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The Street

Amazon’s rustic corner shelf offers space-saving storage for $26

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

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 deal

An empty corner can be one of the easiest places in a home to overlook. The spot beside a bathroom vanity, next to a kitchen cabinet, or in a narrow office corner. In a closet, it can provide a place for items that need to stay organized, or in any other corner of the house, it can help you tidy up your place while also maximizing the potential that your home offers without taking up tons of floor space that you already use. 

The triangular Wouzglk Rustic Corner Shelf makes it easy to use those overlooked places. It’s a great option to place by the front door to collect your bag, keys, and other accessories, or place it in your room to use as a bedside table if you have your bed pushed up against a corner. At $26, it’s an affordable and versatile way to tidy up small items around your home while also adding some stylish decor. 

Wouzglk Rustic Corner Shelf, $26 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?

Standing almost 66 inches tall and 12 inches wide, it takes up a relatively small area while providing five tiers of storage. Four shelves remain open for books, plants, decor, towels, bedside essentials, and kitchen accessories, while the cabinet offers closed storage space for items that you want to keep clean or hidden, working well for holding messy dog walking accessories, first-aid items, or other smaller items that don’t look great on open shelving. The shelves offer over 15 inches of spacing, with room to arrange different-sized items. The cabinet also features magnetic doors that help keep the door closed while still keeping the items easy to access. 

Related: Amazon’s $35 foldable and stackable rolling organizer set holds up to 150 pounds

The construction combines a reinforced metal frame with thick medium-density fiberboard with a wood veneer that’s easy to clean. Each shelf holds up to 22 pounds, and adjustable foot pads keep it level. If you want extra support, it also features an anti-tip wall bracket. The rustic brown wood-grain finish and black metal accents give the piece a rustic farmhouse-inspired look that works well in a variety of homes. The MDF board is scratch-resistant and waterproof, making it great for plants or as a multi-use drink stand and storage area next to the sofa. 

Details to know

Storage: It includes four shelves and one cabinet. 

Weight capacity: Each shelf can hold up to 22 pounds.

Versatility: This shelf can be used anywhere from the front entryway to the bedroom, offering an area to set extra items, essentials, and more. 

“I purchased this for my office, and it looks better than I thought,” one shopper wrote.Another buyer wrote, “It’s a very nice little corner shelf, and easy to put together. I recommend it.”

Shop more deals

Choezon Corner Shelf, $36 (was $40) at Amazon

Higdbfe 5-Tier L-Shaped Corner Shelf, $65 (was $80) at Amazon

Choezon Corner shelf, $34 (was $43) at Amazon

The Wouzglk Rustic Corner Shelf combines versatility and practicality at an extremely low price. For just $26, you could grab a few of these shelves to use around the house without overwhelming your space. 

Airline investment company refiles for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

Between the spike in jet fuel prices and regular operating cost issues that often make aviation an unlucrative industry to get into, dozens of small and mid-size airlines filed for bankruptcy or shut down entirely in the first half of 2026.

The May 2026 collapse of Spirit Airlines is the most prominent case. But other major bankruptcy-related shutdowns include Mexican holiday carrier Magnicharters and British cargo airline European Cargo.

Argentine low-cost carrier Flybondi is, while not permanently shut down, currently also facing its own financial and operating crisis after authorities in Brazil blocked it from selling tickets to flights onto or out of the country due to a high rate of cancelations since the start of the summer. As rumors of a potential bankruptcy swirl, the airline is currently promising to restart flights by mid-September.

Airline investment firm 777 Partners wins move to refile bankruptcy in Texas

Another major bankruptcy came on July 16, 2026, when Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Established in 2005 by Josh Wander and Stephen Pasko, the investment firm started out by acquiring several soccer clubs in Europe and later bought major stakes in several low-cost airlines.

Related: Another airline shuts down, cancels all flights due to low demand

Two of the carriers 777 Partners backed, including Australian airline startup Bonza and Canadian budget airline Flair Airlines, ended up in bankruptcy in the last two years.

777 Partners also faced a string of financial and legal problems, including a Department of Justice investigation into money laundering that ended up with co-founder Joshua Wander and Chief Financial Officer Damien Alfalla being charged with fraud of over $500 million in October 2025.

The Chapter 11 filing was an effort to eliminate over $2 million in debt while, according to the latest update, 777 Partners just won a bid to move an involuntary Chapter 7 liquidation initiation against it from Florida to Texas.

Bonza was a short-lived Australian airline backed by 777 Partners.Bonza

What is happening with the multiple bankruptcy petitions against 777 Partners

The Miami judge overseeing the case argued that “Texas is the stronger administrative forum” to hear the petition. For the investment firm, this is a win because it allows it to tap into more than $8.6 million in debtor-in-possessor funds while also halting the petition to liquidate it filed in Miami.

That said, the firm still faces more than 23 bankruptcies from creditors in different states.

More Travel News:

Another low-cost airline is betting big on Guatemala travel

There is a very cool Irish version of swimming pigs in The Bahamas

Unexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026

September and October are no longer the cheap time to book that trip

Other airlines that filed for bankruptcy in 2026:

Spirit Airlines: The largest airline shutdown of the year occurred when Spirit Airlines canceled all remaining flights on May 2. Although the airline had filed for Chapter 11 protection twice before, the skyrocketing price of jet fuel dealt the final blow to its operations.

Magnicharters: The Mexican low-cost airline canceled all of its flights until May 2026 in a shutdown that left thousands stranded.

Starflite Aviation: Houston-based Starflite Aviation had its AOC license revoked in March 2026, amid FAA claims that owners falsified pilot training records to bypass safety audits.

AlpAvia: Slovenian charter airline AlpAvia also shut down in March 2026 over financial problems.

Related: Backers of bankrupt airline shut down in Chapter 11 arrested for fraud

Nvidia just demolished one of Wall Street’s biggest AI fears

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

For much of 2026, it’s been a strange time to be Nvidia. Its business kept growing, but investors became harder to convince.

That was, until this week.

Shares of Nvidia (NVDA) jumped 6.8% on Aug. 27 after the artificial-intelligence chipmaker did something it rarely does. Management looked well beyond the next quarter and informed investors of the growth it still expects ahead.

