BUSINESS

Another excellent episode of House of the Dragon Season 3 gives us a glimpse at the true nature of Ormund Hightower, the show’s most compelling new villain.

In the last week, not one but two ENHYPEN members have spoken up about the new lineup, and made the message crystal clear: ENHYPEN is six.

For many Americans, the dream of stepping away from the workforce early is complicated by today’s challenging economy. As everyday citizens grapple with tight personal finances and a demanding cost of living, the transition into early retirement requires a precise financial roadmap. The stakes are particularly high during the critical bridge period between leaving a job and reaching age 65, the milestone where Medicare eligibility finally kicks in.Bestselling personal finance author Dave Ramsey and financial powerhouse Fidelity Investments alert Americans to key strategies for managing this gap.While the average age of retirement currently sits at 65 for men and 63 for women, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, this leaves millions of Americans of both genders retiring before 65. So retirees routinely face a multi-year gap where they must fund private health insurance premiums and daily living expenses entirely out of pocket. Mishandling this window can expose savers to steep tax penalties on premature 401(k) and IRA withdrawals, potentially jeopardizing decades of disciplined saving. But there are ways to avoid these.”If you turn 55 (or older) during the calendar year you lose or leave your job, you can begin taking distributions from your 401(k) without paying the early withdrawal penalty,” wrote financial services company Charles Schwab.Ramsey and Fidelity explain the importance of planning for this specific period, ensuring that early retirement remains financially viable and serving as a key component in safeguarding your long-term goals and achieving your retirement dreams.Dave Ramsey shares strategies for bridging Medicare gapRamsey emphasizes that managing the health care gap between early retirement and Medicare eligibility is achievable.”If you don’t have a job, you can still get health insurance,” Ramsey wrote. “You can go through the marketplace (healthcare.gov). You could also look into joining a spouse’s plan.””If you recently left your job, check out COBRA health insurance,” he added. “COBRA allows you to keep your previous employer’s health coverage for up to 36 months. But it’s usually more expensive since your employer won’t be paying part or all of the premium anymore.””COBRA gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor.During one’s working years, contributing to a Health Savings Account (HSA) can provide the financial resources for health care during the gap before Medicare eligibility. Using an HSA takes advantage of its triple tax benefit, as the money goes in tax-free, grows tax-free through investments, and comes out tax-free.”In most cases, your HSA acts like a savings account at first and earns interest the same way a normal savings account does,” Ramsey wrote. “Other Health Savings Accounts let you invest the money in mutual funds right away — just like an IRA. Some providers require a minimum balance before you can start investing your HSA funds, so do your research ahead of time.””Investing your HSA funds and letting that money grow over the long haul can help you start building up enough savings to cover medical expenses during your retirement years.”Fidelity explains 401(k) withdrawals for health insuranceYou can also use private insurance for a bridge policy by looking to local health insurance agents or professional associations that offer health care plans from multiple carriers.”You may have more plan options available to you through these outlets than the public marketplace, but government-funded premium tax credits cannot be applied to these plans,” Fidelity wrote. “These plans can be found through insurance companies, agents, brokers, and online health insurance sellers.”More on personal finance:Charles Schwab, Fidelity alert workers to forced 401(k) ruleDave Ramsey warns Americans on 401(k)s, IRAs (he’s not wrong)Congress research arm warns Americans on 401(k), IRA penaltyBut these health care expenses must be paid for. For those who have retired early, one major option is withdrawing money from 401(k)s and IRAs.”Taking out money before age 59-and-a-half may trigger a 10% early withdrawal penalty, on top of income taxes,” Fidelity wrote. “However, if you wait to withdraw until after age 59½, your withdrawals will be penalty-free.”Before age 59-and-a-half, there are some other options for accessing your 401(k) money.Qualified early withdrawals bypass the 10% IRS penalty for specific situations, such as birth costs, disaster recovery, or medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of adjusted gross income. While the penalty is waived, ordinary income taxes still apply, permanently reducing future investment growth.Hardship withdrawals address immediate, heavy financial needs such as facing eviction or paying college tuition. While plans certify these emergency distributions, they generally do not exempt savers from the 10% penalty, permanently shrinking long-term retirement assets.”An employee who receives a distribution from a qualified plan after separation from service is not subject to the 10% additional tax on early distributions if the distribution occurs in the year of turning 55 or older,” according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).Fidelity explains this further.”If you have a 401(k) and leave your employer for any reason — whether you quit or lose your job — in the year you turn age 55, the Rule of 55 allows you to access that money without incurring the 10% early withdrawal penalty,” Fidelity wrote. “Keep in mind that the Rule of 55 applies only to workplace retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, and doesn’t apply to IRAs.”Fidelity clarifies IRA withdrawal rulesIf you have an IRA account, you can also withdraw money from it to cover health care expenses in the gap before Medicare eligibiity.”‘Normal’ IRA withdrawals (an IRS term) start at age 59½, when you no longer pay early-withdrawal penalties,” Fidelity explained.Before age 59½, the IRS classifies distributions from an IRA as early withdrawals, which typically trigger a 10% tax penalty alongside standard state and federal income taxes. However, savers can avoid this 10% penalty if their withdrawal qualifies under specific IRS exceptions, according to Fidelity. The most common exclusions allow penalty-free distributions for qualified higher education expenses, a first-time home purchase up to $10,000, or birth and adoption costs capped at $5,000. Additionally, exceptions are granted to individuals facing a death, permanent disability, or terminal illness, as well as those needing to cover specific out-of-pocket medical expenses or fund health insurance premiums while navigating a period of unemployment.

