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Americans have always loved working on their homes and gardens, and that has been a major boon for Home Depot, the biggest home improvement retailer in the U.S. As the company’s profits have continued to grow over the years and decades, the company has increasingly rewarded its stockholders with cash dividend payments.Here’s what you need to know about Home Depot’s dividend.Home Depot dividend quick factsYield:2.72% *Payout ratio:65%Frequency:Quarterly*Yield based on Home Depot’s stock price as of early April 2026.How often does Home Depot pay dividends?Home Depot pays a cash dividend on a quarterly basis, and payments have typically been made in March, June, September, and December. The company operates on a fiscal-year basis, usually declared at the end of January or February. For fiscal 2025, the yearly period ended on February 1, 2026.Home Depot has also rewarded stockholders with stock splits, which benefit investors who held shares before each split. It has conducted nine stock splits since going public in 1987, with the last one occuring in 1999.Related: Home Depot’s Atlanta headquarters: Everything you need to knowWhen did Home Depot start paying dividends?Home Depot paid its first cash dividend on June 22, 1987, to stockholders of record as of June 8 that year. For fiscal 1987, the company’s dividend payments totaled 6 cents per share, according to Home Depot’s 1987 annual report. That first dividend payment came over three years after Home Depot’s shares started trading on the New York Stock Exchange.How big is Home Depot’s dividend?Home Depot’s dividend payments have continued to increase as the company’s earnings have grown. For example, Home Depot’s net income was $14 billionin 2025, compared to $7 billion in 2015. For March 2026, it paid a dividend of $2.33 a share — up from $2.30 a share from its previous quarterly dividend payment in December 2025 and significantly higher than the 59 cents it paid quarterly in 2015.For 2025, total annual dividends amounted to $9.20 per share, which indicatinga dividend yield of 2.67% based on Home Depot’s closing price on Dec. 31. That’s more than double the average yield of the S&P 500 (1.15%) based on data compiled by multpl.com.More on Home Depot:Home Depot over the years: A complete history of America’s biggest hardware storeHome Depot founder Arthur Blank’s net worth: Investments, Atlanta Falcons & ranchesHome Depot founder Bernard Marcus’s net worth: From fired CEO to entrepreneur Is Home Depot a dividend aristocrat? Standard and Poor’s puts out its S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, and that includes S&P 500 companies that have increased dividend payments for at least 25 consecutive years. Home Depot has consistently paid a dividend for almost 40 years but has only increased its dividends on an annual basis for the past 16 years, with the first increase in this series taking place in 2010. Still, Home Depot’s indicated dividend yield at the end of March 2026 was 2.81%, just slightly above the 2.64% average of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index. A stock split, though, could jeopardize its chances of continued dividend increases on a per-share basis.Is Home Depot’s dividend safe? Home Depot’s earnings have risen over the year, and as long as the company continues to grow, dividend payments are likely to remain high. Its payout ratio — total cash dividend payments divided by annual earnings per share — was 65% in 2025, indicating that it focused on returning cash to shareholders. In 2015, its payout ratio was lower, at 43%.By comparison, Nvidia’s payout ratio was much lower, at 0.8%, as the tech giant prioritized growing its revenue and market share in artificial intelligence.

