Are your savings on track? Investing in a 401(k) is one of the simplest and most effective ways to save for retirement, but it can be tough to know whether your savings are enough. Everyone's retirement goals will be different, so how much you should save may differ from what others your age are stashing away. That said, it can sometimes be helpful to see how much the typical worker has in their 4...
Are your savings on track? Investing in a 401(k) is one of the simplest and most effective ways to save for retirement, but it can be tough to know whether your savings are enough. Everyone's retirement goals will be different, so how much you should save may differ from what others your age are stashing away. That said, it can sometimes be helpful to see how much the typical worker has in their 401(k), if for no other reason than to satisfy curiosity. Here's what the average balance looks like across all age groups. The average 401(k) balance by age Every year, Vanguard publishes a report detailing its participants' saving habits, including the average and median 401(k) balances for those contributing to a Vanguard account. The most recent report, released in 2025, shows vast differences between the average and median balances. Because the average can be skewed by extremely high earners, the median is often more representative of the typical person. Age Group Average 401(k) Balance Median 401(k) Balance Under 25 $6,899 $1,948 25 to 34 $42,640 $16,255 35 to 44 $103,552 $39,958 45 to 54 $188,643 $67,796 55 to 64 $271,320 $95,642 65 and older $299,442 $95,425 If your account balance falls behind that of others your age, that's OK. Again, everyone's retirement needs will differ, so these figures aren't necessarily goals you should be trying to achieve. Rather, the average and median balances can help provide a snapshot of where most workers stand on savings. How much should you save for retirement? A general rule of thumb suggested by financial planners is to save enough to cover around 80% of your pre-retirement income. So, for example, if you spend $100,000 per year now, you might expect to spend $80,000 per year in retirement. Of course, that number can vary widely based on factors like the cost of living in your area and the lifestyle you'd like to enjoy, so you may need to adjust your estimate accordingly. If you have reason to believe you might live a much longer...
How Easy Is It To Open A Daycare In Minnesota? Authored by Jacki Thrapp via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Minnesota is facing heavy scrutiny after the Trump administration accused bad actors in the state of exploiting federal funds from child-focused programs for personal gain. The Minneapolis skyline, on Jan. 11, 2026. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Dec....
How Easy Is It To Open A Daycare In Minnesota? Authored by Jacki Thrapp via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Minnesota is facing heavy scrutiny after the Trump administration accused bad actors in the state of exploiting federal funds from child-focused programs for personal gain. The Minneapolis skyline, on Jan. 11, 2026. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Dec. 29, 2025, that 98 people—85 of Somali descent— were indicted in welfare fraud cases in the state. Minnesota was home to the “largest COVID-19 fraud case” in America, as 78 defendants—72 of Somalian descent—were accused of pocketing $300 million to $400 million dollars of “Feeding Our Future” funds that were supposed to provide children free meals during the pandemic. Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, the mastermind behind the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, was sentenced to 28 years in prison in August. The Trump administration last month announced it would freeze $185 million in federal funds to Minnesota until the scandal-plagued state could prove that the money was being used properly. Even though federal funds have temporarily dried up in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, prospective child care providers are still able to obtain child care licenses. The Epoch Times investigated how to open a day care in Minnesota , with a focus on the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, which have the highest concentration of Somali residents in the United States. Licensing Applications The State of Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families manages licensing applications for child care centers and charges a nonrefundable fee of $500 to apply. Prospective small business owners can receive a license in approximately three to six months. Aspiring providers have two routes to obtain a license: open a child care center or provide services at their own home. An in-home day care license is hundreds of dollars cheaper and requires potential providers to go through their local county for a small ...
JaysonPhotography/iStock via Getty Images U.S. equities could face a choppy stretch in the months ahead as investors brace for a potential overhaul of Federal Reserve policy under Kevin Warsh, according to a strategy note from Wedbush Securities. In a Feb. 1 report titled "Goodbye Fed Put," Wedbush analyst Sam Basham said President Trump’s choice of Warsh as the next Fed chair is likely to unsettl...
