BUSINESS

BTS releases the album covers and animated trailer for ‘ARIRANG.’ Everything that the group reveals is all connected: the logo, the themes, symbols, and more.

Nearly 100 countries have reported increased gas prices since the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel.

On March 11th, the founder of beloved beauty brand Camille Rose, Janell Stephens, launched Art of Glam: Honoring the Hands Behind the Beauty, which recognized the beauty architects behind some of the notable talents, films, and television series at The Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, during a buzzy Oscar week.

Meal planning is supposed to save entrepreneurs time and money, and support better energy and focus — but most plans fail because they’re built for ideal weeks instead of real schedules. Here’s how to design a plan that actually holds up.

The challenge began as one class project funded with her late sister’s tip money, and has since grown into a nonprofit.

A survey of 1,001 Gen Z workers reveals the surprising extent of parental involvement in early career decisions, from resumes to workplace visits.

Apple is the second-largest company in the world by market value. It also has one of the largest cash piles among U.S. publicly traded companies, and that makes it attractive portfolio fodder for investors. Earnings and cash on hand enable companies to reward investors with dividends, and Apple is no exception. Here’s a history of Apple’s dividend payments and why it had stopped paying when founder Steve Jobs returned in his second turn as CEO in 1997.Apple dividend quick facts*Yield: 0.40%Payout Ratio: 13.90%Frequency: Quarterly*Based on Apple’s March 12, 2026 stock price, fiscal year 2025 earnings, and 2025 total dividends.How often does Apple pay dividends?Apple pays dividends on a quarterly basis. The first quarterly dividend payment during the regular calendar year is typically made in the middle of February, followed by the middle of May for the second, the middle of August for the third, and the middle of November for the fourth.Related: How many employees does Apple have? A deeper look at the tech giant’s workforceWhen did Apple start paying dividends?Apple made its first dividend payment on June 15, 1987, in the amount of 6 cents per share. It was declared on April 22, 1987, to shareholders of record as of May 15, 1987.However, Apple stopped paying dividends after 1995 because the company posted its first annual loss in its fiscal year 1996, and it was trying to retain cash. Its net loss was $816 million, due to an 11% drop in sales to $9.8 billion from the year earlier. Losses widened to $1 billion in 1997, the year Steve Jobs returned as CEO, but Apple quickly returned to profitability in 1998.When did Apple resume dividend payments?Apple resumed paying dividends in 2012 after growing its cash reserves.After Jobs returned as CEO for a second time in 1997, he focused on building the company’s cash pile but didn’t pay dividends. After Jobs passed in late 2011, Apple resumed paying dividends. It paid a quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share on August 16, 2012. The dividend was large relative to its stock price, and in 2012, the stock price ranged from $354 to $705. Its cash and cash equivalents totaled $10.74 billion in 2012, up significantly from $1.48 billion in 1998 — Jobs’ first full year as CEO.The resumption of dividend payments attracted billionaire investor Warren Buffet — known for investing in companies for their dividends — who bought Apple through Berkshire Hathaway in 2016. As of early 2026, Apple was Berkshire’s biggest stockholding by value. Apple’s cash pile in fiscal 2025 was $35.93 billion, and it paid $1.04 in total dividends per share for the calendar year.More on Apple:Where is Apple’s headquarters? A spaceship-like office with thousands of treesWho owns Apple? Institutional holdings & executives’ sharesSteve Jobs’ net worth: How rich Apple’s founder could have beenIs Apple a dividend aristocrat? Apple isn’t yet a dividend aristocrat, a moniker that is usually applied to a company that has paid dividends for at least 25 consecutive years. Since resuming dividend payments in 2012, it will have to wait until 2037 to be named a dividend aristocrat.The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index has 69 component stocks, including McDonald’s and IBM.Is Apple’s dividend safe? As long as Apple maintains its cash pile and remains profitable, the company is likely to continue paying dividends. In its fiscal year 2025, its cash and cash equivalents amounted to $35.93 billion, and its net income was $112 billion. So, for now, Apple’s dividends seem unlikely to disappear.