Broadcast Retirement Network’s Jeffrey Snyder discusses the stresses caregivers face and who should pay for adult care later in life with University of Michigan’s Sarah Patterson, PhD.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkJoining me now is Dr. Sarah Patterson of the University of Michigan. Dr. Patterson, it’s great to see you. Thanks for joining us this morning.Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganYeah, thanks for having me on. I appreciate it.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkAnd I do want to congratulate the University of Michigan on winning the national championship. I did not watch the game because it passed my bedtime. I’m sure you guys must be excited.Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganSo congratulations. Thank you. It’s been really fun.I also admittedly, I don’t know if I can, but I also went to bed early.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkYeah, well, you have an important, we’re going to talk about the research that you all do there. I mean, this is very, and a good segue. So congratulations to all the folks watching this at University of Michigan.Well done. We’ll see you again next year. Well, Dr. Patterson, you know, obviously you do a tremendous amount of research in this area. I guess I, you know, I know just from anecdotally from talking to other guests that caregivers are under tremendous amount of stress. And oftentimes they’re unpaid or they’re paid a small amount of money relative to the work they’re doing, but you’ve done a lot of research in this area. So let me ask you a baseline question.Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganYeah.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkWho pays for caregiving?Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganYeah. So family caregivers and friends and community members are providing a lot of care for older adults in our communities. We find that about 88% of care provided to an older adult is done by their family members.And so they’re doing the bulk of it, but you know, I’ve done focus groups with caregivers in the community and I find that friends are pitching in, people from church are going to get groceries once in a while for someone. So it’s really a family and community based event. And what they find is that about, you know, $7,000 out of pocket per year is spent on older adults care by family members or friends or other people.So older adults, even, you know, if they’re not getting a paid helper, so they’re not paying someone to come in, or they’re not in a facility that requires payment. Family members are often paying for medication, paying for somebody to come by and doing these things that cost money for them. They’re paying out of their pocket because there’s not a lot of support programs.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkWell, $7,000 to me seems like a lot of money. I would imagine just thinking about the average American income, that’s a big proportion of someone’s income. And let’s not even account for, I’m not an economist, you’re the professor and doctor, but there’s opportunity loss when you’re taking care of a loved one and you’re not, probably not getting compensated.So that’s a lot of, that’s a big out of pocket expense.Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganYeah, I think it’s a huge cost for people. And if an older adult needs more intensive care, so if they need to go to a nursing home, that can create even bigger costs. So locally here in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the cost to put an older adult in a nursing home that specializes in memory care starts at $12,000 a month.And as you can imagine, that is a huge cost for many families, and often they’re going it alone.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkSo how do they, I mean, do you take a, and maybe you didn’t look at this in the study, but do they take a reverse mortgage? I mean, how do you pay for something like that? Because $12,000 times 12 is $144,000.I didn’t learn my multiplication tables, but that seems like a lot of money and it’s starting at that. How do they pay for that? I mean, does Medicaid, Medicare, long-term care insurance cover some of that?Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganYeah, so it depends on what people have. If they have long-term care insurance that can help pay for it. If people are on Medicaid, that can also pay for it.But I know that you’ve had other speakers on where they’ve talked about the fact that you have to spend down and you only have a certain amount of assets that you’re allowed to have, which then creates other financial problems for families. But oftentimes families, there’s not a lot of planning that goes into this often because people think it might not happen to them, or they’re just not sure. There’s a ton of information out there.There’s a ton of things that can happen. And so I think it’s often hard to plan. And even people who make plans, things might come up, but really a lot of people, I think they either don’t pay for those facilities or they scrape by somehow by taking out loans and things like that.So that’s what I would say, yeah.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkYeah. And I don’t want to use the C word crisis because that’s often overused. But it seemed to me in an aging society of which we’re going to have more people that are age 65 than at any time.I think they call it peak 65. We’ve got boomers. I’m Gen X, the millennials.There’s going to be a lot of people that are going to be needing care. Are we at a tipping point where we need to come up with a national or at least state level solution to some of these major challenges with, look, getting old is great. You want to live long, but this is part of the challenge.Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganRight. Yeah. So I think just based on the number of older adults that we have turning 65 each day, which is estimated to be about 10,000 people a day, there are more needs among older adults in the community for families to take care of them.And so what this means is that we are reaching again, like you said, crisis, you know, gets thrown around a lot, but for many families, it can be a crisis. So having to take on this care can impact their ability to work, which then impacts their own ability to save and have safety nets for themselves later down the line. It can impact their health, their emotional wellbeing.So it can have a huge impact on the family caregivers that are providing this. And I think what you see is that it’s sort of a groundswell sort of situation where now there’s, this is becoming much more common. So before, you know, parents didn’t live that long, people are living much longer.So we’re enjoying these experiences with our parents much longer. But, you know, basically we’re living longer with our parents and that’s allowing people to extend their life course with their family members. So then that means more years together where they’re needing care later in life, which is then putting that impact back on the caregivers.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkWhat about, you know, we have migration in this country where people move from, you know, I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. I live in Charlotte. My parents still live in Baltimore.Now that’s only a 45 minute or an hour or so flight, but there’s a distance now. We don’t have our families living. I mean, it may be in some communities that still occurs, but it used to be that the grandparents live with their children or one of their children, right?So that creates, I think, another layer here.Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganYeah. So in the US, you know, we’re a nation of independence. People want to live in their own home by themselves or with their partner long into later life.And so what that means is that families move away, like you said, which causes a distance between being able to just, you know, go across the street to take care of your parent one day if they need something. But what we find is that, you know, even if children or other family members live far away, they’re still providing care for older adults in many ways. They’re helping to manage their health care, either through participating virtually or making calls.They’re balancing their finances and tracking that they might be hiring somebody to come in and help take care of the older adult. So even if people are geographically dispersed, they’re often still caregiving from far away. But it does raise the question of, you know, who can help with what?Because, for instance, you can’t help someone eat or bathe if you live a few states away. So it does create an issue for some families where there is, you know, a particular person who does that and then someone else does different tasks. But it does create an issue for older adults and caregivers.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkWell, certainly, you know, if you look at your research, I think there’s research by other academicians. There’s, I think, AARP just put out something in the not-too-distant past about the cost of caregiving. Some were, you know, quantifying opportunity lost.So are there answers? I mean, you said there’s a groundswell of maybe, I’m paraphrasing you, but a groundswell of need or information. Is this where kind of the private sector and government, both state, local, federal, and, you know, try to work together to come up with solutions?Because it seemed to me that, you know, you need to, if you’re a, you know, Gen Alpha, you need to start saving now for these challenges down the road.Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganYeah, yeah, it’s for sure. And what we find in our research on people’s attitudes towards who should be primarily responsible for paying for older adults care, we found that over time, more and more people are saying the government should primarily help pay for these caregiving, for caregiving for older adults. And I think the tricky thing about that is that they’re not saying the government should do all of it.People still really want their family to caregive for them. Families want to caregive for older adults. But really, I think it’s more that the public is saying, we need a little help and we need a partnership between the government and families and these sort of social safety net programs and families in order to take care of all the older adults that are going to need care into the future.And that can look a lot of different ways. So for instance, it could be tax credits. I think tax credits are increasingly gaining popularity.In polling of people, of Americans, you find that they’re highly supported. Both caregivers and the general public highly supports tax credits for caregivers. But there’s other options, right?We could technically pay family caregivers out of different programs. But really, tax credits have shown themselves to be widely popular, as well as a few states have implemented them with great success.Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement NetworkYeah, I think you’re right. Absolutely. I think this is going to continue to bubble up as we continue to get older.This is going to be a strain, especially when there’s affordability challenges going on now with the price of gas, food, etc. Maybe some of those prices will come down. But at the end of the day, if more people are getting older and we have fewer caregivers, the cost of caregiving could really skyrocket.Dr. Patterson, we’re going to have to leave it there. Great research. But look, we look forward to having you back on the program again very soon.Sarah Patterson, University of MichiganGreat. Thanks. I look forward to joining again.

Most retirement plans look solid on paper until the day you stop working, and the paychecks stop for good. Fidelity Investments is sounding an alarm that most retirees never see coming until the financial damage has already been done. The firm says the gap between your guaranteed income and your essential monthly expenses is far wider than you think. A lifetime income annuity, a product most people avoid on instinct, may be the best tool for closing that gap, according to Fidelity.The retirement income gap most people never calculateSocial Security replaces roughly 40% of pre-retirement income for the average American worker, according to the Social Security Administration. That leaves a massive shortfall between what you receive each month and what your basic bills demand you pay.Pensions have nearly vanished from the private sector, with only about 14% of Generation X workers holding a pension plan, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.Your essential monthly costs for housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, and health care require a fixed dollar amount every single month. The shortfall between those costs and your guaranteed income has to come from drawing down a portfolio that carries real risk.What Fidelity says a lifetime income annuity can do for youA lifetime income annuity works like a personal pension you purchase directly from an insurance company, Fidelity explains in its research. You pay a lump sum up front, and in return, the insurer sends you fixed monthly payments for the rest of your life.Income that outlasts your lifespanAmong workers who have positive retirement savings, the median balance is $40,000; however, looking at all workers ages 21-64, including those with nothing saved, the median falls to just $955, according to the NIRS in February 2026.A lifetime annuity eliminates the guesswork about longevity by paying you every month, regardless of how long you live. A 65-year-old woman has a 25% chance of living past 94, which means your plan may need to fund 30 years of expenses.A predictable paycheck without portfolio managementManaging a retirement portfolio requires ongoing decisions about which positions to sell, when to rebalance, and how to generate income. Fidelity warns that those decisions become increasingly difficult by your 80s and 90s as cognitive decline becomes a real factor.”One of the strongest reasons to buy a DIA is the foundation it provides for your retirement income plan. You establish a guaranteed level of income no matter what happens over the next several years, and are one step removed from the anxiety of watching the market,” said Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company Vice President Tom Ewanich.An annuity deposits a set amount into your bank account each month with zero effort or decision-making required.Protection from market downturnsRetirees who depend on portfolio withdrawals during a bear market face sequence-of-returns risk, which can permanently deplete their savings. Retirees experiencing poor returns in the first five years who did not adjust spending were far more likely to go broke, Morningstar’s 2025 research found. A fixed income annuity locks in your payout regardless of market performance, creating a financial floor beneath your essential expenses.A shield against elder fraud and financial abuseFinancial exploitation of older Americans costs victims an estimated $28.3 billion every year, according to a December 2024 interagency statement co-issued by the Federal Reserve, CFPB, FDIC, FinCEN, NCUA, OCC, and state financial regulators. An irrevocable income annuity removes a portion of your assets from vulnerability because the insurer pays you directly for life.No one can redirect, drain, or mismanage that income stream once the contract is officially in place with the insurance company.The spending guilt problem that retirees rarely talk aboutResearch from the Journal of Financial Planning found that many retiree households spend far less than they can afford. Fear of outliving their money drives them to cut vacations, reduce gifts to grandchildren, and postpone simple purchases. This phenomenon costs retirees the quality of life they spent decades saving for and enjoying in their later years. Fidelity argues that locking in a guaranteed income stream through an annuity gives you real permission to spend more freely. When your essential bills are covered by predictable payments that never expire, every discretionary dollar in your portfolio becomes truly discretionary. The psychological shift from fear-based budgeting to confidence-based spending can transform the way you experience your retirement years.More Personal Finance:Retirees following 4% rule are leaving thousands on the tableFidelity says a $500 policy could protect your entire net worthFidelity’s 4 Roth strategies could save your family a fortune in taxesRoughly 64% of Americans now say they worry more about running out of savings than about dying, the 2025 Allianz Annual Retirement Study found. That number captures the emotional weight of the exact problem Fidelity is trying to solve with its annuity recommendation. You simply cannot enjoy a retirement that you spend every single day worrying about losing to inflation or market downturns. An annuity does not solve every financial problem in retirement, but it does address the psychological toll of constant uncertainty. The confidence to book a trip, help a grandchild with college tuition, or stop checking your portfolio balance each morning matters. That peace of mind is worth more than most people realize until they finally experience the freedom that comes with a guaranteed monthly income.

