Two retirees with identical $1.65M portfolios face different tax outcomes based solely on withdrawal order and account placement, not holdings.
Drawing down or converting a traditional IRA to Roth before age 73 shrinks future RMDs and keeps income below IRMAA Medicare surcharge thresholds.
VTEB's tax-exempt municipal interest still counts fully toward IRMAA calculations, making it a hidden Medicare cost trap for retirees.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Two retirees, same age, same $1.65 million balance, same seven holdings in identical weights. One will pay a Medicare premium surcharge stacked on top of a rising required withdrawal starting at 73. The other will not. Only the order they draw from, and the accounts those draws come from, separates the outcomes.

#medicare #irmaa #holdings

Image source: The Motley Fool.
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET
Head of Investor Relations - Audrey Dion
Chief Executive Officer - Richard Wilmer
Chief Financial Officer - Mansi Khetani

#fool

Personal loans are dangerously easy to get. You can have cash in your account the same day you apply — no collateral, minimal friction, maximum temptation. And that's exactly the problem. Just because you can borrow doesn't mean you should. The difference between a smart financial move and a debt spiral often comes down to one thing: understanding why you're borrowing in the first place.
Personal loans aren't inherently good or bad. They're a tool. And like any tool, they can either solve your problem or make it worse. Below, we break down the situations where borrowing actually makes sense and the ones where walking away is the smarter play.
Personal loans hover around 12% APR for borrowers with solid credit. Credit cards? Try 20%. If you're juggling multiple cards with balances, rolling that debt into a single personal loan can save you serious money on interest. Plus, you get one predictable payment instead of the payment shuffle.
But the catch is that you actually have to stop using your credit cards. Too many people consolidate their debt, feel relieved and then rack up new balances within a year. Now they've got two problems instead of one. So, before you borrow, compare rates, map out your payoff timeline and be honest about your spending habits. If you know you'll just max out those cards again, a personal loan won't save you. It'll only bury you deeper.
Your credit utilization ratio — basically, how much of your available credit you're actually using — accounts for 30% of your FICO credit score. Since personal loans are installment debt, they don't count toward that ratio the way credit cards do.

#debt #borrow #down

Partners Group is replacing its CEO after reporting mixed interim results amid redemption pressure on its evergreen products.
David Layton, who has been the sole CEO since 2021 and with the firm since 2005, will step down to become CIO and chair of the global investment committee.
Roberto Cagnati and Juri Jenkner, both hired in 2004, will take over as co-CEOs Jan. 1.
Cagnati most recently ran portfolio solutions and served as chief risk officer, while Jenkner most recently served as president after heading both infrastructure and private credit earlier.
The change comes as Partners, which manages total ****** ets of $186 billion, announces mixed interim results. While the group saw record fundraising—with clients committing $16 billion to the firm, up from $12.2 billion a year earlier— profit fell 13% to 502 million Swiss francs (about $620 million).

#billion #jenkner #group

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ***** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ***** an) was the only detractor, and ***** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) as a leading performance contributor. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), the parent company of Google, offers various platforms and services, including online search and advertising, cloud solutions, and artificial intelligence. On August 31, 2026, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) closed at $335.41 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $4.13 trillion. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) posted a one-month return of -11.22%, while its shares gained 57.19% over the past 52 weeks.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shares of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)—the parent company of Google and YouTube—rose during the quarter as contracted future revenues from cloud operations continued to be strong, amplified by explosive demand for AI infrastructure, strong AI-focused memory chip production and resilient digital-ad sales. Google's full-stack AI solution underpins prospective long-term momentum for the company, with an anticipated near-term boost from hosting OpenAI's latest generative AI model."

#eagle #index

Nvidia is likely one of the most closely watched stocks on the market. The company's graphics processing units (GPUs) were crucial in the advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in late 2022, and the chipmaker has become a bellwether for the AI landscape. All eyes were on Nvidia as the company released its quarterly financial report after the market close on Wednesday.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Investors were hoping for insight into the state of AI adoption and whether AI had room to run, and that question was answered with a resounding "yes."
Image source: Nvidia.
One of the biggest questions among investors is just how long Nvidia could keep up its frantic pace of growth. It turns out there's still runway ahead, as its growth continued to accelerate. For its fiscal 2027 second quarter (ended July 26), the company generated record revenue of $96.2 billion, up 106% year over year and 18% quarter over quarter. This drove adjusted earnings per share (EPS) up 120% to $2.22. The results were partially driven by Nvidia's expanding gross margin of 75%.

