The FBI said Thursday that it had found “suspicious” activity on its computer systems, but didn’t provide further details. The bureau said in a statement that it “identified and addressed suspicious activities on FBI networks, and we have leveraged all technical capabilities to respond.” The affected FBI networks are part of a system used to manage wiretaps and and other surveillance activities, a...
The FBI said Thursday that it had found “suspicious” activity on its computer systems, but didn’t provide further details. The bureau said in a statement that it “identified and addressed suspicious activities on FBI networks, and we have leveraged all technical capabilities to respond.” The affected FBI networks are part of a system used to manage wiretaps and and other surveillance activities, according to CBS News and CNN . Both broadcasters said the information came from people familiar with the matter that they didn’t name. An FBI spokesperson declined to provide additional information beyond the statement. US government agencies are frequently probed and sometimes penetrated by hackers, including those backed by foreign adversaries.
narvikk/iStock via Getty Images By Zain Vawda EUR/USD ( EUR:USD ) finds itself at a critical technical and fundamental juncture. After a volatile week defined by a "flight to safety," the pair has broken back below the psychological 1.1600 barrier. What is driving EUR/USD price action? One could almost call EUR/USD's conundrum as a "tale of two tensions." The pair is navigating through a mix of ge...
narvikk/iStock via Getty Images By Zain Vawda EUR/USD ( EUR:USD ) finds itself at a critical technical and fundamental juncture. After a volatile week defined by a "flight to safety," the pair has broken back below the psychological 1.1600 barrier. What is driving EUR/USD price action? One could almost call EUR/USD's conundrum as a "tale of two tensions." The pair is navigating through a mix of geopolitical anxiety and central bank caution. The European Central Bank (ECB) published its meeting accounts today. While the Governing Council expressed confidence that inflation is trending toward target, they emphasized "persistent uncertainty." This cautious rhetoric suggests the ECB is in no rush to pivot aggressively, but it also fails to provide the hawkish spark the Euro needs to decouple from the dollar’s strength. Add to this the escalating conflict in the Middle East and you have a cocktail for explaining the slide in EUR/USD. Looking at the latest from the Middle East, according to reporting from Axios, President Trump has asserted that he must be personally involved in the process of selecting Iran’s next leader. While acknowledging that Mojtaba Khamenei is currently the most likely individual to succeed the Supreme Leader, the President characterized such an outcome as unacceptable. This is likely to keep tensions high and a peace deal or ceasefire out of reach which would continue to lend support to the US dollar and drag EUR/USD lower. NFP and jobs data tomorrow Recent US economic indicators, including a strong ISM Services PMI (56.1) and steady private payroll data, continue to paint a picture of US economic outperformance. This "American exceptionalism" keeps the Federal Reserve's policy path looking more robust compared to its European counterpart. Tomorrow though will bring the highly anticipated NFP release. As the most significant labor market data point of the month, a strong reading could cement the dollar's dominance, while a miss might provide the e...
With amplified volatility in the cryptocurrency market this week, it should be no surprise to see top tokens like XRP (XRP 2.66%) swinging wildly. That's once again the case, with today's big 24-hour move taking place between 7:00 a.m. ET yesterday and today, during which XRP saw a nice move of more than 6% over this time frame. Expand CRYPTO : XRP XRP Today's Change ( -2.66 %) $ -0.04 Current Pri...
With amplified volatility in the cryptocurrency market this week, it should be no surprise to see top tokens like XRP (XRP 2.66%) swinging wildly. That's once again the case, with today's big 24-hour move taking place between 7:00 a.m. ET yesterday and today, during which XRP saw a nice move of more than 6% over this time frame. Expand CRYPTO : XRP XRP Today's Change ( -2.66 %) $ -0.04 Current Price $ 1.42 Key Data Points Market Cap $87B Day's Range $ 1.40 - $ 1.46 52wk Range $ 1.14 - $ 3.65 Volume 2.9B Now slightly down over the past 24 hours (alongside the broader sector), investors may want to look under the hood to see whether XRP's recent upside momentum is worth legging into, or if this sustained macro downturn in risk assets is enough of a reason to sell. Here's why I think things aren't looking so bad for XRP investors under the hood. Why XRP's price action has been so volatile of late Few readers will need to be reminded of the extreme uncertainty facing investors right now, particularly in the world of geopolitics. With Venezuela now in the rearview mirror, and investors forced to shift their focus to the Middle East and Ecuador (didn't see that one coming), rising commodity prices and currency swings are making life difficult for traders and investors looking to build their discounted cash flow models. In the cryptocurrency sector, one underpinned by fewer fundamentals, the underlying sentiment shift resulting from these actions has driven capital mostly out of the crypto sector of late. That said, one of the more notable developments for XRP has been recent spot ETF launches from the likes of Bitwise and Grayscale, which have provided capital inflows. That's a big positive factor driving this morning's move higher, in my view. Additionally, growth in active wallets and broader liquidity improvements late last year led to improvements in the order book, which I've seen carry over to a degree in Q1 of 2026. I'll be keeping an eye on XRP's fundamentals, but...