JaysonPhotography/iStock via Getty Images U.S. equities could face a choppy stretch in the months ahead as investors brace for a potential overhaul of Federal Reserve policy under Kevin Warsh, according to a strategy note from Wedbush Securities. In a Feb. 1 report titled "Goodbye Fed Put," Wedbush analyst Sam Basham said President Trump’s choice of Warsh as the next Fed chair is likely to unsettle markets in the near term, before clarity improves later in the year. The firm expects volatility to persist until Warsh formally takes the helm in May, as investors begin to price in what it sees as a decisive break from the Powell-era playbook. Wedbush argues that a Warsh-led Fed would shift its focus away from interest rates toward the size of the central bank’s balance sheet. Under what the firm calls “Practical Monetarism,” the Fed would target money supply rather than the policy rate as its main inflation-fighting tool, draining liquidity through quantitative tightening and shrinking the roughly $6.5 trillion balance sheet. That shift, the report says, would mark the “death of the Fed put,” ending the assumption that the central bank will routinely step in to support markets outside of a true crisis. Wedbush warned that the approach could be negative for risk assets tied to excess liquidity, while favoring Treasuries and the U.S. dollar and weighing on gold and silver. The firm expects the transition period to be bumpy. From now until May, Wedbush sees “more downside than upside risk” for stocks if negative momentum builds, as investors reassess high-beta exposures and rotate toward companies with durable, real growth. The report also highlights Warsh’s long-standing skepticism of large-scale asset purchases, noting his resignation from the Fed in 2011 in protest of a second round of quantitative easing. Wedbush quoted Warsh as arguing that the Fed relies on outdated inflation models and fails to recognize productivity gains, instead treating economic growth itself a...
Luke Littler won the World Masters for the first time and became the joint-third most successful player in PDC history with a 6-5 win over Luke Humphries. The teenager now has 11 major PDC titles, leaving him level with James Wade and behind only Michael van Gerwen (48) and Phil Taylor (79). The win for Littler, which followed on from beating Gerwyn Price 5-4 in a terrific match in the semi-finals...
Luke Littler won the World Masters for the first time and became the joint-third most successful player in PDC history with a 6-5 win over Luke Humphries. The teenager now has 11 major PDC titles, leaving him level with James Wade and behind only Michael van Gerwen (48) and Phil Taylor (79). The win for Littler, which followed on from beating Gerwyn Price 5-4 in a terrific match in the semi-finals, has left the European Championship as the only major television PDC title still to be won by the two-time world champion. A high-quality finale saw 25 maximums thrown as the lead changed hands multiple times before Littler eventually nailed his favourite double 10 to seal the £100,000 first prize. After a semi-final that saw Price miss a match dart, Littler upped his level from the start. A stunning 153 checkout laid down the gauntlet to Humphries, but the world number two came into the final having beaten Gian van Veen 5-0 in the last four and continued in that form by winning the opening set. Littler, who averaged 104.72 to Humphries' 105.51 in the final, then powered into a 3-1 lead, hitting a 121 finish along the way. But Humphries did not want to concede the title he won last year and levelled the match. With the score at 3-1 to the world champion, Humphries rallied with 10 and 13-dart legs on his way to levelling the match. Littler missed three darts to move into a 5-3 lead and Humphries capitalised to level again before hitting his first 100-plus checkout on his way to moving one set away from another title. But Littler was not done there. The 19-year-old reeled off legs in 13 and then 12 darts to force a deciding set. A break of throw in the first leg of the deciding set gave Littler control and he did not let it slip. One dart at double 10 was all he needed to land his first World Masters title. All four of the semi-finalists will be back in action when the 2026 Premier League starts in Newcastle on Thursday.
Key Points Bought 656,658 shares in AKRE, estimated at $43.02 million based on quarterly average pricing. Quarter-end value of the new stake increased by $43.02 million, reflecting valuation change including price moves. The new AKRE position represents 6.92% of reported 13F assets under management. Post-trade, Affiance Financial held 656,658 shares valued at $43.02 million. The new AKRE position ...
