The Street

I have been watching Cramer’s social media feed long enough to know that when he posts something cryptic about a stock that is actively selling off, he is doing something deliberate. That’s how Jim sends his signals out loud.Monday morning, July 13, with SK Hynix (SKHY) dropping as much as 15% before partially recovering to close down 9.32% at $152.35, according to Yahoo Finance, Cramer posted two messages on X (formerly Twitter) that immediately caught my attention.”SK Hynix very kind to American investors with its pricing and its trading.”Then, minutes later, Cramer added this other one. Walking SK Hynix back up, the American version.The first comment is actually a buy signal dressed in understatement. The second is Cramer telling us that he is actively accumulating the dip. What makes these posts worth paying attention to is the context behind them. Why? The company he is defending just completed one of the most extraordinary debuts in U.S. stock market history.What SK Hynix is and why American investors should know this companySK Hynix is South Korea’s second-largest company by market cap, trailing only Samsung, according to Companies Market Cap. On top of that, it is the world’s leading supplier of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM). These vertically stacked DRAM chips sit inside every NvidiaAI processor currently powering the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildout.HBM is not a commodity. It is one of the most technically demanding products in semiconductor manufacturing, and SK Hynix holds roughly 60% global market share in it, according to Leverage Shares. More SK Hynix:Will the SK Hynix IPO Repeat the SpaceX Pattern?Chip Heavyweight Hynix Projected for $28 Billion Record IPOSK Hynix’s Nasdaq debut could be the market’s next stress testSK Hynix reports that UBS predicts it will achieve approximately a 70% market share in the HBM4 market for NVIDIA’s next-generation Rubin platform in 2026.Its customers include Nvidia and Apple. Its chairman told CNBC on Friday, July 10th, that when he announced plans to double capacity within five years, customers told him it still was not enough. “All my customers said, ‘Well, that’s not enough, man, we need more,'” Chey Tae-won said on the debut-day broadcast.That demand backdrop is the foundation beneath everything that happened last week.The historic debut and why the July 13 selloff deserves contextThe Motley Fool report shows that SK Hynix completed the largest U.S. share sale ever by a foreign company on July 10, raising $26.5 billion through American depositary receipts priced at $149. In fact, that eclipses Alibaba’s $21.77 billion 2014 IPO to become the biggest foreign listing in U.S. history, according to the BBC. SK Hynix surged 13% on day one, closing at $168.01.Related: Major tech IPOs fetch mixed results — remember that as SpaceX, OpenAI listings loomThen came Monday, July 13. Memory stocks dropped broadly after a South Korean brokerage report suggested SK Hynix might not meet its quarterly profit estimates. The jitters spread across the sector, dragging Micron, Seagate, and SanDisk lower alongside SKHY.My read of that selloff is that it is classic post-IPO noise amplified by a single analyst report in the home market. The underlying business is not in question based on one brokerage note. What is in question is whether the stock ran too far too fast in three trading days, and whether short-term profit-takers are using any negative headlines as an exit. Cramer’s “walking it back up” language is his explicit pushback on that framing.The financial reality behind the stock — SK Hynix’s Q1 2026 resultsThe earnings foundation Cramer is defending is genuinely extraordinary.Revenue of KRW 52.58 trillion, approximately $35.5 billion, up 198% year over year and 60% sequentially.Operating profit reached KRW 37.61 trillion, approximately $24.9 billion, representing a 72% operating margin.EBITDA came in at KRW 41.3 trillion, for a 79% EBITDA margin. Net income grew 398% year over year to approximately $27.3 billion.DRAM contract prices jumped 83%, and NAND flash prices surged 160% quarter over quarter during the same period, according to MLQ.ai data. 
Source: SK Hynix First Quarter Results
Those NAND pricing dynamics are the direct result of the supply shortage that Micron and SanDisk have also been citing in their own earnings commentary throughout 2026.Chairman Tae-won was explicit about the demand environment on CNBC. “The demand is enormous, exponentially, so I don’t really see signs that HBM demand is shrinking,” he said during the debut day broadcast.

SK Hynix completed the largest U.S. share sale ever by a foreign company on July 10, raising $26.5 billion through American depositary receipts priced at $149. Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The mega-investment plan that tells you where SK Hynix is headedThe scale of SK Hynix’s forward commitment is staggering and worth including in any analysis of the stock’s long-term potential.Backed by the South Korean government’s $576 billion technology initiative, SK Hynix has unveiled a KRW 1,100 trillion investment plan, equivalent to more than $800 billion, targeting semiconductor manufacturing hubs in Yongin, Cheongju, and the southwestern region of Korea, according to Forbes. That plan is heavily concentrated on HBM expansion to serve Nvidia and next-generation AI systems.Related: Memory stocks are still “early innings” — here’s the ETF to invest inHonestly, a company that generated $24.9 billion in operating profit in a single quarter, commands 50%-plus global HBM market share, and is backed by one of the largest government semiconductor investments in history does not fit neatly into the category of “might miss quarterly profit estimates.”Cramer’s characterization of SK Hynix as “very kind to American investors” is his way of saying what the data suggests directly: this is a world-class semiconductor business now available to American retail investors for the first time, and a 9% single-day drop driven by a South Korean brokerage report is the market offering that offers access at a discount, which I second.Related: SK Hynix’s Nasdaq debut could be the market’s next stress test