Nvidia anticipates sales to climb about 70% in its next fiscal year ending in January 2028. The unusually long-range estimate helped ease one of the greatest anxieties around the AI trade: that expenditure on data centers and AI infrastructure is approaching a peak, Reuters said.

The reaction was massive. Nvidia was on track to add about $296 billion in market value in a single session, Reuters noted.

And the rally wasn’t limited to Nvidia.

Other AI-related chip firms gained more than $150 billion in value, with Intel, Micron, Broadcom, and U.S.-listed shares of SK Hynix rising between 1.3% and 3.5%. Cloud startups CoreWeave and Nebius, funded by Nvidia, also rose.

Suddenly, it was a simple warning from investors: The AI infrastructure boom may be closer to over.

“AI has reached its inflection point. It’s doing useful work,” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said.

Nvidia gives Wall Street numbers it can’t easily ignore

The stock may have been in play on the longer-term view, but Nvidia’s latest quarterly results illustrate why investors took it seriously.

For the fiscal second quarter, revenue was $96.2 billion, up 106% year over year and up 18% sequentially.

Data Center revenue was a whopping $89 billion, up 117% year over year.

Nvidia also reported GAAP operating income of $63.7 billion and net income of $59.7 billion. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.22. Gross margin was unchanged at 75%.

Related: Nvidia customers face 15% AI price shock

For some context, Nvidia had $46.7 billion in total sales the same quarter last year. Thus, in 12 months, it gained about $50 billion in quarterly sales.

The corporation isn’t signaling a slowdown anytime soon, either.

For the fiscal third quarter, Nvidia expects the following:

Revenue of about $108 billion, plus or minus 2%

GAAP and adjusted gross margins of roughly 74%

Operating expenses of approximately $9.2 billion on a GAAP basis

No Data Center compute revenue from China included in its outlook

Those metrics matter to far more than just Nvidia shareholders.

The world’s biggest tech companies have poured vast sums of money into establishing AI infrastructure, raising worries whether firms such as Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta will be able to make enough money from AI to justify their investment.

Nvidia effectively stands at the cash register of that infrastructure boom.

Nvidia keeps selling processors, networking equipment, and increasingly comprehensive artificial intelligence systems if clients keep building.

That makes Nvidia’s 70% growth forecast more than corporate guidance. It is essentially a projection of where the greater AI economy is going.

Nvidia’s $296 billion surge came down to one surprising signal.Bloomberg / Getty Images

Nvidia’s next chip is already becoming the center of the story

Vera Rubin, another reason Wall Street went crazy, is Nvidia’s next-gen AI platform.

Rubin is now moving into full production, with systems running at partners including Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, CoreWeave, and Nebius.

At least 16 brokerages upped their Nvidia price estimates after the results. The analysts’ optimism is being fueled by demand for Rubin.

More Nvidia:

Nvidia just made a move Wall Street wasn’t ready for

Nvidia just locked down deal that changes AI race

Nvidia stock is doing something it hasn’t done in years

The company is also expanding how it seeks clients.

It’s no longer only a few major tech companies driving demand for AI infrastructure, says Huang. The buildout is gradually being joined by frontier AI laboratories, startups, governments, industrial corporations, and enterprises.

And that diversification is important because one of the greatest issues about Nvidia has been concentration.

The economics are tough for competitors to overcome.

Nvidia’s forward price-to-earnings multiple was about 17.9 times, compared with 37.2 for Advanced Micro Devices and 46.2 for Intel, Reuters reported. This reflects how rapidly analyst earnings estimates for Nvidia have risen relative to its share price.

That valuation comparison is eye-popping for a company that merely doubled its quarterly revenue.

Nvidia’s monster forecast still carries a major risk

But there is another aspect to the remarkable success of Nvidia.

Producing enough hardware to fulfill the AI industry’s needs has become a challenge.

Nvidia’s supply chain commitments have reportedly increased to about $279 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. This more than doubles a prior $119 billion level, as the company seeks to lock in essential components, including high-bandwidth memory.

Memory supply matters most because if vendors cannot deliver enough advanced memory and other components, then Nvidia cannot simply make unlimited AI accelerators.

That creates an unusual situation: Supply, not demand, may be Nvidia’s biggest near-term problem.

Already, Nvidia’s gross-margin projection for the third quarter is down to 74% from 75% in the second quarter. Even if revenue growth is strong, higher memory prices could weigh on profitability.

There are other dangers.

OpenAI and a handful of hyperscalers are building their own proprietary AI chips, which could reduce their dependence on Nvidia over the long term. China is another question mark, with U.S. export limits restricting Nvidia’s ability to sell its most powerful processors there.

Nvidia notably assumes zero China Data Center compute revenue in its third-quarter forecast.

And then there is the biggest concern of all: Will the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on AI infrastructure ever yield enough returns for Nvidia’s customers?

Nvidia’s forecast changes the AI debate

Nvidia’s profits are significant to ordinary investors because the business is now a kind of real-time measure of worldwide AI spending.

So the discussion around Nvidia is evolving.

For a good part of 2026, investors weren’t questioning whether AI was expanding; they wanted to know when that growth would start to taper off.

Nvidia suddenly offered them a whole new explanation.

Revenue has doubled. Data Center sales more than doubled. Rubin is going into production. Management is projecting another big growth year.

The bullishness has become so intense that Raymond James analyst Simon Leopold allegedly envisions a route for Nvidia to eventually surpass $1 trillion in yearly revenue, MarketWatch reported. This may happen around the fiscal year ending January 2029, though current consensus projections are well below that.

This figure should not be interpreted as a forecast on which investors can rely. But its presence alone shows how vastly different the scale of the company is.

Three years ago, the question was whether Nvidia would rule the emerging market for AI accelerators.

Now investors are talking about whether a semiconductor business might one day earn something close to $1 trillion in revenue every year.

That’s the encouraging news for Nvidia stockholders, and the reason why expectations may suddenly be nearly as spectacular as the company’s results.

Related: Bank of America doubles down on Nvidia stock

Will a Fed rate hike hurt stocks? Here’s how to position now

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

Transcript:

Caroline Woods:My next guest says the odds of a fed rate hike are substantially higher than markets are pricing. Joining me now is Ben Emons, founder and CIO of Fed Watch Advisors. Ben, great to have you here.

Ben Emons:Good to be here Caroline.

