https://www.benzinga.com/views/taxonomy/term/17834 en https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/26/05/52775294/new-federal-snap-rules-are-about-to-change-calfresh-for-millions-of-americans-heres-what-to-know?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>Millions of Californians receiving food assistance through the state&#039;s CalFresh program could soon face stricter work requirements beginning June 1 as California implements new federal SNAP rules tied to the <strong>One Big Beautiful Bill Act</strong>, according to guidance published by the <strong>California Department of Social Services.</strong></p> <p>The law, signed in 2025, expanded SNAP work requirements nationwide, raised the eligible work-age threshold to 64 and removed some exemptions previously available to veterans, homeless individuals and former foster youth. California is now rolling out those federal changes beginning June 1.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who&#039;s Affected</h2> <p>Under the updated rules, some adults between ages 18 and 64 will be required to work, volunteer, attend school, or participate in job training programs to continue receiving benefits. The changes mainly apply to recipients without disabilities and without dependent children under age 14.</p> <p>The updated policy also expands work requirements to previously exempt groups, including adults ages 55 to 64, veterans, people experiencing homelessness and some former foster youth.</p> <p>Under federal ABAWD rules, able-bodied ...</p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/26/05/52775294/new-federal-snap-rules-are-about-to-change-calfresh-for-millions-of-americans-heres-what-to-know?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=New Federal SNAP Rules Are About To Change CalFresh For Millions Of Americans: Here&#039;s What To Know>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> benznews Government News SNAP Politics Personal Finance News Government Politics Personal Finance Benzinga Tue, 26 May 2026 13:03:31 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52775294 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/26/05/52774498/zohran-mamdanis-rent-freeze-plan-may-get-a-twist-certain-nyc-landlords-could-raise-rents-anyway?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>New York City Mayor <strong>Zohran Mamdani</strong> is expected to announce on Tuesday that some distressed landlords will be exempt from his proposed rent freeze, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/mamdani-says-these-nyc-landlords-will-be-exempt-from-his-rent-freeze-ee53180c?mod=hp_lead_pos4">report</a> said eligible owners of certain rent-stabilized apartments would be allowed to impose a one-time rent increase on vacant units, even if a broader rent freeze is approved later this year.</p> <p>The increases would reportedly be decided on a case-by-case basis and could amount to hundreds of dollars per month for some units.</p> <p>The exemption would apply to landlords of certain city-financed and city-regulated affordable housing units, many of whom have argued that rising costs and debt burdens have made the proposed rent freeze financially difficult.</p> <p>"The reality is, they will all remain affordable," <strong>Dina Levy,</strong> commissioner of the city&#039;s <strong>Housing Preservation and Development Department</strong>, told The Wall Street Journal.</p> <p>The report said roughly 300,000 apartments financed through city housing ...</p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/26/05/52774498/zohran-mamdanis-rent-freeze-plan-may-get-a-twist-certain-nyc-landlords-could-raise-rents-anyway?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Zohran Mamdani&#039;s Rent Freeze Plan May Get A Twist— Certain NYC Landlords Could Raise Rents Anyway>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> AMZN benznews Government News Regulations zohran mamdani Politics Personal Finance General Real Estate AMZN US0231351067 News Government Regulations Politics Personal Finance General Real Estate Benzinga Tue, 26 May 2026 12:43:43 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52774498 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/26/05/52769465/americas-birth-rate-is-crashing-while-wall-street-soars-only-asset-owners-can-affor?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>American birth rates are falling even as financial markets remain near record highs, according to a recent post shared by <strong>The Kobeissi Letter</strong>.</p> <p>The market commentary account cited Kobeissi data comparing U.S. demographic health against rising financial wealth. It said the U.S. birthrate has dropped roughly 30% since before the 2008 Financial Crisis, while financial wealth has continued climbing. The post argued that "only asset owners can afford this economy," pointing to what it described as the largest divergence in history between the S&amp;P 500 and the U.S. birth rate.</p> <p>The Kobeissi Letter said economic stimulus measures following recessions in 2008 and 2020 accelerated wealth concentration while increasing financial pressure on younger Americans. The post described the trend as another sign of a "K-shaped economy," where wealthier households continue benefiting from rising asset prices while others struggle with affordability.</p> <p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://x.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2058912973519753332?s=20"><img decoding="async" ...</a></figure></p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/26/05/52769465/americas-birth-rate-is-crashing-while-wall-street-soars-only-asset-owners-can-affor?