Author: Michael Erst

5 jobs that still offer a pensionWith the sudden emergence of the 401k and other investment-based plans, pensions have become less popular throughout every sector.unbranded – LifestyleOver the last two months, career coach Eliana Goldstein has seen a spike in job seekers looking for help. While the U.S. unemployment rate dropped last month and the labor market appears to be on solid footing, hirings have slowed. Employers added 143,000 jobs in January, falling short of forecasts and the average monthly gain of 166,000 in 2024. Meanwhile, the hiring rate stood at 3.4% in December, down from 4.6% in 2021.  “For many…

Gursimran Mehar  |  ReutersElon Musk is amplifying far-right political movements around the worldElon Musk has used his platform to amplify far-right voices and policies from Germany to the U.K. and beyond.Billionaire Elon Musk said that he was not interested in purchasing TikTok, the popular short-video app that the United States has been trying to ban over national security concerns with its Chinese owner ByteDance.Musk’s comments, made in late January, were released online Saturday by The WELT Group, a part of the German media company Axel Springer SE, which hosted a summit, where the Tesla chief joined the conference via video.”I have not put in a…

Seeing the world is a dream for many — a dream that often gets deferred until retirement due to time and financial constraints. Some retirees choose to move abroad so they can immerse themselves in another culture. Others see retiring in a different country as an opportunity to stretch their dollars further than they could in the United States. There can be a lot of upsides to retiring abroad, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. If you’re considering it, make sure you have plans for the following five things before you start selling your stuff. Image…

Each year, Vanguard reports 401(k) statistics in its How America Saves report. In the 2024 edition, the company found that the average 401(k) balance is $134,128. However, the average can vary dramatically by age group, and the average and median 401(k) balances are very different. I won’t keep you in suspense. The average 401(k) balance for someone in the 35 to 44 age group is $91,281. There are some things you should keep in mind. For one thing, this tells the average balance in Vanguard 401(k) accounts. It doesn’t account for other types of retirement savings clients may have, such…

Medicare is big business, recently providing healthcare coverage to 68 million people. It changes a little or a lot every year, and millions have strong opinions about it, too: Before the 2024 election, fully 94% of surveyed seniors said it was very or extremely important to protect Medicare, per the Better Medicare Alliance. 65% of people say that Medicare has fully met their expectations, per the Commonwealth Fund 2024 Value of Medicare Survey. 51% say the federal government doesn’t spend enough on Medicare (with 46% saying the same about Medicaid), per the KFF Health Tracking Poll. Close to two-thirds (63%)…

The Mega Millions jackpot has risen to $94 million for Friday’s drawing after no one won the top prize on Tuesday night.If someone matches all six numbers, they can choose a one-time cash payment of $42.9 million. The numbers will be drawn just after 11 p.m. ET, and we’ll have the results below.The most recent big Mega Millions winner was a lucky lottery ticket holder in Arizona, who struck gold on Jan. 18, winning a $113 million jackpot.According to the lottery, only four tickets matched all six Mega Millions numbers in 2024 – the fewest jackpots won in a calendar…

Supply chain analyst says e-commerce may be worst hit by US tariffs“When you look at the executive order that the Trump administration did, it revoked the ‘de minimis’ allowance for e-commerce goods into the U.S., such as Temu and SHEIN. So the biggest hit will be those players, as well as Amazon.”President Donald Trump delayed ending the trade loophole that allows low-value packages to arrive duty-free from China on Friday, meaning the products can continue to enter the U.S. without tariffs—for now. The move is the latest in a series of tariff announcements and delays this week.Earlier this week, Trump’s…

Watchdog groups and lawmakers say Musk’s DOGE takeover of the Treasury department could be the largest data breach in US historyTrump administration aides locked officials out of government computers and offered buyouts to federal employees.Hiring slowed in January as U.S. employers added 143,000 jobs amid the Los Angeles wildfires, frigid weather across much of the nation and uncertainty generated by President Donald Trump’s trade and immigration policies.But payroll gains for the previous two months were revised up by a whopping 100,000, depicting an even more robust picture of the labor market at the end of 2024.The unemployment rate, which is…

Aerospace titan Honeywell announced Thursday that it will split into three independent and publicly traded companies.The company said that it will create Honeywell Automation and Honeywell Aerospace, in addition to a previously announced spin off of Advanced Materials.”The formation of three independent, industry-leading companies builds on the powerful foundation we have created, positioning each to pursue tailored growth strategies, and unlock significant value for shareholders and customers,” Vimal Kapur, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell, said in a press release.The company said that the separation of the two newly announced companies will be completed in the second half of 2026 and will be…

Thieves steal 100,000 eggs worth $40,000100,000 eggs were stolen from a distribution trailer in south-central Pennsylvania. Police estimate their value at $40,000.A New York bakery chain is looking to pack a spicy punch with its new cupcakes.Baked by Melissa, a New York-based bite-sized cupcake chain, has released a limited-edition collaboration with Tabasco (yes, the hot sauce). The collaboration features two different flavors, including one cupcake made with a Tabasco-infused cake and, if that isn’t enough, a Tabasco-infused cream cheese icing. The cupcakes are available at Baked by Melissa stores in New York and online.Interested in learning more? Here’s what to…