#signal

Investors are pulling back from CrowdStrike (CRWD) shares ahead of the cybersecurity firm's Q3 earnings scheduled for Aug. 26 after market close.
According to Barchart, consensus is for CRWD to record $0.05 in earnings per share (EPS) for its third financial quarter, representing a massive year-over-year improvement.
Soros Fund Management Opened a New Position in Nebius During Q2. What This Means for NBIS Stock.
Nvidia Earnings, Jackson Hole and Other Key Things to Watch this Week
Ahead of Nvidia Earnings, Here's What Barchart Data Says Comes Next for NVDA Stock

#NVIDIA

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Vivian Tu has built a massive online following telling people how to grow their money. But she has a message for some would-be investors: Stop investing, at least for now, if you carry a specific kind of debt.
The former Wall Street trader and content creator behind the multimedia company, "Your Rich BFF," says you should jump on high-interest credit card debt before thinking about putting money into the stock market.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
JPMorgan sees gold hitting $5,000/oz by Q4 — and savvy investors are protecting their wealth with a tax-advantaged Gold IRA. Get your free guide from Priority Gold

#investors #wealth

PepsiCo (PEP) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) anchor the conservative tier, with 54 and 64 consecutive dividend raises and a combined yield near 3.5%.
Dividend-growth compounding turns $465,000 into roughly $1 million in a decade, unlocking $3,350 monthly without the principal erosion of high-yield alternatives.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
At age 53, with $465,000 tucked away, the goal is to build a portfolio that can start cutting monthly checks a decade from now. The math is unforgiving, but that 10‑year runway to age 63 changes which levers actually move the needle. Starting yield is one piece of the equation. Dividend growth is the other, and over a full decade, growth tends to win out.
This piece walks through what $465,000 produces today at three different yield levels, then shows why a lower-yield, faster-growing portfolio can out-earn a higher static payout by age 63. All three names in the framing, PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), sit inside the conservative tier for a reason.

#yield #Dividend

Adobe (ADBE) stock has whipsawed this year amid the ongoing debate over the disruption of artificial intelligence (AI) in regard to legacy software companies and their business models. ADBE stock fell to a low of $190.12 following the company's fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings release in June, but shares have since rebounded 45%.
To be sure, Adobe's Q2 earnings were better than expected, and the company also raised its annual guidance. That's what markets ask for in earnings calls, and they usually send stocks north on such reports. However, during the earnings call, Adobe also announced that CFO Dan Durn would depart the company to join Marvell Technologies (MRVL). Previously, during the Q1 earnings call, Adobe had announced the departure of long-time CEO Shantanu Narayan. Losing both the CEO and CFO within three months is hardly a positive development for any company, even though fresh talent can offer new perspectives at times.
Google Lost About $186 Billion After 4 of Its Top AI Researchers Left, but Sundar Pichai Says Google Will Be 'A Founding Investor' Anyway
Microsoft vs. Broadcom: One Has 85% Upside, But I'm Picking the Other
Rocket Lab and AST ****** eMobile Are Priced for the Big Bang. One ****** e Stock Already Delivered.