Liens/iStock via Getty Images NexGen Energy ( NXE ) was initiated Thursday at UBS with a Buy rating and C$20 price target, saying the stock offers exposure to the tier-1 Rook I project with significant exploration upside that offers attractive valuation support and upside to higher uranium prices through its largely uncontracted order book. UBS analysts led by George Eadie said they view Rook I as...
Liens/iStock via Getty Images NexGen Energy ( NXE ) was initiated Thursday at UBS with a Buy rating and C$20 price target, saying the stock offers exposure to the tier-1 Rook I project with significant exploration upside that offers attractive valuation support and upside to higher uranium prices through its largely uncontracted order book. UBS analysts led by George Eadie said they view Rook I as a multi-decade project capable of producing annual C$2.2B real steady-state EBITDA in their base case, implying ~5x EV/EBITDA or ~16% free cash flow yield at steady state, while modeling sales ramping from 2033 and ~20M lbs/year at steady state using higher cost and capex assumptions compared to the latest guidance and a $100/lb real uranium price. While NexGen ( NXE ) faces many challenges over the coming years, E adie and his team see Rook I receiving approval in H1 2026 and construction ramping up later this year and believe risks can be adequately managed and are more than offset by the asset's quality and valuation relative to peers in a space where equities are trading at premiums to historic levels. More on NexGen Energy NexGen Energy Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript NexGen Energy Is Accelerating Its Entry Into Uranium Mining In Saskatchewan Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on NexGen Energy
rawintanpin/iStock via Getty Images This article updates my review of September 2025 in light of current holdings and recent performance. FNDA strategy Schwab Fundamental US Small Company ETF ( FNDA ) was launched on 08/15/2013 and tracks the RAFI Fundamental High Liquidity U.S. Small Index. FNDA has 889 holdings, a 30-day SEC yield of 1.24%, and an expense ratio of 0.25%. Distributions are paid q...
rawintanpin/iStock via Getty Images This article updates my review of September 2025 in light of current holdings and recent performance. FNDA strategy Schwab Fundamental US Small Company ETF ( FNDA ) was launched on 08/15/2013 and tracks the RAFI Fundamental High Liquidity U.S. Small Index. FNDA has 889 holdings, a 30-day SEC yield of 1.24%, and an expense ratio of 0.25%. Distributions are paid quarterly. FNDA is part of a series of ETFs based on the RAFI methodology , also including: Schwab Fundamental US Broad Market Index ETF ( FNDB ) Schwab Fundamental US Large Company Index ETF ( FNDX ) Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF ( FNDF ) Schwab Fundamental International Small Equity ETF ( FNDC ) Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity ETF ( FNDE ) As described in the prospectus by Charles Schwab Asset Management : The index selects, ranks, and weights securities by fundamental measures of company size – adjusted sales, retained operating cash flow, and dividends plus buybacks – rather than market capitalization. This methodology based on a fundamental size score is common to all RAFI indexes. The starting universe is composed of the U.S. companies in the RAFI Global Equity Investable Universe. The bottom 12.5% of the companies by cumulative score are included in the underlying index. The index is divided into four equal segments rebalanced quarterly, resulting in an annual complete rebalancing. The portfolio’s turnover rate was 26% in the most recent fiscal year. I will use as a benchmark the Russell 2000 index, represented by iShares Russell 2000 ETF ( IWM ). Portfolio The fund is diversified across sectors, with notable exposure in industrials (20.5% of asset value), financials (16.5%), consumer discretionary (13.6%), and technology (11.4%). Other sectors are below 10%. Compared to the Russell 2000, FNDA greatly downplays healthcare. FNDA Sector Breakdown (Chart: Author; Data: Charles Schwab, iShares) The portfolio has low company-specific risk. The top ...
