Author: Smart Wealthhabits

Drazen Zigic/iStock/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 If you use a CPA for tax preparation and filing, you know that the work starts long before you even enter their office for a tax appointment. Your tax return is only as…

US Senator Markway Mullin, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC, US.Ivan Vucci | reutersA day after a testy confirmation hearing, a Senate committee on Thursday advanced the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to lead the Department of Homeland Security.Mullin cleared his first procedural hurdle to lead the department despite prodding from his Senate colleagues on Wednesday about his temperament, DHS’s immigration policies and foreign travel while a House member, which he repeatedly said was…

Sturty / 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 If you’re considering using home equity to finance a renovation, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common ways homeowners finance major upgrades. Home equity is the difference between your home’s…

If you think your health care costs will be fixed once you turn 65, you are living in a fantasy world. A recent report highlights market Watch Warns that standard Part B premiums could nearly double over the next decade. Based on current projections, you could easily pay $5,000 a year for basic coverage through 2035. And that’s just the base rate. If you are diligent about saving and your income is high, you will be penalized with a surcharge that will significantly increase your monthly bill. Because Medicare Part B premiums are usually deducted directly from your benefits, it…

Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takachi during a debate of party leaders in the upper house of parliament in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. Takachi said he did not intend to go into any details of Taiwan’s contingency in recent comments, which have been fiercely criticized by China. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | getty imagesJapan on Thursday rejected a US intelligence assessment He said Prime Minister Sanae Takachi’s comments on Taiwan represented a “significant change” for the current Japanese prime minister.Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters during this time a press conference Tokyo’s approach remains “fairly consistent”. “There…

Boring is beautiful. This saying is especially true during turbulent times. In case you haven’t noticed, current market and world conditions are quite turbulent. In a highly volatile market, boring dividend stock Can be the ultimate defensive play. bristol myers squibb (BMY 0.57%) There is such a stock. It has achieved double digit growth year-on-year S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.36%) has fallen. I’d happily grab a Bristol Myers Squibb in any mishap. today’s change(-0.57%) $-0.34current price$59.37key data pointsmarket cap$122Bday limit$58.81 -$59.6752wk range$42.52 -$62.89volume13maverage volume13mgross margin65.89%dividend yield4.17% What about Bristol Myers Squibb’s patent rock? Let’s look at what is probably the biggest…

Julianna Stratton, lieutenant governor of Illinois and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, speaks during a primary election night event in Chicago, Tuesday, March 17, 2026.Christopher Dilts | Bloomberg | getty imagesA major crypto PAC was dealt a blow after the Democratic candidate for Illinois Senate spent millions to win Tuesday’s primary and likely be sworn into office next year.Powered by Fairshake coinbaseRipple Labs and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz spent more than $10 million on ads opposing Illinois Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton in her Democratic primary race for Senate. Stratton received an “F” rating stand with cryptoAnd took to social media…

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference after a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington on March 18, 2026.Brandon Smialowski | AFP | getty imagesFederal Reserve Chairman Kevin Wersh wants to lower interest rates. Fed officials signaled on Wednesday that if he is appointed to that job any time soon, it may be more difficult for him to do so than expected.Fed officials raised their forecasts about the path of inflation and interest rates in data released by the central bank on Wednesday. This was largely expected given…

Company registers 171% growth as demand for protection against ad fraud and fake leads increases Tokyo, JP/ Access Newswire /March 17,2026/ Spider Labs, developer of the leading ad fraud protection platform Spider AF, today announced its debut in the Financial Times High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2026 ranking. Compiled in partnership with Statista, this prestigious list recognizes the region’s most resilient and rapidly expanding enterprises. The ranking highlights companies that achieved the highest compound annual revenue growth rate (CAGR) between 2021 and 2024. ​​During this period, Spider Labs achieved approximately 171% total growth and ranked among the top 10 IT and software…

A first-class ticket could soon cost around $1, as the US Postal Service warns it could run out of money by 2027 and is considering raising prices to stay afloat. Appearing before Congress on Tuesday, March 17, Postmaster General David Steiner said the price of a first-class ticket could rise from 78 cents to 90 to 95 cents. Steiner said higher prices are one of the few options available as the agency faces growing losses. Raising stamp prices to 95 cents, he told lawmakers, “will largely resolve our controllable losses.” The warning comes as the USPS says its financial runway…