Every great power eventually learns the same lesson. The fortune is not in the cargo. It is in the road.For most of the last 40 years, the Strait of Hormuz worked like a public utility nobody ever billed you for. Tankers slipped through a 21-mile gap between Iran and Oman. The U.S. Navy sat nearby as an unpaid guarantor, and oil kept moving.The price of moving it stayed hidden inside the cost of everything you buy. You never saw the invoice. That was the whole point.Washington paid for the muscle, the world paid at the pump, and the arrangement survived two Gulf wars and a decade of Iranian threats. Nobody put a meter on it, because open water was assumed to be free.This week, that quiet arrangement got a price tag. And the bill is not headed to Tehran.President Donald Trump said the United States intends to control the waterway and charge other countries for the service, turning the planet’s most important oil channel into a toll road with Washington sitting at the booth.The U.S. will “keep the Strait” and “probably run it,” Trump said in a phone-in interview, adding that other nations should “reimburse” America for its guardianship, according to Time.What the White House is really demanding at HormuzStrip away the “guardian angel” language, and the ask is blunt. President Trump wants foreign governments and shippers to pay the United States for safe passage through a chokepoint it does not own.He paired that with force. The president said he was reinstating what he called the Iranian blockade, stopping Iran’s ships and customers from entering or leaving the Strait, according to CNBC.Everyone else gets pointed toward a narrow southern lane hugging the coast of Oman, according to NPR.That is the warning underneath the headline. The countries most exposed are not adversaries. They are customers and allies, the buyers in Asia and Europe who move their crude through Hormuz and now face a tollkeeper with a navy.Here is what actually rides on that stretch of water.Brent crude, the global benchmark, pushed above $82 a barrel after the blockade news, according to NPR.The national average for regular gasoline reached $3.87 a gallon, up about eight cents in a week, based on American Automobile Association figures reported by NPR.Stocks fell on the news, with the S&P 500 down 0.79% and the Nasdaq off 1.55%, according to CNBC.

President Trump says America will “run” the Strait and be “reimbursed” by other nations.Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Why a Hormuz toll lands on your gas pumpThis is the part that stops being abstract. A toll on Hormuz works like a tax on the single most price-sensitive commodity in your life.I ran July 13’s Brent price against the Strait’s daily flow, and the number is hard to shake. About 21 million barrels move through that gap every day. At roughly $82 a barrel, that is close to $1.7 billion of crude squeezing through a channel narrower than the commute across many American cities, every single day.Put a contested tollbooth on that flow, and you do not get one clean fee. You get uncertainty, and uncertainty is what oil traders price as a war premium.More Oil & Gas:Battered oil major nabs Wolfe buy recommendationAs Middle East tensions explode, oil and gas prices resetThe war driving up gas prices isnt the one you thinkThat premium does not stay on a trading screen. It shows up as the extra eight dollars you paid this week to fill the tank. It shows up in airfare, in the diesel that moves your groceries, in the cost of anything that ships.It also reaches the Federal Reserve. Higher energy costs stall the fight against inflation, and the International Monetary Fund now expects oil to climb nearly 32% in 2026 and consumer prices to rise 4.7%, a forecast that landed as the fund trimmed its global outlook, as TheStreet covered. Stalled inflation means a Fed that keeps rates higher for longer, which is your mortgage, your car loan, and the yield your savings finally started earning.How energy stocks and airlines split on the Hormuz riskFor your portfolio, a tolled Strait draws a hard line down the middle of the market. One side wins when oil stays expensive. The other side pays for it.Producers sit on the winning side. Names including Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), along with the Energy Select Sector SPDR fund (XLE), tend to rally when a supply scare parks a premium in crude. Wall Street learned that rhythm the hard way this spring, when energy stocks whipsawed on every Hormuz headline.Fuel buyers sit on the losing side. Airlines such as Delta Air Lines (DAL), cruise operators, and consumer names watch margins thin as jet fuel and shipping costs climb.What struck me looking back through the last five months of price action is how quickly the market forgets. Every time a truce hint appeared, traders drained the war premium and piled back into airlines and consumer stocks. Every time the Strait flared, they scrambled the other way.A permanent U.S. tollbooth changes that reflex. It turns an episodic scare into a standing line item, and standing risks get repriced slowly, not in a single relief rally.What the Hormuz standoff signals for the rest of 2026The warning Washington just sent is bigger than one shipping lane. It is a signal that the era of free passage, quietly underwritten by American power, may be ending, and that the world is about to be asked to pay retail for something it long got wholesale.For Iran, the blockade is a provocation with a history of triggering attacks on tankers. For everyone else, the takeaway is simpler and closer to home. The Strait you never think about is now a political instrument, and its price gets attached to yours.Watch two things through the fall. Watch whether Brent settles into a new floor above $80 instead of spiking and fading. And watch whether the toll idea survives contact with allies who may decline to pay America for a road they thought was open.Because if that floor holds, the cheapest thing at the pump this summer will be the last cheap thing you see for a while.Related: U.S. blocks Strait of Hormuz: Here’s what’s next for oil prices

A lifetime of retirement savings can be depleted within a few years by a single overlooked expense. That expense is not a market crash, a medical emergency, or a surprise tax bill, since Medicare and other programs handle those to varying degrees.The greater financial danger comes from something far more ordinary: daily help with bathing, dressing, and eating that Medicare explicitly refuses to fund.About 70% of adults who reach age 65 will eventually need long-term care assistance, the Department of Health and Human Services estimates. Yet, the 2025 Nationwide Retirement Institute survey found that 58% of Americans still believe Medicare will cover those costs when the time comes.The gap between retirees’ expectations and the program’s actual coverage can add tens of thousands of dollars in unplanned expenses over a typical care spell.How Medicare’s skilled-care limit worksMedicare Part A covers stays in skilled nursing facilities only after a qualifying inpatient hospital admission lasting at least three consecutive days.The program pays the full cost of skilled rehabilitation for the first 20 days, covering services like physical therapy, wound care, and intravenous medication administration.From day 21 through day 100, beneficiaries owe a daily coinsurance payment of $217 in 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirmed.After day 100, Medicare stops paying entirely, and the patient or their family becomes responsible for 100% of ongoing care expenses moving forward.The key distinction is what counts as “skilled” under the program’s rules, since Medicare only funds care delivered by licensed professionals treating or rehabilitating a condition.Once a patient’s primary needs shift to custodial tasks like help with meals, mobility, personal hygiene, or medication reminders, the coverage ends entirely.That boundary applies whether the care takes place in a nursing home, an assisted living facility, or the patient’s own residence, Medicare.gov confirms.Annual nursing home costs now surpass six figuresA semiprivate room in a nursing home now carries a national median price of $9,581 per month, or $114,975 annually, CareScout data shows.Private rooms run higher, with the national median reaching $10,798 per month, or $129,575 per year, according to CareScout survey.More Medicare:Medicare’s 2033 funding crisis: What retirees should do right nowMedicare and health insurance company files Chapter 11 bankruptcyMedicaid estate recovery could blindside homeownersCareScout estimates assisted living costs average $74,400 annually, while a non-medical caregiver working 44 hours weekly costs about $80,080 per year. Medicare covers skilled nursing care for up to 100 days per qualifying stay. Applying the CareScout 2025 median private-room rate of $129,575 to the average 2-to-2.5-year long-term stay implies total costs of roughly $259,000 to $324,000 per resident.For retirees with Alzheimer’s disease, average survival after diagnosis is 4 to 8 years, though some people live 20 years or longer with the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Facts and Figures report.