Caroline Woods:Especially big day with Kevin Warsh just finishing up his speech at Jackson Hole. We’ll get to the market implications. But first markets pricing in roughly a 45% chance of another hike come September. Your models are pointing to a more than 70% chance. So tell us what is your model picking up that the market is missing?

Ben Emons:So most of the fed members currently are very about inflation. And they’re trying to say we need to get inflation under control. At a speech with Kevin Warsh focus on that as well. So before the speech the probability is around 70%. It’s likely after the speech even higher, which indicates that within the fence there there’s a clear consensus now that they need to take a step of action, which likely means they will raise rates if it isn’t in September and it’s in October.

Ben Emons:But in some near-term, rates are going to likely go a bit higher to try to push down inflation because it’s just not going in the right direction.

Caroline Woods:Well, we’ve actually seen the market reaction is kind of muted. First we saw stocks a little bit lower. Now I’m actually looking at the S&P that’s a little bit higher. Is a rate hike bad for stocks.

Ben Emons:I’d say no. And here’s why. In this environment where the economy is growing really well and has a lot of investment. If you put a rate hike in the system, it starts to like slow down inflation. As that happens, the economy actually gets breathing room and can actually grow a little more. But this inflation is holding spending back is holding incomes to extend back.

Ben Emons:So I think particularly consumers retail would benefit from a rate hike simply because a rate hike puts a bit more restriction as it calls into the financial system. And that’s that sort of filters through the economy. Price starts to moderate a bit. And that’s actually a bullish backdrop for stocks even though inflation is still there. And they may have to hike again at some point.

Ben Emons:We don’t know that. I think it’s a bullish outcome.

Caroline Woods:So if your model is right and the fed does hike in September, what’s one area of the market you’d want to own. And what’s one area of the market for you to avoid.

Ben Emons:So I definitely want to own consumer discretionary because those are the sectors that should benefit. You know people’s incomes are lower than their normally is really because inflation is higher than normal. So they should benefit I think. And then you see that you would like to see more spending from consumers following maybe the areas where that is not.

Ben Emons:So let’s say then CDSs would be say staples or materials and or some of the health care sectors. But other than that, it’s actually quite broad. In fact on the economy inflation moderates. So overall it’s actually a good, good opportunity to rotate and not stay only in tech. But look at other other sectors like consumer discretionary and retail.

Caroline Woods:Would there be a delay though, because I would think that higher interest rates would mean the consumer would be facing even higher prices if they’re looking for things like mortgages, say that type of thing. But if the ultimate goal is to bring down inflation and then prices come down, eventually they’d pay lower prices. But wouldn’t higher interest rates actually hurt the consumer unless we’re talking about savings accounts?

Ben Emons:It could be. But the way this mechanically works in the bond market is that if the Santa Fe series about bringing inflation down and by putting rate hikes in the system that are quite predictable, long term interest rates actually decline. You know, 30 years ago, 1996, that was the case to Jackson Hole speech from Greenspan focused on price stability.

Ben Emons:And he was very strong about that. And the ten year yield was a 7% at that time and went down to 6%. So today we’re at over 5% in the ten year. It may start to decline, though, because Gavin Warsh today two had a sort of similar tone. We cannot let inflation continue this way and a focus on bringing it down if you’re doing it in a predictable moderate rates, and if slamming the brakes with raising interest rates really quickly, then yields are likely to decline.

Ben Emons:And that itself will be good for housing too. So eventually the housing market housing sector, I think it will be an out of play to think of. I was again, consumers are probably be going to benefit because consumer prices may start tomorrow for me.

Caroline Woods:If investors are, the market isn’t if they’re not adequately pricing in this rate hike yet though, what happens when they do? Does that mean we’ll see the market dip to price it in beforehand.

Ben Emons:Is mechanically maybe a little bit possible, but technically what happens is that money is also very fluctuating. No, they change day to day, including in my model. So it’s a bit more like a projection or a model idea. People are looking and saying, okay, there’s a decent chance there’s if it’s more than 50%, that’s a decent chance that the fed will move.

Ben Emons:If there’s no surprise in their language ahead of the meeting or at the meeting, then the market will not react negatively. It will. It will actually be digested easily, so to speak, and likely will see the market getting relief rally. This is what happened in 1996 actually. And it’s I think this time the same case.

Caroline Woods:A relief rally. But the S&P 500 is already only 1% away from all time highs. So as you think about where the market goes from here, are you bullish and how much higher can it go.

Ben Emons:I’m definitely bullish. You know just take the earnings and investment in the economy for the fundamental reasons. There’s nothing to be really negative about. If we also deal with the Federal Reserve. That’s not going to derail that fundamental backdrop by just aggressively raising rates. But they’re doing it moderately. Then it only becomes a more bullish outcome because you’re getting growth investments good earnings with inflation moderating.

Ben Emons:You know and I think that’s the case overall. So the S&P could easily reach 8000 or more. And I’ll be in a camp of others with gold for this video. Because of projectiles. How the economy can behave under a banner will moderate inflation. That’s a pretty good outcome.

Caroline Woods:So if I have cash on the sidelines, am I putting it to work right now or am I waiting?

Ben Emons:I would already put investments in the market. Currently, I would not sit on the sidelines with so much cash. There’s not any type of like major calamity happening currently. The conflict with Iran has really moderated, although they have to figure out the Strait of Hormuz and that sort of thing. It’s not really going to deter the market any longer.

Ben Emons:The only thing that I could think of as an uncertainty, Haniff is the midterm elections, but that’s still about nine weeks away. We get the fed meeting in between. So I would be more focused on that and thinking if I don’t described it’s just scenario and the fact that’s going to morally maybe raise interest rates once or twice in the future.

Ben Emons:It’s all very predictable. You want to put money into work today.

Caroline Woods:And let’s talk about the areas that you’re most bullish on. Obviously you said consumer discretionary would benefit from a fed rate hike as long as are moderate rates and not anything really aggressive. What other areas of the market do you like here?

Ben Emons:Well, I feel like much the same in technology. I think that the software sector now making a recovery, it makes a lot of sense because there was someone in this place AI is actually enhancing software. So I think that’s an opportunity still there as a lot of stocks are much more low values, particularly in price. And those in, say, the parabolic seven and I dove, you know, that have really high stock prices.

Ben Emons:And it was a particular semiconductor companies. And then I think the financials are in a really good place. You know they got added the capital that has continued to be regulatory relief. And if an economy picks up it’s more credit is more lending. So I think that’s a good sector. Obviously consumer discretionary. And I would play on energy.