Key Points Bought 656,658 shares in AKRE, estimated at $43.02 million based on quarterly average pricing. Quarter-end value of the new stake increased by $43.02 million, reflecting valuation change including price moves. The new AKRE position represents 6.92% of reported 13F assets under management. Post-trade, Affiance Financial held 656,658 shares valued at $43.02 million. The new AKRE position accounts for 6.92% of fund AUM, making it the fund's fourth-largest holding. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Affiance Financial initiated a new position in the Akre Focus ETF (NYSE:AKRE), acquiring 656,658 shares in the fourth quarter, with an estimated transaction value of $43.02 million based on quarterly average pricing, according to a January 21, 2026, filing. What happened According to an SEC filing dated January 21, 2026, Affiance Financial disclosed a new position in the Akre Focus ETF, buying 656,658 shares. The estimated transaction value was $43.02 million, calculated using the average closing price in the quarter. The firm held no shares in the prior period. The quarter-end value of the position increased by $43.02 million, reflecting both the purchase and price movement. What else to know This was a new position for Affiance Financial, representing 6.92% of its 13F reportable assets under management as of December 31, 2025. Top holdings after the filing: NYSEMKT:VOO: $124.11 million (20.0% of AUM) NYSEMKT:AGG: $89.66 million (14.4% of AUM) NYSEMKT:VTI: $69.53 million (11.2% of AUM) NYSEMKT:AKRE: $43.0 billion (6.9% of AUM) NYSEMKT:VEA: $33.80 million (5.4% of AUM) As of January 21, 2026, shares of Akre Focus ETF were priced at $61.41, 8.83% below the 52-week high. Company overview Metric Value Price (as of market close January 21, 2026) $61.41 Net assets $9.37 billion Sector Financial Services Industry Asset Management Company snapshot Offers a diversified ETF investing in U.S. equities, preferred stocks, and equity-like instruments, w...
Bomb cyclone brings bitter cold and snow to the Southeast toggle caption Sean Rayford/Getty Images A powerful winter weather system — including an intense low-pressure "bomb cyclone" along the East Coast — is affecting a large swath of the country and driving extremely cold air deep into the Southeast. Temperatures in southern Florida fell into the 20s on Sunday morning — it's the coldest it's bee...
Bomb cyclone brings bitter cold and snow to the Southeast toggle caption Sean Rayford/Getty Images A powerful winter weather system — including an intense low-pressure "bomb cyclone" along the East Coast — is affecting a large swath of the country and driving extremely cold air deep into the Southeast. Temperatures in southern Florida fell into the 20s on Sunday morning — it's the coldest it's been since 1989, according to the National Weather Service. A statement on the agency's website warned of freezing temperatures and "bitterly cold air" surging down the Florida Peninsula. "All of our climate sites set new record lows for the date this morning," read a social media statement from the NWS office in Melbourne, Fla., "and most even set new monthly record lows for February!" Sponsor Message Though not unusually cold for much of the country, Florida isn't well-equipped for such temperatures, said Brian McNoldy, who studies cyclones at the University of Miami. " It's just something that people aren't used to," he said, "I mean, not every house even has heat, a lot of people don't have heavy coats." The cold did not keep some Floridians from their normal outdoor recreation, says David Nolan, who lives in Miami. "I went past the park today, there were people playing golf. There were people running, there were people bicycling," he said. "I think this is a case where people are still doing the things they would normally do — they're wearing a sweatshirt now." Nolan — an atmospheric scientist at the University of Miami — observed that there used to be more frequent cold snaps in Florida. " There were some very, very cold winters in Miami in the early eighties," he said. "It's just warmer now." On Friday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order allowing people to remove live, cold-stunned iguanas from the wild and turn them in at specific locations. Stunned iguanas falling from trees can cause hazards for pedestrians or motorists. t...
The cosmetics stock has blown past the S&P 500 during the first few weeks of the year. Last year was a brutal one for cosmetics giant e.l.f. Beauty (ELF 0.05%). Its shares plummeted nearly 40% as tariffs and concerns about the economy weighed down its valuation. So far, 2026 has been much better for the company. As of Jan. 26, the stock is up an incredible 17% to start the year, while the S&P 500 ...
The cosmetics stock has blown past the S&P 500 during the first few weeks of the year. Last year was a brutal one for cosmetics giant e.l.f. Beauty (ELF 0.05%). Its shares plummeted nearly 40% as tariffs and concerns about the economy weighed down its valuation. So far, 2026 has been much better for the company. As of Jan. 26, the stock is up an incredible 17% to start the year, while the S&P 500 has risen by less than 2%. The uncertainty around tariffs hasn't gone away, but investors appear to be taking a second look at e.l.f.'s beaten-down valuation, and may be seeing some intriguing potential. Is the stock destined to go even higher in the months ahead, or has it already gotten too hot to buy right now? The company showed resilient growth last quarter One of the reasons investors may be encouraged by e.l.f.'s stock is the company's versatility. While tariffs did result in the company raising prices on many products, its recent performance has by no means been catastrophic. When e.l.f. last reported earnings in November, the company's sales rose by 14% to $343.9 million for the period ending Sept. 30, 2025. The company's gross margin worsened by 165 basis points, primarily due to tariffs, but it remained fairly strong at 69%. But with the company's selling, general, and administrative expenses rising by 24%, e.l.f.'s overall profit for the period ended up declining by a staggering 84%, to $3 billion (versus $19 billion in the prior-year period). The results did, however, include acquisition and other one-time expenses that skewed its overall numbers; its adjusted earnings were down by a more modest rate of less than 10%. Expand NYSE : ELF e.l.f. Beauty Today's Change ( -0.05 %) $ -0.04 Current Price $ 84.99 Key Data Points Market Cap $5.1B Day's Range $ 83.78 - $ 87.45 52wk Range $ 49.40 - $ 150.99 Volume 1.7M Avg Vol 2.4M Gross Margin 66.54 % Why the stock still looks like a good buy If the courts rule that tariffs are illegal and are no longer in effect, e.l.f.'...
