MKR Blog
Recent surveys reveal that Americans spend hours each week thinking about their finances. Rising prices, mounting debt, and uncertainty about the future all contribute to financial stress. Add in steep housing costs, concerns over tariffs raising the price of goods,...
A combination of rising living costs, high inflation, unexpected financial emergencies, and reliance on credit has created a perfect storm for personal debt. In fact, American household debt increased from 16.9 trillion in 2022 to 17.05 trillion in the first quarter...
Saving for retirement should be a critical component of any financial plan, but it can be challenging if you’re also working toward debt repayment. The good news is that it’s possible to do both at the same time. The key is to be consistent and disciplined, and in...
For the greater part of 2020, millions of Americans have faced furloughs and layoffs, subsequently relying on credit cards to keep their heads above water. Here’s how to get out from under those ballooning balances. The Coronavirus Effect on Debt When the stimulus...
Inheriting an IRA might feel like a financial win, but the rules today are different than they were just a few years ago. If you’re not up to date, an unexpected tax bill could catch you off guard. Here’s what changed, and how to plan around it. Changes Made by the...
The retail landscape has been reshaping since the pandemic, and what seemed like temporary changes have now solidified into permanent shifts in how consumers shop and what they expect from retailers. Here are the key trends shaping retail this year. Value-Oriented...
If you owe back taxes and you’re expecting a refund this year, you might be wondering if the IRS will keep it. In some cases, yes. In others, no. Whether the refund reaches your bank account depends on several factors. If you have unpaid federal tax debt, the IRS can...
President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) could change your tax return in real ways. The bill offers potential relief for parents raising kids, workers earning tips or overtime, and seniors on fixed incomes. There are a few key areas to pay attention to. Here’s...
Running a veterinary clinic means juggling patient care, staff needs, and business operations. Technology can help ease that load, and in 2026, several trends are beginning to emerge for better efficiency, security, and staff and client support. Here are the...
Health savings accounts (HSAs) are one of the best tools for saving on healthcare costs. And beginning this year, more Americans than ever will qualify for HSAs, thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which was passed last July. Read on to learn what’s changing,...
When you retire, you don’t have to move your 401(k) right away, and for many retirees, leaving it where it is could be a smart move. Employers are increasingly adding features that make staying in the plan more appealing. Why? Partly because when employees with large...
The construction industry enters 2026 facing both persistent headwinds and emerging opportunities. Rising material costs, ongoing labor shortages, and policy uncertainty continue to challenge business owners. But at the same time, there’s an undercurrent of guarded...
When it comes to increasing the value of a small business, focusing on top-line growth won’t give you the whole picture. Revenue alone doesn’t always equal value, and a bigger business isn’t always a better one. If your long-term goal is to build a valuable business...
The Trump administration enacted new tariffs on lumber and kitchen cabinets, adding pressure to construction budgets. The tariffs apply a 10% duty on softwood lumber and a 25% levy on imported kitchen cabinets. By 2026, the cabinet tariff is set to double to 50%. As a...