Ben Emons:You know energy is ultimately, you know, they have benefited from the higher oil prices. These oil prices are going to decline so easily. If anything the economy grows better, oil demand and demand for energy. But the conflict itself keeps oil prices elevated. Given a lot of your profit margin to oil companies. So I’d be bullish there.

Caroline Woods:Can you give us any specific names that you would definitely have in your portfolio in a fed hiking environment?

Ben Emons:Well, my my top three that I also work with clients on is I like Citigroup. That’s a great bank. It’s really major recovery now finally. And I like IBM because it’s a very diversified play. And I.

Caroline Woods:Even after earnings.

Ben Emons:Even have earnings. So it’s a really diversified play. And I like micron as into its taking a much more better lead and really captures now more and more market share in the semi space as much as that stock as original loss. That’s an attractive opportunity. Cost is low. Multiple is like a low, low valuation stock. And I could think of Goldman Sachs as a final one, which I always like because it’s capital markets.

Ben Emons:This is the environment. Capital markets are thriving especially I think even with a rate hike from the feds, it’s not going to derail the capital markets. You know optimism. So Goldman me out to be.

Caroline Woods:In you’d buy all four.

Ben Emons:Right now I have all four investors.

Caroline Woods:But if you didn’t own them now there’s an attractive entry point.

Ben Emons:Still an attractive entry point here. And all of these stocks.

Caroline Woods:What happens if the fed doesn’t raise rates and inflation does tick higher or stay high.

Ben Emons:Yeah that would that would be a little different scenario. Because then you get the feelings in the bond market is the fed is doing enough that they feel that the traders sick, but they go behind the curve. And I guess that means that the fed is just not enough. Ahead of this problem of the what is inflation could become, then?

Ben Emons:I don’t believe that just will happen. But to your point, if the fed gets too cautious, then I do think long term interest rates will go back higher. That would then put some dampening pressure on the on the overall market. And that’s likely the case.

Caroline Woods:And what’s the takeaway for bond investors right now. Because we have a ten year yield sitting right around 4.7%. The two year old as you said, is above 5%. I think it was 5.2 last I checked. How should those retail investors who are sitting in fixed income or contemplating, you know, adding some bond exposure? What should they be thinking about and where are the opportunities or what do they avoid?

Ben Emons:So it’s interesting from the bond markets and the stock market, I understand the bond market is like a supermarket. There’s a lot of different things you can buy. They’re very different stocks right. So you can buy securities that are floating rates. You can buy securities that are issued by banks. You can buy treasuries. Emerging markets international. There’s all kinds of ideas I’ve been and then I run this fixed income strategy for my clients.

Ben Emons:I keep a very diversified strategy where I have these different types of securities in there, floating rates, security preferred, which is like a bank issued security, some emerging markets and an international diversification. Corporate bonds, high quality corporate bonds, as well as some higher yielding bonds. So you take that sort of mix and you keep your interest rate sensitivity a bit lower than normal.

Ben Emons:You can outperform indices, you can have a decent yields. And I would have had to know said municipal bonds are attractive because that’s the tax exempt opportunity just but the yields are something like around 4% tax exempt yields. That’s to me attractive a story.

Caroline Woods:So for the everyday retail investor who still wants growth in their portfolio but also wants and diversified exposure, how much of the portfolio should be in stocks and how much should be in fixed income?

Ben Emons:I think it’s still sort of like take all of an 80% stocks, 20% bond environment. Why? Wow, I should just ask me before this. Uncertainty about interest rates is still higher than normal. So there’s some volatility and that should be expensive. The last bit of interest did go up again. We also have to keep in mind that although the fed may be successful with future action to bring inflation down, until we actually see that that’s important for bond investors.

Ben Emons:Secondly, the economy continues to grow. One thing that people should know is that if GDP gross domestic product goes up, so do long term interest rates. It’s a close relationship historically always been there. Conversely, if GDP declines, interest rates go down. So in a strong growth environment. So I’ve been advising my clients. You could do 8020 on the allocation.

Ben Emons:If you like bonds you should be more assured of maturity bonds between anywhere between T-bills and say up to five years and pick the ones I mentioned just to diversify the exposure. Then I guess you could have maybe up to 40% in bonds and do the 60% in stocks.

Caroline Woods:I do know that 8020 equals 164 equals 100. But what about cash? Any cash in the portfolio? Because the one thing with an interest rate hike is I might actually get an email from my online savings account saying your rate has been increased versus the decreases that I’ve been getting.

Ben Emons:Well, think of cash as an asset that brings the volatility portfolio really down. Because if you put things in cash it doesn’t move in any way. Right. So that’s the can at times be as anti-Jewish if you are in certain periods. But it’s an opportunity cost much. That means, you know, sitting in cash, you get some interest on it.

Ben Emons:But if you had invested cash in stocks, you could have had significantly more return. So you have to make a bit trade off there. Look at it more like tactical. You keep cash at times on the sidelines too. Laid out outrun.

Caroline Woods:But now is not one of those times.

Ben Emons:I don’t think this is the time to be in high cash allocation. And I’m thinking there like 1,020% of folio in cash. That would be high, something I always like 3 to 5%. I sort of like a buffer for whatever you need it for, or to eventually put it to work in the market, but not 20%, because this is not environment that is.

Ben Emons:So let’s say uncertain and disastrous if you will do the whole damage. Okay.

Caroline Woods:Okay. So just to wrap it up, what is the biggest risk to this market? What would need to happen for you to want to be in more cash? Because it doesn’t sound like it’s inflation or fed rate hike or Iran. So what’s the biggest risk?

Ben Emons:Well, there’s one iceberg speed bump ahead of us. It’s called the midterm elections. And if you follow the prediction markets on Kelsey or bull market, there’s a there’s a decent chance that the Congress may go. But they call blue like a Democrat. What does that mean. That means that’s potentially the data center growth that we’ve had. That has been such a boost to our economy.

Ben Emons:We slowed down quite a bit, but this has been such a political backlash building, you know, around data centers. Secondly, it could change some of the, let’s say, ideas that security demonstration has on any other taxes that they want to lower investment, foreign investment, and that will change. So that would create some uncertainty. But historically, though, even though the Congress will become Democrats, you may get some pullback in markets.

