Throughout your career, retirement planning will likely be one of the most important components of your overall financial plan. Whether you have just graduated and taken your first job, or are starting a family, enjoying your peak earning years, or preparing to retire, your employer-sponsored retirement plan can play a key role in your financial strategies.
There are five estate planning documents you may
need, regardless of your age, health, or wealth:
1. Durable power of attorney
2. Advance medical directives
3. Will
4. Letter of instruction
5. Living trust
Over the past several years, news reports have grown more intense about the precarious global supply of rare earth minerals. Yet outside scientific and national security arenas, many people may not fully understand the importance of rare earths. What are these mysterious materials and why are they receiving so much attention?
On April 2, 2025, an executive order was issued eliminating the de minimis exemption for low-value imports from China, which previously allowed U.S. consumers to buy goods worth up to $800 directly from online marketplaces based outside of the United States without paying duties. Since the order took effect on May 2, some U.S. shoppers have been surprised by notices from shipping carriers requesting duties that in some cases surpassed the value of the items that were ordered.1
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025, after months of deliberation in the House and Senate. The legislation includes multiple tax provisions that will guide individuals, business owners, and investors in planning their finances for many years to come. It makes permanent most of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) tax provisions that were set to expire this year, while delivering some new deductions and changes.
Buffett’s investment strategy evolved into a blend of quality and value — which means he identifies well-run companies with solid balance sheets that are priced fairly based on their intrinsic value (the earnings and cash flow that the underlying business produces for shareholders). Having bought his first stock at age 11, he became known for diligent research and diving deep into the financial statements of his businesses and acquisition targets.
After you die, somebody must take charge of your estate and settle your affairs. This person will take your estate through probate, a court-supervised process that winds up your financial affairs after your death.
Every May, interest rates on federal student loans are reset for the upcoming school year. The rates are calculated by combining the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note with an additional fixed amount set by Congress.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act
H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, narrowly passed the House of Representatives on May 22, 2025. The legislation is now being deliberated in the Senate, after the Senate Committee on Finance released its own version of proposed tax provisions on June 16, 2025.
A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, here are six basic principles that may help you invest more successfully.