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☆ UK's Rishi Sunak announces election pledges, looking to bounce back from D-Day gaffe
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends a Conservative party rally, after he called for a general election, in London, Britain, May 22, 2024. LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak released his Conservative Party's official election manifesto on Tuesday, announcing help for first-time home buyers and promising more tax cuts. The pledges come as the Conservatives look set for a drubbing to the rival Labour party at the July 4 General Election, while Sunak has personally come under fire several times during the campaign. Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer are both forefronting economic growth, the cost of living and taxes in their campaign messaging. Polls have for some time been pointing toward a Labour victory in a General Election after the Conservatives' ratings tanked following a series of scandals under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's tenure.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Insurance —, Keir Starmer, Boris Johnson's Organizations: British, Conservative, LONDON, Labour, Insurance, Conservatives Locations: London, Britain, France

☆ Opinion: The elements for a big stock market drop are aligning. Here’s why investors shouldn’t panic
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Scott Nations | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

When is the next stock market crash taking place? It's a question I get asked often since I wrote "A History of the United States in Five Crashes – Stock Market Meldowns That Defined a Nation." Until now, I've always been able to counsel that stock market crashes are comfortingly rare events that only occur when elements align, and that a crash is unlikely in the near future. The first is a frothy stock market. It is no accident that the first modern stock market crash, the Panic of 1907, occurred after the biggest two-year rally in the history of the Dow Jones Industrial Average .

Persons: I've, It's, it's Organizations: Dow Jones, Federal Reserve, San Locations: United States, San Francisco

☆ Renting an electric car for the first time? What could go wrong?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Lydia Wu had never driven an electric vehicle before she rented a car from Avis last February. Rental car companies may have overestimated their customers’ readiness for a switch, though. In my case, I’ve rented EVs from Turo, a peer-to-peer car rental platform that’s sort of like Airbnb but for cars. Customer service as keyJoulez, an EV rental company, rents its fleet through its own website as well as through Turo. But not everyone has such a bad time when renting an EV from a big rental car company.

Persons: Lydia Wu, Wu, EVs, Hertz, Stephen Scherr, it’s, ” Hertz, Doug Jensen, Tesla, ”, “, ” Wu, I’ve, Micah Bergdale, they’re, Joulez, Jay Waldron, Waldron, Kia Organizations: CNN, Avis, Cox Automotive, Tesla, General Motors, Hertz, Kia, EV, Turo, Hyundai Kona EV, National Locations: Kansas City , Kansas, Hertz, San Diego, it’s, Polestar, New York City, “, Turo, Georgia, Washington, DC

☆ 19 cities where the average mortgage payment is still under $1,200 a month — including taxes, utilities, and insurance — according to SmartAsset
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

But some markets are still very affordable relative to national median cost levels. A recent SmartAsset analysis reveals 19 cities with median monthly mortgage costs under $1,200. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ 'You name it, Labour will tax it': UK PM Sunak attacks main rival as he languishes in election polls
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left), leader of the incumbent Conservatives, and opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer of the Labour Party. The politicians traded barbs in their first head-to-head debate on Tuesday ahead of the July 4 General Election. "I'm clear that I'm going to keep cutting people's taxes as we now are ... Mark my words, Labour will raise your taxes, it's in their DNA. You name it, Labour will tax it," Sunak said. Labour leader Keir Starmer said the £2,000 calculation was "based on made-up Labour policies."

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Sunak, Keir Starmer, Starmer, Liz Truss, Julie Etchingham Organizations: Conservatives, Labour Party, Conservative Party, Labour, Conservative, ITV News