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=America&#039;s Birth Rate Is Crashing While Wall Street Soars: &#039;Only Asset Owners Can Afford This Economy,&#039; Says Market Commentator>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> Analyst Color benznews BLK Macro Economic Events Macro Notification The Kobeissi Letter Econ #s Opinion Economics Markets Personal Finance BLK US09247X1019 Analyst Color Macro Economic Events Macro Notification Econ #s Opinion Economics Markets Personal Finance Benzinga Tue, 26 May 2026 07:32:10 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52769465 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/26/05/52766010/expect-corrections-jim-cramer-says-young-investors-rebuilding-savings-after-b?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p><strong>Jim Cramer </strong>on CNBC&#039;s <strong>Mad Money</strong> advised young investors rebuilding savings after buying a home to focus on long-term investing through a mix of index funds and individual stocks while preparing for inevitable market volatility.</p> <p>Responding to a caller who said he had recently drained much of his savings for a home down payment, Cramer recommended a "50/50" investing strategy split between broad index funds and a smaller basket of carefully selected individual companies.</p> <p>"Five stocks that you like and then index funds. So index for 50%, stocks for 50%," Cramer said.</p> <div class="bz-read-next-block"<br /> data-variant="card"<br /> data-news-mode="manual" <p> ></p> <p> <strong><br /> Read Also:<br /> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/26/05/52765635/millions-of-americans-are-tapping-their-401ks-for-emergency-cash-but-experts-warn-the-long-term-damage-could-be-far-worse-than-people-realize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><br /> Millions Of Americans Are Tapping Their 401(k)s For Emergency Cash—But Experts Warn The Long-Term Damage Could Be Far Worse Than People Realize</a><br /> </strong> </p> </div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Long-Term Focus</h2> <p>Cramer argued younger investors should lean toward growth-focused indexes like the <strong>Nasdaq </strong>rather than the <strong>S&amp;P 500</strong> because they have more time to recover from downturns ...</p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/26/05/52766010/expect-corrections-jim-cramer-says-young-investors-rebuilding-savings-after-b?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=&#039;Expect Corrections&#039;: Jim Cramer Says Young Investors Rebuilding Savings After Buying A Home Should Focus On Long-Term Investing>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> benznews Jim Cramer Markets Tech Personal Finance General Markets Tech Personal Finance General Benzinga Mon, 25 May 2026 11:20:02 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52766010 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/26/05/52765635/millions-of-americans-are-tapping-their-401ks-for-emergency-cash-but-experts-warn-the?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>Fidelity Investments and AARP are warning Americans against tapping retirement accounts early, saying growing financial pressure is pushing more workers to treat 401(k)s like emergency savings accounts despite steep long-term costs.</p> <p>According to guidance cited by AARP, workers who withdraw money from a 401(k) before age 59½ can lose 25% to 35% of the withdrawal to taxes and penalties alone. AARP cited an example where a $20,000 withdrawal could leave savers with only $12,000 to $14,000 after deductions.</p> <p>The larger concern, however, is the loss of long-term compounding. Money removed from retirement accounts no longer grows tax-deferred over decades, potentially reducing retirement balances significantly over time. Financial planners warn that the long-term growth lost from early withdrawals can ultimately cost savers far more than the initial taxes or penalties.</p> <p>The IRS generally treats withdrawals before age 59½ as early distributions subject to a 10% penalty unless specific exceptions apply, while financial experts warn the long-term compounding loss begins as soon as the money leaves the account.</p> <div class="bz-read-next-block"<br /> ...</div><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/26/05/52765635/millions-of-americans-are-tapping-their-401ks-for-emergency-cash-but-experts-warn-the?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Millions Of Americans Are Tapping Their 401(k)s For Emergency Cash—But Experts Warn The Long-Term Damage Could Be Far Worse Than People Realize>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> 401(k) benznews Economics Personal Finance Economics Personal Finance Benzinga Mon, 25 May 2026 09:47:45 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52765635 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/26/05/52765132/anthony-scaramucci-says-half-of-america-cant-afford-the-median-home-anymore-and-many-families-are-now?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>Former White House communications director <strong>Anthony Scaramucci</strong> warned that inflation and rising housing costs are leaving millions of Americans financially strained, arguing that many households can no longer realistically afford the median-priced U.S. home.</p> <p>Posting on X on Sunday, Scaramucci argued that rising housing costs and persistent inflation are leaving many Americans unable to afford the median-priced U.S. home.</p> <p>Scaramucci said the median home price in the U.S. currently stands at roughly $432,000 and estimated that households would need about $160,000 in annual income to comfortably afford the mortgage while still maintaining financial flexibility.