Long-term care costs keep climbing, with nursing home expenses now exceeding $100,000 annually and potentially reaching hundreds of thousands over time.Iparraguirre Recio/Getty Images

Fidelity data reveals how unprepared most retirees areFidelity Investments’ 2025 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate found that a 65-year-old retiring that year can expect to spend $172,500 on medical expenses throughout retirement.That figure accounts for Medicare Part B premiums, prescription drug costs, deductibles, and coinsurance, but it excludes long-term care expenses entirely, Fidelity confirmed.One in five Americans has never even considered health care costs in their retirement planning, and that share rises to one in four among Generation X workers.“Year after year, so many Americans underestimate how much they’ll need to save to cover health care costs in retirement,” Shams Talib, head of Fidelity Workplace Consulting, said in the report.Steve Feinschreiber, senior vice president of Fidelity’s Financial Solutions Group, reinforced that warning in Fidelity’s Viewpoints analysis “How to plan for rising health care costs.”“Many people assume Medicare will cover all your health care costs in retirement, but it doesn’t, so you should carefully weigh all options,” Feinschreiber noted.How long-term care insurance can transfer the financial riskLong-term care insurance is one option for transferring this financial risk to an insurer. The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance reports that premiums are significantly lower when people purchase policies earlier in life.A 55-year-old man can expect to pay approximately $2,200 annually for a $165,000 policy with 3% compound inflation growth, the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance estimated in its 2025 Price Index. The same policy with level benefits and no inflation growth costs about $950 a year.Waiting until age 65 can increase annual premiums by more than $1,000 compared to purchasing at 55, and medical qualification standards tighten as chronic conditions develop.Hybrid policies, which combine life insurance with long-term care benefits, offer a second approach that returns a death benefit to heirs if the policyholder never needs care.Kerry Beeber, an advanced planner with Fidelity, told Fidelity Viewpoints that working with a financial professional can help retirees pressure-test long-term care costs against their broader retirement plan.A financial professional can model the impact those costs could have on your overall retirement plan and talk through the options for covering themFidelity outlines four basic coverage paths in its retiree health care guidance: personal savings, government benefits such as Medicaid, traditional long-term care insurance, and hybrid products.What self-funding long-term care costs in lost wealthRona Loshak, a founding partner of Karp Loshak Long-Term Care Insurance Solutions Brokerage, has published an analysis showing how paying out of pocket amplifies the total burden through taxes and lost compound growth.For every dollar of care a retiree self-funds, the effective cost rises to approximately $1.54 once income taxes on liquidated retirement assets and forfeited investment gains are factored in, Loshak noted.Only 3% to 4% of Americans over age 50 currently carry long-term care insurance, the insurance industry research group LIMRA estimates.The gap between that figure and the 70% who will eventually need care defines the scale of the financial exposure facing the next wave of American retirees.Related: Medicare Advantage lawsuit could affect 2027 benefits, plan choices

Most Americans who invest do it without ever picking a single stock. They put money into an index fund, usually one that tracks the S&P 500, and let the market do the work.For years, that felt close to a free lunch. Buy the whole market, keep costs near zero, and ride the long climb of American business.The catch is that the S&P 500 stopped being the whole market in any real sense. A small cluster of technology giants now sits at the top, and their combined weight has grown so large that owning the index means making an outsized bet on a handful of names.Seven stocks, the group often called the Magnificent 7, made up about 32.5% of the S&P 500 as of July 2026, according to The Motley Fool, which drew on figures from Stock Analysis.So when the second largest money manager on the planet decides to sell investors more ways to own American stocks right now, it is worth asking why.That is what Vanguard just did, rolling out four new U.S.-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The way they are built tells you what it thinks the concentration problem has created: demand.Why U.S. market concentration has investors nervousA market-cap-weighted index gives the biggest companies the biggest slice. When those companies keep winning, the index quietly turns into a concentrated position dressed up as diversification.That is not a hypothetical worry anymore. It is the math of the current U.S. market.For a sense of the broader stakes, see TheStreet’s coverage of Goldman Sachs’ stock market forecast through 2035.Here is how top-heavy American benchmarks have become:The top 10 S&P 500 stocks now account for roughly 40% of the index, according to Lord Abbett.Inside the Russell 1000 Growth Index, the top 10 holdings top 60% of the whole index, according to Lord Abbett.Nvidia (NVDA) alone makes up about 21% of the Magnificent 7’s combined value, according to The Motley Fool.When I ran Vanguard’s new lineup against the funds it already sells, one thing stood out. Every new product is a tool for slicing U.S. exposure into pieces, rather than swallowing the whole cap-weighted market in one gulp.That matters for a normal investor more than it sounds. If your retirement account is a single S&P 500 fund, a bad stretch for a few artificial intelligence (AI) companies can drag down years of savings, even if the other 493 businesses are doing fine.The subtler version of the risk is baked into how the index works. Because a cap-weighted fund buys more of a stock as it climbs, your monthly contribution keeps flowing into whatever is already the most expensive, on autopilot.

