Insights

Wall Street experienced a downturn last week. Investors were in a "risk-off" mood as the war in Iran escalated, while AI and semiconductor shares dropped, which dragged the overall market lower. Each of the major market indexes lost value, ending a streak of favorable weekly performances.

Despite renewed bubble concerns, today’s technology sector still looks nothing like the dot-com era’s. The Nasdaq’s five-year gain is only about one-ninth of the late-1990s surge, and technology stocks are trading at valuations that remain far below the extremes reached in 2000.

For most Americans, the answer is no. Social Security is facing long-term funding challenges, but that does not mean the program is expected to disappear. Even if Congress took no action, payroll taxes would continue to fund a significant portion of scheduled benefits.

Wall Street began last week with a heavy sell-off as investors appeared anxious about the U.S.-Iran war, elevated inflation, and fears of a potential tech correction. However, stocks staged a massive turnaround midweek, driven by easing tensions in the Middle East and the largest initial public offering in U.S. financial history.

If you have spent your career working for the federal government, you already know that your health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program is one of the most valuable parts of your compensation.

Last week's trading session was shortened as the markets were closed on Friday, July 3, in honor of Independence Day.

What's Inside: Pay Transparency Laws by State; Locked Out? How to Break Into Today's Housing Market; High Prices Force Buyers to Stretch Out Car Loans; It's Tough Out There: The Summer Job Market for Teens; What Is Value Investing?; What Are the Tax Implications of a Spouse's Death?

Most people have heard both terms; fewer can explain the difference. Medicare and Medicaid sound similar, they both deal with healthcare, and they both involve the government, but they are entirely separate programs built for different purposes, funded differently, and created to serve different groups of people.