Spending guilt keeps retirees from enjoying their savings, but guaranteed income can replace fear with confidence and freedom to actually live.we.bond.creations/Shutterstock

The tradeoffs you need to understand before buyingNo financial product is without cost, and Fidelity is transparent about the downsides you should weigh carefully before committing any money. Understanding these tradeoffs is essential before you sign any contract with an insurance company, because this decision is irreversible.You permanently surrender liquidity when you purchase a traditional income annuity, and that lump sum is no longer available in an emergency.Fixed annuity payments do not adjust for inflation, unless you add a cost-of-living rider, which will reduce your initial payout.The guarantee depends on the insurance company’s financial strength, so checking A.M. Best credit ratings is essential.If you pass away earlier than expected, total payments received may be less than the lump sum you originally invested in the contract.By converting savings into an annuity, you forfeit the potential for market growth on that specific portion of your overall portfolio.The annuity market is booming for a reasonTotal U.S. annuity sales reached a record $464.1 billion in 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking consumer demand, LIMRA reported.Roughly 4.1 million Americans are turning 65 each year during the current Peak 65 demographic wave sweeping across the country. Many of these new retirees lack pensions or guaranteed income sources beyond Social Security, LIMRA noted in its analysis.Social Security’s uncertain future adds urgencyThe combined OASDI trust fund reserves will be depleted by late 2034, at which point beneficiaries would receive only 81% of benefits, the Social Security Trustees projected. A typical couple retiring shortly after insolvency could face an $18,400 annual benefit cut if Congress takes no corrective action, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated.How to decide if an annuity belongs in your retirement planFinancial planner Dana Anspach of Sensible Money recommends calculating your coverage ratio as the first step in this decision process. If less than 50% of your essential expenses are covered by guaranteed income, an annuity is worth serious consideration, Anspach told The Street’s Retirement Daily.List every non-negotiable monthly expense, including housing, food, insurance premiums, utilities, health care costs, and basic transportation needs.Add up your guaranteed monthly income from Social Security and any pension payments you currently receive from former employers.Calculate the gap between your essential expenses and your guaranteed income to determine exactly how much additional coverage you need.Consult a fee-only financial advisor who can model how adding an annuity would specifically affect your overall retirement income plan.The bottom line for your retirement securityFidelity’s message is backed by data that is difficult to dismiss for anyone approaching retirement or currently living in retirement. If your guaranteed income does not cover your essential expenses, your plan has a structural weakness that market returns alone may never fix. A lifetime income annuity is not right for every retiree, but for those facing a meaningful income gap, it offers certainty that basic bills will be paid.Talk to a qualified advisor, run the numbers yourself, and make the choice that lets you stop worrying about money every day. The retirement you worked decades to build deserves a plan that holds up no matter how long you live or what markets do.Related: Fidelity warns health care could derail retirement

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 dealSpring is a fun time of year for those who relish all things fashion. The thick, chunky fabrics of winter give way to thin, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. Warmer weather means sleeveless blouses, airy skirts, shorts with cute details, and chunky sandals. If you need to refresh your spring wardrobe and want something versatile and casual, you might just like the Automet 2-Piece Lounge Set, which is on sale for $25.This bestselling set normally retails for $37, but it’s up to 46% off thanks to a limited-time Amazon deal. Made of a blend of polyester, rayon, and spandex, this matching set will make you look instantly put together, whether you’re making a coffeehouse run or going to Target to run errands. But it’s also cozy enough to wear on a lazy Sunday at home while you catch up on your Netflix queue.Automet 2-Piece Lounge Set, From $20 (was $37) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?This is the kind of lounge set that you’ll turn to time and time again because it’s so versatile and easy to wear. The top has a slightly loose fit, a crew neck, and short sleeves and would be flattering on just about any body type. The shorts have a drawstring, two deep pockets, and a flowy leg that mirrors the cut of the matching top. The lounge set is available in a mind-boggling  36 color options, so no matter what your favorite color is, it’s probably here. You’ll get the best deal on the black, khaki, Kelly Green, and Sage Green options, but many of the others only cost a few dollars more. It is worth noting that 13 of the colors are not on sale, but there are so many to choose from that are discounted, we’d be surprised if you don’t find at least one among those you like. Caring for this set is easy, as it can be machine washed and dried on low heat. Pros and cons of the Automet 2-Piece Lounge SetPros:An unbeatable price point: $25 is a great price for this set, making each piece just $12.50.It’s available in 36 colors: All your favorite shades are here.Care is easy: Simply machine wash and tumble dry on low.Cons:Polyester is not for everyone: Even though this set is a blend of polyester, rayon, and spandex, not everyone likes wearing polyester.Some shoppers say it pills: If this is a concern for you, consider hand washing the set.Related: Walmart’s trendy woven tote bags start at only $13, and they’re perfect for the beachShoppers love this set, with more than 800 people giving it a five-star rating. “This set fits perfectly,” one wrote. “I advise that you order your true size. The material is soft and sturdy, extremely comfortable, and perfect for running errands, golf, or to wear with a cute pair of earrings and matching shoes for lunch with friends.”A second shopper wrote, “The fabric is soft and has a nice weight to it — not too thick, not too thin. It feels great and looks effortlessly put together. It fits true to size and washes well without losing shape or softness. Definitely one of my favorite go-to outfits!”Shop more deals Zocania Linen Short Set, $29 at AmazonGlamer 2-Piece Short Set, $24 (was $30) at AmazonWiholl 2-Piece Short Set, $24 (was $32) at AmazonWhether you’re lounging around the house, walking in the park, or going on a trip, the Automet 2-Piece Lounge Set is the perfect outfit. Grab it now while it’s on sale at Amazon and enjoy the spring weather in comfort and style.