Vanguard just launched four U.S. equity funds split by investment style and company size.Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images

What Vanguard’s four new ETFs actually doThe four funds are the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF, the Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF, the Vanguard Russell Mid-Cap ETF, and the Vanguard Russell 2000 Small-Cap ETF, according to ETF Express.They are built as low-cost building blocks so investors can tailor U.S. exposure by style and by company size, Vanguard said in a company statement.More ETFs:ARKK bleeds $313 million as investors pull outBank of America answers a tough stock market questionFidelity, State Street ETFs cost the same, but one pays you moreGrowth strategies lean harder into technology and AI names, while value strategies help pull a portfolio away from the segments that have driven recent gains, the firm said, according to Funds Europe. The mid-cap and small-cap funds stretch the picture past the mega-caps entirely.The fees are the part that gets my attention. The growth and value funds carry ongoing charges of 16 basis points, and the mid-cap and small-cap funds cost 20 basis points, according to ETF Express.Head of Product for Europe Claire Aley said the funds expand Vanguard’s “range of low-cost building blocks,” according to ETF Express.One detail changes who this news is really for. These are UCITS funds, short for Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities, a European regulatory wrapper, and they list on exchanges in London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, and Zurich.U.S. investors generally cannot buy European-listed UCITS funds through a domestic brokerage account. So the launch is aimed at Europe, even though the stocks inside are all-American.What the launch means for your U.S. stock exposureDo not let the European listing fool you into thinking this has nothing to do with your money. The strategy behind it is the useful part.Vanguard is betting that investors want to own U.S. stocks in slices, not as one undifferentiated block. That is a read-on-demand from a firm that manages trillions and rarely guesses wrong about where retail money is heading.The good news for a U.S. reader is that you already have the domestic version of this toolkit. Vanguard sells U.S.-listed funds built on the same Russell indexes, including the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG), the Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF (VONV), and the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO).Related: U.S. asset managers make bold AI ETF moveVONG charges just 0.06%, according to Vanguard, which makes precise style tilting almost free. On a $50,000 position, that fee works out to about $30 a year.Held inside a tax-advantaged account like an individual retirement account or a 401(k), swapping some broad-market exposure for a style or size tilt does not trigger a taxable event, so the cost of adjusting is close to zero.My analysis of the fee card is simple. The cost of taking control of your U.S. exposure has fallen to the point where there is little excuse to leave it on autopilot inside one crowded index.None of this is a recommendation to buy any specific fund, and splitting your holdings by style and size is a real diversification decision with real tradeoffs, not a guaranteed win. Growth can keep beating value for years, and small caps can lag for a decade.But the option now costs pennies, and that is new.The next Vanguard move to watchThe interesting question is what Vanguard does at home. If European investors get a full menu of style and size building blocks, U.S. retail investors will eventually ask for the same clarity in their own accounts.Concentration is not going away on its own. As long as a few AI-driven giants set the tone for the entire market, the demand for precise, cheap ways to step around them will keep climbing.Vanguard just showed which way it thinks that demand is running. The firm that taught America to buy the whole market is now busy selling investors the pieces.Related: Vanguard sends wake-up call to every retiree

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 dealCouches, sofas, corner chairs, and recliners are the key pieces of furniture that make up your living or family room, but what about the smaller, more decorative items that really tie it all together? Lighting, wall art, and other small touches like accent tables or woven blankets are what transform a well-furnished area into a cozy space that truly feels like home. The bigger items feel worthy of an expensive price tag, but those smaller ones, well, given their size, it’s hard to justify some of the prices attached to them, which is why sales are your best friend — and right now, the Xburmo Tiered Accent Table is the sale item you won’t want to wait to score.The $24 decorative table is on sale for just $20. Available by itself or in a pack of two, the rustic three-tiered table is that extra special something that your living room needs.Xburmo Tiered Accent Table, $20 (was $24) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?A lot of smaller tables like this one can fall short in performance because they’re not always made with durability in mind, but that’s certainly not the case here. This accent table is made with engineered wood that’s further reinforced with steel hardware. The three tiers are each made with engineered wood shelves that’s both waterproof and scratch-resistant. Those tiers are then further supported by a steel frame with reinforced round tubing which keeps it from wobbling. Then alloy steel legs support the bottom of the entire table with adjustable rubber feet to prevent scratching on your nice floors. Long-lasting use and sturdiness is certainly the name of the game with this piece of furniture.The circular wooden tiers can each hold up to 44 pounds, and the entire table itself measures 13.2 inches long, 13.2 inches wide, and 22.8 inches high. The tiers are spaced out about 9.8 inches apart so that you can fit a variety of things within each crevice like books, magazines, or decorative items. The benefit of the table being circular instead of square or rectangular is that you reduce the risk of hurting yourself on sharp edges. Available in five colors, what’s also unique about this table is that you can buy this same style with built-in power outlets for charging convenience — but that style is not currently on sale. Related: Amazon’s compact lift-top coffee table is just $47Use the table as a place to store your drinks and books in the family room or to set down and store your nighttime essentials in your bedroom before you turn the lights off. It’s super versatile in use and what’s even better, it looks great wherever you put it. What to expect from $20 accent table: Pros and consProsStylish finish: The table has a lovely stained wood grain finish that pairs well with existing decor.Sturdy: The table is constructed with engineered wood, a steel frame with reinforced round tubing, and steel legs. Weight-bearing: Each tier can hold up to 44 pounds.ConsAssembly needed: The table requires building on your part. Not only does this table “look much more expensive” than it actually is but it feels sturdy and incredibly well-made. It’s an easy addition to any room that provides plenty of storage and display space. Shoppers really love that the three-tier design allows you to store items while showing them off at the same time. Shoppers call it the “perfect side table.”Shop more deals Furinno Camus Modern Living Coffee Table and End Table Set, $89 (was $110) at AmazonAboxoo Nesting Round Coffee Table Set, $60 (was $70) at AmazonHomeiju Round Coffee Table, $70 (was $90) at AmazonThe Xburmo Tiered Accent Table provides a touch of decor and stylish storage for only $20. Get it now before it’s too late.