☆ Equinox's new $40,000 membership promises to help you 'live 100 healthy years.' Longevity experts say doing these 4 simple things will work just as well.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Serafina Kenny | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewA luxury gym chain is launching a program costing $40,000 a year that it says will help clients to boost their longevity. But experts told Business Insider you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to enjoy a long, healthy life. The program, which will later be available in other states, aims to help customers "live 100 healthy years," Jonathan Swerdlin, co-founder of Function Health, told CNBC. Research suggests that weight, or strength, training is beneficial for longevity because it builds muscle mass, which helps maintain strength and mobility into older age. One 2022 study found that those who did 30 minutes of strength training a week were 10% to 20% less likely to die from chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Persons: —, Jonathan Swerdlin, Maveron, Dan Belsky, Robert N Butler, Michael Snyder, Snyder, Belsky, Virend Somers Organizations: Service, Function, CNBC, Business, Consulting, of Labor, Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center, Center for Genomics, Medicine, Stanford University, Research, Mayo Clinic Locations: New York City, Highland Park , Texas

☆ Some millennial and Gen X parents are leaving it all behind to spend 6 figures on a family gap year. Here's how they budget and 'worldschool' their kids.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Hillary Hoffower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Some white-collar parents are leaving their jobs to take family gap years. It's sticking around as the world somewhat normalizes; Reddit is littered with threads looking for family gap year advice, which posters can easily find in various blogs. She now offers a family gap year and extended travel planning service for $80 to $100 an hour. "It could expand into a big business," she said, adding that her family gap year clients typically have disposable income and kids around 8 to 11 years old. AdvertisementWorld lessons, no classroom requiredNo family gap year is complete without immersive travel.

Persons: —, Claire Williams, Matt, they'd, Claire, It's, Jennifer Spatz, itineraries, Amy Chang, Chang, Allen, they've, Spatz, Marisa Vitale, it's, She's, hadn't, what's Organizations: Service, Area, Federal, Global, United Nations Sustainable Locations: Sri Lanka, Sahara, worldschooling, COVID, Massachusetts, Asia, Europe, Venice, Italy, Airbnbs, Greece, Nepal, Sydney, Australia, Santiago, Chile, Spanish, Guatemala, Vietnam, Argentine, Jordan, Patagonia, Los Angeles, California, Salt Lake City, U.S

☆ A $50 million private island that's a 10-minute boat ride off the coast of Florida just hit the market. Take a look.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A 7-acre private island off Florida's coast is on sale for $50 million. AdvertisementIf owning a private island is a personal dream for you, you're in luck — a 7-acre private island located just 3 miles off the coast of Florida just hit the market and could be all yours for $50 million. Jon Kohler & AssociatesFrom the dock on the mainland, the Panama City Beach International Airport is an hour-and-twenty-minute drive away. Jon Kohler & AssociatesJon Kohler & AssociatesIn this scenario, Weldon said the setup would be similar to a condo homeowners' association. Jon Kohler & AssociatesThe bungalows, which were first built in 2009, were remodeled when Seymour bought the island in 2018.

Persons: —, Saint Joseph Bay, Joe, Samuel, Black Sam, Bellamy, Jon Kohler, Lori Bembry Weldon, Weldon, Scott Seymour, Associates Jon Kohler, Seymour Organizations: Service, Associates, Panama City Beach, Jon Kohler & Associates, Business Locations: Florida, Saint Joseph, Port St, Florida's, Black's, Panama, Atlanta

☆ Now you can put your Botox on Affirm
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Buy now, pay later company Affirm is starting to offer loans for elective cosmetic procedures. Advertisement"Buy now, pay later" company Affirm has identified a new category for growth, according to a new report from Reuters: elective medical procedures like Botox, nose jobs, and even dental treatments. Buy now, pay later options like Klarna and Affirm have become ubiquitous at checkouts on e-commerce retail sites for some time. I know: It can be hard to sympathize with someone who's using lip filler they can't afford by putting it on Affirm. But go back to what it's actually being used for: "cosmetic treatments, dental services, medical devices, and veterinary procedures."

Persons: It's, —, Klarna, Pat Suh, Affirm's, BNPL, it's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: San Francisco

☆ Insurance stocks are rallying as a way to play one of the hottest spots for inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The stubbornly high inflation readings to start 2024 are good news for one group of stocks — insurance companies. Stocks to watch In general, Wall Street analysts are buying the underlying story for these insurance stocks. For a slightly different angle, Wells Fargo analyst Elyse Greenspan upgraded Hamilton Insurance Group to overweight last week. Potential downsides To be sure, there are several factors that could derail the rally for insurance stocks. Another concern is so-called "social inflation," in which legal trends or regulatory changes can drive costs higher for insurance companies.