Earnings Call Insights: CPI Card Group Inc. (PMTS) Q4 2025 Management View John Lowe, President and CEO, reported "strong fourth quarter performance and solid results for 2025, a year which featured significant strategic, operational and technological advancements." Lowe highlighted a record quarter with revenue growth of 22%, driven by Arroweye’s contribution and robust sales in contactless cards...
Earnings Call Insights: CPI Card Group Inc. (PMTS) Q4 2025 Management View John Lowe, President and CEO, reported "strong fourth quarter performance and solid results for 2025, a year which featured significant strategic, operational and technological advancements." Lowe highlighted a record quarter with revenue growth of 22%, driven by Arroweye’s contribution and robust sales in contactless cards alongside continued double-digit growth from the Software as a Service-based instant issuance solution. Lowe stated, "We delivered strong growth across our debit and credit portfolio in the fourth quarter, driven by sales of contactless cards and ongoing double-digit growth from our Software as a Service-based instant issuance solution." Lowe announced a new organizational structure and reporting segments: Secure Card Solutions, Prepaid Solutions, and Integrated Paytech, explaining, "This change will provide more visibility on our technology-driven solutions as well as highlight the growth and diversification of our business." Lowe noted the Arroweye acquisition, integration progress, and the investment in Karta. He cited Arroweye’s post-acquisition performance: “Arroweye contributed $43 million of revenue and more than $6 million of adjusted EBITDA in less than 8 months in 2025.” Terra Grantham, Interim CFO, directly stated, "Fourth quarter revenue increased 22% to a record $153 million, which reflects a strong $18 million contribution from Arroweye as well as double-digit organic growth from our debit and credit portfolio." Grantham also addressed margin trends and integration costs, noting, "Fourth quarter gross profit margin declined from 34.1% to 31.5%, although it increased from 29.7% in the third quarter." Outlook CPI projects high single-digit revenue growth in 2026, led by expected double-digit growth from the Integrated Paytech segment. Grantham explained, "Our adjusted EBITDA outlook for the year is low to mid-single-digit growth, which reflects benefits from sa...
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS 10.53%) and Rocket Lab (RKLB 2.77%) are both space-oriented companies that went public through mergers with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in 2021. Both stocks outlasted many of their SPAC-backed peers, but which one is the better space stock to buy in this volatile market? What do AST and Rocket Lab do? AST develops low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that beam 2...
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS 10.53%) and Rocket Lab (RKLB 2.77%) are both space-oriented companies that went public through mergers with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in 2021. Both stocks outlasted many of their SPAC-backed peers, but which one is the better space stock to buy in this volatile market? What do AST and Rocket Lab do? AST develops low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that beam 2G, 4G, and 5G cellular signals to mobile devices. By working with telecom giants like AT&T (T +0.14%) and Verizon (VZ +0.05%), its satellites can reach rural areas that aren't covered by terrestrial cellular towers. It was also recently selected as a prime contractor for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program. AST launched its first five Block 1 BlueBird (BB1) commercial satellites in 2024. Last December, it launched its first four Block 2 BlueBird (BB2) satellites, which are 3.5 times larger than its BB1 satellites but process roughly ten times more data. It aims to have 45-60 satellites in orbit by the end of this year, with a long-term goal of expanding that constellation to over 240 satellites. Expand NASDAQ : ASTS AST SpaceMobile Today's Change ( -10.53 %) $ -11.04 Current Price $ 93.85 Key Data Points Market Cap $29B Day's Range $ 91.08 - $ 103.81 52wk Range $ 18.22 - $ 129.89 Volume 611K Avg Vol 16M Gross Margin -14399.31 % Rocket Lab develops reusable orbital rockets. It has already launched its flagship Electron rocket -- which carries small payloads of up to 300 kilograms into low Earth orbit -- 81 times for the deployment of more than 248 satellites. The frequency of its launches has also increased, with 6 in 2021, 9 in 2022, 10 in 2023, 16 in 2024, and 21 in 2025. This year, Rocket Lab will introduce its second rocket, the Neutron, to carry heavier payloads of up to 13,000 kilograms. Over the long term, Rocket Lab plans to evolve into an "end-to-end" space company by expanding its higher-margin Space Systems segment (which produces spacecraft, satellit...