Ben Emons:But then eventually it goes higher again because on a Democratic Congress this continues to be robust government spending, which is really important to the economy. And that will eventually drive GDP again higher. So it’s like it’s a speed bump I think ahead of us. We’ll see how it plays out. Right? I don’t know that, but I think it’s sort of like it’s a bit of the political environment.

Ben Emons:I mean, we the only caveat that we do have a future debt ceiling is an issue which somewhere in 2027, we’ll see how that plays out.

Caroline Woods:So we’ll have to get you back on as we get closer to that to see how the playbook change changes. All right. Or maybe not. I think it’s a great time to pivot to a rapid fire game of this so that you know how to play. Quick questions, quick answers. No hedging. Are you ready, Ben?

Ben Emons:Yeah. I’m ready.

Caroline Woods:All right. Here we go. Stocks are ten year treasuries.

Ben Emons:I’m in stocks.

Caroline Woods:U.S. stocks are international. U.S. stocks large cap or small cap?

Ben Emons:Both can say.

Caroline Woods:Well, I’ll give you one. Both. But if you could only choose one.

Ben Emons:I would still go large caps. Yeah.

Caroline Woods:High quality growth stocks. Are value stocks tied to the economy.

Ben Emons:Value stocks tied to the economy.

Caroline Woods:Mega cap tech or financials.

Ben Emons:I would think financials.

Caroline Woods:Nvidia or an equal weight S&P 500 funds.

Ben Emons:I think a video best growth.

Caroline Woods:Company short term or long term bonds.

Ben Emons:Short term bonds.

Caroline Woods:Cash or short term bonds.

Ben Emons:Short term bonds.

Caroline Woods:Gold or bitcoin.

Ben Emons:I was big goes.

Caroline Woods:By dips in stocks or take profits.

Ben Emons:Buying a dip in stocks. Just do it. Don’t don’t get out of the market.

Caroline Woods:Bigger threat to stocks, a fed rate hike or the ten year Treasury hitting 5%.

Ben Emons:Daily, Treasury hitting 5%. That would derail the stock market.

Caroline Woods:September Fed decision hike or hold.

Ben Emons:Hike.

Caroline Woods:By your end one rate hike or more than one.

Ben Emons:One rate hike.

Caroline Woods:One year from now. Inflation closer to 2% or 4%.

Ben Emons:Likely closer to 2%.

Caroline Woods:One year from now. Bull market or bear market.

Ben Emons:Still bull market.

Caroline Woods:One word to describe how you’re feeling about the market for the rest of this year.

Ben Emons:Bullish.

Caroline Woods:Ben Evans you played by the rules. Our viewers are going to love that. Thank you so much. Really appreciate your insights, your picks and everything else. That’s Ben Emmons, founder and CIO of Fed Watch Advisors. If you enjoyed this street talk, check out our full interview with Andrew Graham. He reveals the stocks he thinks have the most upside from here and how to know when to buy them.

Walmart is selling a 30-piece cordless drill set for just $27 that’s perfect for DIYers

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

The ability to complete basic handiwork jobs around the home, like hanging curtains or assembling a new piece of furniture, saves you money and time on each and every project. You don’t have to pay the fees associated with hiring a skilled professional, and you don’t have to rearrange your busy schedule to make sure you’re available for their visit. 

If you have limited experience with DIY home repairs, It’s understandable that these tasks seem challenging. In reality, with a YouTube tutorial and the right tools, you can complete maintenance projects and minor home renovations without much hassle. A standard toolbox should include your go-to hand tools, like a hammer, screwdriver, and measuring tape. However, there’s one power tool that can make a huge difference in the effort spent on these projects: a cordless power drill. 

A cordless drill is essential for any home

When I moved into my home this past year, I was gifted a toolbox filled with all the basics I’d need to complete any DIY job. Regardless, one of my first purchases was a cordless power drill.Growing up in a fixer-upper, I am well-versed in all things home repair, whether that’s ripping out the walls and putting up new sheetrock, retiling the bathroom floors, or installing new windows. For my own home, I don’t plan on doing anything quite so intensive, but a power drill can be used for almost any job that pops up. Within a few months, I’ve already used it multiple times: placing hooks and shelves on the walls, affixing my dishwasher underneath the kitchen countertop, and assembling a large bathroom cabinet. 

A power drill has two primary functions: drilling holes and driving screws. You can technically do these jobs with a non-powered tool, but the upgraded power drill gets them done in a fraction of the time. Not only does a power drill work much more efficiently compared to cranking a screwdriver by hand, but it also works with a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, and metal, so it’s suitable for all kinds of tasks.

Power drill sets offer the best value

If you’re a DIY beginner, you likely don’t have the drill and screwdriver bits needed to operate your power drill to its full potential. Screw come in different shapes and sizes, so if you’re drilling holes, you’ll need the right size drill bits for your screw to fit properly. On top of that, there are all the different screwheads and drive types you’ll need to consider, which can range from round and oval to Phillips and flathead. With a power drill set, you don’t have to worry about any of these finer details. 

A power drill set includes everything you’ll need to get started on your home projects. It has the power drill and all the attachments you’ll need. These days, the majority of power drills are cordless and battery-operated, so many of these bundles also include an extra battery, allowing you to keep working without interruptions. 

There are several power drill sets on the market, but Walmart’s limited-time deal on the Fadakwalt 30-Piece 20V Max Cordless Drill Set with 46% off makes it one of the most affordable options we’ve seen. The power drill, drill bits, and sockets originally retail for $50, but you can now score the highly rated power tool set for just $27. It’s not impossible to find power drill sets for under $20, but those will have a less powerful motor. This power drill delivers an impressive 280 inch-pounds of torque, so it has the power to drive into denser materials without getting hung up or slowing down.

Fadakwalt 30-Piece 20V Max Cordless Drill Set

Courtesy of Walmart

Check price at Walmart

More power drill set deals

To help you select the best power drill for your individual needs, we’ve rounded up other noteworthy power drill sets available to shop at Walmart. All include the basic drill and screwdriver bits, but some also offer additional tools if you need to stock up your toolbox. 

