Bob Burton

10/01/2026

📌 Higher rates sting borrowers, but they can be a real win for savers.

As rates rise, banks may increase the yields they offer on savings products to attract deposits. The average U.S. savings account still pays just 0.64% annual percentage yield. Some high-yield accounts are paying more than six times that, up to 4.2%, for the exact same deposit.

🔎 Certificates of deposit, or CDs, can offer even higher rates, but the tradeoff is access: your money is locked in for a set term, and pulling it out early usually costs a penalty.

Higher yields don’t erase the effects of inflation, and they won’t necessarily transform household finances. But if your savings account is still earning close to that 0.64% average, that gap alone might be worth a second look.


Source:

The Federal Reserve recently raised interest rates for the first time since 2023.

09/28/2026

Why So Bearish?

09/22/2026

For many Gen Xers, retirement is starting to feel less like a distant milestone and more like a looming financial reality.

The oldest members of the generation will turn 62 next year, the earliest age to claim Social Security. At the same time, many are approaching retirement with limited savings and fewer pensions than previous generations had.

The median Gen X retirement savings balance is about $107,000, while members of the generation estimate they’ll need roughly $700,000 for retirement. Social Security may also become an increasingly important source of income, with 41% of workers over 55 saying they expect it to be their primary source in retirement.

That gap is prompting some Gen Xers to rethink when they’ll stop working, how much they may need to save, and what retirement could realistically look like.

If retirement is getting closer, this may be a good time to review your savings, expected Social Security benefits, and other sources of retirement income.


Source:

Millions of Generation X Americans expect to depend on Social Security as their main — or only — source of retirement income.

09/18/2026

The price you see on the shelf may not be the exact amount you pay at checkout.

With penny production ended, some merchants have started rounding cash purchases up or down to the nearest nickel. Depending on the total, that could mean a few cents more or a few cents less.

Paying by credit card may come with another wrinkle. Some retailers and service providers are adding surcharges to help offset card processing costs, which may increase the final price.

That means the same purchase could cost slightly different amounts depending on whether you use cash, debit, or credit.

Before you pay, take a second to compare the total for cash, debit, and credit so you know which option makes the most sense for that purchase.


Source:

More merchants are rounding change for cash purchases to the nearest nickel due to the end of penny production, or adding surcharges to credit card transactions.

09/15/2026

🏈 Football season is almost here, and all 32 NFL teams are bringing something new to the field.

From offseason moves and fresh faces to shifting expectations across every division, there’s no shortage of storylines heading into 2026.

The season opens with the New England Patriots facing the Seattle Seahawks in a Super Bowl 60 rematch, and that’s just the beginning.

Whether you’re following your hometown team, setting a fantasy lineup, or just counting down to Sundays on the couch, now’s a great time to catch up on what changed during the offseason.

🏆 Which team are you watching most closely this season?


Source:

NBC Sports has 32 team previews full of stats, storylines and projections that could shape your favorite team’s season.

09/14/2026

Dolly Parton’s legacy reaches far beyond music.

Over the years, she gave millions to causes ranging from disaster relief and medical research to education and children’s literacy. Her Imagination Library alone has distributed more than 330 million books to children across five countries.

After devastating Tennessee wildfires in 2016, her My People Fund provided displaced families with $1,000 a month for six months, no strings attached. She also donated $1 million toward COVID-19 vaccine research and supported schools, scholarships, pediatric care, and communities close to home.

What tied so much of that work together was remarkably simple: trust people, see a need, and respond.

Her example is a meaningful reminder that generosity doesn’t have to follow one formula. It starts with deciding what matters to you and finding a way to make an impact.


Source:

Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy. The Library of Congress has called Parton a “titan of children’s literacy” for the millions of free books provided monthly through her Imagination Library.

09/07/2026

AI & You in 2027

09/05/2026

The Politics of Inflation

09/02/2026

This month's chart unpacks where we most commonly go for information. Take a look, and you'll see one source stands out from the rest.

08/27/2026

Military Family Month recognizes the spouses, children, and parents who hold things together while a loved one serves.

Frequent moves, long separations, and the quiet stress of uncertainty are part of that story too, even when no uniform is involved.

If someone in your life carries that kind of steadiness, this is a good month to tell them you noticed.