Starting July 1, 2026, sweeping changes to federal student loan rules will reshape how Americans pay for higher education, particularly for graduate students, professional students and parents.The changes, enacted under last year’s legislation, introduce borrowing caps where none existed before and significantly narrow repayment options, Becca Craig, a wealth advisor with Focus Partners Wealth, said in a recent interview. For many households, the result will be a more complex and potentially more expensive path to financing college.For years, borrowers could rely on federal programs such as Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS loans to cover the full cost of attendance. That flexibility is now disappearing, Craig said.Instead, borrowers will face strict limits.Below is a transcript of the interview with Craig, edited for brevity and clarity.Student loan rules are changing: what borrowers need to know nowRobert Powell: For generations, higher education has been sold as one of the clearest paths to the American dream. But starting this summer, that path may be harder to navigate. Here to talk about that is Becca Craig, a financial adviser at Focus Partners Wealth. Becca, welcome.Becca Craig: Thanks so much for having me, Bob.A shifting landscape for college fundingPowell: So things are about to get harder for folks?Craig: I’d say things are going to get different. For generations, the idea of the American dream has been supported by going to college or another higher education institution. But starting this summer, because of changes enacted in last year’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, that path will be different to navigate and potentially harder.Tuition costs continue to rise, loan rules are changing, and some borrowing options that students once relied on are going away. The playbook for funding higher education is changing.

The flexibility of federal programs such as Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS is now disappearing.Latorre/Unsplash

New federal loan limits begin July 2026Powell: Where should families begin with these changes?Craig: The biggest shift starts July 1, 2026. Federal student loan lending rules will change most significantly for graduate students, professional students and parents.Graduate and professional students, along with parents using Parent PLUS loans, will face tighter caps and fewer repayment options.

Caps replace previously unlimited borrowingPowell: What do those caps look like?Craig: Previously, borrowers could use Grad PLUS loans to cover up to the full cost of attendance. That’s effectively going away for new borrowers.Students will now need to cover funding gaps through work, scholarships, savings or other resources. The new annual caps are:Graduate students: $20,500Professional students: $50,000Professional students include those pursuing fields such as medicine or law.Parent PLUS loans now cappedPowell: What about Parent PLUS loans?Craig: Those are changing significantly as well. Previously, parents could borrow up to the full cost of attendance minus aid.Now there will be:An annual cap of $20,000A lifetime cap of $65,000 per studentUndergraduate borrowing largely unchangedPowell: What about undergraduate students?Craig: There are no major changes at the undergraduate level. Existing annual and aggregate limits for subsidized and unsubsidized loans remain in place. The biggest impact is on graduate and professional education.Implications for Public Service Loan ForgivenessPowell: How do these changes affect Public Service Loan Forgiveness?Craig: The program itself isn’t changing directly. But lending limits could reduce how much borrowers can have forgiven.Many students may need to rely more on private loans, which are not eligible for forgiveness. That could significantly affect those pursuing careers in public service.Fewer repayment options going forwardPowell: What’s happening with repayment plans?Craig: The landscape is tightening. Previously, borrowers had nearly a dozen repayment options. For new loans after July 1, that narrows to two:Standard repaymentA new income-driven plan called RAPRepayment terms will depend on the amount borrowed:Under $25,000: 10 years$25,000 to $50,000: 15 years$50,000 to $100,000: 20 yearsMore than $100,000: 25 yearsLonger repayment terms may reduce monthly payments but extend debt burdens significantly.Planning strategies for familiesPowell: So what should families do?Craig: First, work closely with your school’s financial aid office to maximize scholarships, grants and work-study opportunities.Beyond that, families can consider:529 college savings plansRoth IRAsTaxable investment accounts529 plans offer tax-deferred growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified expenses. Some unused funds may even be rolled into a Roth IRA, subject to eligibility rules.A broader financial planning issueCraig: Education funding should not be viewed in isolation. It needs to be part of a broader financial plan because it affects cash flow, taxes, and long-term goals.This is especially important for families nearing retirement or considering wealth transfer strategies.The value of professional advicePowell: Should families seek professional help?Craig: Yes. Working with fiduciary advisers can help navigate savings, borrowing, and repayment strategies.Credentials to look for include:Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)Certified Student Loan Planner (CSLP®)Certified College Financial Consultant (CCFC)Each brings specialized expertise to different parts of the planning process.Final thoughts on student loans Craig: Don’t panic. Stay calm and plan thoughtfully.Education remains a valuable investment, whether through traditional college or vocational programs. The key is choosing the right funding and repayment strategy.Related: Wellness retailer files Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid rising debt