A staggering number of workers are quietly steering their financial futures blindfolded. While checking a digital balance or running a basic calculation feels like proactive planning, relying entirely on static, one-size-fits-all retirement rules of thumb can leave savers vulnerable to unexpected shortfalls, Charles Schwab warns.The core of the issue is a reliance on generic savings formulas that fail to account for individual factors like personal health history, rising medical inflation, or varying local tax burdens. Without a personalized assessment, these standard rules of thumb can create a dangerous blind spot that masks whether a saver is actually on target for retirement, according to the latest Charles Schwab 401(k) Checkup Guide.Schwab’s leadership noted that while general savings rules are a great starting point, failing to capture employer matches means leaving essential money on the table.”Contribute at least enough to get your company match,” wrote Hayden Adams, CPA, CFP, and director of tax planning and wealth management research at the Schwab Center for Financial Research. “That’s like free money — don’t leave any on the table.”How to check if your 401(k) is actually on trackWhile checking a digital balance feels like active planning, a true financial checkup requires comparing your current savings against concrete career milestones. One of the most common mistakes savers make is failing to adjust their savings rate as their income grows, which can quietly derail a long-term strategy even if the account balance looks healthy on paper, according to the guide.The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 attempted to address this exact issue by mandating that newly established corporate retirement plans feature automatic annual contribution escalations. However, this legal mandate applies only to brand-new plans set up after Dec. 29, 2022, leaving millions of workers in older, grandfathered workplace plans entirely on their own to manage their escalation rates.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 penaltyVanguard’s research team highlighted that while legislative mandates are a massive step forward, relying on the law alone misses the millions of workers who are currently falling through these regulatory cracks.”Vanguard research clearly shows that automatic enrollment has proven to generate stronger outcomes for savers,” according to the Vanguard Public Policy Report. “This new law helps increase retirement security in a number of ways, including requiring plans established after 2024 to initiate automatic enrollment design features.”For those who are not covered by an automatic corporate plan, making manual, incremental adjustments is the most sustainable way to catch up without shocking the household budget.Adams noted that small, automated adjustments to your contributions can build massive momentum over time.”If you have a 401(k) at work, consider increasing your contributions by 1%–2% every year until you reach the maximum annual savings allowed,” wrote Adams.The benchmark 401(k) multipliers you should hit by every ageInstead of relying on a guessing game, savers can measure their progress by comparing their current retirement nest egg to their annual salary. This multiplier method provides a rolling benchmark that scales naturally alongside your career progression and earnings growth, according to the guide.To see if your savings are keeping pace with your current lifestyle, Schwab recommends aiming for the following salary milestones at major age thresholds.Age 30: You should aim to save one times your annual salary.Age 40: You should aim to save three to four times your annual salary.Age 50: You should aim to save five to seven times your annual salary.Age 60: You should aim to save nine to 12 times your annual salary.Age 65: You should aim to save 11 to 15 times your annual salary.Fidelity’s planning team noted that while strict guidelines can feel intimidating, treating them as progressive markers is the best way to maintain your current standard of living later in life.”We estimate that saving 10x your preretirement income by age 67, together with other steps, should help ensure that you have enough income to maintain your current lifestyle in retirement,” Fidelity wrote.If your current balance falls short of these ranges, focusing on incremental lifestyle changes and budget trimmings can help close the gap.Adams noted that prioritizing your own long-term security remains essential, even when competing family expenses begin to stack up during your peak earning years.”Even as other financial goals emerge, stay focused on retirement,” said Adams. “For example, if you have kids who may attend college, prioritize your retirement savings before funding education savings accounts.”

Charles Schwab offers benchmark goals upon which Americans can base their goals for 401(k) savings.Shutterstock

How to calculate your personal 401(k) retirement targetCalculating your personalized progress under the milestone method requires just a single math step. By taking your current annual salary and multiplying it by the recommended benchmark for your age bracket, you can instantly see if your current 401(k) balance is keeping pace.To help savers determine how these shifting guidelines affect their personal portfolios, I calculated two simple scenarios you might encounter under these age-based targets. These specific examples illustrate how your current salary dictates your exact savings milestones:The Mid-Career Milestone — A 40-year-old worker earning $85,000 should multiply their salary by the recommended four-times benchmark. This calculation results in a target retirement balance of $340,000 at this stage of their career.The Pre-Retirement Milestone — A 60-year-old worker earning $110,000 should multiply their salary by the recommended 12-times benchmark. This calculation results in a target retirement balance of $1.32 million to comfortably secure their transition out of the workforce.What these 401(k) calculations showThese calculations show that your retirement target is not a static number. Because these benchmarks are directly tied to your salary, your savings target naturally scales alongside your peak earning years, helping you preserve your actual lifestyle rather than chasing a generic, arbitrary nest egg.This piece of financial journalism is for educational purposes only and not for formal tax or investment advice. For specific guidance regarding your personal financial situation, consult with a qualified financial advisor or tax professional.Related: Suze Orman warns viral Social Security mistake costs your 401(k)

The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a catch-all term used for a group of viruses that damage the organs and lead to internal bleeding, continues to spread through several African countries.The latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) report at least 1,926 infections and 702 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda. On July 14, the second American who was in the Democratic Republic of Congo through his work for a humanitarian aid organization was confirmed to be infected with the virus and transferred to Germany for medical care.U.S. bans citizens in Democratic Republic of Congo from coming home for 21 days over Ebola riskWhile the risk of contracting the virus outside the affected regions remains low, multiple countries have taken measures to restrict travel from countries in the midst of an outbreak. In May 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implemented a new entry ban on any non-citizens who traveled to Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan in the last 21 days while Canada and Mexico put in place similar travel restrictions.Related: Two new countries ban certain travelers over health crisisEarly reporting from Reuters cites an unnamed White House official who confirmed that the Trump administration will place citizens who are currently in or have recently left the Congo on a “do not board list” until they have spent 21 days waiting out potential exposure in a third country.The decision goes off Title 49 in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations that relates to transportation security and can implement certain bans in cases where travel can create a health safety risk.Prior to the latest change, U.S. citizens and those with permanent residency who have been to the Congo since the start of the outbreak were permitted to return home but needed to do it through one of four major airports equipped to screen them as a public health risk.

