Author: Smart Wealthhabits

Silicon Valley loves the story of a 20-something dropout who builds a billion-dollar company out of a dorm room. This is a great story. This is also mostly wrong. A study published in 2020 in the American Economic Review based on U.S. Census Bureau and IRS data covering 2.7 million business founders from 2007 to 2014 found that the fastest-growing new companies – the top 1 in 1,000 – were started by people whose average age was 45. The research is a few years old, but due to recent coverage from outlets like MarketWatch it is in the news again…

If you have $2 million in retirement savings, congratulations. That’s well above the $1.26 million that Americans believe they need to retire comfortably, according to a 2025 Northwestern Mutual study (1).At this point, you’ve probably overcome the challenge of saving enough. Now, your next mission is wealth preservation. High taxes and bad lifestyle choices can quickly destroy what looks like a huge treasure.Must readIt is not easy to change our perspective from wealth creation to wealth protection. But the journey can be less risky if you avoid these five common money traps that high-net-worth individuals sometimes fall into.1. Not knowing…

One year after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed, Trump accounts are now live. Investment accounts for children, administered by parents until the child turns 18, officially went live on July 4. Some children’s accounts will also receive a “seed” amount of $1,000 from the government, based on their birth year. “Trump Accounts is about giving every American child a stake in America’s future and some of the benefits,” President Donald Trump said at the July 6 launch event. “There could be no better way to kick off our 250th year.” Here’s what you need to know about…

US President Donald Trump speaks at the launch of Trump Investment Accounts in the Oval Office of the White House on July 6, 2026 in Washington, DC. Mandel Ngan | AFP | getty imagesPresident Donald Trump on Monday defended the call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino that led to the soccer association overturning a one-game World Cup suspension of U.S. men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun.”I asked for a review because I don’t think it was foul,” Trump said, referring to the red card issued to Balogun by the referee in his team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week.”I…

Income investors entering July will face a friendlier arrangement than six weeks ago. The 10-year Treasury yield sits at 4%, down from May’s peak of 5%, while the 2026 Social Security Colla Came in at just 3%. That combination, low risk-free rates and modest cost of living, is pushing retirees back toward dividend equities that pay out every 30 days. Income receipts on assets reached $4,281.5 billion in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring how dependent boomer cash flows now are on portfolio income. Below are five monthly salary names worth researching for July. Each ticker has been verified for…

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today, and that number is projected to reach 13 million by 2050. Here’s the part that doesn’t get repeated enough: You have more control over this than you think. A major 2024 update from the Lancet Commission on Dementia found that 45% of dementia cases worldwide are linked to 14 modifiable risk factors – things you can actually do something about. No treatment. no guarantee. But you can stack the real, researched odds in your favor. I’ve spent more than 35 years reporting on the things…

US President Donald Trump rings the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq during an event marking the launch of “Trump Accounts” in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US on July 6, 2026.Ivan Vucci | reutersPresident Donald Trump attended the New York Stock Exchange on Monday morning and nasdaq in ringing opening bell For the first time from the White House Oval Office.The event to mark the launch of “Trump Accounts,” the administration’s new tax-advantaged investment vehicle for American children, was attended by a range of CEOs and other executives supporting…

By whom was this article written?to followMy focus is on growth and dividend income. My personal strategy revolves around setting myself up for an easy retirement by building a portfolio that focuses on maximizing dividend income and growth. Dividends are a complex part of my strategy because I have structured my portfolio for monthly dividend income that grows through dividend reinvestment and annual growth. Feel free to contact me at Seeking AlphaAnalyst Reveals: I/We have profitable long positions in STWD, MO, MLPI, NVDA shares through stock ownership, options or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my…

An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has been reported in Manhattan, leading to the number of cases – currently 18 – expected to rise. Here’s what you need to know about Legionnaires’ disease and the current outbreak. What is Legionnaires’ disease? The city health department said Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by the growth of bacteria in hot water. How is Legionnaires’ disease spread? People are at risk of getting Legionnaires’ disease if they breathe water vapor contaminated with bacteria. The health department says you can’t get it from drinking water, cooking or using AC units. NYC Health…

Here are 5 important investing skills you must develop for successful long-term investing (typically 10+ years or more). Long-term investing, especially in equities through shares or mutual funds, has historically beaten inflation and created significant wealth for patient investors. However, success depends more on skills and behavior, not on market timing or chasing hot tips.1. patience and emotional discipline – Markets are volatile – corrections, downturns and euphoria are common. Indian equity markets (Nifty/Sensex) have delivered strong long-term returns despite several declines. Panic selling during downturns (for example, the COVID-19 crash or election instability) minimizes losses, while staying invested allows…