</p> <p>"The median income is $84,000," Scaramucci wrote. "That means half the country can&#8217;t afford the median house."</p> <p>He said the affordability gap is increasingly forcing Americans to cut back on essential spending, including healthcare and routine expenses.</p> <p>"These are people skipping medical appointments, skipping the dentist, missing a prescription," he wrote. "This isn&#8217;t abstract monetary policy. This is how people are actually living."</p> <p><figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://x.com/Scaramucci/status/2058578931335524359?s=20"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/25011449/Screenshot-2026-05-25-at-10.44.38%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1475236" style="width:283px;height:auto" /></a></figure></p> <div class="bz-read-next-block"<br /> data-variant="card"<br /> ...</div><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/26/05/52765132/anthony-scaramucci-says-half-of-america-cant-afford-the-median-home-anymore-and-many-families-are-now?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Anthony Scaramucci Says Half Of America Can&#039;t Afford The Median Home Anymore—And Many Families Are Now Skipping Healthcare To Get By>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> Anthony Scaramucci benznews Z Politics Economics Markets Personal Finance Real Estate Z Politics Economics Markets Personal Finance Real Estate Benzinga Mon, 25 May 2026 06:45:40 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52765132 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/26/05/52763940/the-28000-housing-cost-that-keeps-climbing-what-advisors-need-to-tell-clients?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>For years, homeownership has been framed as a hedge <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/26/04/52052963/80-of-americans-are-adjusting-spending-heres-where-its-starting?adt_ei={{email}}&amp;he={{email}}&amp;el=BenzingaAdvisor">against rising costs.</a> Lock in a fixed-rate mortgage, stabilize your monthly payment, and gain predictability over time. But as many homeowners start to realize, costs tied to homeownership remain anything but fixed.</p> <p>A recent <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://listwithclever.com/research/costs-of-owning-a-home-2026/?adt_ei={{email}}&amp;he={{email}}&amp;el=BenzingaAdvisor">report</a> from Clever Real Estate found that the average homeowner now spends nearly $24,000 per year on housing expenses beyond their mortgage payment. When HOA fees are included, those costs rise to $28,000 annually.</p> <p>What stands out is not just the size of those expenses, but how many of them continue rising long after the mortgage rate is locked in. From higher utilities, insurance premiums, and property taxes, <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/26/03/50954290/survey-shows-more-americans-are-unretiring-to-keep-up-with-cost-of-living?adt_ei={{email}}&amp;he={{email}}&amp;el=BenzingaAdvisor">the bills keep going up</a>. Maintenance and repairs add another layer of unpredictability, especially for buyers ...</p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/26/05/52763940/the-28000-housing-cost-that-keeps-climbing-what-advisors-need-to-tell-clients?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=The $28,000 Housing Cost That Keeps Climbing: What Advisors Need to Tell Clients>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> personal finance Personal Finance Personal Finance Benzinga Sun, 24 May 2026 17:01:06 +0000 Justin Giles 52763940 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/Opinion/26/05/52717724/what-retirement-savers-should-examine-before-investing-in-private-credit?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>Private credit used to be exclusively available to pension funds, endowments, and wealthy individuals. Today, it is available to retail investors in their brokerage accounts, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), or 401(k) plans through interval funds, business development companies, and exchange-traded funds.</p> <p>In a market where retirees seek reliable income streams, such products are becoming more popular. This is because private credit offers better returns than government bonds, lower volatility than equities, and access to a rapidly growing financial sector.</p> <p>However, most investments are more illiquid than investors realize. Restrictions on redemptions from several large private credit funds revealed an issue that retirees are unaware of until they try to withdraw their funds.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Takeaways</h2> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Private credit is rapidly expanding into brokerage and retirement accounts as retail investors search for higher yields and alternatives to traditional fixed income.</li> <li>While retail investors expect easy access to funds when needed, private credits are often long-term and difficult to convert to cash.</li> <li>Before investing, retirement savers should carefully review redemption limits, leverage, valuation practices, fees, and whether they can afford to keep their capital locked up for several years.</li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is Private Credit?&nbsp;</h2> <p>Private credit refers to loans made directly to corporations by non-bank lenders such as asset managers, rather than through public bond markets or banks. It is offered to medium-sized businesses, private equity-owned companies, or those seeking an alternative access to funds besides banking channels.