Many Americans have been trading down. That’s what some retail leaders, including Walmart and McDonald’s, have talked about.”We drove positive transaction counts and unit volumes, and we’re gaining market share in grocery and general merchandise, including here in the U.S., where we saw strength across income cohorts and especially with higher income households,” former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said during his company’s third-quarter earnings call.McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski noted during his company’s first-quarter earnings call that his chain has seen weakness with lower and middle-income consumers. “Traffic growth from the high-income cohort remains solid, illustrating the divided U.S. economy, where low and middle-income consumers in particular are being weighed down by the cumulative impact of inflation and heightened anxiety about the economic outlook,” he said.Americans are trading down in their shopping and dining choices, and that has contributed to a number of Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings, including a March 6 filing by Hronis, a large producer of fresh fruit and citrus marketed under a number of retail brands. “When the economy goes down, so does the quality of our diets”Fresh and healthy foods generally cost more than those that aren’t as good for you. “Fruits and vegetables appear more expensive than less healthy foods when the price is measured by calories rather than by weight or by amount in an average serving. The price measure has a large effect on which foods are determined more expensive,” the USDA shared.Fresh foods also spoil and don’t last as long as packaged foods.During the Great Recession in 2008, Americans did actually eat less healthy food, according to Nutrition.org.More Bankruptcy:Key auto parts and services company files Chapter 11 bankruptcyKey travel brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcySelf-driving-car company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection”Adults overall ate more refined grains and solid fats, and children increased their intake of added sugar during the recession. The impacts of the downturn were especially pronounced in food-insecure households, where individuals significantly reduced their intake of protein and dark green vegetables while increasing total sugars,” the website shared.Adam Drewnowskiand Nicole Darmon shared a deeper look at that problem in their Journal of Nutrition article Food choices and diet costs: an economic analysis.”Added sugars and added fats are far more affordable than are the recommended ‘healthful’ diets based on lean meats, whole grains, and fresh vegetables and fruit. There is an inverse relationship between energy density of foods (kJ/g) and energy cost ($/MJ), such that energy-dense grains, fats, and sweets represent the lowest-cost dietary options to the consumer,” they wrote.That’s a dangerous recipe for Hronis, which has been selling fresh fruit and citrus since 1945.

Fresh fruit tends to be more expensive than less healthy options.Pixabay

Hronis files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy“On Friday, we voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court because it provides the best path forward for our business. This process preserves our company’s 80-year family legacy, maintains surety of supply for our customers during the 2026 season, and allows us to pursue strategic alternatives,” Hronis Vice President Peter Hronis told Blue Book.The company has the support of its senior lender and plans to continue its operations.California-based fruit grower Hronis, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 6, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California, according to Bankruptcy Observer.The case is being overseen by Judge Rene Lastreto II and was filed under case number 26-10978, added Inforuptcy.Court filings estimate the company’s assets and liabilities each between $50 million and $100 million, according to documents on PacerMonitor.The bankruptcy filing includes Hronis, Inc. and multiple affiliated entities in a multi-debtor Chapter 11 case, according to Elevenflo.com.Peter Hronis tried to paint the move as a positive.”We are moving forward with the upcoming growing season, and customers can depend on the surety of supply from Hronis for the 2026 season. We will produce, pack, and ship grapes as planned,” he said.The family members also tried to make it clear that the plan is to emerge from bankruptcy as a going concern.“I know the word ‘bankruptcy’ can have negative connotations, but in reality, it is often a strategic step companies take to stabilize their businesses and position them for long-term success,” he added. Related: Beloved rum, bourbon, vodka brand files Chapter 7 bankruptcy

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 dealThere are many different ways to enjoy music when you’re on the go. Noise-canceling headphones are great when you want to cut out excess noise, and over-the-ear models provide an immersive experience. When it comes to good sound with the smallest profile, though, earbuds are the way to go. If you want a pair you won’t be worried about losing, check out the Kurdene Wireless Earbuds at Amazon. At just $10, they’re an affordable purchase that will serve you well.While you might think a $10 pair of earbuds wouldn’t have good sound, these seem to be an exception. More than 42,000 shoppers have given these buds a five-star rating, and the reviews are packed with positive things to say. You may be tempted to pick up a pair just to see what all the fuss is about.Kurdene Wireless Earbuds, $10 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?If you’re a fan of deep bass, these earbuds are for you. They have oversized 8 millimeter drivers that make sound rich and crisp, so get ready to feel the boom. The earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3, and connecting to both Apple and Android devices is as simple as opening the case. One limitation is that they can only connect to one device at a time, so you’ll need to swap them out if you want to change them from your laptop to your phone.Much like other earbuds, these respond to touch controls. You can pause the audio and control the sound volume with just a tap. These buds also have much longer battery life than more expensive competitors. One shopper even said these are superior to their $129 Google earbuds, writing, “I’m a dog walker and listen to audiobooks while walking. My Pixel Buds run out of juice in four or five hours. These last eight-10.” You can recharge the buds several times in the case before they need to be recharged, as it has 30 hours of juice.If you want to use these earbuds while playing a game or watching TV, you can do that, too, as they are compatible with the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles. However, it is worth noting that some reviews mention a slight sound delay during gaming, which may be due to these buds using an older version of Bluetooth. Keep it in mind if you intend to use these for that purpose.The pros and cons of $10 wireless earbudsProsLow price: Even budget earbud brands cost double this price.Color options: You can pick from nine colors.Strong reviews: More than 42,000 shoppers have rated these buds five stars.ConsOnly one connection at a time: You need to manually switch the Bluetooth connection when you want to connect to other devices. They can fall out: Some shoppers reported that these buds fall out, especially during exercise.Related: Walmart is selling a tablet for $149 that has the latest Android software systemAs I mentioned before, these earbuds have an enormous number of positive ratings, as well as more than 7,000 five-star reviews. “After using these Kurdene ear buds at the gym for three hours or so, I’m really, really pleased at how well they work,” one shopper wrote. “For the price, these are exactly what I needed.”Many other reviews mention the battery life, with one saying, “The battery life is next level! I’ve had more expensive earbuds that died way faster than these. I think I’ve even gone like two days without charging them before. They have a strong Bluetooth connection as well.”Shop more deals Besnoow Wireless Earbuds, $24 (was $37) at AmazonNequga Wireless Earbuds, $16 (was $102) at AmazonJesebang Wireless Earbuds, $21 (was $33) at AmazonWith a truly mind-boggling amount of positive ratings, plus the fact that over 10,000 have sold in the past 30 days, the Kurdene Wireless Earbuds are a must-buy at just $10.