Dave Ramsey and Fidelity Investments alert Americans to health care costs during the period between early retirement and Medicare eligibility at age 65.Shutterstock

Real-world health care costs before Medicare eligibilityTo provide real-world examples of how withdrawals from 401(k)s and IRAs can be encountered and managed, I ran calculations for three scenarios based on a monthly premium of $1,400, which sits near the typical range for private individual coverage within this age bracket.Taxes in the case of traditional 401(k) and traditional IRA withdrawals are excluded from final totals in this exercise because actual tax brackets vary wildly based on a saver’s unique filing status, deductions, and total retirement revenue. In cases where Roth accounts are utilized instead, the qualified withdrawals would be tax-free anyway.In the first scenario, a worker exits the labor force at age 55, facing a ten-year gap before Medicare eligibility. Because they left their employer during the year they turned 55, they utilize the Rule of 55 to pull directly from their traditional workplace 401(k). This strategy allows them to successfully avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty. With a fixed premium of $1,400 per month, coverage costs $16,800 annually. Over the full ten-year gap period, the total cost for these health insurance premiums amounts to $168,000.In the second scenario, an individual also retires at age 55 but funds their bridge coverage using an IRA. Because the Rule of 55 does not apply to IRAs, and IRA withdrawals before age 59-and-a-half incur a 10% penalty, each year’s $16,800 withdrawal triggers an additional $1,680 penalty. Over the first four-and-a-half years, this results in a subtotal of $83,160.For the remaining five-and-a-half years until age 65, the penalty drops off, leaving a baseline annual cost of $16,800 and a subtotal of $92,400.Across the full ten-year gap, the combined cost of premiums and penalties totals $175,560.In the third scenario, an individual retires at the average age of 63, facing a two-year gap before Medicare eligibility. Because they have passed the age 59-and-a-half threshold, their traditional IRA distributions are classified as normal, meaning they entirely avoid the 10% penalty while remaining subject to ordinary income tax. Based on the same baseline premium of $1,400 per month, annual coverage costs $16,800. Over the two-year gap, the baseline cost for the health insurance premiums alone reaches a total cost of $33,600.(Source:Jeffrey Quiggle, TheStreet)As the scenarios I chose for this excercise demonstrate, retiring before Medicare means you may need to pull thousands of dollars a year from your 401(k) or IRA just to cover health insurance, and the cost climbs even higher if those withdrawals trigger early‑distribution penalties. How you withdraw — whether through a 401(k) using the Rule of 55 or an IRA subject to penalties — can change your total costs by many thousands of dollars over the gap years.Note: This piece of financial journalism is for educational purposes only and not for formal tax or investment advice.Related: Charles Schwab, Fidelity alert workers to forced 401(k) rule