Persons: Goldman, Robert Cox, Stocks, Goldman's Cox, Cox, Wells, Elyse Greenspan, Hamilton, HG, Greenspan, Jimmy Bhullar, Andrew McGee, McGee, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Allstate, Wall Street, PGR, Progressive, Hartford Financial Services, Hamilton Insurance Group, U.S . Insurance, JPMorgan, CNBC Locations: Northbrook , Illinois, Wells Fargo

This week, a reader's car was damaged when their friend drove it with the parking brake engaged. When he finally finished, my best friend did me a huge favor by driving from Portland to Seattle to bring me my car. While these feelings are perfectly natural, allowing them to ruin your relationship with your best friend would be unfair to you both. Knowing that your best friend "can barely afford rent" and still expecting her to repay you for the car parts is the wrong choice. But even if it isn't, I hope you don't lose your best friend over a single space-out.

Persons: I've, I'd, doesn't Organizations: VW Locations: Seattle, Portland , Oregon, Portland

☆ Why car insurance costs are skyrocketing and leading to higher inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

RobertCrum | Getty ImagesDETROIT – Skyrocketing auto insurance costs helped contribute to inflation accelerating at a faster-than-expected pace in March and are adding to the ever more expensive costs for U.S. vehicle owners. Auto insurance costs have been on the rise for some time, growing every month as part of the index since December 2021. However, auto insurance remains a small portion of the CPI, with a 2.85% weighting. watch nowThe insurance cost increases on inflation come more than two years after the Biden administration largely blamed used car prices for pushing inflation higher in January 2022. The cost of vehicle insurance — which is mandatory in almost every state — varies by provider, driver, coverage and location.

Persons: Sean Tucker, Kelley, David Sampson, Sampson, Biden, Mitchell, Power, —, it's, Price, Mark Garrett, — CNBC's Robert Ferris, Jeff Cox Organizations: Getty, DETROIT, U.S, Auto, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, American, Casualty Insurance Association, CNBC, Progressive, Power's U.S . Auto Insurance, State Farm, Liberty Mutual Locations: U.S, Power's U.S, Geico, .

If you choose to forgo life insurance, it might still make sense to include an unmarried partner in a will. Compare life insurance rates online with Ethos Life. If so, then you may need life insurance. Term life insurance is a better choice for most individuals since they don't need coverage for their entire lives. Get Life Insurance Quotes Compare the best life insurance companies with a quote from Ethos Life.

Persons: —, Justin Pritchard, doesn't, Pritchard, Jay Zigmont Organizations: Service, CFP, Childfree

☆ ‘Lose weight quick’ online schemes don’t work. Dr. Mike offers these 5 tips instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Andrea Kane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Dr. Mikhail Varshavski is known as Dr. Mike on social media. “Zoom out of just thinking about, ‘What I can take or what I can eat?’ and understand that there’s a lot of other things that impact your weight,” Dr. Mike said. “(Make) sure that you get help when it comes to mental health issues and concerns,” Dr. Mike said. For example, Dr. Mike said he recently had a guest on his podcast who tried to equate a chocolate kiss to a grape. While you may compare them based on their sugar content, that’s one way to categorize them,” Dr. Mike said.

Persons: Sanjay Gupta, what’s, Mikhail Varshavski, Mike, “, Ponce de León, we’re, ” Dr, Dr, ”, ” “, edu ”, ‘, That’s, “ It’s, You’re, Skip, you’re, Jennifer Lai Organizations: CNN, Facebook, YouTube, TED, Inc, US Centers for Disease Control, Harvard Medical Locations: Chatham , New Jersey, Ponce, “ .