No sitting U.S. president had publicly endorsed a stock by its ticker symbol before Friday, April 10. Then President Donald Trump did it.The president posted on Truth Social, praising Palantir Technologies by name and ticker. “Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment. Just ask our enemies!!! President DJT,” he wrote. Within minutes, the stock ticked up roughly 3% from around $123, according to AOL.It did not last. By early afternoon, Palantir was down 3.7% and sliding again, The Hill reported. Shares closed the day at $128.Why the timing of President Trump’s Palantir post matteredThe endorsement landed during a brutal stretch for the stock. Palantir had fallen 14% to 16% over the prior five trading days and was down as much as 6% on Friday alone before Trump’s post hit, according to AOL. The stock is down approximately 24% since the start of 2026, The Hill noted.The pressure had been building all week. Palantir had been caught up in broader software sector fears about AI disruption, and short seller Michael Burry had intensified his public criticism of the company, arguing Anthropic was eating into its enterprise market.What the president’s post actually changedThe post gave Palantir a short-lived boost, but not a reversal. The temporary 3% jump showed that political attention can move a stock in real time. The fact that it could not hold the gain showed that sentiment alone does not change the underlying debate.More Palantir Palantir CEO delivers curt 8-word message to investorsVeteran analyst drops eye-popping price target on Palantir stockMorgan Stanley has a stark message for investors in Palantir stocksThat debate remains fierce. Palantir trades at approximately 109 times forward earnings against a sector median of around 21 times. Insiders have sold $432.9 million worth of shares in the past three months with zero purchases, according to AOL. The stock hit a 52-week high of $207.52 in November 2025 and has since fallen more than 38%, Stocktwits reported.Burry doubles down, despite Palantir’s presidential boostBurry posted on Substack on April 10 that he is sticking with his short position. He now holds June 2027 $50 puts and December 2026 $100 puts, and said flatly that Palantir “remains wildly overvalued,” according to CNBC.Burry said he has been short since fall 2025 and has rolled the position several times. “I am not selling these today,” he wrote, according to Stocktwits.That sets up a striking contrast. The president of the United States is publicly backing the stock, yet one of the market’s most famous short sellers is publicly betting against it.

President Trump’s social media praise of Palantir gave it a short-lived boost, but not a reversal.Coffrini /Getty Images

The bull case still has its own defendersWedbush analyst Dan Ives maintained an outperform rating and a $230 price target, calling Burry’s thesis a “fictional narrative.” Ives pointed to Palantir’s 70% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 2025 as evidence that the business remains strong, according to AOL.Palantir CEO Alex Karp has previously called Burry’s short positions “super weird” and “bats**t crazy.” Palantir has not publicly commented on Trump’s Truth Social post.Key figures in the Palantir story:Stock price at time of Trump post: Approximately $123Immediate reaction:Up 3% within minutesClosing price April 10:$128, down 3.7% on the dayWeekly decline before Trump’s post:14% to 16%Year-to-date decline:Approximately 24%52-week high:$207.52 in November 2025Forward P/E:Approximately 109x versus sector median of 21xFederal contracts secured last year:More than $900 millionWhat this means for investorsPalantir has deep ties to the U.S. government. It secured more than $900 million in federal contracts last year, including large-scale deals with the U.S. military under Project Maven and contracts with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, The Hill reported.Political support at the presidential level can reinforce the narrative around those contracts. But it does not change revenue growth rates, margin trajectories, or valuation multiples. For investors, the president’s post is a data point about political sentiment, not a reason to change a fundamental view on the stock.The week showed why Palantir is one of the most volatile names in the market. It is a defense story, an AI story, and now a political story simultaneously. Each of those threads can pull the stock in a different direction on any given day, often at the same time.Related: Something just changed with Palantir stock, and investors noticed

As I have reported for years regarding Americans’ personal finance concerns, employer-sponsored 401(k) plans are a vital part of one’s retirement savings.This is particularly important, considering that the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is only $2,071, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).For most people, that is not nearly enough to maintain their desired lifestyle after their careers.But AARP (the advocacy group for people 50 years of age and older) and financial services firm Fidelity warn Americans that there are some important 401(k) plan details to know.First, there are consequences for early withdrawals.”While there are ways to access 401(k) funds ahead of retirement, doing so may come at a cost,” wrote Fidelity. “That includes taxes, early withdrawal penalties, and lost potential growth in a tax-advantaged account.”“When you withdraw from a 401(k) before age 59-and-a-half, you may owe ordinary income taxes plus a 10 percent penalty, meaning you could lose 25 to 35 percent of what you take out,” said BetterWallet’s Marc Russell, according to AARP.”Translation: A $20,000 withdrawal might net you only $12,000 to $14,000 after taxes and penalties,” AARP added.Fidelity outlines 401(k) drawbacksAll investments accounts involve considerations to keep in mind. Fidelity lists a few others in addition to the early withdrawal penalties.Traditional 401(k)s require minimum distributions starting at age 73, even if the account holder does not need the money, and those withdrawals count as taxable income, which can push someone into a higher tax bracket.Roth 401(k)s do not require minimum distributions, allowing the money to continue growing tax‑free without mandatory withdrawals.Annual contribution limits apply to 401(k) plans, restricting how much an individual can save each year, whereas regular brokerage accounts have no contribution caps even though they lack the same tax advantages.All investment accounts carry market risk, meaning the value of investments can decline, although the S&P 500 has historically delivered average annualized returns of about 10%, with the understanding that past performance does not guarantee future results.Investment choices in a 401(k) may be limited because employers select the plan’s available options, while IRA holders can choose a provider that offers the specific investment types they want.Some 401(k) plans charge administrative and recordkeeping fees in addition to the underlying investment expenses, which can reduce overall returns.
Source: Fidelity
AARP explains 401(k) dilemma many Americans faceOne temptation American workers with 401(k) plans find themselves confronting is to use the money they have saved in a retirement account to pay off burdensome credit card debt.”You look at your 401(k) statement and see a solid balance, just sitting there. Then you look at your credit card bill and see the 20-plus percent interest adding up,” AARP wrote. “You might be tempted to think: Why not use some of those savings to wipe the debt slate clean?”More on personal finance:Zillow forecasts big mortgage change for U.S. housing marketAARP sounds alarm on major Social Security problemDave Ramsey bluntly warns Americans on 401(k)sEven though AARP acknowledges that dipping into retirement savings to pay off credit card debt is usually ill-advised, the organization also suggests there are times when a 401(k) loan can make sense.”Borrowing from a 401(k) is fundamentally different from taking a distribution,” AARP wrote. “Rather than permanently shortchanging your savings, you’re lending yourself money and paying it back — with interest — into your own account.” “There’s no tax penalty, no credit check and the interest goes to you, not a bank.”