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Private Credit is Moving into Retirement Accounts</h2> <p>As banks continue pulling back from certain forms of lending after the 2008 financial crisis, the private credit market has grown into a $1.5–$2 trillion asset class and is projected to exceed $3 trillion by 2028.</p> <p>Asset managers such as BlackRock <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BLK" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BLK" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BLK">BLK</a>)</a>, Apollo Global Management <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/APO" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="APO" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/APO">APO</a>)</a>, Ares Management <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ARES" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ARES" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ARES">ARES</a>)</a>, and Blue Owl Capital <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/OWL" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="OWL" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/OWL">OWL</a>)</a> are expanding private ...</p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/Opinion/26/05/52717724/what-retirement-savers-should-examine-before-investing-in-private-credit?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=What Retirement Savers Should Examine Before Investing In Private Credit>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> APO ARES BLK contributors Expert Ideas Long Ideas OWL Opinion Personal Finance APO US0376123065 BLK US09247X1019 ARES OWL Long Ideas Opinion Personal Finance Benzinga Thu, 21 May 2026 13:53:17 +0000 Funso Lawal 52717724 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/26/05/52711577/why-single-gen-z-women-are-outpacing-men-in-buying-homes-right-now?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>Single Gen Z women are buying homes at significantly higher rates than their male counterparts, even as affordability pressures continue weighing on younger Americans entering the housing market.</p> <p>According to survey data from the <strong>National Association of Realtors,</strong> single Gen Z women accounted for 35% of homebuyers in their generation, while single Gen Z men represented 18%.</p> <p>The survey tracked Americans who purchased homes between July 2024 and June 2025. Overall, Gen Z buyers still represented just 4% of all homebuyers during the period as elevated mortgage rates and high home prices continued limiting affordability.</p> <p>The report also showed first-time buyers across all age groups fell to the lowest level recorded since 1981.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Housing Affordability Pressures Build</h2> <p>The findings come as borrowing costs continue climbing across the U.S. housing market.</p> <p>Earlier this week, Mortgage News Daily data showed the average <strong><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/26/05/52685821/will-mortgage-rates-hit-7-as-borrowing-costs-keep-climbing">U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 6.75%,</a></strong> the highest level since July 2025. Market commentary account <strong>The Kobeissi Letter</strong> warned rates could soon move above 7%.</p> <p>Higher borrowing costs ...</p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/26/05/52711577/why-single-gen-z-women-are-outpacing-men-in-buying-homes-right-now?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Why Single Gen Z Women Are Outpacing Men In Buying Homes Right Now>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> benznews Homeownership News Economics Markets Personal Finance General Real Estate News Economics Markets Personal Finance General Real Estate Benzinga Thu, 21 May 2026 10:39:06 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52711577 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/05/52710564/zohran-mamdani-fires-back-after-jeff-bezos-says-doubling-his-taxes-wont-help-teachers-in-queens-i-k?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>New York City Mayor <strong>Zohran Mamdani</strong> pushed back on Wednesday after <strong>Amazon.com Inc.</strong> <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="AMZN" data-exchange="NASDAQ" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN">AMZN</a>)</a> founder <strong>Jeff Bezos</strong> said that even doubling the taxes he pays would not help "that teacher in Queens," escalating a debate over wealth, public spending and how the city should fund basic services.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mamdani Defends Teachers In Queens</h2> <p>"I know a few teachers in Queens who would beg to differ," Mamdani wrote on X, responding to a CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/05/20/watch-cnbcs-full-interview-with-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos.html">interview</a> in which Bezos defended his tax record and criticized politicians who blame billionaires for broader affordability problems.</p> <p><figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><br /> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I know a few teachers in Queens who would beg to differ. <a href="https://t.co/JEnRnM2xII">https://t.co/JEnRnM2xII</a></p> <p>&mdash; Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/2057137240904511564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2026</a></p></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <p></p></figure></p> <p>Bezos said he pays "billions of dollars in taxes" and is willing to debate whether wealthy Americans should pay more. "If people want me to pay more billions, then let&#039;s have that debate," he added. "But ...