Workpro 12V Cordless Drill Driver Kit

Courtesy of Walmart

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Hoey 34-Piece 21V Cordless Drill Set

Courtesy of Walmart

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Cshidworld Cordless Drill Tool Kit Set

Courtesy of Walmart

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Hoey Pink 12V Cordless Drill Kit

Courtesy of Walmart

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Hyper Tough 70-Piece 20V Cordless Drill Project Kit

Courtesy of Walmart

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UBesGoo 146-Piece Power Tool Combo Kit

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

TheStreet Shopping is your guide for shopping insights and advice. We look beyond the price tag to find the best value in home, tech, and wellness gear based on product features and real-world use. Read more about our Editorial Standards and How We Choose Our Shopping Deals.

Dollar Tree shares key pricing update

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

Inflation may not be running at the same pace it did a few years ago. But that doesn’t mean shoppers have forgotten what higher prices feel like. 

Groceries and other everyday necessities remain expensive, and consumers are still looking for ways to make their money go further.

That’s where Dollar Tree comes in.

Consumers have long relied on Dollar Tree for affordable staples. But the days of thinking of the retailer as a place where everything costs roughly a dollar are over.

Dollar Tree is growing increasingly comfortable with the idea of selling products at $3, $5, and other higher price points. And its latest results suggest shoppers are willing to buy them.

Dollar Tree enjoys strong quarter

During Dollar Tree’s second quarter 2027 earnings call, the company reported that net sales rose 7% year over year, while comparable sales rose 3.7%.

The average customer ticket also rose 3.3%. 

Dollar Tree also recently saw an uptick in foot traffic year over year with a 1.7% increase in June and a 4.8% increase in July, according to data from Placer.ai.

Related: Walmart reveals its most important investment yet

“Holiday shopping around America’s 250th anniversary, back-to-school demand, and Dollar Tree’s multi-price assortment likely fueled the surge,” the report said.

The company also credits its multi-price strategy with its recent success.

“Multi-price gives us the flexibility to deliver the right item at the right price, while always maintaining that compelling value proposition across the store,” said Dollar Tree CEO Mike Creedon.

Dollar Tree wants shoppers to think differently about value

For decades, Dollar Tree’s appeal was pretty simple. You could walk into a store and find inexpensive products at an easy-to-understand price.

The company is now trying to preserve that value proposition while giving itself more room to sell products that simply don’t work at a lower price point.

Products sold at multiple price points accounted for 17% of Dollar Tree’s sales in the second quarter, Creedon said.

He also stated that thanks to the company’s multi-price strategy, “We are bringing more excitement, discovery, relevance, and choice to the shopping experience while maintaining the value that has always defined Dollar Tree.”

Dollar Tree is starting to raise prices to $3, $5, and other price points. Trong Nguyen/Shutterstock

It’s not necessarily negative news for consumers

From the company’s perspective, multi-pricing makes a lot of sense. It gives Dollar Tree more flexibility to expand its assortment and grow sales without simply relying on getting more people through the doors.

But there’s a catch.

Dollar Tree’s core customers are among the consumers most likely to notice when a $1.25 item becomes a $3 item.

For a shopper with plenty of disposable income, the difference may be insignificant. For someone trying to buy household necessities on a very tight budget, it can be the difference between buying something and putting it back.

But Dollar Tree isn’t telling customers they have to pay more for the same products. 

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Rather, the company is giving itself permission to sell a broader range of products while still maintaining its traditional price point across core items. 

“There’s nothing preventing us from maintaining a dollar price point within the assortment,” Creedon explained. 

So while higher prices may be here to stay, they’re not going to apply to every item in the store. Not even close.

Related: Target takes big step to be more like Costco

Amazon is selling a 4-seater wicker sectional patio set for $254

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

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 deal

The fall months are prime time for spending afternoons and evenings lounging in the backyard. Cool breezes and shady days give your patio set an inviting feel that simply can’t be matched the rest of the year. If you add a nice set of string lights and a portable speaker to the mix, there’s truly nowhere else that beats it. Thanks to Amazon, you can have all that and more. Not only does the online giant have one of the biggest selections of outdoor furniture, but one of its most beautiful examples is currently on sale as a limited-time deal.

The Hera’s House 3-Piece Wicker Sectional Patio Set is available for $254. That’s 15% off the regular price of $300. If you want to get a gorgeous patio set at an unbeatable price, then this is the purchase for you.

Hera’s House 3-Piece Wicker Sectional Patio Set, $254 (was $300) at Amazon

Courtesy of Walmart

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Why do shoppers love it?

Everything about this set says luxury and value. It’s well-made, designed beautifully, and very practical. That’s why it’s selling fast. Made from solid natural wood, the frame of each piece is incredibly sturdy and weatherproof. Wrapped in hand-woven rattan wicker, the entire set is water resistant and fade proof. Included are a two-piece modular sectional and a large coffee table. The table is big enough for snacks, drinks, or even books if you want to get a little light reading done while lounging. 

The combination of the tan-colored rattan wicker and solid wood and the cream-colored cushion covers makes this a wonderfully neutral option for backyards, balconies, or patios. While this L-shaped variant is large enough for most people, there is also a slightly bigger U-shaped option if that’s what you’re looking for. The table has a large solid wood tabletop that’s waterproof and offers a rustic touch to this otherwise sophisticated set.

The aforementioned cushions are thick and billowy in all the right places. The back cushions are soft enough to be comfy while still providing ample lower back support for those who may have spinal issues. Each cushion also has a zipper-enclosed cover that can be easily removed. The covers are all machine washable on the cold setting. They can also be tumble dried on low heat, which allows them to come out of the dryer looking and smelling brand new. 

Related: Walmart is selling a wicker patio set with a glass top table for $85

Amazon shoppers were very excited about this patio set. One said they “love this cozy outdoor sofa set,” before adding, “it fits perfectly in my small backyard space.”

Shop more deals 

Oakcloud Padded Outdoor Bistro Set with Rocking Chairs $176 at Amazon

Gizoon 3-Piece Rocking Patio Set, $56 at Amazon

Hlnptn 3-Piece Rocking Chair Patio Set, $136 (was $146) at Amazon

The Hera’s House 3-Piece Wicker Sectional Patio Set is one of the best buys you can get at the moment. For just $254, you can totally change the vibe of your backyard or patio. It’s the ideal way to make the most of the cozy fall months.