The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto sent an honest message about the Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealAs someone who is all too familiar with foot pain, a comfortable pair of sneakers is non-negotiable. I’ve had my fair share of Hokas and Brooks shoes, but I recently added a few slip-in Skechers to my rotation of pain-free shoes that provide comfort and support, and now I’m hooked. Luckily, there are similar Skechers on sale at Amazon, and one shopper said they “feel like walking on a cloud.”The Skechers Max Cushioning Elite 2.0 Eternal Slip-ins Sneakers are on sale for as low as $74. Originally $125 in select colors, they’re currently up to 41% off. You can easily spend over $150 on supportive shoes from other brands, so this is quite the deal.Skechers Max Cushioning Elite 2.0 Eternal Slip-ins Sneakers, From $74 (was $125) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?These Skechers are packed with features that give them “incredible support and all-day comfort.” The maximum cushioning technology includes an Ultra Go cushioning platform and Air-Cooled Memory Foam insole that, combined, create a cloud-like effect that shoppers can’t get enough of. With Natural Rocker Technology and the Heel Pillow, you get a smooth and secure transition with each step. They’re made with vegan materials, including a copper-infused footbed lining and flexible traction outsole.The slip-on design makes it easy to take them on and off. Not only is it great for those who have back pain when bending over, but it’s also convenient, so you don’t have to worry about tying and untying your laces every time you have to put on or take off your shoes. In addition to the comfort of Skechers, the slip-on aspect was one of the big reasons I turned to the brand for my latest pair of shoes. The shoes are also machine washable, making them easy to clean and maintain. The shoes are available in women’s sizes 5 to 11 in both standard and wide widths, and they come in seven colors, with availability varying based on size.Related: Walmart’s bestselling retro Skechers sneakers are 52% offDetails to knowSizes: From women’s 5 to 11.Widths: Standard and wide.Colors: Seven, with availability dependent on size.”The cushioning feels substantial without being overly soft, and the structure provides the stability I need to stay comfortable throughout the day,” a shopper said. “They truly are easy slip-ons — no bending, tugging, or hassle — which is a huge plus. Once on, they feel secure and supportive without rubbing or pinching. I also appreciate that they’re stylish enough to wear casually without looking like a ‘medical’ shoe.” They added that their podiatrist recommended it, and they’ve become one of their new favorite shoes.Many reviewers highlighted how helpful they were for foot pain, too. A customer liked them so much that they bought one for indoor use and one for outdoor use, sharing that when they wear them, “the foot pain is gone, even if I’ve been on my feet all day.”Shop more dealsSkechers Max Cushioning Endeavour Canova Running Shoes, $49 (was $84) at AmazonSkechers Go Walk Flex Slip-ins-Grand Entry Sneakers, $68 at AmazonSkechers D’Lites Fresh Start Memory Foam Lace-up Sneakers, $56 (was $78) at AmazonThe Skechers Max Cushioning Elite 2.0 Eternal Slip-ins Sneakers are on sale for up to 41% off. At just $74, they’re quite the steal for pain-reducing and cloud-like yet supportive shoes.

Carmakers love to talk about the future. What they actually build in their factories, quarter after quarter, tells you what they really believe.Toyota (TM) has spent a generation proving that point. It sold the world on the hybrid with the Prius, turned that idea into an empire, and grew into the planet’s best-selling automaker without leaning much on pure electric cars. Its chairman, Akio Toyoda, has spent years warning that battery power would never take over the road the way its boosters promised.Then came the pivot almost everyone said Toyota could not make. The company revamped its bZ electric crossover, added the C-HR, opened a new battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina, and revealed a new Highlander that dropped the gas and hybrid engines the nameplate had carried for a quarter century. It showed the electric version off at the New York International Auto Show in April as its first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) assembled in America.That is where the story gets complicated. In July, Toyota delayed production of that electric Highlander, its first three-row EV built for American buyers, and said it would keep building the gas and hybrid version instead.