</p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/05/52710564/zohran-mamdani-fires-back-after-jeff-bezos-says-doubling-his-taxes-wont-help-teachers-in-queens-i-k?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Zohran Mamdani Fires Back After Jeff Bezos Says Doubling His Taxes Won&#039;t Help Teachers In Queens: &#039;I Know A Few…Who Would Beg To Differ&#039;>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> AMZN Government Jeff Bezos News zohran mamdani Education Entrepreneurship Politics Personal Finance AMZN US0231351067 News Government Education Entrepreneurship Politics Personal Finance Benzinga Thu, 21 May 2026 09:39:11 +0000 Shomik Sen Bhattacharjee 52710564 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/tax/26/05/52694800/jeff-bezos-says-hes-no-tax-villain-gives-billions-thinks-some-people-should-pay-0?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>Billionaire<strong> Jeff Bezos</strong> ended 2025 with a wealth<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/26/01/49670762/elon-musk-larry-ellison-lead-as-worlds-10-richest-add-more-2025-wealth-than-netflix-att-combined"> of $253 billion</a>. The <strong>Amazon.com </strong>founder shared his latest thoughts on wealth, taxes, and how the United States government could help the lowest earners.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bezos on Taxes</h2> <p>Bezos has been accused by some people, including<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/12/49225087/elon-musk-paid-3-3-effective-tax-bezos-1-living-tax-free-on-loans-says-rep-dan-goldman-introduces-robinhood-act-to-generate-at-least-276b"> prominent politicians,</a> of not paying his fair share in taxes. The Amazon founder brushed off that notion during an interview with CNBC on Wednesday.</p> <p>"Politicians are using this age old technique of picking a villain and pointing fingers, but the problem is that doesn&#039;t solve anything," Bezos <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/05/20/watch-cnbcs-full-interview-with-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos.html?__source=twitter&#x7C;main">told </a>CNBC.</p> <p>Bezos says he pays billions of dollars in taxes.</p> <p>"If people want me to pay more billions, then let&#039;s have that debate. But don&#039;t pretend that&#039;s going to solve the problem."</p> <p>Bezos said his taxes could be doubled and it still wouldn&#039;t help solve the problem, blaming the tax problem on government policy. </p> <div class="bz-read-next-block"<br /> ...</div><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/tax/26/05/52694800/jeff-bezos-says-hes-no-tax-villain-gives-billions-thinks-some-people-should-pay-0?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Jeff Bezos Says He&#039;s No Tax Villain, Gives Billions — Thinks Some People Should Pay 0%>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> billionaires Bloomberg Billionaires Index Jeff Bezos taxes Management Personal Finance Management Personal Finance Benzinga Wed, 20 May 2026 15:17:41 +0000 Chris Katje 52694800 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/26/05/52684304/kevin-oleary-risked-sleeping-on-the-couch-for-this-ultra-rare-sports-card-now-its-worth-20-milli?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>Renowned investor and media personality <strong>Kevin O&#8217;Leary</strong> said ultra-rare sports cards are emerging as a serious investment asset class after a <strong>Kobe Bryant-Michael Jordan card</strong> he bought for $12.93 million last year drew a $20 million bid.</p> <p>"I found myself last August at 3:00 in the morning bidding on a dual Logoman Kobe Jordan auto," O&#039;Leary said in a video shared on X. </p> <p>&#8220;It was at $8 million when my wife went to bed, and she said, &#8220;If you buy that card tonight, don&#8217;t come to bed.&#8221; </p> <p>"Today, it got bid $20 million for it. So tell me an asset class that does better than that that&#8217;s liquid."</p> <p><figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><br /> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I found myself last August at 3:00 in the morning bidding on a dual Logoman Kobe Jordan auto. It was at $8 million when my wife went to bed, and she said, &quot;If you buy that card tonight, don&#39;t come to bed.&quot; And when, we woke up, I&#39;d paid $12.93 million ...</p></blockquote></div></figure></p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/26/05/52684304/kevin-oleary-risked-sleeping-on-the-couch-for-this-ultra-rare-sports-card-now-its-worth-20-milli?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Kevin O&#039;Leary Risked Sleeping On The Couch For This Ultra-Rare Sports Card— Now It&#039;s Worth $20 Million: &#039;Tell Me An Asset Class That Does Better...&#039;>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> benznews Equities Kevin O'Leary Sports Markets Personal Finance Equities Sports Markets Personal Finance Benzinga Wed, 20 May 2026 10:01:17 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52684304 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/26/05/52683582/states-sue-trump-student-loan-caps-healthcare-programs?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>A coalition of Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a new federal student loan rule that could sharply reduce borrowing access for students pursuing healthcare-related professional degrees.</p> <p>The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the <strong>U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland</strong> by 23 states, the District of Columbia, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The states argue the <strong>U.S. Department of Education</strong> unlawfully narrowed the definition of "professional degree" under the <strong>One Big Beautiful Bill Act</strong> passed in 2025.