Author: Smart Wealthhabits

WASHINGTON – With no end in sight to the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, President Donald Trump signed an order on Friday, March 27, declaring an “unprecedented emergency” to redirect federal funds to pay airport security staff. According to the text of the decree, the White House said it would “use appropriate and logical nexus funds for TSA operations to provide compensation and benefits to TSA employees that they would have received had the Democrat-led DHS not been closed.” As soon as Trump signed the memo, Homeland Security Secretary Markway Mullin began the process of paying TSA workers, the agency…

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released its Top Safety Picks for 2026. Of the 45 winners, 13 models were mid-size SUVs. These mid-size SUV winners were subjected to a number of crash tests to determine how the vehicles would hold up in various crash scenarios. Safety features were also tested to determine whether they would work and how effective they were at preventing and reducing accidents. Here are the winners and which models are among the 13 safest 2026 midsize SUVs. These midsize SUVs are IIHS’s top safety picks for 2026 Japanese and South Korean midsize SUVs dominate…

PixDeluxe/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 yearsHelping you become richer trusted by millions of readers It’s natural to feel rich when your home’s Zillow estimate goes up or your 401(k) balance hits new highs — even if you haven’t sold a single property. This psychological phenomenon, known as the…

In Yemen, after more than a decade of war and economic collapse, thousands of women seeking financial independence thought they had found a way out of poverty. Online trading platforms – often promoted by friends and family – promised huge returns on investment of 20%, even 50%. But the companies were frauds. And in a single week, one particular company disappeared with $12 million from nearly 40,000 investors. Hashed Mozakar and Bassem al-Nawawi spoke to victims in Sanaa about how these scams spread, and how they exploit people desperate for income.

As the war in Iran escalates, mortgage rates are at a disadvantage. The housing market got a slight boost earlier this year when the 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell below 6% for the first time in years. But barely a month later, the popular product dropped to 6.38%. Late March saw the largest one-week increase since April 2025, when the White House made its first surprise tariff announcement. These aren’t the highest rates in recent years, but with home prices still high and many Americans struggling to afford higher prices on everything from milk to gas, borrowers need all the…

The United States is not in recession, but it may be in “recession.” Despite ticking up over the past three months, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell to 53.3 in March – down from an initial estimate of 55.5 two weeks earlier – and down from 56.6 in February and 57 this time last year. Among those surveyed, expectations for gas prices increased and inflation predictions increased after the start of the Iran war on February 28. According to Joan Hsu, director of the Michigan survey, although sentiment declined across different age groups and political affiliations, “consumers with…

We all know that panic is one of the ways investors lose money. Panic selling during the global financial crisis of 2008–2009 may have put some investors in a permanent low. Not only did they lose money, but they also weren’t able to profit from the incredible recovery. The panic during the lockdown of March 2020 caused many people to lose a lot of money instead of earning money that year. Meanwhile, panic selling at the beginning of almost any war has generally been a loss-making deal, even in the long run. If you want to be a competent investor,…

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks during a rally against the Save America Act outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 18, 2026.Nathan Posner | Anadolu | getty imagesThe Senate on Friday morning introduced a bill to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security to end the partial government shutdown that has disrupted air travel across the US.After Republicans fought Democrats for weeks to remove funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement from any potential deal, the bill does exactly that. It would fund all of DHS except ICE and parts of Customs and Border Protection, though it…

The race to become AustralianSuper’s next chief investment officer is playing out domestically, and whoever wins the coveted role at the $410 billion pensions giant when Mark Delaney steps down on June 30 will face some big decisions over his long-term investment strategy.Shawn Manuel, who leads the fund’s local equity portfolio, is widely known as an insider favorite, and news of his interview earlier this month spread rapidly $4.5 trillion sector. Nevertheless, the fund’s board is also working with recruitment firm Spencer Stuart to identify external talent.It’s loading…

Jacob Wackerhausen / 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 Figuring out how much money you’ll need to retire is an important step in planning your retirement. You’ll need enough money to cover normal bills, plus some extra money for unexpected expenses.…