Author: Smart Wealthhabits

(Left to right) U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Kaine speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 8, 2026. Mandel Ngan | AFP | getty imagesThe first ship has passed through the Strait of Hormuz following a two-week ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US, the ship-tracking service said. MarineTraffic said Wednesday.But experts and industry professionals say that even more than 12 hours after the ceasefire, overall traffic through the vital waterway has not recovered from the slow pace experienced during the war.Iranian state…

© Saddako/Getty Images Lancaster Colony (Nasdaq: LANC) rarely makes headlines, but it has done something remarkable: It raised its dividend for 63 consecutive years, solidifying its position. dividend king. The company behind Marzetti, Sister Schubert, New York Bakery and a growing list of licensed restaurant brands is now considering a $400 million acquisition of Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce. This deal clarifies the bullish and bearish debate surrounding this quiet food company. bull case It is difficult to debate the financial foundation of the Lancaster Colony. In Q2 FY26 (ending December 31, 2025), the company reported record gross profit of $137.26…

USA TODAY NETWORK/ReutersUS consumers are looking for cheaper gas after President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran based on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. It is unclear whether they will be able to find it soon. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth told reporters on April 8 that the US military “has done its job for now”, but is “ready” to resume…

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi during the swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 in Washington, DC, U.S. Graeme Sloane Bloomberg | getty imagesFormer Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear as scheduled to testify about the Jeffrey Epstein files before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee next week, a committee spokesperson said Wednesday.”The committee will contact Bondi’s attorney to discuss next steps regarding scheduling Bondi’s testimony,” the spokesperson said.Bondi’s appearance was canceled because “he is no longer the Attorney General and was subpoenaed in his capacity as Attorney General,” the…

Elliot Cound Jr./Shutterstock.comTwo major US airlines announced new fee increases. Delta Air Lines will charge many passengers more for checked bags starting April 7, with prices starting at $45 for the first checked bag. For its part, Southwest Airlines announced it would also be hiking checked bag fees, meaning four major US carriers have announced higher bag fees in two weeks as jet fuel prices have soared due to the war in Iran.

Discover the 20 most effective passive income ideas for 2026 designed to help American investors and creators build lasting wealth. From high-yield dividend stocks and real estate crowdfunding to cutting-edge AI-automated YouTube channels and digital products, this curated list offers a comprehensive roadmap to generating recurring revenue. Learn how to leverage modern technology and traditional financial assets to build an automated income portfolio that works in today’s economy. The pursuit of financial freedom in 2026 has shifted from speculative high-risk gambling to sustainable, technology-driven systems. Passive income is no longer just about owning a rental property or collecting dividends; It’s…

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the White House meeting with James S. Brady looks on in the press briefing room during a press conference about the conflict in Iran.Saul Loeb AFP | getty imagesPresident Donald Trump said Wednesday that the US would impose a 50% tariff on “any and all” goods imported from “any country that supplies military weapons to Iran.” Trump said in a true social Post that any country found supplying arms to Iran would be subject to an “immediate” levy, without any “exclusions or exemptions”. The President wrote: “Effective immediately, any country supplying military weapons to…

Your tax questions deserve expert-backed AI Tax season always brings with it a big question: Am I leaving money on the table? This year, as AI is rapidly changing the way people manage their finances, another question has emerged: Can I trust AI for something this important? Our answer is simple: Yes, you can trust AI with your taxes… when it’s backed by decades of tax expertise and purpose-built for one of the most consequential financial moments of the year. Nearly 40 million Americans trust TurboTax exactly the same, we’re bringing that trusted experience to more places, and making it…

In recent days, Jefferies upgraded MercadoLibre to Buy from Hold, citing that heavy investment is now supporting strong revenue drivers on its platform. This renewed analyst confidence highlights how MercadoLibre’s spending on logistics, fintech and technology is being reframed as an asset rather than a margin drag. Next, we’ll explore how Jefferies’ view that recent investments are strengthening revenue drivers could impact MercadoLibre’s broader investment narrative. Invest in nuclear renaissance through our list 93 specific nuclear power infrastructure dramas Powering the global AI revolution. To own MercadoLibre, you have to believe that its heavy investments in logistics, fintech, and technology…

I should live in a bubble. Because I don’t know anyone in my circle who owns a car worth more than 1/10th of his annual gross income. My father drives a 28 year old car that’s probably worth $500 and his government pension is at least 100 times that. I drive an 11 year old car worth $15,000 and my passive income is over 10x that. My friend drives a 10-year-old Tesla Model S that probably costs $16,000, but he makes over $5 million a year. A neighbor recently paid off his house and celebrated by buying a three-year-old Honda…