Walmart’s $50 portable CD player has a retro design and Bluetooth connectivity

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

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 deal

Physical media is making a comeback, with many people turning to CDs to stay entertained and listen to music rather than using streaming services with frequent price hikes. And with the resurgence of CDs, CD players are also gaining popularity, too. But now, CD players are made with more modern features, making them more than just a place to pop in your favorite CD.

The Udreamer Retro Portable Bluetooth CD Player really taps into nostalgia with a record player design. At Walmart, it’s on sale for only $50, which is 51% off its regular price of $103. With multiple modes and an eye-catching look, it’s a great deal for the price.

Udreamer Retro Portable Bluetooth CD Player, $50 (was $103) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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Why do shoppers love it?

If you love the look of record players, but are more of a CD person, this is the perfect pick. It has a record-player design with a latched top, as well as a stylus to complete the look. Like a record player, you can watch the CD spin while it plays, making it feel even more nostalgic. 

On top of playing CDs, it has additional modes that make it more versatile. You can use Bluetooth to connect it to your phone or laptop, or you can use its USB or aux inputs. With a rechargeable battery, you’re not tied to an electrical outlet, and you can move it from room to room if you want to take your music on the go with you. The remote control is an added bonus, letting you control music from across the room. These modern features make it that much more convenient, especially compared to true vintage CD players that lack Bluetooth connectivity and versatility.

Related: Amazon has a highly rated 2-in-1 vintage-style record player and Bluetooth speaker for $32

Details to know

Dimensions: 8.2 inches long by 6.2 inches wide by 3.6 inches high. 

Modes: CD, USB, aux, and Bluetooth.

Additional features: Portable with a rechargeable battery and comes with a remote control.

According to Walmart shoppers, this CD player has quality sound and design. One reviewer said it has great sound and volume that you can “hear from the end of the house,” while another said it’s “very clear.” Other customers highlighted its looks, saying it’s small, portable, and doesn’t take up too much space. 

“I honestly expected the appearance to be my favorite thing about this CD player, but after actually using it, I think the versatility is what makes it worth having,” a shopper said. They shared that the modern features make all the difference, especially the rechargeable battery and portability. “You still get the experience of choosing an album, putting in the disc, and actually listening to it from beginning to end, but you aren’t giving up the conveniences we’re used to now.”

Shop more deals

Gueray Portable CD Player with Bluetooth, $28 at Walmart

Udreamer Vintage-Style Portable CD Player, $40 (was $71) at Walmart

Wavelegend Retro Portable Bluetooth CD Player, $38 at Walmart

On sale for only $50, the Udreamer Retro Portable Bluetooth CD Player is the perfect way to tap into nostalgia without sacrificing the convenience of modern features, like Bluetooth connectivity.

Allstate’s $3 billion profit comes alongside uncomfortable reality for homeowners

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

Allstate’s second-quarter earnings looked strong on the surface, as the insurer reported $3.2 billion in net income, up 56% from 2025, while its overall combined ratio improved to 86.6%.

However, Allstate’s (ALL) numbers are less reassuring for homeowners. The improvement in Allstate’s property business came from higher premiums and a relatively mild catastrophe season.

Average homeowners premiums continued to rise even as underwriting profitability improved sharply. For millions of Allstate policyholders, that disconnect shows the company’s earnings have recovered, but household insurance bills are still moving higher. 

The quarter may therefore signal stronger finances for Allstate without offering much relief to the homeowners paying those premiums.

Allstate’s homeowners swing rests on premium hikes and lighter storms

In 2025, Allstate’s homeowners line was losing money, running a combined ratio of 102, according to Allstate’s Q2 2026 earnings release. This quarter, that ratio fell to 94.6, generating $226 million in underwriting income where there had been a $76 million loss.

The reversal rested on two forces working in tandem, both of which significantly improved Allstate’s homeowners underwriting performance. 

Catastrophe losses fell 12.8% to $1.4 billion, according to Allstate’s earnings release. Separately, Gallagher Re’s H1 2026 Natural Catastrophe and Climate Report noted a fifth consecutive quarter without a single insured loss event exceeding $10 billion.

Tom Wilson, Allstate chairman and chief executive officer, highlighted strong quarterly profitability and growth.

Allstate delivered strong operating and financial results in the second quarter of 2026, while executing our strategic growth plans…Revenues increased to $18.6 billion reflecting increased policies in force, higher average homeowners insurance prices and strong investment results. Share repurchases were increased to $1.0 billion for the quarter

Allstate’s earnings release showed that average gross written premiums for its homeowners policies rose 5.8% year over year, while total written premiums reached $4.75 billion, up 8.1%, and earned premiums climbed 11.4%, reflecting continued rate increases and higher home replacement costs.

National rate projections show no sign of premium relief in 2026

Allstate’s rate increases mirror a broader national pattern. Insurify projects the typical annual homeowners premium will reach $3,057 in 2026, roughly a 4% increase from the prior year, according to Insurify’s 2026 home insurance price projections report. 

Several states face far steeper hikes, according to Insurify data. California leads with an estimated 16% increase, followed by Nebraska (13%), New Mexico (11%), and Georgia (10%).

“Home insurance costs have risen sharply nationwide since the pandemic,” said Matt Brannon, senior economic analyst at Insurify. “Even where we project rate growth to slow this year, homeowners are unlikely to see real relief.”

Non-renewal rates for homeowners policies have surged between 96% and 216% nationwide since 2018, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found in a recent analysis that flagged coverage availability as a growing threat alongside affordability.

Homeowners face little premium relief in 2026 as national rates rise, with some states seeing double-digit increases and non-renewals surging.Maskot / Getty Images

Florida tort reform boosted Allstate’s results but it may not last

Florida’s 2022 and 2023 tort reforms played a measurable role in the property insurance turnaround that benefited carriers like Allstate. The reforms eliminated one-way attorney fees and curbed assignment-of-benefits litigation, the Insurance Business report noted.

The Perryman Group estimated in February 2026 that these reforms prevented Florida property and casualty insurance premiums from rising an average of 14.5%. 

Frivolous lawsuits against property insurers fell 25% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to the Perryman Group’s analysis.

More on Housing:

Skyrocketing housing costs put huge strain on homeowners and renters

Homebuyers lose ground as housing affordability slams shut

Landlords sound alarm as rental fraud costs renters big

Heritage Insurance Holdings, a super-regional carrier with meaningful Florida exposure, posted record net income of $61.7 million in the second quarter, a 28.5% increase, but these gains rest partly on a mild storm season that may not repeat.

