Author: Editor

When Jon Calma Vagara’s packages came back to his doorstep in Singapore, he knew something had gone very wrong.Vagara runs JCV Custom Works, a tiny 3D printing business that has sold stencils for fishing lures since 2019. Nearly all of his orders are bound for the US.In late August, when the US scrapped its de minimis exemption on small-value imports, Singapore’s national postal service suspended shipping to America. So Vagara switched to a private courier — but his first shipments never left Singapore.”I kept calling and they told me my goods were already in the US,” he told Business Insider.…

Netflix’s quarter — and stock price — was dragged down by a hefty $619 million tax-related expense that took Wall Street by surprise.Netflix otherwise had another standout quarter, notching record revenue fueled by robust viewership for Korean-themed megahits like “Kpop Demon Hunters” and “Squid Game,” as well as its live boxing event, “Canelo vs. Crawford.”Netflix’s revenue rose 17.2% to a record $11.5 billion in the third quarter, largely in line with expectations from analysts and the company’s guidance.The company said its ad tier, a key growth area for the streamer, had its “best ad sales quarter ever” and doubled commitments…

The Mattel, Inc. logo is displayed outside the headquarters of the toy company known for products including Barbie and Hot Wheels in El Segundo, California on June 8, 2023.Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty ImagesBarbie-maker Mattel posted third-quarter results after the market close on Tuesday that missed analysts’ expectations as ongoing global tariffs continue to hamper the toy manufacturer’s sales in North America.Shares of the company fell 4% in after hours trading.Here’s what Mattel reported for its third quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:Earnings per share: 89 cents adjusted…

When mortgage rates drop, many homeowners rush to refinance, but that’s not the only time mortgage refinancing can be a smart move. Refinancing replaces your existing mortgage with a new one, and the process is similar to the first time you applied for a home loan.A mortgage broker can help you evaluate options and determine if refinancing makes sense for your situation. In this article, mortgage brokers share firsthand stories of how refinancing helped their homeowner clients.”As a mortgage broker, it feels great to help clients refinance into a lower rate, saving them money monthly and easing their money burdens,”…

Aerie is saying no to AI, and its followers are loving it.The intimates and loungewear brand pledged not to use AI in its ads in an Instagram post on October 9. The post has since garnered over 40,000 likes and more than 500 comments, making it the brand’s most popular post in the past year, Metricool, which tracks social media engagement, told Business Insider.”Today we commit: No AI-generated bodies or people. Real people only,” Aerie said in the post. “No retouching. No AI. 100% Aerie real.”The post has helped lift Aerie’s social media engagement. Engagement on Aerie’s Instagram posts —…

Cheng Xin | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesDraftKings is acquiring predictions platform Railbird as it prepares to launch a mobile platform in the coming months to be called DraftKings Predictions.Railbird is licensed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to offer an event contracts exchange. DraftKings targeted the company for its team and proprietary technology. “We are excited about the additional opportunity that prediction markets could represent for our business,” DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said in a statement to CNBC. “We believe that Railbird’s team and platform—combined with DraftKings’ scale, trusted brand, and proven expertise in mobile-first products—positions us to win in…

When it’s time to retire, a lot of older adults migrate south for warmer climates, cheaper housing, and lower taxes.While southern cities like Naples and Fort Lauderdale often dominate as destinations for retirees, the Midwest has emerged as a favorable landing spot — at least, according to WalletHub.WalletHub looked at 182 cities and ranked the best places for retirees based on four key measures: activities, affordability, healthcare, and quality of life. Each of those four categories was weighted equally, however, other relevant metrics were used inside each category and weighted differently. For example, adjusted cost of living was weighted higher…

The Department of Education agreed to procedures for student debt relief so borrowers who are eligible to have their loans canceled this year don’t get hit with a huge tax bill due to the Trump administration’s processing delays. The parties in a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Teachers AFT against the U.S. Department of Education filed a joint status report in federal court last Friday agreeing to a series of actions to protect borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans and provide student debt relief to borrowers who have been making payments under those plans for decades, as required by…

The American Institute of CPAs is asking the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department to provide more flexibility through guidance on a safe harbor for taxpayers who wish to claim tax deductions for overtime and tip income under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.In a letter last week, the AICPA requested alternative methods of reporting and use of alternative documentation to report such income, as well as a safe harbor that allows individuals and tax preparers to rely on the alternative information provided to determine the deductions.The OBBBA added sections 224 and 225 to the Tax Code, temporarily allowing…

If you told me years ago that older kids were more expensive than toddlers, I would’ve never believed you. Little kids seemed so expensive — with childcare, diaper costs, and constant new clothes and toys. But I was wrong. No one had prepared me for the true cost of parenting my bigger kids — who are now 9 and 13 — especially for the perpetual spend fest that is late summer into the holidays.Once mid-August rolls around, I brace myself for the back to school shopping binge. We try our best to budget. But once we recover from that financial…