#earnings #Stock #Google

Earlier this month, court filings disclosed that Capital One closed 385 bank accounts **** ociated with President Donald Trump in 2021 after flagging financial activities characteristic of money laundering.
Financial institutions are required to follow a strict compliance regime that includes anti–money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028. Here are 4 moves to make before the window closes

#laundering #donald #jeff

The daily chart for December coffee futures (KCZ26) shows that recent price action has produced a bullish symmetrical triangle pattern and also a bullish pennant pattern. Prices are trending higher, and the bulls have the near-term technical advantage.
Fundamentally, coffee futures prices are being supported by global supply worries amid adverse growing weather in countries like Brazil and Vietnam. At the same time, geopolitical logistical problems have also raised concerns about supplies reaching Western nations. Global demand for coffee is also on the rise.
What Do Cost of Carry Tables Tell Us Heading Into Fall Harvest?
What Was Driving Markets Early Monday Morning?
Coffee Prices Turn Lower on Drier Brazil Weather

#prices #Brazil

Filing for bankruptcy is typically considered a last resort for debt repayment. But, the rising cost of living — combined with rising debt levels — has led to an increasing number of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. over the past three years.
Even the social stigma around bankruptcy isn't enough to prevent struggling Americans from considering it as an option these days.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going

#americans #even

Our ****** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
The sequential improvement in revenue growth rate was driven by high single-digit case volume acceleration and increased surgeon adoption of the comprehensive bunion portfolio.
Management attributed the year-over-year revenue decline to lower procedure kit sales to stocking distributors and a continued mix shift toward lower-priced minimally invasive products.
The company is successfully expanding its addressable market by capturing the 75% of bunion procedures previously unaddressed by its core Lapiplasty system.
Approximately 40% of the existing surgeon base has utilized at least one of the three new bunion systems launched in late 2025, up from 35% in the prior quarter.

#tell

Our ***** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
The merger with American Woodmark creates a comprehensive North American cabinet portfolio, aiming to leverage combined scale for better inventory management and service levels.
Performance was impacted by a mid- to high single-digit market decline, driven by affordability challenges and weak consumer sentiment in repair and remodel segments.
Management observed a persistent 'trade down' trend where consumers are opting for value products and paring back features in made-to-order categories.
New construction outperformance was driven by a flexible go-to-market model that combines direct builder relationships with distribution channels.

#driven #north

According to research from Fidelity, baby boomers have an average 401(k) balance of $260,300 and an average IRA balance of $286,700. Those averages aren't very high, but, of course, some people have much more invested than others.
So how much is enough? Say, for example, that you have $2 million saved. Can you enjoy a life of freedom and not worry about having to earn a paycheck to cover your bills? Let's take a look at what a retirement nest egg of $2 million can do for you.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
While $2 million may seem like a small fortune, especially for those with limited retirement savings, the reality is that this money can't just be spent. It has to last throughout retirement, and some of its value is likely to be eroded by inflation.
You want to leave enough in your account to ensure that some of your funds will be making money and earning returns. If you drop your account balance, your investments won't have as much opportunity to earn. This puts you at greater risk of running out of money.

#NVIDIA #balance #much #enough

Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) may be willing to walk away from roughly $60 million a year to stop Google from turning its discussions into answers that users never leave Google to read. The companies are negotiating a renewal of their 2024 data-licensing agreement, and Reddit has discussed ending Google's access to its content for AI use, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 22. Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) fell 8.7% after the report, its worst session since March, according to Barron's.
Google can find generic product descriptions and technical explanations all over the web. Reddit is useful because its users argue about whether a product is actually good, describe unusual problems and update old advice. Those conversations answer queries for which polished corporate pages are nearly useless. Reddit can reasonably demand more money or limits on how that material appears in Google's AI products.
brett-jordan-0FytazjHhxs-unsplash
Walking away would carry a cost beyond the licensing check. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), through Google Search, also sends people to Reddit, where their visits can be turned into advertising revenue. If an AI answer already quotes the useful part of a discussion, however, that referral relationship becomes less valuable. Reddit is effectively being asked to keep supplying an input that may reduce the traffic Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) sends back.
The $60 million payment is not large enough to make the decision on its own. Reddit generated $663 million of revenue in the first quarter, of which $625 million came from advertising and $39 million from other sources, including data licensing. Google would lose a frequently updated source of human answers. Reddit would find out how many users seek it out and how many arrive only because Google placed a link in front of them.