The latest Ebola outbreak began from the Bundibugyo strain.PeopleImages/Shutterstock

What happens to Americans who have been to countries with an Ebola outbreakThe White House official said the unprecedented measure of temporarily preventing Americans from returning home was made under the direct order of Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.The official said that approximately two dozen Americans who had planned to board flights returning home from Africa on July 14 have been or will be denied boarding as they are asked to wait out the 21-day period in third countries that have not been named.More Travel News:Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.There is a very cool Irish version of swimming pigs in the BahamasUnexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026Low-cost airline launches easier way to get to Sri Lanka”CDC temporarily restricted U.S. entry for certain travelers who were recently in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan,” the government agency writes on a website about the Ebola outbreak that as of Tuesday afternoon has not been updated with the latest guidance.The official stated that the State Department would support any stranded Americans during the waiting period but it is not immediately clear how they would do this in a third country. The second American confirmed to have Ebola in the DRC was transferred to  Frankfurt University Hospital for treatment on July 13.Related: TSA issues strong warning about summer cooking item

Modern digital technology is reshaping our world, but it is also quietly eroding the most fundamental life skills in our children. In this thought-provoking interview, former educator and parenting expert Curby Alexander of Texas Christian University joins the program to break down the unseen consequences of our uncritical adoption of technology.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkWell, Curby, it is so great to see you. Thanks for joining us on the program this morning.Curby Alexander, Texas Christian UniversityYeah, thank you so much for having me.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkYou know, I grew up many decades ago, Curby, and as a young man, I learned how to type on a typewriter. I used a fax machine, and I used a very early version of a personal computer. So I had the luxury of kind of more analog.And this is, by the way, I didn’t even have a digital clock as a young man. But the world has shifted, and everyone carries a phone, especially younger kids. How does today’s world impact the ability of children to get the most important life skills, like reading a clock?Curby Alexander, Texas Christian UniversityWell, you know, I think just the fact that there’s so much digital technology out there, like you said, phones, and those phones that we carry around perform so many of the functions that we used to have different tools for. I mean, you think on your phone, you get your news, you get your weather. That’s where you have your calendar.It’s how we communicate with people. It’s our clock, not just an alarm clock, but a timer. So yeah, it’s a lot different.My upbringing sounds very similar to yours, where it seems like everything we had to do required kind of a different skillset, a different set of tools. And now it just seems like we have more and more digital tools that do things for us. I don’t have to carry around a day planner and continually check it to make sure when I have meetings, because now my phone is just pushing out reminders when I have meetings.So yeah, like my own kids, the world they’ve grown up in is a lot different, just because technology that’s being developed, especially that’s on their phones is doing a lot of stuff for them.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkHow does this shape? Is there a concern that kids today, I just actually saw my niece and nephew who are younger, they’re in their, I think they’re nine and 13 or 10 and 13 respectively. Their life is in the digital world, but they go to school and they’ll probably go to university.But are there skills that these children, our children don’t no longer have that we need to add back to the curriculum in schools like college and high school and junior high school?Curby Alexander, Texas Christian UniversityPersonally, I think there are some things that we should put back into the curriculum. I used to be a fourth grade teacher. That was my first job out of college.I was a school teacher for quite a long time. And one of the things I taught was cursive handwriting, which now for the most part is disappearing from schools. And I know that there are probably some states that wanna bring it back.And I just remember for myself, when I was writing things by hand, it did kind of like force me to slow down. So my brain seemed to work differently than when I’m typing. I can type pretty fast.So I can type things, I can delete, I can revise. Whereas, I just remember with cursive writing, I remember having to slow down and my own students, having to slow down and be thoughtful. And I tell them at the very least, you wanna think about what you’re writing as you’re writing it, because you probably don’t wanna have to erase a whole page or a sentence and go back and write it again.And so, I think with technology, there’s a saying that says, with every new innovation, it gives us something new and it takes something away. And I think that’s something people should ask themselves about new innovations that come along. You know, by and large, I think our society is pretty uncritical when it comes to adopting new technologies.We see things for their efficiency, for their speed, for their ease of use, but we don’t always think about what it might be taking away. You know, I remember learning how to use a map and then eventually learning how to drive. And, you know, I didn’t have a GPS.So even though I’d grown up in my small hometown, you know, I would sometimes get lost because sitting in the car, I didn’t always pay attention to landmarks that I did when I was driving. Well, now, you know, when my own kids learn to drive, sometimes, you know, there are landmarks that they have never really paid attention to until they finally turn off the GPS because they’ve just kind of been getting instructions turn by turn and not paying attention to not just names of streets, but landmarks and things that they see. And so I think any new innovation is going to give us some advantage maybe, whether that’s efficiency or speed or ease of use, but it’s gonna take something away.You know, whether that’s critical thinking, whether that’s problem solving, whether that’s being more aware of your surroundings. So yeah, for sure. I mean, I don’t know what skills maybe need to be reintroduced to school curriculum, but I know that some of the things that have disappeared, even though it seems like maybe they’ve disappeared because they’re obsolete, that means that other habits of mind, other ways of thinking, other ways of seeing the world, those have also disappeared when those skills have not been used in schools.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkLet me, you brought up critical thinking. This is something that I was immediately thinking of. When I was, I used to have to write papers.Like I said, I started on a typewriter. Actually, I started in a notebook writing drafts. And I wrote them, by the way, in cursive.Then I progressed to the typewriter. Then I moved on to the Apple IIe or Apple IIc as I’m dating myself. But through that process, my critical thinking evolved.And I still apply that critical thinking. How can we, based on using technology today, how can we kind of bring that back? Because I think that maybe, and you’re probably the best person to talk about it depending on both of us, is I think that that’s something that’s certainly lacking.What does something really mean? How do you discern the truth or misinformation from fact?Curby Alexander, Texas Christian UniversityYeah, I mean, that’s a really great question. There are two things that have happened in the last, we’ll say 20 years. Maybe it has been developing longer than that.But it’s just this explosion of information. The first was when the internet became something that basically everybody had access to. There was almost immediately this propensity by people to look something up.At first, with like Yahoo and Ask Jeeves and some of those old search engines, you had to actually know keywords and kind of click links until you found the thing you were looking for. Google comes along and all you have to do is type in natural language. And it has a way of kind of finding the thing that you’re looking for or approximating what it thinks you’re looking for.And almost instantly, people start, just using the first or second result that comes up in their search. I mean, there’s all this data to support, even in schools, out of schools, wherever it is, that if somebody Google something, they’re likely to go with the first result that comes up. It used to be on Google at the bottom of the page, you could see all the O’s and those were all the pages that had the search results.But people didn’t really click those, right? They would just go with kind of the first couple of results. And it’s the same with, like now we have generative AI, where it’s not, you ask it something and not only does it, it doesn’t even just find you a website that gives you the information you want, it just writes it for you.And so what I think we’re gonna see is a shift, maybe not among everybody, but I believe you’re gonna start to see a shift among some schools, some educators, some parents, where they want to focus, put the focus back on the process of thinking through questions. Whether they’re developing their own inquiry question or their own research question, or whatever it is that they’re writing about. And you’re gonna see people becoming intentional about not using some of these tools that just give us the information.Because I remember kind of like you, I would write research papers and I would go into the library and I would have to look up books and articles and then I would have to check those things out and read them and find, to see if it even matches what I’m trying to do. And in the process of that, I was having to be discerning. I was having to continually research and think back on what is the point of this paper that I’m writing?What is my thesis statement? What’s my hypothesis? Is this research that I’m finding supporting that?And so I was continually kind of doing this cyclical way of thinking where I was thinking about the argument I wanted to build and whether or not the stuff I was finding was evidence. And now, the technology just gives us the information and it’s authoritative enough that in many cases, people don’t even question whether it’s true or accurate or not because it sounds good. And they think, well, this sounds pretty good to me.And so honestly, I think that’s a major outcome of education that could be at risk if schools are not intentional about focusing on the process of thinking, the process of doing research and finding evidence versus just letting the technology that’s out there write the answers for them.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkTwo words, card catalog. That’s how I remember the card catalog. Remember, you would look it up?Curby Alexander, Texas Christian UniversityOh, yeah.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkGo through. Let me ask you. I could talk to you and we’ll bring you back, but I wanna ask you about kind of finding our way back because we need, I think in successive generations, we’re always seeing them get better, they’re stronger, they’re taller, they’re bigger, hopefully they’re healthier, right?I mean, but this is an area of, in my mind, deficiency. How do we, who will lead this way back? Is it the parents, us back?Is it the parents? Is it the educators? Is it the policymakers?Is it a combination of all three? How do we work our way back to getting that level of critical thinking so that not only are you stronger and better as a human being, but also you’re a major contributor to the future of human society? That’s kind of very philosophical and high level.I don’t mean it sound that way, but in your mind, how do we find our way back?Curby Alexander, Texas Christian UniversityYou know, that’s a great question. I think if I had a authoritative answer, there would be a lot of people that would wanna know where I got that information. It’s my opinion, as someone who has raised kids and been a teacher that I think where we find our way back is in families with parents who are intentional about certain things, with teachers who are intentional about certain things.You know, I know that there’s a lot of, at least in the state where I live in, there’s a lot of kind of top-down education policy being discussed right now. But the truth is, you know, the thing that is the most impactful is what the teacher does. And so teachers, I think, can be intentional about helping kids kind of find their way back to some of those baseline skills that may disappear, and families can as well.You know, my two boys were involved in scouts, and this is not a commercial for Scouting America, but they gained a lot from it, because it is very traditional. I mean, there were a lot of opportunities for them to learn some of those things, but that was a choice we had to make. And trust me, along the way, I mean, there was a lot of pushback.They were like, you know, because a lot of their friends didn’t do it, or, you know, they had other things they wanted to do. But in the process of doing that, they learned a lot of these kind of older, traditional baseline skills that otherwise may have disappeared, like learning how to, you know, orient a map and use a map in the back country, or, you know, how to cook over a campfire, you know, and how to shop using ingredients, not just shop with, you know, buying pre-prepared food and things like that. Although I know there’s a lot of power in policy makers, that states have a lot of power, school districts hold a lot of influence over what happens, I honestly think it’s going to be individuals that kind of decide to take up those initiatives on their own, and they have the patience and the motivation and the conviction to follow through with it.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkYeah, well said. I tend to agree. I think it’s going to come from the teachers, the educators, and also the parents that kind of reinforce that.Curby Alexander, we’re going to have to leave it there. It’s so great to see you. Thanks for joining us.Thanks for sharing some insight, and we look forward to having you back on the program again very soon.Curby Alexander, Texas Christian UniversityI’m looking forward to it. Thank you so much.

