Author: Smart Wealthhabits

Former Olympian David Hearn outside Superior Court in Washington, July 9, 2026.Daniel Heuer | Bloomberg | getty imagesThree-time U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn pleaded not guilty Thursday to a felony charge of dislodging sealant in the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool in Washington.Hearn’s attorney later criticized prosecutors for securing an indictment against the 67-year-old and called him a political “scapegoat” for the Trump administration’s controversial handling of the renovation of the nearly 2,000-foot reflecting pool.”Mr. Hearn has pleaded not guilty because he is not guilty,” attorney Norm Eisen told reporters outside D.C. Superior Court.”If Mr. Hearn can be charged with a…

Retirement planning often seems like a search for answers, when in reality it is a process of managing tradeoffs.gettymost people think retirement plan It’s about finding the right answer.What is the right amount to save? What is the right investment mix? What is the right age to retire?The longer I work with clients, the more I have come to believe that the purpose of retirement planning is not to achieve perfection. answer And much more about managing tradeoffs.Everyone financial Decisions involve giving up one thing to gain another. The challenge is not to eliminate those tradeoffs. It’s about understanding them…

I became a CPA in 1981, spent a decade on Wall Street, and have been writing about money ever since. In all that time, the mistake that has haunted me the most has been overspending or choosing bad investments. It’s seeing people walking right after the cash that is theirs for the taking. So here are the five best sources of free money, ranked by their value. Catch them in order. 1. Your employer’s 401(k) match It’s a first because nothing else comes close to it. If your employer matches your contributions, that’s an immediate 50% to 100% return on…

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during the NATO leaders’ summit at the Beystep Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey on July 8, 2026. Jonathan Ernst | reutersPresident Donald Trump said several times this week that he is “number one” on TikTok. “The new numbers have just come out,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. He said, “Do you know who is the number one person on TikTok so far? Trump. Me.” The president said she had overtaken Taylor Swift, whom he said was “number 11” on the social media…

Investors who are concerned about the high valuations of US tech stocks, or who want to diversify their portfolios beyond US stocks, are showing interest in international stocks. Buying an international stock-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF) can be a good way to put your money in other parts of the global economy. Recent Vanguard research estimates that “developed markets outside the US” could be among the best investment opportunities over the next few years. One way to pursue that strategy is to invest Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (Wiggy +0.22%). This ETF holds a portfolio of stocks focused on developed market…

US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for bilateral talks at the Beytepe Presidential Compound during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey on July 08, 2026 (not shown). Vin McNamee | getty imagesAmericans don’t need to panic buy Iberico ham just yet.US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Thursday that President Donald Trump might not be able to follow through on his demand for the US to completely cut off trade with Spain — but he could use the same law behind his failed “reciprocating” tariffs if he wanted to.Greer told reporters at the White House that even…

key points Comfort Systems USA, Inc. Interested in? Here are five stocks we like better. Comfort Systems USA has reported strong cash flow and revenue growth, with analysts maintaining a mostly bullish outlook despite a high valuation. Mueller Industries has built up substantial cash reserves and revenue growth despite the share price decline, suggesting a potential opportunity for investors. Steel Dynamics has used strong cash flow to fund buybacks, dividend increases and capital investments, supported by largely positive analyst ratings. Cash flow is an essential component for many successful companies, allowing companies to finance new growth through acquisitions or increased…

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Kia is recalling approximately 463,000 vehicles citing seat defects that may increase the risk of injury. NHTSA says on its website that a problem affecting a certain number of vehicles can cause a fire while the vehicle is in park or drive mode. The agency elaborated on the issue in a recent recall notice: “A stuck power seat slide knob or improper recall 24V407 repair may cause the front power seat motor to overheat.” Here’s more information about which models are involved in the recall and what the next steps are…

When Jeff Bezos said a breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were stunned. Fast forward a year and Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy describes Generative AI As a “once in a lifetime” technology that is already being used to renew customer experiences at Amazon. Elon Musk predicted this at the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference 2040 will be there At least 10 billion humanoid robotswith a price between each $20,000 and $25,000. do the math. According to Musk, This technology could be worth $250 trillion by 2040. In other words it is approximately equal to:…

If you rely on traditional Medicare health insurance, you have virtually no dental coverage. Cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures and implants are not included. Regardless of whether you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a supplemental plan, it likely has a low annual limit on dental coverage. If you’re stressed about this financial gap – or stressed in general – you may be in for a double whammy. Whether it’s due to financial worries, health concerns or other stressors, stress can manifest in a condition called bruxism – teeth grinding. For retirees, the combination of brittle aging enamel and nighttime grinding…