Toyota just delayed its first three-row electric SUV built in America.Tramino / Getty Images

What Toyota said about the Highlander delayToyota confirmed that production of the 2027 Highlander EV has slipped, and the reason it gave was housekeeping. The delay comes as Toyota is making “additional adjustments to the vehicle prior to launch,” according to Cars.com, which first reported a company spokesperson’s confirmation.The automaker had planned to start selling the electric Highlander late this year. It has not set a new date.More Automotive:BMW’s new SUV is built for an uncertain futureThe U.S. may never sell 17.6 million cars againBofA sees Ford chasing a market far bigger than EVsIn the meantime, the current gas and hybrid Highlander will keep rolling off the line through December, reported Electrek. When I read that official explanation, the timing stood out to me. The extra months will let Toyota keep selling its higher-margin gas and hybrid version, which several outlets flagged as the more likely motive than last-minute polish.None of that stops the electric project. Toyota is building the Highlander EV at its Georgetown, Kentucky, plant, which employs about 10,000 people, and sourcing batteries from a new $13.9 billion factory in North Carolina. The delay does not undo that investment. It just changes what rolls out of Kentucky first.The timing is the real puzzle. Toyota is finally selling EVs that buyers want, which makes pausing its next one a curious move, according to Electrek.Related: Toyota’s global dominance faces new testHow Toyota’s EV sales tell the real storyHere is the part that makes the delay make sense. When I looked at Toyota’s US numbers through June, the split was hard to argue with.The automaker sold more than 100,000 Highlanders and Grand Highlanders in the United States through June, against roughly 22,000 fully electric vehicles across its entire lineup, based on the company’s own sales report. The gas and hybrid three-row SUVs are the profit engine. The electric one is still the promise.The contrast runs through the whole lineup. Toyota says it will soon offer 22 models with electrified powertrains, and most of them are hybrids rather than pure EVs. Its doubts start at the top. Toyoda has forecast that battery EVs will top out near 30% of the global market “no matter how much progress” they make, according to Fortune. This year he told the British site Carwow that he feels “very alone” in defending the combustion engine, reported Motor1.My read, after tracking these signals, is that Toyota is running two strategies at once:Toyota made the next Highlander electric-only, then delayed its launch, according to Cars.com.Chairman Akio Toyoda still pegs battery EVs at a 30% global ceiling, according to Fortune.The revamped bZ has cleared more than 17,500 US sales this year, outpacing the Chevrolet Equinox EV from General Motors (GM), reported Electrek.Toyota moved over 100,000 three-row Highlanders in the US through June, versus about 22,000 EVs, based on its sales report.What the delay means for EV buyersFor shoppers, the wait has a price. The electric Highlander was expected to start around $50,000, which would slot it under the three-row EVs already on sale, reported Electrek.Tesla’s (TSLA) new Model Y L starts at $61,990, the Kia EV9 at $54,900, and the Hyundai Ioniq 9 at $58,955. Buyers cross-shopping those models now face a choice. They can wait on a Toyota with no firm on-sale date, or buy a rival sitting on the lot today.On paper, the Toyota is worth waiting for. It targets up to 320 miles of range and a 10% to 80% charge in about 30 minutes, uses the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, and can power tools or a home through vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology, a first for a Toyota sold in the US, according to Electrek and Toyota.For a family shopping right now, the takeaway is plain. A three-row Toyota EV is coming, but not on a timeline you can plan a purchase around, so a rival on the lot or the current gas Highlander may be the nearer-term answer.The segment itself is not the problem. Kia EV9 sales rose 42% through June, and Hyundai Ioniq 9 sales jumped 380%, Electrek reported. That is what makes the delay sting. Three-row electric SUVs are one of the few EV categories where buyer demand is clearly climbing.What Toyota’s next move signalsThe open question is whether the electric Highlander shows up in late 2026, in 2027, or quietly slides further down the calendar.Its electric cousins are riding on the same hardware. The Lexus TZ and the Subaru Getaway share the Highlander’s platform, so a slip here could ripple across three brands, Electrek noted. If the delay stretches deep into 2027, it risks leaving Toyota further behind in a crowded segment. Toyota has been the world’s best-selling automaker for six straight years, and it got there on hybrids, not EVs, according to Motor1.Toyota has bet real money on going electric. It built the factory, opened the battery plant, and turned its family SUV into a BEV. For now, though, it is holding the gas pump open with one hand while it finishes wiring the future with the other. Which hand it trusts more is the thing worth watching.Related: Toyota is spending $3.6B to undo a move from 5 years ago

CNN may be best known for breaking news, but it’s also built a prolific documentary unit, producing 150+ seasons of original series plus award-winning films and shorts.