Key Points AST SpaceMobile’s satellite constellations are expanding. Rocket Lab is launching more rockets as it expands its business. 10 stocks we like better than AST SpaceMobile › AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) and Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) are both space-oriented companies that went public through mergers with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in 2021. Both stocks outlasted many of ...
Key Points AST SpaceMobile’s satellite constellations are expanding. Rocket Lab is launching more rockets as it expands its business. 10 stocks we like better than AST SpaceMobile › AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) and Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) are both space-oriented companies that went public through mergers with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in 2021. Both stocks outlasted many of their SPAC-backed peers, but which one is the better space stock to buy in this volatile market? Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » What do AST and Rocket Lab do? AST develops low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that beam 2G, 4G, and 5G cellular signals to mobile devices. By working with telecom giants like AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ), its satellites can reach rural areas that aren't covered by terrestrial cellular towers. It was also recently selected as a prime contractor for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program. AST launched its first five Block 1 BlueBird (BB1) commercial satellites in 2024. Last December, it launched its first four Block 2 BlueBird (BB2) satellites, which are 3.5 times larger than its BB1 satellites but process roughly ten times more data. It aims to have 45-60 satellites in orbit by the end of this year, with a long-term goal of expanding that constellation to over 240 satellites. Rocket Lab develops reusable orbital rockets. It has already launched its flagship Electron rocket -- which carries small payloads of up to 300 kilograms into low Earth orbit -- 81 times for the deployment of more than 248 satellites. The frequency of its launches has also increased, with 6 in 2021, 9 in 2022, 10 in 2023, 16 in 2024, and 21 in 2025. This year, Rocket Lab will introduce its second rocket, the Neutron, to carry heavier payloads of up to 13,000 kilograms. Over ...
In keeping with its recently accelerated release cadence, OpenAI has shipped GPT-5.4 (including GPT-5.4 Thinking and GPT-5.4 Pro). This update comes at a critical time, as recent events have led some vocal users to abandon ship for competing products and models from Anthropic and Google. GPT-5.4 is another model update focused on usefulness for agentic tasks, particularly knowledge work. OpenAI sa...
In keeping with its recently accelerated release cadence, OpenAI has shipped GPT-5.4 (including GPT-5.4 Thinking and GPT-5.4 Pro). This update comes at a critical time, as recent events have led some vocal users to abandon ship for competing products and models from Anthropic and Google. GPT-5.4 is another model update focused on usefulness for agentic tasks, particularly knowledge work. OpenAI says this is its first model explicitly aimed at computer-use tasks; like competing models, it can issue keyboard or mouse inputs based on periodic desktop or application screenshots. Read full article Comments
(RTTNews) - Apple (AAPL) is preparing to introduce new transparency tags on Apple Music to help identify songs that involve artificial intelligence in their creation. The new tags will allow distributors to indicate whether AI was involved in elements such as artwork, the music track itself, song lyrics, or accompanying music videos. The metadata tags are designed to provide greater transparency t...
(RTTNews) - Apple (AAPL) is preparing to introduce new transparency tags on Apple Music to help identify songs that involve artificial intelligence in their creation. The new tags will allow distributors to indicate whether AI was involved in elements such as artwork, the music track itself, song lyrics, or accompanying music videos. The metadata tags are designed to provide greater transparency to listeners and industry partners about the use of AI in music production. Distributors will have the option to flag AI-generated or AI-assisted content when submitting music to the platform. The new system will rely on labels and distributors voluntarily identifying AI involvement, raising questions about how consistently it will be applied. Rival streaming platform Spotify is reportedly pursuing a similar approach. Some platforms, including Deezer, are also experimenting with automated AI detection tools, though building highly accurate systems remains challenging for the industry. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
cemagraphics/iStock via Getty Images Neutral sentiment among individual investors about the short-term outlook for stocks increased in the latest AAII Sentiment Survey. Meanwhile, optimism and pessimism decreased. Bullish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will rise over the next six months, decreased 0.1 percentage points to 33.1%. Bullish sentiment is below its historical average of 37.5%...
