Walter Updegrave
Walter Updegrave
272 articlesEditor
Personal Finance Columnist
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 to Tell If the Stock Market Is in a Bubble
Key valuation metrics like the Buffett indicator and Shiller CAPE ratio suggest U.S. stocks are highly priced, but history shows bubbles can persist for years. Investors weighing defensive sectors may want to consider past crash performance
Houston, Texas: An Ideal Retirement Destination
Houston's median home price of $263,563 and no state income tax on retirement income make it a standout for retirees seeking affordability, tax relief, and access to world-class healthcare in a major U.S. metro area
Italy's MPS thinks three takeovers are better than one
Italy's Monte dei Paschi di Siena is exploring multiple acquisition targets as it seeks to strengthen its position in the European banking sector, raising questions about consolidation risks and the impact on shareholders
3 ETFs to Prepare Your Portfolio for a Potential Market Crash
With the S&P 500 approaching a fourth straight year of double-digit gains, investors face the risk of a sharp correction. Here's how a mix of stock, dividend, and Treasury ETFs can help balance protection and growth potential
Why Treasury Yields Are Surging?
With just 29% of U.S. workers covered by traditional pensions and a sharp divide between public and private sector benefits, the shift to 401(k)s is reshaping retirement security and placing more risk on individuals
The Stock Market Is Nearing Dot-Com Bubble Valuations, Says Warren Buffett
With the S&P 500 more than doubling since early 2023 and key valuation metrics at historic highs, Warren Buffett signals caution as market exuberance and AI-driven spending echo the late 1990s tech bubble
Stanley Druckenmiller's Recent Investments in Argentine and Mexican Stocks
Stanley Druckenmiller's Duquesne Family Office has made sizable bets on YPF SA, BBB Foods, and the Global X MSCI Argentina ETF, signaling confidence in select Latin American equities despite ongoing political and economic volatility
Walmart's Earnings Beat Comes With a Warning
Walmart raised its full-year outlook after beating revenue and profit forecasts, but slower U.S. sales growth and reliance on a one-time tariff refund rattled investors, sending shares down sharply and weighing on major stock indexes
Gold's Appeal Rises Amid Uncertainty, but Don't Expect Outsized Returns
Gold prices have rebounded 9% in the past month as investors respond to persistent inflation, geopolitical risks, and the looming U.S. elections, but long-term returns may not match recent surges
FOMC Minutes Show Inflation Concerns, But Rate Hikes Unlikely in 2026
Federal Reserve officials remain wary of inflation risks, but recent declines in consumer prices and weak job growth have shifted market expectations toward steady interest rates through late 2026
S&P 500 and Dow Rise While Nasdaq Lags on Broadcom Drop
A sharp drop in Broadcom shares weighed on the Nasdaq, while the S&P 500 and Dow advanced as investors reacted to a major chip deal between Marvell and Google and tracked rising oil prices and Treasury yields
Niles, MI: An Affordable and Active Retirement Destination
Niles, Michigan offers retirees below-average home prices, lower daily expenses, and tax breaks on Social Security, while providing walkable downtown amenities and access to major health care and cultural options in nearby South Bend
Stock market corrections are inevitable, but the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have always recovered
Since 2010, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have each entered correction territory multiple times, but both indexes have historically rebounded, offering investors a track record of recovery after downturns
Dow Falls Despite Most Components Rising; Home Depot Beats Estimates
The Dow slipped 0.17% even as two-thirds of its stocks gained, with Home Depot outperforming after strong earnings. Rising Treasury yields and a sharp drop in Caterpillar weighed on the index, highlighting the impact of heavyweight stocks
Why the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF Shines
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) delivers a 3.1% yield with a low 0.06% expense ratio, offering exposure to blue chip dividend stocks and sector diversification for investors seeking steady income and portfolio resilience
