Author: Smart Wealthhabits

Samuel Boivin Nurfoto | getty imagesThe White House warned staffers in an email last month not to place bets in the Iran war-related prediction market, a Trump administration official confirmed on Friday.The warning comes amid growing concern about insider trading on prediction markets such as Polymarket, following a series of suspiciously timed trades around the Iran war, and following the U.S. ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year. The Wall Street Journal first reported In a March 24 email to White House staff.That email was sent a day after President Donald Trump announced a halt to hostilities in…

bertal123 / Shutterstock.com Editor’s note: This story was originally published here construction coverage.After a few turbulent years of price increases, rapid declines, and fluctuating mortgage rates, the US housing market has a new set of dynamics in 2026. Despite home prices remaining high in many areas, demand has rebounded in major markets due to factors such as an improvement in wage growth, an increase in housing inventory and mortgage rates declining somewhat from their peak levels. In 2026, some metro areas are emerging as particularly hot markets due to strong job growth, demographic shifts and continued demand for housing. To…

US Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media before boarding Air Force Two for expected departure to Pakistan for talks on Iran at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, on April 10, 2026. Jacqueline Martin via reutersVice President J.D. Vance said Friday he thinks talks with Iran to end the six-week war will be “positive,” while he warned Tehran’s diplomatic team not to “mess with us.”Vance spoke to reporters before boarding air force two But joint base andrews in Maryland to travel to Pakistan for those talks, which are scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Saturday.But Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad…

When building wealth, you may have to spend some money upfront to earn more in the future. And while you may need money to make money, the good news is that you can start with $1,000 instead of waiting until you have thousands of dollars accumulated.The truth is that everyone’s starting point is different and you have to work with what you have. You will never be able to take big steps if you don’t learn by taking small steps.We talked to a financial advisor about the best way to spend $1,000 to make more money, and it’s surprisingly indirect.…

Gemini/GoogleThe old adage goes, “All real estate is local,” even though housing markets across the country have moved relatively smoothly over the past several years. However, things are changing now, and that’s a good thing for anyone in the market to buy a home. Nearly two-thirds of the nation’s largest housing markets are either evenly balanced between buyers and sellers or are considered buyer…

Sukjae Photo / Shutterstock.comAt some point – often quietly, often slowly – something changes. The work that once made you energetic begins to feel heavy to you. Victories don’t come the same way. The edge you relied on doesn’t seem to be as sharp. And yet… you keep going. Because that’s what successful people do, right? But recognizing when to retire may be the more important question. In his book “From Strength to Strength: Finding…”

Fizzcase / Shutterstock.comLoyalty to employers is declining rapidly among the youngest generations in the workforce. Zeti’s latest Gen Z Workplace Expectations report, based on a national survey of 1,001 Gen Z workers in the US, reveals a generation that is undergoing massive burnout while reevaluating which jobs are worth the investment in the long term. As expectations around culture, flexibility and career growth evolve…

USA TODAY NETWORK/ReutersTarget’s popular car seat trade-in event is back, allowing parents to recycle old seats and get 20% off new baby items for a limited time. Starting April 19, the Minneapolis-based retailer will accept expired, damaged or unwanted car seats at participating stores, and will reward shoppers with a Target Circle Bonus for future purchases. “Families trust Target to be there for them throughout their lives…

Johnson/Money Talks NewsThe math of warehouse clubs seems simple. Buy more, pay less per unit, win. But there’s a problem the membership card doesn’t tell you about. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Americans throw away approximately 30% to 40% of the food supply each year, which is estimated to add up to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food annually. The average family of four…

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kuomintang Party Chairman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, the first meeting between Xi and the current Taiwanese opposition leader in nearly a decade. one in read out Released by Chinese state media, Xi said Beijing “welcomes any proposal conducive to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.” This is according to a CNBC translation of the statement into Chinese. Xi also reiterated that “‘Taiwan independence’ is the primary threat undermining stability across the Taiwan Strait,” and called on mainland and Taiwan party leaders to oppose “separatism and foreign interference.” Cheng Took command last October…