The quarterly rebalancing of the S&P 500 remains one of the most closely watched scheduled events for traders and long-term investors across Wall Street. A committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices rebalances the S&P 400, 500, and 600 on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December each year. Index funds are required to…

Many retirees believe they have secured a comfortable, worry-free future when they sign contracts with continuing care retirement communities, known as CCRCs. These communities promise a full continuum of care, from independent living to skilled nursing, all in exchange for a substantial upfront entrance fee. However, a growing number of residents are discovering that the…

The FDA approved the first blood test designed to screen for colorectal cancer, called Shield, in July 2024 for adults 45 and older at average risk. Shield offers a far more convenient alternative to colonoscopy, requiring only a simple blood draw rather than an invasive procedure requiring full bowel preparation beforehand. A clinical study found…

Medicare beneficiaries who take large withdrawals from their retirement accounts may face unexpectedly higher premiums, even if the income spike is temporary. The mechanism behind these higher premiums is known as IRMAA, which stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, a surcharge applied when income exceeds certain thresholds. Social Security determines IRMAA eligibility by looking at…

South Korea has emerged as one of the most concentrated plays on artificial intelligence in global markets, drawing intense attention from investors worldwide. Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research has described the country’s economy as resembling “a giant leveraged bet on AI,” capturing the outsized exposure South Korea carries to the global technology cycle. The nation’s…

A 55-year-old married individual is weighing a $1.5 million long-term care insurance policy and wants real-world guidance on navigating the process. The person has already decided to purchase coverage and is not interested in generic advice about self-funding or whether long-term care insurance is worth buying at all. The core question centers on choosing between…

The number of Americans classified as long-term unemployed has climbed above 1.8 million on average this year, raising serious concerns about labor market health. The government defines long-term unemployment as being jobless for at least 27 weeks, a threshold that more than one in four unemployed workers has now crossed. That figure is up roughly…

Initial unemployment benefit applications climbed to a four-month high at the end of May, raising eyebrows among economists and market watchers tracking labor market conditions. Despite the headline-grabbing number, the spike does not reflect a meaningful increase in layoffs by businesses across the country. Analysts point to the Memorial Day holiday as a significant distorting…

Emerging-market fund managers who rode the semiconductor wave to significant gains are now facing the challenge of finding their next big bets. The three top-performing emerging-market stocks this year have been Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM), Samsung, and SK Hynix, delivering substantial returns to investors. Fund managers who built large positions in these names early…

Quantinuum has raised $1.68 billion through an initial public offering, marking a significant milestone for the quantum computing industry. The company chose the traditional IPO route, setting itself apart from many competitors in the quantum space who opted for SPAC mergers instead. Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, or SPACs, became a popular vehicle for tech companies…