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...
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...
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)...