Agenus is redirecting its Phase 3 colon-cancer strategy.The biotech company said on July 13 that it will stop providing financial support for its BATTMAN study and make ROBBIN, a planned Phase 3 trial of BOT+BAL before colon-cancer surgery, its central development priority.The shift is backed by a private placement expected to provide about $85 million upfront. Agenus could receive another $255 million if accompanying warrants are fully exercised, bringing potential gross proceeds to $340 million.Investors rewarded the combination of a narrower clinical strategy and new capital. Agenus (AGEN) shares were recently trading at $6.46, up 93.1% from July 10’s close, according to Yahoo Finance, after reaching $8.70 earlier in the session.The financing gives the company $85 million now and a possible route to the rest through warrants, a distinction that shapes both the opportunity and the dilution risk for shareholders.Agenus chooses ROBBIN over BATTMANAgenus plans to direct the financing toward ROBBIN, a randomized global Phase 3 study of botensilimab plus balstilimab, known as BOT+BAL, in patients with high-risk Stage II and Stage III microsatellite-stable colon cancer.The trial is expected to enroll about 850 patients. It will compare patients who receive BOT+BAL before surgery with patients who proceed directly to surgery, with event-free survival serving as the primary endpoint.The company expects the first ROBBIN patient to be dosed in the first quarter of 2027. Interim pathologic-response data are expected in the second half of that year, followed by an interim event-free-survival analysis in 2029 and a final analysis in 2030.Agenus is making room for that program by discontinuing financial support for BATTMAN, its Phase 3 trial in patients with late-line metastatic MSS colorectal cancer. The company said it will continue meeting its obligations to patients already receiving treatment.Our plan to prioritize neoadjuvant BOT+BAL in MSS colon cancer reflects both the strength of the emerging clinical evidence.The decision leaves Agenus with a more concentrated Phase 3 strategy. Rather than financing two late-stage paths at once, the company is placing more of its capital behind the earlier-treatment setting it considers its higher-value opportunity.Related: Jensen: How to Play Agenus Using OptionsAgenus gets upfront cash with more tied to warrantsThe upfront portion of the transaction is expected to generate about $85 million before expenses.That amount provides immediate relief for a company that ended the first quarter with $35 million in cash and cash equivalents. Agenus reported about $51.8 million in cash payments during the quarter, although it said some of those costs were tied to one-time obligations and manufacturing investments.The remaining $255 million depends on investors exercising two groups of purchase warrants.Agenus agreed to issue about 23 million common shares or pre-funded warrants as part of the initial placement. Investors will also receive Series A warrants covering about 21.1 million shares at an exercise price of $4.02 and Series B warrants covering about 33.8 million shares at $5.03.The company priced the initial shares and both warrant tranches at a premium to Agenus’s July 10 closing price. The financing was led by Commodore Capital, with participation from RA Capital Management, TCGX, Invus, and Ligand Pharmaceuticals.The financing creates two different runway scenariosNo warrant exercise: Agenus said its existing cash and the upfront placement proceeds are expected to support operations into the third quarter of 2027.Full warrant exercise: If the Series A and Series B warrants are fully exercised, the company expects its cash runway to extend through the end of 2031.Why it matters: The $85 million upfront payment helps Agenus reach the start of ROBBIN, but the longer runway depends on future warrant exercises rather than cash already committed to the company.Why investors cheered despite the dilution Selling new shares and issuing warrants can reduce existing shareholders’ ownership percentage.In this case, investors focused instead on three features of the transaction: the premium pricing, the participation of specialist biotech investors, and the removal of some near-term financing pressure.Related: BridgeBio stock jumps after rival heart drug fails key trialAgenus also rose against a weaker market backdrop. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 were lower during morning trading, making the move in AGEN more clearly tied to the company announcement than to a broad biotech or equity rally.The warrants introduce a second market question. If Agenus shares remain above the $4.02 and $5.03 exercise prices, warrant holders have a stronger economic incentive to exercise them, although the additional proceeds and share issuance are not guaranteed.The stock’s rally therefore reflects more than the $85 million arriving upfront. Investors are also placing value on the chance that Agenus can fund ROBBIN more fully without returning immediately to the market for another financing.