☆ How to stop your internet-connected car from sharing and maybe even selling your driving data
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

"The amount of personal and car information that car companies collect, share and sometimes sell is beyond what is necessary to get someone from Point A to Point B safely. But there are growing privacy concerns as reports proliferate about car companies sharing driver data with insurers, and as car companies get into the insurance business themselves. To be sure, there can be valid reasons to collect driver and car data for safety and functionality purposes, and some essential services, such as emergency and security-related data sharing, may be difficult or impossible to opt out of. Ford, for example, said it provides customers with a choice regarding any sharing of connected vehicle data. The government is looking at car privacy regulationsThere are various regulatory efforts afoot to understand carmakers' data-sharing practices and reign in potential privacy violations.

Persons: Jen Caltrider, There's, That's, James Hodgson, Parv Sharma, Caltrider, Cobun Zweifel, Mo Al, Keegan, Edward J, Markey, Eric Goldman, Hodgson, It's Organizations: Mozilla Foundation, Mozilla, ABI Research, McKinsey, Counterpoint Technology Market Research, Ford, Hyundai, Nissan, BMW, Keegan, International Association of Privacy, SBD Automotive, Protection Agency, Federal Trade Commission, Zweifel, Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation, Santa Clara University School of Law, Apple Locations: U.S, California , Colorado, Connecticut, California

It's easy to see pet insurance as optional for most pets, but the cost of pet care can be high. Most pet insurance plans cover the big costsMany people also believe that pet insurance doesn't cover that much. There are two types of pet insurance — illness and accident insurance and accident-only insurance. Make sure the math works in your favorLike with human health insurance, pet insurance has a monthly premium you'll need to pay to maintain coverage. Looking to the futureWhile it's not always pleasant, thinking through all the scenarios can help you pick the best pet insurance policy for you.

Persons: —, there's, It's, it's Organizations: Service, American Kennel Club, American Pet Health Insurance Association Locations: American

☆ Closing Costs for Buying a Home Have Risen Along With Rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A pricey housing market and higher interest rates have made it harder to afford a house, but related expenses known as closing costs also add to the home-buying challenge. Borrowers typically paid about $6,000 for such costs in 2022, up from about $4,900 in 2021. That was on top of a down payment and other costs. The average monthly payment for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose 46 percent, to $2,045 at the end of 2022 from $1,400 a year earlier, the bureau found. The median price of a single-family home in January was $383,500, up 5 percent from a year earlier, the National Association of Realtors reported.

Organizations: Consumer Financial, National Association of Realtors

☆ Insurance Costs Are Pushing Up Overall Inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | More About Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It is costing Americans more to protect against disaster, a development that is pushing up official inflation figures. Various kinds of insurance — including car, medical and property protection — are costing more, at least as official inflation figures measure them. “Insurance of various different kinds — housing insurance, but also automobile insurance, and things like that — that’s been a significant source of inflation over the last few years,” Jerome H. Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, said during congressional testimony last week. “And it’s to do with a million different factors.”Vehicle insurance is the one adding notably to overall inflation, said Omair Sharif, founder of the research firm Inflation Insights. Part of the increase in car insurance comes from the fact that parts and replacement vehicles have become a lot more expensive over recent years, and that is slowly feeding through to insurance premiums, he said.

Persons: ” Jerome H, Powell, Omair Sharif Organizations: “ Insurance, Federal Reserve

☆ Premarket: Investors are obsessed with this AI stock you may never have heard of
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Nvidia isn’t the only stock capturing the attention of AI enthusiasts these days. Nvidia closed above a $2 trillion market cap on March 1, joining an elite cohort including Apple and Microsoft. Supermicro’s stock gained even more momentum in January, after the company reported second-quarter results that blew past expectations and raised its full-year revenue forecast. Supermicro’s stock was one of the most popular names bought by Charles Schwab clients in February, according to the firm’s latest trading activity index. New York Community Bank gets $1 billion ‘lifeline’Beleaguered regional lender New York Community Bank is receiving a more than $1 billion equity investment, reports my colleague Elisabeth Buchwald.

Persons: Charles Schwab, ChatGPT, “, ”, Supermicro, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Elisabeth Buchwald, Steven Mnuchin’s, NYCB, ” David Chiaverini, Joseph Otting, