A new analysis reveals significant geographic disparities in Social Security benefits, highlighting how state-level policies and living costs determine the real value of monthly checks for millions of retirees.
A quirk in the UK tax system means those earning between £100,000 and £125,140 face an effective 60% marginal tax rate, while also losing crucial childcare benefits. We examine the growing trap and the financial planning strategies to navigate it.
Visa Inc. reported a 15% surge in net revenue for its first fiscal quarter of 2026, citing robust payments volume and significant gains in its value-added services and commercial solutions.
A coalition of New York prosecutors warns that the landmark GENIUS Act, celebrated as a regulatory breakthrough for stablecoins, lacks critical consumer protections, potentially allowing issuers to financially benefit from frozen or disputed funds while victims struggle for restitution.
Moving to a state with no income tax might seem like a clear financial win, but the reality is more complex. Higher sales, property, and overall living costs in these states often offset the initial paycheck boost, creating a nuanced picture of who truly benefits.
Former UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, faces intensifying political and public pressure to relinquish his lifetime seat in the House of Lords following new revelations about his financial and personal ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for his resignation, as documents suggest payments and close correspondence between the two.
Polish online marketplace Erli has filed a lawsuit against dominant rival Allegro, alleging the platform abuses its market power to pressure sellers into maintaining higher prices on competing sites. Allegro denies the accusations, stating its seller benefit programs are voluntary.
Fintech startup Jelou has raised $10 million in Series A funding to scale its AI-driven conversational banking platform, Brain, from Latin America to the U.S., enabling payments, verification, and credit services directly within messaging apps.
GIGABYTE is expanding its strategic partnership with AMD to launch a new generation of AI-enhanced gaming laptops, motherboards, and monitors. This collaboration integrates AMD's Ryzen AI and 3D V-Cache technologies directly into consumer hardware, aiming to deliver tangible benefits in gaming smoothness, system stability, and creative workflow acceleration.
The payments giants Visa and Mastercard reported robust revenue and earnings growth for their latest quarters, though their premium valuations continue to spark investor debate on which offers the superior long-term opportunity.
The global payments giant reported a 15% surge in net revenue and processed a record 69.4 billion transactions in its fiscal first quarter, signaling resilient consumer confidence and a rebound from previous quarters.
Despite reporting revenue and earnings that topped Wall Street forecasts, Triumph Financial's stock fell post-earnings. While management pointed to strength in its payments network and cost controls, analysts on the call focused on persistent challenges in the freight sector and the sustainability of margins.
Sanofi's experimental oral drug venglustat demonstrated significant neurological benefits for patients with Type 3 Gaucher disease in a late-stage trial, but failed to meet its primary endpoint in a separate study for Fabry disease, casting uncertainty on its regulatory path.
PennyMac Financial Services reported Q4 2025 net income of $106.8 million, declaring a $0.30 per share dividend. While full-year profits grew on higher loan production, the quarter was pressured by a sharp decline in mortgage servicing income due to accelerated prepayments, highlighting the volatility inherent in its dual business model.
Social Security was designed as one component of a broader retirement strategy, not a standalone solution. For average earners, benefits typically replace about 40% of pre-retirement income, but experts urge personal savings to fill the gap.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is positioning its experimental obesity drug, olatorepatide, as a potential game-changer by combining significant weight loss with a dramatic reduction in 'bad' cholesterol. The company believes this dual benefit could carve out a unique niche in the competitive $150 billion market, currently led by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
The Hartford Financial Services Group reported stellar full-year 2025 results, with core earnings reaching $3.8 billion and a return on equity of 19.4%. Strong performance across Business, Personal, and Employee Benefits insurance segments, coupled with strategic investments in AI and digital capabilities, positions the insurer for sustained market leadership.
Despite reporting a 22% surge in Q4 2025 net income to $4.1 billion, global payments giant Mastercard is cutting approximately 1,400 jobs as part of a strategic review, highlighting the complex balance between growth and operational efficiency in the fintech sector.
Starbucks is overhauling its popular Rewards program for over 35 million U.S. members, introducing a tiered structure (Green, Gold, Reserve) designed to offer faster, more personalized benefits and deeper integration with travel partners.
Visa's fiscal first-quarter earnings surpassed expectations, driven by robust cross-border transactions and a surge in high-margin digital services. The payments giant signals confidence in sustained consumer resilience despite some moderation in U.S. debit volumes.