While 401(k) plans are a vital component of Americans’ retirement savings, it is important for people to be aware of several key facts.Shutterstock

AARP outlines 401(k) loan scenarioHere’s a situation to consider when thinking about 401(k) loans, according to AARP.Carrying $20,000 in credit card debt at a 21% interest rate leads to very slow repayment when making minimum payments of roughly $400 a month, stretching the payoff period to more than a decade.Over that repayment horizon, the total interest cost would exceed $29,000, meaning you would pay more in interest than the original balance.A 401(k) loan allows you to borrow up to 50% of your vested balance or $50,000, whichever amount is smaller, under IRS rules.The interest rate on a 401(k) loan is usually the prime rate plus one or two percentage points, making it significantly lower than typical credit card rates.Borrowing $20,000 from a 401(k) at an interest rate of 7.75% and repaying it over five years results in a monthly payment that remains close to $400.The total interest paid over that five‑year period would be about $4,200, and every dollar of that interest is deposited back into your own retirement account rather than going to a lender.
Source: AARP
Related: Dave Ramsey sounds alarm on Social Security, 401(k)s

Netflix’s (NFLX) co-founder Reed Hastings has quietly picked up $500 million in stock-option gains since the start of 2025, MarketWatch reported.That number is unforgettable on its own. But the timing makes it even more interesting.Hastings is getting a huge payday, just as Netflix asks its subscribers to pay more again. This comes at a time when the company is also facing new questions about whether some past price hikes were too high. Investors in the U.S. have been pleased with the company’s most recent price hikes because they show that Netflix still has a lot of pricing power in a saturated streaming market. In Italy, on the other hand, a court has a completely unique opinion.That split is going to matter a lot, as I will discuss.In late March, Netflix raised the prices of all of its U.S. plans. This gave Wall Streetanother reason to think the company can keep making more money from its huge subscriber base. But a recent court decision in Rome deemed some of Netflix’s pricing terms and several past price hikes illegal, according to Hollywood Reporter. This means customers can get their money back, and it also makes it more likely that other European markets will push back.So the matter is now no longer just about an executive cashing in.The story is also about what’s driving Netflix stock right now: the company’s ability to raise prices, keep customers paying, and convince investors that the model still has room to grow. That plan is making Hastings richer. The question for shareholders is how much trouble with the law and complicated politics come with it.Reed Hastings has turned old Netflix options into a huge paydayHastings has been running the same playbook for months, and the latest filing shows just how profitable it has become.On April 1, he exercised options to buy 420,550 Netflix shares at $9.44 each and simultaneously sold 420,550 shares at a weighted-average price of $95.49. That single deal produced approximately $36.2 million.So far in 2026, Hastings has exercised options on roughly 1.65 million shares at an average price of $9.63 and sold them at an average price of $92.07. That gave him about $135.9 million in gains this year alone.The total for 2025 was even bigger. Hastings bought 3.73 million shares at an average price of $10.08 and sold them at an average price of $109.28, which was adjusted for the split. This made him about $370 million.Taken together, Hastings has pocketed about $505.9 million in just the past 16 months.Not every filing is a straight cash event. In February, he also disclosed a bona fide gift of 241,944 shares to the Hastings-Quillin Family Trust, of which he is a trustee. Even so, the broader pattern is clear. Hastings is clearly converting low-cost options into cash while Netflix stock remains strong enough to support it.That doesn’t mean he is walking away from the company. Hastings still owns, directly or indirectly, 21,163,516 Netflix shares, or about 0.5% of the shares outstanding. Based on Netflix’s April 2 closing price of $98.66, that stake was worth about $2.09 billion.That is why investors may not see the trades as a classic warning sign. Hastings is making money, but he is also still very much connected to Netflix’s future.Related: Goldman Sachs resets Netflix stock price target for rest of 2026Netflix stock’s path this year helps explain why these sales are not impacting the markets. Shares dropped much earlier in 2026, reaching a 15-month low of $75.86 on Feb. 12. Investors were worried about the company’s plans to buy Warner Bros. Discovery assets because they weren’t sure what the company would do with them.But sentiment turned fast after Netflix walked away from the transaction. From the Feb. 12 low through April 2, the stock surged 30.1%. By then, shares were up 5.2% in 2026, matching their gain in 2025 and beating the S&P 500’s 3.8% decline this year.The rebound made the bullish case even stronger. Netflix still has pricing power, leverage with subscribers, and room to grow profits.Netflix price hikes are boosting the stock but Italy is changing the riskNetflix’s latest U.S. price hike is giving Wall Street exactly what it wanted to see.In late March, the company raised its ad-supported plan to $8.99 per month from $7.99. Its standard plan climbed to $19.99 from $17.99, while its premium tier rose to $26.99 from $24.99. Extra-member pricing increased, too, with ad-supported add-ons moving to $6.99 and ad-free extra-member pricing rising to $9.99.Those increases do not signal a customer annoyance; instead, they provide a signal.More Streaming:Paramount Warner Bros. hostile bid has a catch for cable networksApple TV adds key feature Netflix droppedFacebook makes daring move to challenge Disney, NetflixNetflix is trying to prove it can keep lifting revenue without breaking demand, even as it contends with legacy media companies. Meanwhile, YouTube and other platforms stay fierce. Management has said that in 2026, it expects to spend $20 billion on content, up from $18 billion in 2025, and that full-year revenue would be between $50.7 billion and $51.7 billion. The business also said it expects ad sales to almost double.That is the good-news version of the story, and investors are throwing money at the matter. The Rome court’s decision, however, indicated that price hikes in 2017, 2019, 2021, and November 2024 were illegal for subscribers affected by that framework.Netflix has said it will fight back. But the ruling changes the conversation even before that process starts.Investors may need to ask more than just if Netflix can keep rising prices. They may also need to ask where it can safely raise prices and how much legal trouble it could face for past actions. According to the reporting, consumer advocates say that refunds and damages in Italy alone could cost billions if claims spread widely among the affected base.That makes pricing one of Netflix’s biggest strengths and one of its most obvious weaknesses.“Europe is now the real legal risk for Netflix’s pricing model,” regulatory attorney Braden Perry told TheWrap.It’s hard to miss the difference. Higher prices have helped the stock in the U.S. In Italy, people are saying that the same kind of pricing is illegal. If other European regulators or courts do the same thing, Netflix might have a harder time achieving the same easy pricing wins that investors have come to expect.

Netflix’s co-founder cashes in big as price hikes trigger fresh backlash.Dietsch/Getty Images

Why Hastings’ Netflix windfall matters more than it looksHastings’ option gains are huge, but the bigger takeaway is what it reveals about Netflix’s business.The firm is a company still convincing Wall Street that it can continue to grow subscriber numbers at a breakneck speed. That is one of the best and most defining features of the Netflix story. The company is no longer just a streaming pioneer chasing subscribers at no cost. It is now convincing investors to buy into a more mature model based on recurring revenue, advertising growth, tighter margins, and the idea that customers will accept price hikes because the product is still necessary.So far, that argument is working.Netflix turned down a big deal, raised prices, and still had the market on its side. Hastings, on the other hand, has been able to turn that confidence into a huge personal windfall without completely giving up on the stock.But Italy’s ruling is a timely reminder that the pricing power of any company is not unlimited. And at the same time, every market will have their own interpretation of how they see a company’s prices. A strategy that looks impressive in the U.S. can seem much riskier once consumer-protection laws enter the frame overseas.Key takeawaysReed Hastings has pocketed about $505.9 million beginning 2025 by exercising Netflix stock options and selling shares.Hastings made about $135.9 million from those sales in 2026 alone.Netflix recently raised the prices of all of its major U.S. subscription plans.Investors think it means they have the power to set prices.A court in Italy ruled that some of Netflix’s pricing terms and past price hikes were unlawful. Netflix plans to appeal, but the case raises bigger issues about how it sets prices in Europe.For shareholders, that is the real concern for now. Netflix is still being rewarded for charging more, but we are also entering a phase when these decisions will lead to more resistance. Hastings’ giant payday captures both sides of that reality in one number.It shows just how valuable Netflix’s business model is becoming. It also shows how much that model now depends on a pricing strategy that may be getting harder to defend everywhere.Related: Why Netflix’s biggest hit could hit its bottom line