#reddit #licensing #NASDAQ #googl

Eni (E:NYSE) is raising its share buyback program for the year after reporting on Wednesday consensus-beating earnings for the second quarter on the back of higher oil and gas prices and a jump in upstream production.
The Italian energy major booked an adjusted net profit of $2.65 billion (2.33 billion euros) for the second quarter, more than doubled from $1.29 billion (1.13 billion euros) for the same period last year, and higher than a company-provided consensus estimate of $2.4 billion (2.09 billion euros).
Eni attributed the profit jump to higher oil and gas realizations in a "supportive pricing environment," as well as to growth in volumes and cost management.
The exploration and production (E&P) division reported pro forma adjusted EBIT soaring by 42% from the first quarter of 2026 and by 97% from the second quarter of 2025, driven by favorable volume and mix effects, cost discipline, and better oil realizations, Eni said.
Eni's average realized price of liquids jumped by 54% from a year earlier to $96.50 per barrel for the second quarter of 2026.

#year #higher

Results from LCD's H1 2026 European leveraged finance survey point to a market that expects broad stability in credit fundamentals, even as sentiment remains fractured on the macro risks most likely to shape performance over the next six months.
Survey highlights:
Leveraged loans expected to outperform high yield in H2 2026.
After a sharp rise in the ELLI distress ratio, respondents see conditions stabilising.
European loan index predicted to outperform its US counterpart.

#results #elli #finance

HOOD fell 4% and BULL dropped 6% on no company-specific news. Profit-taking hit both stocks after gains of between 10% and 12% last month.
QQQ slipped just 1% intraday while HOOD and BULL swung several times harder, revealing a textbook high-beta amplification of broad tech weakness.
Bitcoin holding above $63,000 this weekend is the key near-term trigger, since crypto revenue remains a direct pressure point for both brokerages.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Robinhood didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD) stock is down 4% to $102 in Friday's midday session, while Webull (NASDAQ:BULL) shares have slid 6% to approximately $7. Retail-brokerage names are getting hit as the tape turns risk-off.

Magellan Investment Partners, an Australian investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for "Magellan Global Opportunities Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund invests in companies with sustainable competitive advantages that generate returns exceeding their cost of capital over time. In Q2, the global stock market rose 13.8%, reversing the stagflation narrative, with energy prices declining after US–Iran tensions eased. Focus shifted to chip stocks and data centre beneficiaries. Regionally, markets' performance reflected the tech rebound and energy decline. Macro backdrop improved in the quarter with relief from avoiding a severe energy shock, though growth and inflation concerns kept central banks cautious. The portfolio gained 4.3% in the quarter, lagging the 12.5% benchmark rise, driven by bubble-like conditions in semiconductors and data centre supply chains. For insights into their key selections for 2026, please review the Strategy's top five holdings.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Magellan Global Opportunities Fund highlighted Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) as a top contributor to performance. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is the world's leading contract chip manufacturer, producing advanced semiconductors for major global technology companies. On July 15, 2026, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) closed at $419.48 per share. One-month return of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) was -9.23%, and its shares gained 70.80% over the past 52 weeks. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) has a market capitalization of $2.18 trillion.
Magellan Global Opportunities Fund stated the following regarding Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"The largest contributors to the portfolio's performance over the quarter were Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM), UnitedHealth Group and Adidas. TSMC is a beneficiary of both AI chip investment and the data centre expansion cycle. In response to strong AI chip demand, TSMC raised its 5-year revenue growth CAGR by 5 points to 25% pa. While the growth will be supported by a large step up in FY26 capex (benefiting semi cap vendors like ASML), TSMC also raised its long-term gross margin guidance, signalling confidence in its ability to drive productivity, cost efficiencies and pricing power."

When Apple sued OpenAI on July 10 for allegedly stealing its hardware secrets, it handed Elon Musk a fresh reason to go after Sam Altman — and this time the two billionaires' feud is playing out over companies that everyday investors can now actually own.
Musk, an OpenAI co-founder-turned-rival who runs the newly public ***** eX and its xAI unit, pounced almost immediately. He resurfaced a post branding Altman "Scam Altman" (1) and added that Altman takes scamming to a whole new level. In a separate jab tied to Apple's complaint, Musk accused Altman of graduating from "stealing an open source AI charity" (2) to trying to steal all of Apple's phone technology.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going