Global insured natural catastrophe losses totaled about $46 billion in the first half of 2026, the lowest first-half total since 2019, according to a Gallagher report. One active hurricane season could erase the underwriting gains that carriers booked this quarter.

Allstate’s profit surge leaves open questions for policyholders

Allstate’s second-quarter rebound is a reminder that stronger insurer earnings do not necessarily mean cheaper coverage for homeowners.

Much of the improvement came from higher premiums, lower catastrophe losses, and favorable legal changes in Florida, conditions that may not persist. 

Meanwhile, national projections still point to rising insurance costs and growing pressure on coverage availability.

For policyholders, the more important question is not how profitable their carrier was last quarter, but whether their own policy still offers adequate protection at a competitive price. 

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners recommends that policyholders review dwelling limits, deductibles, exclusions, and available discounts at renewal and compare coverage options before renewing.

Related: Homeowners face growing home insurance threat beyond cost

AARP highlights moves quietly sabotaging Gen X retirement

August 28, 2026 MMN Editor Filed Under: Uncategorized

Workers with steady incomes and decades of 401(k) contributions can reach retirement with a savings gap of hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

That is the position millions of Gen Xers now face as the oldest members of the generation, born between 1965 and 1980, approach age 61.

An AARP roundup published on August 3, 2026, identified seven habits that weaken Gen X’s retirement readiness over time. 

They include delayed planning, mismatched spending, emotional investing, early 401(k) withdrawals, heavy debt, family support, and inadequate longevity planning.

Schroders data reveals a $405,000 Gen X retirement gap

Gen Xers between ages 45 and 60 expect to retire with roughly $711,771 in savings, the Schroders 2025 U.S. Retirement Survey found. That falls about $405,000 short of the $1.12 million they say they will need to live comfortably.

The gap is wider than the $357,000 shortfall reported by baby boomers or the $354,000 deficit reported by millennials in the same survey.

Part of the shortfall traces to timing, because Gen X entered the workforce as pensions gave way to 401(k) plans without auto-enrollment or auto-escalation features.

Only 14% of Gen Xers have access to a traditional pension, compared with 44% of baby boomers, Equitable’s “Approaching Retirement: Getting Gen X from Good to Great” study, released in January 2026, showed.

Nearly half (49%) of Gen Xers do not expect to be financially prepared for retirement, the Northwestern Mutual 2026 Planning & Progress Study found, with 46% of Americans overall sharing that concern.

Among Gen X respondents in that study, 26% said they have not started saving for retirement at all.

Debt and 401(k) loans eat into retirement accounts

Gen Xers carry a median non-mortgage debt of $26,207, the highest level of any generation surveyed, a 2025 LendingTree analysis reported. 

Half of Gen Xers surveyed by Allianz Life in 2024 said non-housing debt directly limits retirement savings.

More Retirement:

Retirement Tech in 2026: AI, Operational Efficiency, and Better Participant Experience

George Kamel, Rachel Cruze warn about a mortgage retirement trap

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Nearly 24% of Gen Xers with workplace plans have taken loans from their 401(k)s, Schroders reported. 

Borrowed funds stop compounding while outstanding, and if the loan is not repaid, the balance is taxed as ordinary income with a 10% penalty for workers under 59½, AARP reported.

The sandwich-generation dynamic hits Gen X hardest, with many households simultaneously funding college tuition and supporting aging parents. 

Mismatched spending adds to the squeeze when lifestyle costs from peak-earning years carry into pre-retirement, leaving less to redirect into catch-ups.

Gen X faces a retirement squeeze as high debt, 401(k) loans, family support, and spending pressures erode long-term savings.whyframestudio / Getty Images

Emotional investing during downturns compounds Gen X losses

AARP flagged reactive investing as a pattern rooted in the 2008 financial crisis, when the generation was roughly 28 to 43. They were old enough to have meaningful retirement balances, yet young enough for the losses to feel catastrophic.

Nick Lane, president of Equitable, has traced that vulnerability to a structural gap: without pensions or auto-enrollment defaults, Gen X had to make its own allocation calls in real time.

Gen X is the first generation to shoulder full responsibility for their retirement. They became DIY financial planners by necessity, not by choice

Gen Xers who moved to cash locked in losses and missed the recoveries. The S&P 500 gained roughly 605% between March 2009 and the end of 2021, according to Macrotrends data, and every year in cash compounded the gap. 

That pattern of selling during downturns repeated in 2020 and 2022. For a cohort with 10 years of runway rather than 30, each reactive move now costs more than it did in 2008.

SECURE 2.0 super catch-up contributions offer a four-year window

The 2026 tax code includes one provision aimed at savers who started late.

The SECURE 2.0 Act’s super catch-up allows workers turning 60 through 63 to defer $11,250 per year, up from the standard $8,000 available to workers over 50, the Internal Revenue Service stated. 

Higher earners face an additional requirement, because workers whose prior-year wages exceeded $150,000 must now direct all catch-up contributions into a Roth account.

That means paying taxes on contributions upfront rather than at withdrawal, but it also locks in tax-free growth for the duration of the account.

The three variables that decide debt versus catch-up

Deb Boyden, Schroders’ head of US defined contribution, called the 10-year runway a “window for them to cut this savings gap.”

Of the three variables that determine it, the first is the interest rate on the debt. That $26,207 median balance is largely credit card and personal loan debt at APRs above 20%, a guaranteed 20% return that beats the 7% long-run real return of stocks. 

The second is the employer match, with a 50% match on 401(k) contributions, delivering an immediate 50% return. Skipping the match to accelerate debt repayment leaves more on the table than the interest savings recovered.

The third is the closing window, as the $3,250 premium applies only from ages 60 through 63.

A 60-year-old who skips all four years forfeits $13,000 in additional deferrals, along with years of potential tax-advantaged growth before required distributions begin.

Gen X households with a decade left have three moves in sequence: the full employer match first, because it is the only return that beats high-APR debt; then credit card and personal loan balances above 20% APR; then the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up between ages 60 and 63.

What the surveys do not answer is how much of the $405,000 gap disappears if Gen X actually sequences these three moves, and how many households will have the cash flow to execute all three at once.

Related: AARP warns Americans on 401(k), IRA costly mistakes

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