The 68th annual Grammy Awards are taking place on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and spirits were high from the jump after a few back-to-back, history-making moments. “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters won best song written for visual media, marking the first time a K-pop act has won a Grammy. The songwriters delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean, highlighting...
The 68th annual Grammy Awards are taking place on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and spirits were high from the jump after a few back-to-back, history-making moments. “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters won best song written for visual media, marking the first time a K-pop act has won a Grammy. The songwriters delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean, highlighting the song’s bilingual appeal. Best music film went to the documentary Music by John Williams, which means Steven Spielberg, who produced the film, has officially won his first Grammy. Advertisement The Premiere Ceremony, a pre-telecast show held at the adjacent Peacock Theatre, began with musician and host Darren Criss setting the scene – giving out the first award of the day, for best pop/duo group performance to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for “Defying Gravity”. They were not present to accept the award. An impressive 86 Grammys will be handed out pre-broadcast. Advertisement Yungblud won his first Grammy for rock performance for his cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes (live from Villa Park)”, which he performed at Ozzy Osbourne’s final show. Hardcore band Turnstile also won their first Grammy for best rock album.
Silas Stein | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Indonesia has allowed Elon Musk's Grok chatbot to resume services, lifting a ban over sexualised images on the app, after X Corp committed to improving compliance with the country's laws, according to a government statement. Indonesia suspended Grok from operating in the Southeast Asian nation three weeks ago, citing the risk of AI-generated pornograph...
Silas Stein | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Indonesia has allowed Elon Musk's Grok chatbot to resume services, lifting a ban over sexualised images on the app, after X Corp committed to improving compliance with the country's laws, according to a government statement. Indonesia suspended Grok from operating in the Southeast Asian nation three weeks ago, citing the risk of AI-generated pornographic content, becoming the first country to deny access to the AI tool. The statement from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, seen by Reuters on Sunday, said the government was processing the resumption of access on "a conditional basis and under strict supervision." X and xAI, which operates Grok, did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment outside business hours. Governments and regulators from Europe to Asia have condemned sexualised content generated by Grok and some have opened inquiries. "The normalization of access to Grok services is being carried out conditionally after X Corp submitted a written commitment containing concrete steps for service improvement and prevention of abuse. This commitment is the basis for evaluation, not the end of the supervision process," senior ministry official Alexander Sabar said in the statement. He added that X had implemented a number of "layered" measures to address the misuse of Grok services, and that these would be continuously verified.
In Brief How many of the companies with recent layoffs are truly adapting their workforces to the efficiencies and challenges of artificial intelligence? And how many of them were just using AI as an excuse to cover other problems? That’s the question posed by a New York Times article on the trend of “AI-washing,” where companies will cite AI as the reason for layoffs that might actually be caused...
In Brief How many of the companies with recent layoffs are truly adapting their workforces to the efficiencies and challenges of artificial intelligence? And how many of them were just using AI as an excuse to cover other problems? That’s the question posed by a New York Times article on the trend of “AI-washing,” where companies will cite AI as the reason for layoffs that might actually be caused by other factors, like over-hiring during the pandemic. AI was the stated reason for more than 50,000 layoffs in 2025, with Amazon and Pinterest among the tech companies who blamed the technology for recent cuts. But a Forrester report published in January argued, “Many companies announcing A.I.-related layoffs do not have mature, vetted A.I. applications ready to fill those roles, highlighting a trend of ‘A.I.-washing’ — attributing financially motivated cuts to future A.I. implementation.” Molly Kinder, a senior research fellow at the Brookings Institute, noted that saying layoffs were caused by AI is a “very investor-friendly message,” especially when the alternative might mean admitting, “The business is ailing.”
