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,...
As the Federal Reserve continues to hold interest rates at elevated levels to combat inflation, consumers face both challenges and opportunities. While borrowing has become more expensive, savers can take advantage of higher yields and rethink their spending habits....
What you choose to do with your tax refund can significantly impact your long-term financial health. Instead of splurging, consider using this extra cash to strengthen your finances. Smart strategies, such as building an emergency fund, paying off high-interest debt,...
Achieving financial stability and building wealth are essential goals for families striving for a secure future. Financial stability means having a reliable income, manageable debt, and the ability to handle unexpected expenses, while wealth building focuses on...
Dive into the secrets of retirement planning. Discover how starting early, setting clear goals, and diversifying investments can lead to a financially secure golden age. Whether you’re an early saver or starting late, find expert advice for every stage of your journey.
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...
With inflation at an all-time high since the 1980s, more Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and sinking further into debt. If you’re trying to get out of debt, you’re not alone. Creating a plan is possible, and you don’t need to start off with a bang. Here are...
After working for decades to save for retirement, you’re finally ready to retire. This calls for a pivotal shift in focus from growing your investment portfolio to planning how you’re going to live off those savings, possibly for decades to come. With the right...
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) allow for a tax-advantaged way to invest your money long-term. Whether you choose to invest in a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA (or a combination of the two), you’ll defer paying income tax on the money you set aside for...
The Federal Reserve recently raised its target federal funds rate by half-a-percentage point, which is the largest interest hike in more than 20 years. This follows an initial quarter-point increase in March. Read on to find out how rising interest rates could impact...
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...
More Americans are turning to a 401(k) hardship withdrawal to cover urgent and unexpected expenses. By the end of 2024, about 5% of employees had taken a hardship withdrawal from their 401(k) accounts. That’s more than double the 2% who did so in 2018. With inflation,...
When the federal government shuts down, businesses across the nation feel the effects, especially for those that rely on federal programs, work directly with federal agencies, or operate near government properties. This article explains how government shutdowns affect...
When the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, it’s good news for borrowers and consumers, but not so much for savers. The Fed’s recent quarter-point rate cut is a reminder that the annual percentage yields (APYs) on savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs)...
A recent deal between the Trump administration and Pfizer is signaling hope to the pharmaceutical industry. Under Trump's Pfizer deal, Pfizer gets an exemption from pharmaceutical-specific tariffs if the company invests in domestic manufacturing. This key deal is...
President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) introduced several tax changes designed to boost take-home pay and simplify the tax code. Some major adjustments include nontaxable income, gift limits, estate tax exemption, and overtime deductions. Here’s a look at...
Economies always run in cycles, which means that, at some point, inevitably, there will be a downturn. And the best time to prepare for an economic downturn is before things start to take a tumble. In this article, we’ll go over strategies you can use to keep your...
What happens when it’s time to step back from running your professional services firm? Is there a clear path for the future of your business? In this article, we’ll go over how to create a solid succession plan, whether you’re looking to sell, merge, or pass the firm...
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) signed by President Trump includes a federal cap on the state and local tax (SALT). Until 2024, SALT was capped at $10,000 under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), but the OBBB increased it to $40,000. The cap will rise by 1% each...
Small businesses are finally seeing signs of life after a rocky few years. Since January, average earnings have climbed by 75%. That’s an encouraging statistic, yet monthly revenues still lag behind the record highs of the past two years. This signals that progress is...