Latest news with #LarryFink
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Do you rely on your monthly Social Security check to get by?
Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Many Americans are heavily reliant — even solely reliant — on their Social Security benefit to get by in retirement. More than half of non-retired Americans (53%) expect to rely on their benefit to 'pay their necessary expenses once they retire,' according to a survey from Bankrate. This includes 28% of Americans who expect to be 'very reliant.' Of those already retired, 77% say they rely on Social Security for necessary expenses. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) President Trump has promised to protect Social Security, but has also floated the idea of cutting taxes on Social Security benefits. This means baby boomers could get a bump in the short term, but experts predict this could speed up its insolvency. So, no matter what happens (or doesn't happen), it may be a good time to take control of the reins for your retirement. Here are three money moves you can consider that will possibly provide more financial stability in retirement and reduce your reliance on Social Security. Some financial experts, like founder of Financial Samurai Sam Dogen, say you should aim to max out your tax-advantaged retirement vehicles. 'Hopefully, it's something that becomes automatic, and you're not going to touch it until you're 59½,' he said to CNBC. This will help you set yourself up for a comfortable retirement. However, as Dave Ramsey's Ramsey Solutions points out, you should avoid doing this if you're still getting out of debt, don't have money saved for emergencies or are saving up for other financial goals. Only 15% of private sector workers had access to a defined benefit retirement plan as of 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 67% have access to a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k). For those who don't have access to either, there are other options available to help you save. For example, an individual retirement account (IRA) is a tax-advantaged savings account that can help you save for retirement. With a traditional IRA, contributions are tax-deductible; you pay taxes upon withdrawal – ideally when you're in a lower tax bracket. With a Roth IRA, you pay the taxes upfront, but investment growth and withdrawals are tax-free once you reach age 59½. For 2025, the contribution limit is capped at $7,000 (or, if you're 50+, at $8,000), and you have until Tax Day in April to top it up. Priority Gold is an industry leader in precious metals, offering physical delivery of gold and silver. Plus, they have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating from Trust Link. If you'd like to convert an existing IRA into a gold IRA, Priority Gold offers 100% free rollover, as well as free shipping, and free storage for up to five years. Qualifying purchases will also receive up to $10,000 in free silver. To learn more about how Priority Gold can help you reduce inflation's impact on your nest egg, download their free 2025 gold investor bundle. In 2017, the Trump Administration passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). While this law is complex, it essentially provided for a number of tax breaks and deductions, many of which are scheduled to sunset in 2025. However, President Trump has said he plans to extend these tax cuts. In the meantime, it may make sense for you to convert a tax-deferred retirement account into a Roth IRA if you expect the tax rate on the converted amount to be higher in the future. 'One reason to consider a Roth conversion this year or next: Without further action from Congress, tax rates are set to rise with the sunsetting of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act at the end of 2025,' according to Fidelity. 'Although the new administration and many Congressional Republicans support an extension of the current lower tax rates, record debt and deficits could complicate a full extension.' 'In the meantime, a Roth conversion at current lower rates could reduce taxes on the conversion, and allow for qualified distributions in retirement that are tax-free.' This should be done over time so you don't end up getting bumped into a higher tax bracket. Whether this strategy is right for you depends on your financial situation, so it's worth talking to a financial advisor about your options for capitalizing on lower taxes. With Vanguard, you can connect with a personal advisor who can help assess how you're doing so far and make sure you've got the right portfolio to meet your goals on time. Vanguard's hybrid advisory system combines advice from professional advisers and automated portfolio management to make sure your investments are working to achieve your financial goals. All you have to do is fill out a brief questionnaire about your financial goals, and Vanguard's advisers will help you set a tailored plan, and stick to it. Once you're set, you can sit back as Vanguard's advisors manage your portfolio. Because they're fiduciaries, they don't earn commissions, so you can trust that the advice you're getting is unbiased. Read more: You're probably already overpaying for this 1 'must-have' expense — and thanks to Trump's tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here's how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now Even with Medicare, retired Americans can expect to spend a chunk of money on healthcare throughout their golden years. Medicare doesn't cover premiums or deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs, nor does it cover long-term care. For example, a 65-year-old retiring in 2024 can expect to spend an average of $165,000 in health care and medical expenses throughout retirement, according to Fidelity's annual Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate. Unfortunately, Fidelity research found the average American estimates these costs will be about $75,000 — less than half the amount it calculated. If you're relying on Social Security to get by, unexpected medical costs could leave you stretched thin. One way to save for these additional costs in retirement is to enroll in an eligible High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and open a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA has three big tax benefits: contributions are tax-deductible, the money can be spent tax-free for qualifying healthcare expenses and any investment growth in your account is tax-free. You cannot contribute to your HSA once you enroll in Medicare at age 65, so you may want to max out contributions to your HSA until then. 'While your HSA can't pay your premiums, it exists as an emergency fund for health care, and maxing it out can leave you better prepared for large out-of-pocket medical bills,' says Experian author Emily Starbuck Gerson. 'There is a risk of saving more than you need, and later wanting that money for other purposes. You can't withdraw that money penalty-free until after age 65, and even then, you'll still owe taxes on non-qualified expenses.' Many people combine the benefits of an HSA with a traditional health insurance policy to manage their health care expenses. Access to this $22.5 trillion asset class has traditionally been limited to elite investors — until now. Here's how to become the landlord of Walmart or Whole Foods without lifting a finger Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Are you rich enough to join the top 1%? Here's the net worth you need to rank among America's wealthiest — plus a few strategies to build that first-class portfolio This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
12 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
5 Investors Betting Big on Nvidia Stock After Q1
Nvidia's (NVDA) gravity-defying rally has caused institutional giants to pile into the stock even more, or risk underrepresenting the world's second-largest company by market capitalization. Q1 2025 13-F filings have shown that five firms control nearly 6.6 billion shares combined, which is about 27.2% of the outstanding float. Their buying is largely the result of index‑fund mechanics, yet it still concentrates ever more voting power in a handful of asset managers. Let's take a look at what each holder did in Q1 and why that matters for anyone weighing a fresh entry in the stock. #1: Vanguard Group Vanguard remained Nvidia's single-largest shareholder with 2.19 billion shares. Its position it up 0.6% from the prior quarter and constitutes 8.99% of the float, as calculated by WhaleWisdom. More than 80% of Vanguard's equity assets sit in index or index‑adjacent products, so Vanguard is required to add Nvidia whenever the chipmaker's weight rises inside the S&P 500 Index ($SPX), Nasdaq‑100 Index ($IUXX), or related sector benchmarks. The passive structure leaves little room for discretionary trimming, which means Vanguard's exposure will keep climbing as long as the stock outperforms. #2: BlackRock BlackRock (BLK) increased its stake to 1.9 billion shares, or about 7.79% of Nvidia. A good chunk of that is from iShares. That figure actually still understates BlackRock's reach because it excludes synthetic exposure through derivatives and factor funds. Larry Fink has previously said that infrastructure, including data center infrastructure, is critical to global economic growth. BlackRock also announced a fund in partnership with Nvidia to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure. That said, do keep in mind that most of BlackRock's buying is flow‑driven, not conviction‑driven. If AI enthusiasm cools and ETF inflows reverse, BlackRock could become a large‑scale seller without ever making an active decision. #3: Fidelity Management & Research Unlike Vanguard and BlackRock, Fidelity still runs sizable active mutual funds. FMR has been trimming its positions in recent quarters, whereas others have been adding. FMR's average cost basis sits far below today's price at $2.46, so the group has considerable unrealized gains. Its current position is just over 1 billion shares, down 2 million from Q4 2025. It currently holds 4.11% of the float. Active ownership can turn into selling pressure faster than index ownership, though Fidelity has historically trimmed winners gradually rather than exiting abruptly. It only trimmed its position by 0.24% in Q1. It still holds over a billion shares. #4: State Street Global Advisors State Street's SPDR ETFs pushed the firm's holdings to about 968 million shares, or 3.97% of Nvidia. Its Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) both saw Nvidia jump to record weights after the stock's split. It forced bulk purchases to rebalance at quarter‑end. Investors should note that its holdings of NVDA only grew by 0.08% in Q1. #5: Geode Capital Management Geode is a spinoff that manages Fidelity's index funds. It disclosed 571 million shares, or about 2.34% of NVDA. Geode keeps a low profile because it serves mainly as an in‑house sub‑advisor. Its Nvidia position grew by 15.1 million shares in Q1. Any investor buying a Fidelity index product is, in effect, adding to Geode's Nvidia stack.
