Is it time to swap Bitcoin for Solana? Here's what you need to know about these big crypto names and their long-term prospects.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the most revolutionary technology in a generation. Its ability to instantly generate text, images, videos, and even computer code could drive a productivity boom for businesses all over the world.The industry is still in its infancy, but Wall Street's forecasts suggest AI could add anywhere between $7 trillion and $200 trillion to the global economy during the next decade. That's why technology giants are battling one another for AI supremacy and spending astronomical amounts of money on data center infrastructure and chips.According to an estimate from investment bank Morgan Stanley, four technology giants alone could invest a combined $300 billion in capital expenditures (capex) in 2025. Driving that spending will be AI, and with Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) supplying the most advanced chips in the industry for AI development, its stock could also be the biggest winner from the spending boom.Continue reading

The artificial intelligence (AI) specialist got a boatload of positive news.

For many older adults, Social Security makes the difference between enjoying a comfortable retirement and struggling to make ends meet.However, 55% of U.S. adults admit that their benefits are not enough to cover their basic needs in retirement, according to a 2024 survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute. A separate study from investment management firm T. Rowe Price also found that 20% of retirees are working either full- or part-time, with nearly half doing so for financial reasons.Working in retirement can be a smart way to create financial stability, but in some cases, your income could shrink your Social Security benefits. Here's what to expect heading into 2025.Continue reading

Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller might not be a household name like Warren Buffett, but he's one of the best investors of all time.The George Soros protégé ran the Duquesne Capital Management hedge fund for nearly 30 years with an average annual return of 30% and no losing years. That's a phenomenal track record.These days, Druckenmiller is retired as a hedge fund manager since he closed his fund in 2010, but he still invests through the Duquesne Family Office, where he's made some smart buys in recent years, including Nvidia just after ChatGPT launched.Continue reading

Building an investment portfolio worth $1 million or more is a dream many people share, yet relatively few will achieve. In fact, when asked what a "high net worth" looks like in a 2023 survey by Empower, the median response was $400,000 -- and 74% of survey participants believed they'd never reach that threshold.Investing in the stock market is one of the most attainable ways to generate serious wealth, and you don't need to be an expert at choosing stocks or timing the market. Sometimes, all it takes is one investment that can transform your finances.Image source: Getty Images.Continue reading

Micron Technology showed strength in the artificial intelligence market but weakness in the consumer space.

In the current economic environment, many retailers are struggling. While unemployment remains low and growth in gross domestic product (GDP) has been solid, the past few years of high inflation have eaten into consumers' budgets.This has resulted in headwinds for many stocks, from restaurants to retailers.However, in this adverse spending climate, big-box discount retailer Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) just posted impressive growth and even margin expansion. Investors can thank the company's major competitive advantage, which allows Costco to capitalize when the going gets tough.Continue reading

One of the more volatile stocks of 2024 has been Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ: RIVN). The electric vehicle (EV) maker has had a number of ups and downs this year, and while the stock has performed well the past couple of months, the stock is still down about 35% year to date, as of this writing.The question now, though, is whether the stock is a buy, sell, or hold going into 2025. Let's look at each argument to help decide.The sell case for Rivian largely comes down to two main issues: slowing EV industry sales and its weak gross margin.Continue reading

If you know you'll need bigger and bigger dividend payments in the future, plan for that now.