Walter Updegrave
Walter Updegrave
12 articlesEditor
Personal Finance Columnist
Robert Hale writes about retirement, investing, savings, credit, insurance, and consumer protection with a practical, skeptical voice focused on ordinary households.
Latest articles by Walter Updegrave
How Top Cash Rates Can Boost Your Savings Amid High Inflation
With inflation above 4%, choosing the right savings account or CD can mean hundreds of extra dollars in interest. See how today's leading cash rates compare and what your money could earn over six months
How Leaving a Job Can Impact Your 401(k) and Retirement Savings
Changing jobs can trigger unexpected 401(k) moves, forced cash-outs, or automatic rollovers. Learn how balance size, account type, and IRS rules affect your options-and what steps to take to avoid taxes, penalties, or lost investment growth
Retirement Savings Fears Grow as Americans Brace for Shortfalls
A new survey finds 62% of Americans worry they'll reach retirement age without enough savings, as concerns mount over Social Security cuts, rising living costs, and the high price of long-term care
How State-by-State Cost Gaps Reshape What Your Salary Can Buy
A $70,000 salary stretches much further in Oklahoma than in Hawaii or California. See how state-level cost differences can add or subtract thousands from your real spending power
Keystone Pipeline Faces $26.9M Penalty After Major Kansas Oil Spill
The Keystone Pipeline operator will pay nearly $27 million in penalties and invest $40 million in safety upgrades after a 2022 oil spill in Kansas, raising questions about pipeline oversight and environmental risk for U.S. communities
Goldman Sachs Doubles Down on SanDisk With $2,200 Price Target
SanDisk stock has soared over 700% in 2026, and Goldman Sachs now projects even more upside. The firm’s new $2,200 target highlights a sharp divergence from Wall Street consensus and signals a major shift in semiconductor earnings expectations
Tesla-SpaceX Merger Hopes Face Cash Burn and Regulatory Hurdles
Tesla’s potential merger with SpaceX is fueling investor speculation, but analysts warn that heavy spending and regulatory barriers could limit any near-term upside for shareholders betting on a quick deal
US Home Prices Reach Record High as Affordability Worsens
The median price for existing homes in the US hit $440,660 in June, marking a new peak as affordability remains out of reach for many buyers and a major housing bill stalls in Washington
Remote Work Is Raising Unemployment for Young College Graduates
A new Federal Reserve Bank of New York study finds remote work is responsible for most of the rise in joblessness among recent college grads, as employers hesitate to hire and train inexperienced workers outside the office
Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Theft of Trade Secrets in AI Hardware
Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former employees, alleging the misappropriation of confidential technology to accelerate OpenAI’s push into AI hardware, raising new questions about competition and intellectual property in the sector
How Much Interest $1,000 Earns in a Money Market Account Now
Money market accounts are offering rates near 4%, far outpacing traditional savings accounts. See how much interest a $1,000 deposit could generate in just a few months—and what risks and trade-offs savers should weigh before moving cash
Luxury London Homes Face Prolonged Slump as Buyers Hold Back
High-end properties in London’s most exclusive neighborhoods are sitting unsold for months, signaling a shift in demand and raising questions about the future of the city’s luxury real estate market