Until now, Social Security has been the one retirement check you didn’t have to worry about. You paid in, you got your benefits, end of story.But now that the bargain is under real pressure. The program’s main trust fund is burning through reserves faster than the government projected, and the latest numbers suggest time is running out sooner than anyone expected. If you’re already retired, planning to retire in the next decade, or building a career with the assumption that Social Security will be there, this report deserves your full attention. A new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office paints a picture that should make every American rethink their retirement math. And yet, Congress still has no concrete plan to address what’s coming.CBO says Social Security’s retirement fund could decline in 2032In its February 2026 Budget and Economic Outlook, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund will be exhausted by fiscal year 2032. That’s a full year earlier than the 2025 Social Security Trustees Report, which had set the depletion date at 2033.Once the fund hits zero, the Social Security Administration cannot legally pay benefits beyond what it collects in real time from payroll taxes and income taxes on benefits. Under current law, that means automatic, across-the-board cuts for every beneficiary, regardless of age, income, or how long you’ve been paying in.Combined trust funds buy only one extra yearIf lawmakers combined the OASI fund with the Disability Insurance trust fund, which covers benefits for disabled workers and their families, the CBO says the merged fund would last until 2033. That’s one additional year, not a solution. And combining the funds would require new legislation that Congress has not pursued.Two new laws made the problem worse, not betterThe trust fund’s deterioration didn’t happen in a vacuum. Two pieces of legislation passed in the last year actively drained revenue from the system.1. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, made permanent the lower income tax rates from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and introduced a temporary standard deduction for seniors. While that’s welcome tax relief for retirees, it also reduced the revenue flowing into the trust fund from the income tax on Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration’s Chief Actuary estimated the law will cost the trust funds roughly $169 billion over 10 years and widen the 75-year shortfall by 0.16 percent of taxable payroll.2. The Social Security Fairness Act added another $200 billion in obligationsPassed in January 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, reducing benefit reductions for certain state and local government workers. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that this added another $200 billion in obligations over the next decade. Together, these two laws pushed the program’s 75-year shortfall to nearly 4 percent of taxable payroll, up from 3.5 percent in 2024 and just 1.9 percent in 2010.More Social Security: AARP raises a red flag on Social Security, MedicareDave Ramsey warns Americans on Social Security, 401(k)sDave Ramsey warns of big Social Security problemDemographic shifts have been squeezing the system for yearsStructural forces have been weakening Social Security for more than a decade.Americans are living longer, collecting benefits for more years than previous generations.Birth rates have declined, meaning fewer workers pay into the system relative to the number of retirees collecting.Social Security began tapping trust fund reserves in 2021 when total costs exceeded non-interest income.CBO projects spending from the OASI fund will climb from $1.5 trillion in fiscal 2026 to more than $2.5 trillion by 2036.The growing gap between revenue and obligations is what drives the fund toward zero. Unless Congress changes the math, the trajectory doesn’t bend on its own.

