Author: Smart Wealthhabits

sergeyrizov / iStock.com 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 yearsHelping you become richer trusted by millions of readers Grocery prices may not be rising as fast as they once were, but they are still high enough in 2026 to put a strain on the budget of almost every household. What used…

Sure, S&P 500 (^GSPC +1.20%) After messing with reform, it has returned. However, many growth stocks remain highly volatile. Bond yields have increased. Whether they remain at attractive levels depends largely on the Federal Reserve’s next actions – and the Fed is virtually paralyzed by uncertainty about inflation and the job market. However, now is a good time to invest in dividend stocks with above-average yields. Typical stocks in this group pay attractive dividends, generate strong cash flows, have flexible business models and have a long track record of being reliable sources of income. Here are my picks for the…

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 yearsHelping you become richer trusted by millions of readers Are you in the market for a new luxury car? As you approach retirement, you may be trying to strike a balance between luxury and affordability. Here are five luxury cars that will cost you thousands…

USA TODAY NETWORK/ReutersAmericans who were worried about rising grocery prices may soon feel the consequences of a growing problem on American farms. As planting season begins, rising fertilizer prices are creating a potential impact that could reach grocery stores. At least 70% of farmers say they cannot buy all the fertilizer they need because of high costs associated with the US war in Iran – a challenge that…

Ridvan_Celik/Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 yearsHelping you become richer trusted by millions of readers Many investors prefer to chase momentum rather than search for undervalued opportunities that are not in the headlines. While trend chasing can yield substantial returns, it can lead to significant losses when the music…

Gemini/GoogleXers, the oldest generation, are entering their 60s, an age when most Americans are expected to make some decisions about what will happen to their money and assets when they die. But it seems most Gen-Xers aren’t quite ready to make those choices. According to Trust & Will’s 2026 Estate Planning Report, three-fifths of Generation Xers have no estate planning documents…

Inside the Creative House / iStock.com 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 yearsHelping you become richer trusted by millions of readers Few people even imagine the loss of a job or the death of a loved one, but tragedies happen every day. Preparing for these tragedies can help ensure that your…

Gemini/GoogleAhead of the Senate Banking Committee hearing for Kevin Wersh to take charge of the Federal Reserve, interest rate policy has grabbed the headlines. President Donald Trump nominated Warsh with the belief that the former Fed governor would be more likely to cut rates than outgoing Chairman Jerome Powell. Trump has repeatedly said that borrowing costs should be much lower than they are now.

© jitawit21 / Shutterstock.com Gladstone Investment Corporation (Nasdaq: Profit) pays shareholders $0.08 per share every month, an annual rate of $0.96. At a share price of around $15.36, this works out to a yield of just over 6%. The question income investors need to answer is whether the checks keep coming, or whether the tight coverage picture signals trouble ahead. GAIN is not an ETF. It is a business development company (BDC), a structure that acts like a closed-end fund that invests directly in private businesses. GAIN targets lower middle market companies, deploying capital in the form of secured debt…

USA TODAY NETWORK/ReutersThis year is going to be good for holidays close to home. Small towns and big cities alike are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The FIFA World Cup is coming to North America. The 100th anniversary of Route 66 is boosting the popularity of vintage road trips on the 2,448-mile Mother Road. But this should not be ignored…