cemagraphics/iStock via Getty Images Neutral sentiment among individual investors about the short-term outlook for stocks increased in the latest AAII Sentiment Survey. Meanwhile, optimism and pessimism decreased. Bullish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will rise over the next six months, decreased 0.1 percentage points to 33.1%. Bullish sentiment is below its historical average of 37.5% for the third time in 14 weeks. Neutral sentiment, expectations that stock prices will stay essentially unchanged over the next six months, increased 4.4 percentage points to 31.4%. Neutral sentiment is below its historical average of 31.5% for the 85th time in 87 weeks. Bearish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will fall over the next six months, decreased 4.2 percentage points to 35.5%. Bearish sentiment is above its historical average of 31.0% for the fourth consecutive week. The bull-bear spread (bullish minus bearish sentiment) increased 4.1 percentage points to –2.5%. The bull-bear spread is below its historical average of 6.5% for the fourth consecutive week. This week’s special question asked AAII members what their perception of inflation is. Here is how they responded: It’s slowing, but not by enough: 38.6% It’s returning to a more acceptable pace: 33.2% It’s still rising too quickly: 22.4% Not sure/no opinion: 5.4% This week’s Sentiment Survey results: Bullish: 33.1%, down 0.1 percentage points Neutral: 31.4%, up 4.4 percentage points Bearish: 35.5%, down 4.2 percentage points Historical averages: Bullish: 37.5% Neutral: 31.5% Bearish: 31.0% The AAII Sentiment Survey has been conducted weekly since July 1987. The survey and its results are available online . If you want to become an effective manager of your own assets and achieve your financial goals, consider a risk-free 30-day Trial AAII Membership .
On February 17, 2026, Ophir Asset Management Pty Ltd disclosed a new position in nCino (NASDAQ:NCNO) , acquiring 1,325,484 shares in a trade estimated at $33.99 million based on quarterly average pricing. According to an SEC filing dated February 17, 2026, Ophir Asset Management reported a new stake in nCino. The fund acquired 1,325,484 shares during the quarter. The position’s quarter-end value w...
On February 17, 2026, Ophir Asset Management Pty Ltd disclosed a new position in nCino (NASDAQ:NCNO) , acquiring 1,325,484 shares in a trade estimated at $33.99 million based on quarterly average pricing. According to an SEC filing dated February 17, 2026, Ophir Asset Management reported a new stake in nCino. The fund acquired 1,325,484 shares during the quarter. The position’s quarter-end value was $33.99 million, reflecting the new position purchase. nCino, Inc. is a leading provider of cloud-based banking software, enabling financial institutions to streamline operations, enhance regulatory compliance, and accelerate digital transformation. The company leverages advanced analytics and machine learning to deliver operational efficiencies and actionable insights for its clients. With a strong focus on the financial services sector, nCino's scalable SaaS platform positions it as a strategic technology partner to banks and credit unions seeking modernization and competitive differentiation. Continue reading
Alistair Berg/DigitalVision via Getty Images Red numbs the mind. It makes you forget what truly moves markets. The fear of an escalation of the conflict in Iran, in my opinion, is creating errors of perception in the market’s aggregate estimates. By drawing parallels with the past, a different truth quickly emerges on the S&P 500. And this truth describes a future scenario that is not as gloomy as...
Alistair Berg/DigitalVision via Getty Images Red numbs the mind. It makes you forget what truly moves markets. The fear of an escalation of the conflict in Iran, in my opinion, is creating errors of perception in the market’s aggregate estimates. By drawing parallels with the past, a different truth quickly emerges on the S&P 500. And this truth describes a future scenario that is not as gloomy as the one depicted in the S&P 500 chart at the beginning of the week. But let me explain better. What worries me about Iran? When talking about Iran, the concern is that we are dealing with a country capable of influencing 20% of global oil . It is therefore natural that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz generates declines in the S&P 500. This creates spikes in the price of oil, which in turn stimulates expected energy inflation: roughly speaking, every $10 increase in the price of oil makes it reasonable to expect a positive impact on inflation of about 0.5%/0.7%. Following this narrative thread, the market seems to be continuing along this logical path that I have tried to summarize in this diagram. Consequential diagram: Iran conflict (Author) But this logical connection is misleading you Oil prices are capturing the totality of media and investor attention. So let’s try to follow this logical thread. To do this, I tried to group in a table the behavior of oil prices over a period of 1–90 days. And we notice that, while in the short term it is normal to see oil prices rise, it is not as common for this spike to be preserved over time. The most striking case saw a +60% increase during the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, then falling to 37% after 90 days. OIL - Event chart (Author) This roughly implies inflationary impacts up to (at least according to my estimates) about +3% in extreme scenarios. Read differently, I interpret it this way: energy inflation is typically transitory and only marginally affects overall inflation. It becomes almost more common, instead, to see “ene...