Most financial planners will direct you to the 4% rule, a guideline that has shaped retirement planning conversations for more than three decades. The formula sounds clean. Withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one, adjust for inflation every year after, and your savings should survive a 30-year retirement.New research from the Schwab Center for Financial Research reveals that this widely followed formula carries structural problems most retirees never consider. The rule treats every retiree identically, ignoring differences in portfolio composition, planning horizon, and the reality that your spending patterns will shift throughout retirement.What Schwab found, and what it means for your specific financial future, could change how you approach every withdrawal from your retirement accounts.Schwab’s research identifies 6 problems with the 4% ruleThe 4% rule was created by financial planner William Bengen, according to CNBC. He analyzed U.S. market returns from 1926 to 1992 and concluded that a retiree withdrawing 4% in year one could adjust for inflation annually, without depleting a balanced portfolio over 30 years. The rule assumes a 50/50 split between stocks and bonds, relies on historical returns, and targets near-100% confidence that the money will last. The analysis, authored by Rob Williams and Chris Kawashima of the Schwab Center for Financial Research, outlines six core problems with the traditional approach.The rule is rigid and assumes you increase spending by inflation every year, regardless of how your portfolio performed or whether your actual expenses changed.It applies to a hypothetical 50/50 stock-and-bond portfolio, which may not match your allocation or how you adjust investments as you move through retirement.It relies on historical market returns, while Schwab’s own projections suggest that stock and bond returns over the next decade are likely to trail long-term historical averages.It assumes a 30-year time horizon, but the average remaining life expectancy for a 65-year-old is about 17.1 years for men and 19.9 years for women, according to the Social Security Administration’s period life expectancy data.It targets near-100% confidence that the portfolio survives, which forces you to spend far less than necessary to achieve that extreme margin of safety.It does not account for taxes or investment fees, which are paid from the amount withdrawn and directly reduce what you can use for living expenses each year.Your portfolio mix changes how much you can safely withdraw each yearSchwab’s data show that asset allocation has a relatively small impact on your sustainable first-year withdrawal rate. A conservative portfolio and a moderately aggressive one both land between roughly 4.3% and 4.5% for a 30-year retirement at 75% confidence.The real difference shows up in ending portfolio balances after 30 years. A moderately aggressive portfolio could end with roughly $5.7 million in remaining assets, compared to about $1 million for a conservative allocation, based on Schwab’s hypothetical projections using a $1 million starting balance.That gap matters because portfolio composition is not strictly a mathematical decision. Research shows the emotional pain of investment losses exceeds the satisfaction from equivalent gains, and that feeling intensifies in retirement. Choosing an allocation you can tolerate during a downturn is just as important as maximizing your potential ending balance.

Asset allocation barely shifts withdrawal rates but drives long-term outcomes, making risk tolerance as important as returns in retirement.DC Studio/Shutterstock

Targeting 75% to 90% confidence gives you a more realistic spending rangeSchwab’s framework asks you to choose a confidence level, which represents the percentage of simulated scenarios in which your portfolio did not run out of money. A 90% confidence level means that in 900 out of 1,000 projected scenarios, the portfolio still had a positive balance at the end of your designated time period.The firm recommends targeting a confidence level between 75% and 90%, rather than the near-100% level embedded in the original 4% rule. Aiming for 90% means spending less each year, with the trade-off being a lower chance of depleting your savings over a full retirement.More Personal Finance:Retirees following 4% rule are leaving thousands on the tableFidelity says a $500 policy could protect your entire net worthFidelity’s 4 Roth strategies could save your family a fortune in taxesA 75% confidence level gives you a higher annual spending limit and works well for retirees who can remain flexible with their budgets. Schwab’s position is that 75% represents a reasonable balance between the risk of overspending your portfolio too early and the risk of underspending and missing out on the retirement you planned for.The practical gap between these two levels can translate to thousands of dollars per year in additional spending power. For a $1 million portfolio over a 30-year horizon, the difference between a 75% and 90% confidence withdrawal rate is roughly 0.6 to 0.7 percentage points, or approximately $6,000 to $7,000 in year one of retirement.Schwab’s personalized withdrawal rates based on your time horizonSchwab provides a framework linking your planning time horizon to a recommended asset allocation and withdrawal rate range. These figures are based on 10-year projected returns, updated annually by Charles Schwab Investment Management.Schwab’s suggested withdrawal rates by time horizon30-year horizon: Moderate allocation (35% bonds, 35% large-cap stocks, 15% international, 10% mid/small-cap, 5% cash), with an initial withdrawal rate between 3.8% and 4.5% at 75% to 90% confidence20-year horizon: Moderately conservative allocation (50% bonds, 25% large-cap stocks, 10% international, 10% cash, 5% mid/small-cap), with an initial withdrawal rate between 5.4% and 6.0%10-year horizon: Conservative allocation (50% bonds, 30% cash, 15% large-cap stocks, 5% international), with an initial withdrawal rate between 10.3% and 10.7%These rates assume you follow the same spending rule throughout retirement without adjustments. Schwab recommends reviewing your spending rate at least annually and recalculating based on your current portfolio balance.What other retirement researchers are finding about safe withdrawal ratesSchwab is not alone in questioning the traditional 4% approach. Morningstar’s 2025 State of Retirement Income research sets the safe starting withdrawal rate for 2026 retirees at 3.9%, assuming a 30-year time horizon and a 90% probability of success.Morningstar’s research also found that retirees willing to accept variability in their annual spending can safely start withdrawing at rates approaching 5.7%. Dynamic withdrawal strategies, where you adjust spending based on market performance, consistently supported higher starting rates than a fixed approach.”Don’t just take that 3.9% and run with it. You probably can and should enlarge your spending if you are willing to be flexible,” said Christine Benz, Morningstar director of personal finance and retirement planning.Bengen himself has revised his original 4% figure upward over the years, most recently suggesting 4.7% as the worst-case historical safe withdrawal rate. Retirees who stick with 4% are likely “cheating themselves a little bit” of the retirement they earned, he told CNBC in 2025.How to build a spending plan that reflects your specific retirementSchwab’s core message is that flexibility is the single most important factor in sustainable retirement spending. If you can reduce discretionary expenses during a bear market or delay a major purchase when your portfolio dips, you dramatically increase the probability that your money lasts.Steps to personalize your withdrawal strategyDetermine how long you need your money to last by reviewing your health, family history, and the SSA’s life expectancy calculator at ssa.gov.Factor in Social Security, pensions, annuities, and other non-portfolio income before calculating how much you need to withdraw from investments each year.Choose a confidence level between 75% and 90% based on your comfort with risk and your ability to adjust spending if markets decline.Review your withdrawal rate at least annually and recalculate based on your current portfolio balance, not just the original starting amount.Consider required minimum distributions as part of your withdrawal amount if you hold tax-deferred accounts such as a traditional IRA or 401(k).The goal is not to find one perfect number that works for every year of your retirement. Your spending will shift, markets will fluctuate, and your priorities will change over time. A plan that accounts for all of those variables will serve you far better than any fixed rule.The 4% rule is a starting point for your retirement, not a complete planThe 4% rule gave millions of Americans a simple answer to one of the most complicated questions in personal finance. Schwab’s research makes clear that simplicity comes with trade-offs. If you treat 4% as a rigid formula, you either spend too conservatively and miss the retirement you worked for, or you ignore risks that could leave you short later.Your withdrawal rate should reflect your personal timeline, your portfolio, your other income sources, and your willingness to adjust. Use Schwab’s framework as a guide, review your plan every year, and stay flexible enough to respond when life and markets shift.Related: Schwab says these 9 money mistakes could wreck you

While not every American would be considered a picky eater, it’s a major challenge to introduce unfamiliar food to people outside what they’re already comfortable with. “Consumers are programmed from early childhood to prefer familiar foods,” according to the academic paper Consumer responses to novel and unfamiliar foods written by Hely Tuorila and Christina Hartmann.That applies to restaurants and food sold in supermarkets.”Consumers say they want adventurous new flavors and international cuisine, but many are hesitant to try something unfamiliar – creating a ‘conundrum’ for manufacturers and marketers introducing global flavors, Food Navigator USA reported.When a new restaurant chain opens it faces the challenge of getting customers through the door, a challenge which is made harder when the location serves a cuisine that’s no widely known in that area.That’s at least partially why Hawaiian fast food/fast casual chain Mo’ Bettahs has closed multiple locations and exited a key market.Getting people to try new foods is a challengeNoodles & Company, which sells a mix Asian, Mediterranean and American dishes, laid out the challenges of bringing a brand that does not have a national profile into a new market.”In new markets, the length of time before average sales for new restaurants stabilize is less predictable and can be longer as a result of our limited knowledge of these markets and consumers’ limited awareness of our brand. New restaurants may not be profitable and their sales performance may not follow historical patterns,” the chain shared in a Form S-1 annual report filed with the SEC.Chef Brian Ouk, who runs a restaurant, Sousdey, selling Cambodian food, explained that it’s a challenge to present dishes people aren’t familiar with.”When they come in, they prefer ordering dishes they already know. Nothing too spicy or too sour,” he told Cambodianess.com. “It’s very rare for customers to want to try something unfamiliar.”Hawaiian food is new to many mainland AmericansWhile, I’ve been to 47 states, I have never visited Hawaii, and like many Americans, I have only seen its food on TV, most recently when Guy Fieri took his family there and did a Food Network special on it.About 7 million visitors visited Hawaii from the U.S. mainland in 2025, according to data from Hawaii’s Department of Tourism. Over 60% of those are returning visitors, and people from the western half of the U.S. visit Hawaii in about twice the number of people from east coast.In a country of over 342 million, according to Census.gov, that’s very few Americans, relatively, with exposure to Hawaiian cuisine. That makes expanding Mo Bettahs, which specializes in Hawaiian plate lunches — a sort of pick-your-protein Chipotle-style fast casual concept — a challenge.Mo Bettahs closed all its Kansas City locations”A notice posted on doors of at least two Kansas City-area locations said the company “enjoyed our time in the Kansas City area but have made the difficult decision to close our doors,” KCTV 5 reported.The notice also said the final day of operation was April 10.Prior to these closures the chain had been growing after being acquired by Trive Capital and Blue Marlin Partners in 2024. “Mo’ Bettahs was founded in 2008 by Hawaiian brothers Kimo and Kalani Mack to bring the traditional Hawaiian plate lunch family recipes the Mack brothers grew up eating on Oahu to guests on the mainland. The menu offers an array of authentic, boldly flavored, freshly grilled or fried proteins like teriyaki chicken and steak, kalua pig, pulehu chicken, katsu chicken, and shrimp tempura,” according to a Trive Capital press release. More Restaurants McDonald’s latest menu missteps could have a major domino effect76-year-old comfort food chain closes most of its restaurantsFast food giant is coming for Starbucks with fan-approved launchPrevious owner, Savory Brands, acquired the company from its founders in 2017 and grew it from 6 to 55 locations. And, while it has exited Kansas City and closed those locations, the chain now shows 70 locations on its website. The closed locations have been removed.Mo’ Bettahs closes location at a glance Mo’ Bettahs has closed all of its Kansas City metro locations, including restaurants in Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Liberty, and Overland Park, in a sudden market exit reported in April 2026, according to KCTV 5.The closures mark an exit from a market the Hawaiian fast-casual chain entered around 2022 as part of an expansion beyond its Utah base, while the brand continues operating in other states such as Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Texas, and Oklahoma, added KCTV 5.Mo’ Bettahs was founded in Utah in 2008 by brothers Kimo and Kalani Mack and built its reputation on Hawaiian plate lunches before expanding rapidly in the 2020s under private-equity-backed growth, according to a press release.

Plate lunches are a Hawaiian tradition.Shutterstock

Mo Bettahs is also growingJust one day before closing its Kansas City operations, Mo Bettahs shared expansion plans. “Mo’ Bettahs today announced plans to enter three new markets — Phoenix, Indianapolis and Minneapolis — as the Hawaiian-style fast-casual brand accelerates its national expansion,” Nation’s Restaurant News reported. The chain also shared that it has been growing its existing store sales.“Eighteen consecutive years of same-store sales growth is rare in this industry, and it doesn’t happen by accident,” said Rob Ertmann, CEO of Mo’ Bettahs. “It reflects disciplined execution, the quality and authenticity of our menu, and the loyalty of our guests. As we enter these new markets, we’re scaling with focus and protecting the standards and values that have defined Mo’ Bettahs since it began in 2008.”He did not comment on the shutdowns.Related: McDonald’s rival franchisee files Chapter 11, 65 restaurants at risk