial team is committed to providing you with unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methods to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our review methodology for products and services. 20 yearshelp you get rich trusted by millions of readers Most people’s essential bills are fixed and predictable. If they’re also set to autopay, it’s easy to forget. Some families are unknowingly paying for the same service twice. These hidden overlaps can take hundreds…

Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP is one of the leading liquor manufacturers with a strong portfolio of well-established brands. The company is focusing on strengthening its core beer business while expanding into fast-growing beverage categories as part of its Horizon 2030 strategy. It focuses on premiumization and innovation to strengthen its core beer portfolio.The company is benefiting from strong performance in premium brands and using targeted pricing and improved mix to support revenue growth despite volume pressure. Management highlighted solid momentum in high-premium offerings like Peroni, Blue Moon and Coors Banquet, while value brands like Miller High Life and Keystone…