How many of the companies with recent layoffs are truly adapting their workforces to the efficiencies and challenges of artificial intelligence? And how many of them were just using AI as an excuse to cover other problems? That’s the question posed by a New York Times article on the trend of “AI-washing,” where companies will cite AI as the reason for layoffs that might actually be caused by other...
How many of the companies with recent layoffs are truly adapting their workforces to the efficiencies and challenges of artificial intelligence? And how many of them were just using AI as an excuse to cover other problems? That’s the question posed by a New York Times article on the trend of “AI-washing,” where companies will cite AI as the reason for layoffs that might actually be caused by other factors, like over-hiring during the pandemic. AI was the stated reason for more than 50,000 layoffs in 2025, with Amazon and Pinterest among the tech companies who blamed the technology for recent cuts. But a Forrester report published in January argued, “Many companies announcing A.I.-related layoffs do not have mature, vetted A.I. applications ready to fill those roles, highlighting a trend of ‘A.I.-washing’ — attributing financially motivated cuts to future A.I. implementation.” Molly Kinder, a senior research fellow at the Brookings Institute, noted that saying layoffs were caused by AI is a “very investor-friendly message,” especially when the alternative might mean admitting, “The business is ailing.”
Newly released footage shows the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein saying "I have a good mirror", when asked if he thinks he's the devil himself. The full video file - which runs for nearly two hours - shows Epstein facing questions from an interviewer. It has not been confirmed who is asking the questions, or when and why the footage was filmed. In one section, Epstein is questioned about his wea...
Newly released footage shows the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein saying "I have a good mirror", when asked if he thinks he's the devil himself. The full video file - which runs for nearly two hours - shows Epstein facing questions from an interviewer. It has not been confirmed who is asking the questions, or when and why the footage was filmed. In one section, Epstein is questioned about his wealth, and it is later put to him whether he is a "class three sexual predator". The video is part of millions of files released on Friday by the US Department of Justice.
A China National Aviation Fuel refueling truck refuels a China Eastern Airlines passenger jet at an airport in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, on Aug. 17, 2019. Photo: VCG Once reviled as a public health menace in China, “gutter oil” is now a prized commodity. Used cooking oil (UCO), to give it its more formal name, has become one of the world’s most sought-after feedstocks for sustainable aviation f...
A China National Aviation Fuel refueling truck refuels a China Eastern Airlines passenger jet at an airport in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, on Aug. 17, 2019. Photo: VCG Once reviled as a public health menace in China, “gutter oil” is now a prized commodity. Used cooking oil (UCO), to give it its more formal name, has become one of the world’s most sought-after feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel. Prices have soared as airlines scramble to cut carbon emissions and comply with tightening international mandates. In 2025, a ton of UCO sold for hundreds of dollars more than conventional jet fuel.
The inaugural Women's Champions Cup delivered the kind of spectacle Fifa would have hoped for when launching the new inter-continental competition last March. Arsenal's extra‑time triumph over Brazilian champions Corinthians produced plenty of drama, tension and quality at the Emirates Stadium. In a game where momentum swung both ways, Corinthians struck a 96th-minute penalty to force extra time i...
The inaugural Women's Champions Cup delivered the kind of spectacle Fifa would have hoped for when launching the new inter-continental competition last March. Arsenal's extra‑time triumph over Brazilian champions Corinthians produced plenty of drama, tension and quality at the Emirates Stadium. In a game where momentum swung both ways, Corinthians struck a 96th-minute penalty to force extra time in which Arsenal's Catilin Foord then emerged as the hero with a 104th-minute winner that secured the silverware. The scenes at full-time said plenty too as Arsenal's celebrations after receiving the trophy from club legend Arsene Wenger underlined just how valuable this competition was to a squad searching for momentum amid a challenging domestic season. "It's not often that you can write history at Arsenal because history has been written so many times," goalscorer Lotte Wubben-Moy told Sky Sports after the triumph. "We stand on the shoulders of giants. To come to this inaugural competition and win it and do it with all of our fans here in style - our fans are wonderful and that's who we do it for." Arsenal captain Kim Little added: "It's obviously a unique experience - it being the first Champions Cup. We'll take a lot from winning today and getting a trophy."