Key Points Bristol Myers Squibb can navigate the dreaded patent cliff while maintaining modest dividend growth. Medtronic's strong, innovative business helps support its impressive dividend program. 10 stocks we like better than Bristol Myers Squibb › Considering that most companies don't even stay in business for 20 years, finding stocks worth holding onto for good isn't always easy. Thankfully, ...
Key Points Bristol Myers Squibb can navigate the dreaded patent cliff while maintaining modest dividend growth. Medtronic's strong, innovative business helps support its impressive dividend program. 10 stocks we like better than Bristol Myers Squibb › Considering that most companies don't even stay in business for 20 years, finding stocks worth holding onto for good isn't always easy. Thankfully, some seem to have the qualities that will enable them to perform well for a very long time. Two such companies in the healthcare sector are Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and Medtronic (NYSE: MDT). In addition to having robust underlying businesses, both have terrific dividend programs. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » Here's more on these two healthcare leaders. 1. Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a leading drugmaker with a vast portfolio of products across several therapeutic areas, although the company has historically had a strong presence in oncology. Last year, 10 of the drugmaker's products each generated over $1 billion in sales. Some of these are medicines that have lost patent protection and are seeing sales decline, but the company has a growth portfolio of newer therapies that should replace older ones. It will face more patent cliffs by the end of the decade, including those for Eliquis, an anticoagulant, and Opdivo, a cancer medicine. These are its two best-selling drugs. However, Bristol Myers Squibb is prepared: A newer, subcutaneous formulation of Opdivo that is easier and faster to administer will help it keep that franchise going for longer. And newer products will have a far greater impact once Eliquis loses patent exclusivity. That's how the company has historically overcome obstacles, and we can expect it to continue doing so while still delivering consis...
There's a reason a lot of people don't retire until they turn 65. That's when Medicare eligibility usually begins. And without Medicare, it can be quite expensive to put health coverage in place if you don't have access to a subsidized employer plan. But one big mistake a lot of retirees make is assuming Medicare will cover all of their health-related expenses. In reality, Medicare does not cover ...
There's a reason a lot of people don't retire until they turn 65. That's when Medicare eligibility usually begins. And without Medicare, it can be quite expensive to put health coverage in place if you don't have access to a subsidized employer plan. But one big mistake a lot of retirees make is assuming Medicare will cover all of their health-related expenses. In reality, Medicare does not cover everything. And failing to understand the program's limitations could leave you squeezed financially once you enroll. Understand your coverage gaps While it's true that Medicare covers a host of common services, from hospital stays to diagnostic tests to the treatment of various illnesses, there are certain services it will not cover. A few you should know about are: Dental exams, cleaning, and fillings. Eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses. Hearing aids. Many people underestimate the cost of having to pay for these expenses out of pocket. But over several decades, they can easily add up. Medicare will also not pay for long-term custodial care -- services like home health aides, assisted living, and nursing home care. When the primary reason for needing care is aging, not a medical issue, that's where Medicare says "I'm out." But for people who end up needing long-term care for an extended period of time, the costs could be catastrophic. Plan ahead so you're not thrown for a loop It's important to understand what Medicare will and won't cover ahead of retirement so you can plan for any coverage gaps you expect to face. You can also employ different strategies to work around them. Medicare Advantage, for example, is an alternative to original Medicare that's available to older Americans. And Medicare Advantage plans commonly do cover dental care, eye exams, and hearing aids. There can be drawbacks to enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, like being limited to specific provider networks and facing delays in care due to prior authorization requirements. But it's worth look...