</p> <p>Under the law, graduate students face federal borrowing caps of $20,500 annually and $100,000 total, while students classified under "professional degree" programs can borrow up to $50,000 annually and $200,000 overall.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">States Challenge Healthcare Degree Limits</h2> <p>The lawsuit claims the Department of Education&#039;s final rule improperly excludes several healthcare programs from the higher borrowing category, including nurse practitioner, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology programs.</p> <p>According to the complaint, Congress intended the higher loan caps to apply broadly to licensed professional programs. The states argue the administration added new restrictions that were never ...</p><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/26/05/52683582/states-sue-trump-student-loan-caps-healthcare-programs?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Trump Administration Sued By 23 Blue States Over Student Loan Crackdown On Healthcare Degrees>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> benznews News student loans Education Legal Personal Finance News Education Legal Personal Finance Benzinga Wed, 20 May 2026 08:42:05 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52683582 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/26/05/52656202/millions-of-salaried-americans-could-soon-get-overtime-pay-back-as-new-democrat-bill-targets-wage-rule?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>Rep.<strong> Mark Takano (D-Calif.)</strong>, Rep. <strong>Alma Adams (D-N.C.)</strong> and Sen.<strong> Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)</strong> on Monday reintroduced the <strong>Restoring Overtime Pay Act</strong> — a proposal aimed at expanding overtime protections for millions of American workers.</p> <p>The lawmakers said the bill would gradually raise the salary threshold for overtime eligibility, potentially extending protections to as many as 29.3 million workers.</p> <p>Currently, only about 8% of full-time salaried workers automatically qualify for overtime pay based on salary levels alone, down from nearly 63% in 1975, according to the lawmakers.</p> <p>The proposal comes as living costs remain elevated across the U.S. and many Americans continue struggling financially.</p> <p>"At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when over 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, it is beyond unacceptable that <strong>President Trump</strong> is denying overtime pay to millions of workers," Sanders said.</p> <div class="bz-read-next-block"<br /> data-variant="card"<br /> data-news-mode="manual" <p> ...</p></div><p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/26/05/52656202/millions-of-salaried-americans-could-soon-get-overtime-pay-back-as-new-democrat-bill-targets-wage-rule?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Millions of Salaried Americans Could Soon Get Overtime Pay Back As New Democrat Bill Targets Wage Rules>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> benznews Government Regulations United Auto Workers Politics Personal Finance General Government Regulations Politics Personal Finance General Benzinga Tue, 19 May 2026 10:29:30 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52656202 at https://www.benzinga.com https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/26/05/52627123/mortgage-rates-surge-above-6-as-iran-war-ripples-through-housing-markets-worldwide?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&utm_medium=rss_feed_free&utm_content=taxonomy_rss&utm_campaign=channel <p>Mortgage costs are rising sharply across the U.S. and Europe as the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict spreads into global housing markets, increasing pressure on homebuyers and borrowers despite central banks holding interest rates steady.</p> <p>According to a Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5e7f4da1-6cb4-44d8-9bce-4ddad53c7fd1">report</a> published Monday, the average U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate has climbed to 6.36%, moving above levels seen before the Federal Reserve began cutting rates in 2025. The report said lenders are reacting to rising government borrowing costs and growing fears that inflation could accelerate again if oil prices remain elevated.</p> <p>In Germany, mortgage rates on popular 10-year home loans have risen to around 3.6%, increasing annual interest costs on a new €350,000 loan by roughly €1,000, according to retail mortgage broker <strong>Dr Klein</strong> cited by the Financial Times.</p> <p>"Rates have risen sharply within a matter of weeks," Florian Pfaffinger, an executive at German mortgage broker Dr Klein, said, adding that the moves had "unsettled the market."</p> <p>The sharpest increases were reported in the UK, where the average quoted rate on a two-year fixed mortgage climbed to 5.1% in April from 3.97% at the end of February.</p> <div ...<p><a href=https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/26/05/52627123/mortgage-rates-surge-above-6-as-iran-war-ripples-through-housing-markets-worldwide?utm_source=benzinga_taxonomy&amp;utm_medium=rss_feed_free&amp;utm_content=taxonomy_rss&amp;utm_campaign=channel alt=Mortgage Rates Surge Above 6% As Iran War Ripples Through Housing Markets Worldwide>Full story available on Benzinga.com</a></p> benznews Iran mortgage Economics Markets Personal Finance Real Estate Economics Markets Personal Finance Real Estate Benzinga Mon, 18 May 2026 08:09:40 +0000 Tanya Rawat 52627123 at https://www.benzinga.com