Jackyenjoyphotography / Getty Images

Monday’s move suggests investors prefer a focused Phase 3 plan with near-term financing to a broader strategy constrained by cash. The next milestones are now specific: closing the placement, beginning ROBBIN in 2027, and determining whether the warrants can provide the capital needed for the later stages of the trial.Related: Biotech stock sends Wall Street surprising signal

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 dealOwning an electric bike can completely change the way you get around. It can make long commutes shorter, let you skip parking in busy areas, and save you gas money. It’s also great for your health and can count toward your weekly exercise goal while also getting errands done. Offering an easy way to spend more time outside, electric bikes, or ebikes, can be used for tons of activities, like going to the local coffee shop, exploring local trails, or just spending time riding through the neighborhood. Unlike traditional bikes, an e-bike offers assistance on steep hills, longer distances, and windy days, allowing you to enjoy your ride instead of tiring yourself out. While e-bike prices can be all over the place, generally, it can be good to shell out a bit extra for something that holds up and offers what you need, but we’ve found a great choice at Walmart that has what you need without costing thousands. Originally $1,006, the Eskute Electric Bike is on sale at Walmart for just $576, mixing quality with affordability. Eskute Electric Bike, $576 (was $1,006) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?This e-bike has a 1300-watt motor designed to provide storm acceleration and offers a great ride on city streets and moderate inclines. It offers three riding modes: Electric, pedal assist, and manual, making it easy to ride how you want, depending on the distance, terrain, and how much of a workout you want. The bike is fully capable of riding without the battery, but can be used in a range of up to 70 miles on a single charge while using the battery assistance. Since the battery can be removed from the frame, charging is also more convenient, allowing you to charge the battery in an apartment, the office, or in the garage, without moving the entire bike indoors. Related: E-vehicles provide a solution to rising fuel pricesThe step-through aluminum frame makes getting on and off the bike easier, while the adjustable seat and handlebars allow you to create the most comfortable fit for your needs. A front suspension fork helps absorb bumps, and the 26-inch wheels and seven-speed drivetrain offer easier handling over multiple terrains. The bike can go up to 28 miles an hour with assistance, and a smart display provides real-time information, like speed, battery level, and distance for easy viewing while riding. It also features a back rack that can easily fit a suitcase or basket to put groceries, work documents, or other items. The pros and cons of this dealProsLong battery life: With up to 70 miles of assisted riding, this bike is great for longer commute times. Basket rack: The back tire includes a rack to fit a basket or travel case for school and work documents or groceries. Cons Assembly required: This bike needs to be assembled before use. Heavier than normal bikes: This bike might be difficult to lift onto racks, weighing just under 69 pounds. This bike has mostly five-star ratings, with one shopper saying, “This bike is incredible.” The seller also offers free 30-day returns if you’re not satisfied.Shop more dealsDYU 1000-Watt Electric Bike, $380 (was $589) at WalmartYareYi Electric Bike, $640 (was $900) at WalmartVtokw 7-Speed Electric Bike, $508 (was $565) at WalmartWhether you want to make your commute a bit easier or like to ride around town for fun, the Eskute Electric Bike can do it all. The aluminum frame holds up to everyday use, while the 70-mile assisted range allows you to ride a long time without worrying about recharging the battery. Shoppers can get this bike at Walmart for just $576.