The South Carolina senator’s office said the 71-year-old died after a “brief and sudden illness.”

Oil prices rose and U.S. stock-index futures slipped on Sunday, after the U.S. and Iran continued their tit-for-tat attacks around the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend.

Wall Street has spent most of 2026 losing patience with Mattel (MAT), and Goldman Sachs just made that clear.The firm downgraded the toy giant to its lowest rating and set a price target below where the stock currently trades. For the company behind Barbie and Hot Wheels, this is a tough verdict.The call lands at a noteworthy moment. Mattel shares are already trading close to their weakest level in years.Therefore, a fresh warning from Goldman Sachs carries more weight for anyone still holding the stock.What Goldman Sachs said in its Mattel downgradeOn July 9, Goldman Sachs cut Mattel to sellfromneutral and lowered its 12-month price target to $12 from $15, Investing.com reported.A sell rating from a bank of Goldman’s size is rare, and it tells investors the firm sees more room to fall than to rise from here.Analyst Stephen Laszczyk called Mattel a hard company to run over the next six to 12 months, with more moving parts than most.

Mattel’s core brands still sell, but Wall Street wants proof that its newer bets can pay off.JHVEPhoto / Getty Images

Why Goldman soured on MattelThe change in rating did not come abruptly. Goldman’s view of Mattel has cooled in stages all year.The bank held a buy rating with a $21 target into early 2026, then Goldman downgraded the stock to neutral in January, Investing.com reported. Goldman warned that tariffs and softer toy demand could weigh on results.Three problems Goldman flaggedWeak payoff from media bets. The muted response to Mattel’s Masters of the Universe content and its companion video game raised doubts about the return on its entertainment push.Hard-to-execute new ventures. Goldman is skeptical Mattel can smoothly scale trading cards, high-end collectibles, and digital games all at once.Costly market defense. A shaky consumer backdrop and aggressive pricing across the toy industry make it more expensive to protect market share.Goldman also reset how it values the stock, moving to 8 times its 2027 earnings estimate from 10 times, Barron’s noted.That shift matters. Goldman is now pricing Mattel like a slow-growth consumer products company rather than a premium entertainment name.This limits how much investors may be willing to pay.How Mattel stock is holding up against the pressureMattel shares slipped about 1.7% in premarket trading after the note, adding to a decline of 35% to 39% over the past six months.The stock now hovers near $13, just above a 52-week low of $12.73, so Goldman’s $12 target implies only a single-digit additional decrease from here.Related: Netflix has a stunning milestone in sight for 2027There is a real tension surrounding the situation. Mattel actually beat expectations in the first quarter, posting revenue of about $862 million against forecasts near $809 million, Yahoo Finance reported.Q1 sales rose about 4%, led by vehicles and newer categories, though tariffs and currency cut into margins. However, Goldman’s concern is less about current sales and more about whether thenext phase of growth shows up on time.Activist pressure adds another layer for Mattel investorsGoldman is not the only party pushing Mattel. Southeastern Asset Management has argued that the company would be better off sold to a private equity firm, rival, or media company, according to Reuters.More Retail Stocks:Hasbro just made a bold move with a beloved classicBank of America lifts target on viral appliance stock after Prime Day173-year-old denim giant sees one fashion trend surge 70 percentFor investors, that leaves two competing views. Goldman sees a company that could stumble. Southeastern sees one worth buying. Either way, the second half of 2026 is when Mattel has to show which side is right.What would have to change for Mattel stock to recoverGoldman did not rule out a turnaround. It named clear signs that could bring Mattel back to a more positive view.Three things Goldman wants to seeBarbie getting back on track, with the flagship brand returning to steady, predictable revenue growth.Real proof points, meaning hard financial evidence that its investments in new categories are working.Stronger content revenue, with television and film licensing deals delivering more than expected.This also serves as a watchlist for investors.If Mattel’s next few quarters show Barbie growing steadily and its new bets paying off, the bearish case weakens. If not, Goldman’s caution looks well placed.None of this is a recommendation to buy or sell. Stocks at multi-year lows can still drop or suddenly bounce, so investors should trade based on risk tolerance.Related: Paramount’s Warner deal has a new $650 million problem