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
Meet man who is 'richer' than Musk, Mukesh Ambani, 'owns' half of the US, set to start business in India with..., name is...
Meet man who is 'richer' than Musk, Mukesh Ambani, 'owns' half of the US, set to start business in India with..., name is... Larry Fink is the CEO of BlackRock, the world's largest asset management company. The financial firm has assets of more than USD 11 trillion, which is less than half of the GDP of the United States – USD 30 trillion. Now, the company is eyeing starting a business in India. BlackRock is going to start the mutual fund business in India in collaboration with Mukesh Ambani's company, Jio Financial Services Limited. Notably, the financial firm's status can be estimated from the fact that, by January this year, it had assets worth USD 11.6 trillion, which is double or even triple the GDP of many countries. Who is Larry Fink Larry Fink is the individual responsible for overseeing the entire asset management business at BlackRock. He is the chairman and CEO of this global investment firm. Fink and his firm have investments in several companies of many countries across the world, having a strong hold on the entire global stock market. Although Larry Fink manages a tremendous sum of money, he isn't considered a billionaire in the traditional sense. This is because his wealth is primarily derived from managing public investments entrusted to BlackRock through mutual funds and other market-based vehicles, rather than personal ownership. The article explains the nature of his asset management business and his role within it. The Asset Management Business Asset Management Companies, also known as AMCs, are financial firms that are active in many financial businesses, such as mutual funds and investments. However, in the mutual fund business clients of these firms invest money for better returns. Since BlackRock is the world's largest asset management firm, its name holds a lot of significance for stock markets around the world. Larry Fink Started Out With 7 Friends Lawrence Fink and seven partners founded BlackRock in 1988. Over the subsequent 37 years, under Fink's leadership, it grew into the world's largest asset management firm, holding investments in numerous major global corporations, including prominent companies in both the United States and India.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
im-52-my-portfolio-just-hit-2000000-and-i-want-to-spe
Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. The good news is that a $2 million nest egg is not too shabby and can sustain you for the rest of your life as long as you don't spend it irresponsibly. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Gen X — people between the ages of 45 and 60 — have an average of $589,4000 saved in their 401(k)s as of the fourth quarter of 2024, according to a Fidelity Investments report. So by this account, you're doing better than most if you have $2 million in retirement savings. But is it enough for you to spend $150,000 a year? Probably not. The life expectancy of Americans is about 77 years, and you'll want to plan for longer than that. There are a number of factors to consider while making the math work for early retirement. The 4% rule is one of the most popular ways to figure out how much you can spend each year in retirement. It says if you withdraw 4% of your balanced portfolio (50% stocks, 50% bonds) in the first year, with subsequent amounts adjusted for inflation, your retirement savings should last you 30 years. But of course, there are no guarantees and some experts have warned retirees about this rule. So if you have a $2 million retirement portfolio, you can withdraw $80,000 the first year. This is a little more than half the $150,000 you're looking to spend a year. You would need a nest egg worth almost $4 million to safely withdraw $150,000 a year, per this rule. Your safe withdrawal rate would be even lower if you considered a longer retirement horizon, like 35 years or 40 years. Talking to an expert can help you figure out exactly how much you can withdraw from your nest egg each year without worrying about your funds running out later. You can match with a vetted financial advisor near you for free with Once you answer a few basic questions about your financial situation and goals, will comb through its database to find a FINRA/SEC-registered advisor best suited to help you. network of financial experts are all fiduciaries, meaning they are required to act in your best interest. Plus, there's no asset minimum to work with an expert on not even a dollar. Upon matching with an advisor, you can set up a free introductory consultation with no obligation to hire to see if they're the right fit. You also need to think about protecting your loved ones. Opting for term life insurance can help you secure your family's financial future in the event the worst comes to pass. Be mindful that life insurance premiums tend to rise as you age. Consider opting for a term life insurance with Ethos and lock in low premium rates now. The process is simple and just takes 10 minutes, and you can get instant coverage for up to $3 million with premiums starting at just $2/day. You don't need to undergo extensive medical exams or blood tests to get approved for life insurance with Ethos. Read more: You're probably already overpaying for this 1 'must-have' expense — and thanks to Trump's tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here's how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now If you decide to retire at 52, you need to be sure you plan out what expenses you will have. A general rule of thumb says you should expect to spend 80% of your pre-retirement income each year if you want to maintain your current lifestyle. You also need to make sure your money is housed in the right types of accounts. When it comes to retirement accounts like IRAs and employer-sponsored ones like 401(k)s, you'll face penalties if you make withdrawals before you reach 59 ½ years old. According to the IRS, you'll need to pay an additional 10% in taxes on top of what you'll need to pay on the amount you withdraw. If you plan to retire early, consider having roughly 12 months' worth of expenses in cash as a buffer in case of emergencies. This way, you don't have to worry about the tax implications of withdrawing from your retirement accounts. Where you keep this emergency fund is crucial. Choose a high-yield account so that your cash can continue to make money for you. Retiring early also means that you need to make sure your nest egg can last much longer than if you retired later. See if there are ways to cut back or eliminate wishlist items like boats or a vacation property.. Fixed expenses like monthly insurance premiums might also take a big chunk of your budget. Plus, with rising home and car insurance premiums, it might be challenging to account for the rising costs of insuring your assets on a fixed income. Between 2021 and 2024, homeowners' insurance rates rose by 24%. On the other hand, car insurance premiums are expected to rise 60% faster in 2025 than last year due to the impact of tariffs. Shopping around and comparing rates from different insurance providers can help you lower your monthly bill significantly. lets you compare insurance rates and features offered by reputable providers near you for free. All you have to do is answer a few basic questions about your finances, driving history and the type of vehicle you want to will then comb through its database of hundreds to help you find the lowest rate possible. Get started for free and find rates as low as $29 per month. You can also save an average of $482 per year by shopping around for home insurance quotes from leading providers near you through The best part? The process is completely free, and you can find the lowest rates near you in just under two minutes. Access to this $22.5 trillion asset class has traditionally been limited to elite investors — until now. Here's how to become the landlord of Walmart or Whole Foods without lifting a finger Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Are you rich enough to join the top 1%? Here's the net worth you need to rank among America's wealthiest — plus a few strategies to build that first-class portfolio This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Ethereum's Comeback Story?
The hype is real. Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin (BTC), whose blockchain powers a large chunk of the crypto world, recently rolled out its latest big update called Pectra. Ethereum's Mainstream Moment So, is all the fuss worth paying attention to? Sean Sanders, CFA Charterholder and CEO of Cape Town based alternative investing platform Altify, answers: 'Yes — this could be Ethereum's mainstream moment, similar to how streaming services like Netflix made movies accessible on demand in every home, moving beyond physical rentals or broadcast schedules. This upgrade lays crucial groundwork for Ethereum's future growth and its role in the wider financial world. Using crypto and decentralised applications has felt far too technical for most. Pectra and the other upgrades to come are all about smoothing out those rough edges, making Ethereum much simpler and more powerful for everyone, not just crypto enthusiasts.' To celebrate this milestone, Altify's offering fee-free Ethereum (ETH) investing for the next week. You can invest any amount with zero fees. Be sure to read the Terms & Conditions at the bottom of this article. So, What Does Pectra Actually Do for You? Blockchains are software, so you can think of this like a big operating system update for your phone that makes everything smoother, quicker, and more secure. That's Pectra for Ethereum. It focuses on several key areas to genuinely improve how you use the network, delivering smarter, more intuitive wallets, lower transaction fees for all popular Ethereum apps, and a more powerful backbone for the entire system. Why is This Important? Financial products, like stocks and bonds, and real-world assets (RWAs), like property title deeds or commodities that exist in the physical world can have their ownership rights represented as a digital token on a blockchain. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a major trend for the past few years, the rise of asset tokenisation isn't far behind. The chart below shows how quickly tokenised real-world assets (not including stablecoins — digital tokens that are backed by regular money, often a so-called fiat currency like the US dollar) have grown. They've seen an explosive 85% year-over-year increase, reaching $15.2 billion by December 2024. If you include stablecoins the total tokenised market jumps to over $217.26 billion. Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, one of the world's largest investment firms, has spoken extensively about the future of finance and the role of tokenisation. He believes that 'the next generation for markets, the next generation for securities, will be tokenisation of securities'. He has also stated that 'every stock or bond will be on one general ledger, and every investor will have their own identification'. This vision, shared by millions of industry professionals, exists because tokens digitise and automate processes, reduce costs tied to middlemen, while offering transparency, programmability, and 24/7 transferability. Ethereum is the foundational infrastructure for tokenisation, and that's no accident. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum's blockchain has 'smart contracts.' These are like built-in agreements that let people create, manage, and send all kinds of digital tokens. The more these tokenised assets are created and are transferred on Ethereum, the more useful and valuable the network becomes. This, in turn, boosts the value of Ethereum's own cryptocurrency, called Ether (ETH). Its established infrastructure, widespread developer ecosystem and proven security have made it by far the market leader, commanding $134 billion or 61.75% of the tokenised real-world asset market. It also handles the vast majority of stablecoin volume, making it a significant part of the digital economy. Ethereum is set to play a central role in how traditional finance and real-world assets merge with the digital asset world. The Market is Taking Notice The market has reacted positively since the Pectra upgrade was completed in early May. Over $205 million has been invested into Ethereum's listed investment products. This shows growing confidence in Ethereum's future, particularly from larger institutional investors. They see these upgrades making the network more professional and predictable. However, ether (ETH), Ethereum's native cryptocurrency, hasn't kept pace with Bitcoin in performance. Bitcoin has led the way over the last four years, providing investors a remarkable 170% return, while Ethereum had a 6% drop over the same period. This is all while Bitcoin has experienced minimal technological developments while Ethereum has rolled out numerous upgrades and improvements. Bitcoin vs Ethereum The ratio of Ethereum's price to Bitcoin's price (the ETH/BTC ratio) in the chart below represents the amount of Bitcoin it takes to buy 1 Ether. When the ratio rises, Ether is outperforming Bitcoin – and when it falls, Ether is underperforming. Ethereum's price performance has disappointed with the ETH/BTC ratio reaching near five-year lows before Pectra, but has since seen a notable rebound. Ethereum's Comeback Story? Ethereum's up over 50% over the last month, ahead of Bitcoin and major other cryptocurrencies, suggesting renewed interest in Ethereum's 'catch-up' trade. While Bitcoin has had its moment in the spotlight over the last few years, savvy investors look ahead. Ethereum is well-positioned to keep growing and gain market share in the coming 1, 3, 5, or even 10 years. The stage is set for Ethereum. With foundational upgrades making the network more powerful, the rapid rise of real-world asset tokenisation, and its established dominance in tokenisation and stablecoins, Ethereum has the potential to evolve from a promising technology into the technological backbone of financial markets. Ready to Explore Ethereum? Altify is running a limited time, fee-free promotion on all Ethereum (ETH) investments. All you need to do is sign up and invest in Ethereum with as little as R150. To get started and take advantage of Altify's fee-free offer: Sign Up Download the Altify mobile app (Apple or Android) and verify your account. Fund Your Account Deposit at least R150 via bank transfer. Invest Take advantage of the Altify fee-free promotion and sell out whenever you wish. DM Risk Disclosure Altify SA Capital (Pty) Ltd (FSP 52727) and Altify SA DAS (Pty) Ltd (FSP 53289) are both authorised financial services providers (FSPs). This article is provided solely for informational purposes. The opinions expressed herein do not constitute investment advice or recommendations, nor should they be regarded as such. This document does not represent an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, any of the investments mentioned. Altify operates as a brokerage service facilitating the reception and transmission of crypto asset orders, without providing investment advice or personalised recommendations. While Altify advocates for the broader accessibility of cryptocurrencies, they may not be suitable for every investor. It is important to consider your investment goals, experience level, and seek independent financial advice where necessary. Altify strongly recommends conducting comprehensive research before investing in cryptocurrencies. Investors are solely responsible for their own investment decisions. Considering the high volatility associated with cryptocurrencies, please evaluate your financial circumstances carefully before engaging in transactions. Cryptocurrencies carry a high risk, with potential for both significant gains and losses. Investing in cryptocurrencies may lead to a total loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and returns cannot be guaranteed as cryptocurrency values fluctuate based on market supply and demand. Do not invest more than you can afford to lose and seek professional guidance if you are unsure about the suitability of a cryptocurrency investment for your specific situation.