A person bringing home $2,000 per month in social security could see a 24 percent cut, reducing the benefit to $1,520.Photo by Tim Robberts on Getty Images

A 24% benefit cut could hit your retirement income hardThe numbers are not abstract. The CRFB estimates that upon insolvency, all beneficiaries would face an across-the-board benefit cut of roughly 24 percent. The CBO’s own illustrative scenario suggests reductions would start at about 7 percent in 2032 and grow to an average of 28 percent per year from 2033 through 2036.What the dollar impact looks like for real householdsHere’s how a 24 percent cut would translate for different retiree profiles, based on CRFB estimates:Typical dual-earning couple: $18,400 annual reductionSingle-earner couple: $13,800 annual reductionDual-earning low-income couple: $11,200 annual reductionHigh-income couple: up to $24,400 annual reductionIf you currently receive $2,000 per month, a 24 percent cut would bring that down to roughly $1,520. For someone whose Social Security check covers rent, groceries, and medication, that’s a life-altering reduction.Congress has rescued Social Security before, but only at the last minuteSocial Security faced a nearly identical crisis in the early 1980s. The trust fund came within months of running dry before Congress passed the Social Security Amendments of 1983, which raised the full retirement age, made benefits partially taxable, and increased payroll taxes.Related: AARP warns Americans on major Medicare, Social Security problemJim Blankenship, a Social Security analyst and financial planner with Blankenship Financial Planning, told TheStreet that history will likely repeat itself. The 1983 reforms were phased in gradually and largely spared people already near retirement. If that pattern holds, younger workers are more likely to absorb structural changes than current retirees.But the longer Congress waits, the more painful the eventual fix becomes. Every year of delay narrows the range of workable solutions and increases the size of the tax increases or benefit cuts necessary.The fixes being discussed on Capitol Hill right nowThere is no shortage of proposals; the challenge is political will. Here are the most commonly discussed options:1. Revenue-side solutionsRaise or eliminate the payroll tax cap: In 2026, only earnings up to $184,500 are subject to Social Security payroll taxes. Lifting that cap would generate significant revenue but would primarily affect higher earners.Increase the payroll tax rate: The current 12.4 percent combined employer-employee rate has been unchanged since 1990. Even a small increase would extend the fund’s life.Expand taxable income types: Some proposals would apply Social Security taxes to investment income or other sources currently exempt.2. Benefit-side solutionsRaise the full retirement age beyond 67: This effectively reduces lifetime benefits for future retirees without cutting monthly checks.Adjust the benefit formula for higher earners: Means-testing or progressive adjustments could protect lower-income retirees while trimming benefits for higher earners.Modify the COLA formula: Switching to a different inflation index, like the chained CPI, would slow the growth of benefits over time.Most experts expect any eventual fix to involve a combination of revenue increases and benefit adjustments. The question is whether Congress acts proactively or waits until the trust fund is nearly empty.Five steps you should take right now to protect your retirementYou can’t control Congress. But you can control your own planning. Here’s where to start.Step 1: Stress-test your retirement plan at 75–80% of projected benefitsRun your retirement projections assuming you’ll receive only 75 to 80 percent of your projected Social Security benefit. If your plan still works under those conditions, you’re better prepared than most. If it doesn’t, you now know where the gaps are.Step 2: Increase contributions to your 401(k), IRA, or Roth accountsThe 2026 401(k) contribution limit is $23,500, with an additional $7,500 catch-up for those 50 and older. If you’re between 60 and 63, you can contribute up to $34,750 under the enhanced catch-up provision. Every dollar saved outside Social Security is a dollar that isn’t at risk from trust fund depletion.Step 3: Consider delaying your Social Security claimIf you’re still working and healthy, delaying your claim past full retirement age increases your monthly benefit by 8 percent per year up to age 70. A higher base benefit means even a percentage cut leaves you with more monthly income than if you’d claimed early.Step 4: Build income streams that don’t depend on government programsDiversification applies to retirement income, not just your portfolio. Part-time work, rental income, dividend-paying investments, or annuities can reduce your reliance on any single source.Step 5: Pay down high-interest debt before the deadlineIf your Social Security income gets reduced, having lower fixed expenses gives you more flexibility. Eliminating credit card balances, car loans, or even accelerating your mortgage payoff reduces the income floor you need to cover essentials.The 2032 deadline is real, but so is your ability to prepareSocial Security is not going away, even after the trust fund is depleted; payroll taxes would still cover roughly 76 to 80 percent of scheduled benefits. That’s a reduction, not an elimination. And Congress has a strong political incentive to act before 72 million beneficiaries see their checks shrink.But relying on that assumption is a gamble. The most responsible thing you can do right now is plan for a range of outcomes, boost your personal savings, and stay informed as developments unfold.The CRFB has urged lawmakers to pursue trust fund solutions before insolvency forces their hand. Whether that call gets answered in the current political climate remains uncertain. Your retirement plan shouldn’t depend on the answer.Related: Dave Ramsey, AARP warn Americans on critical Social Security question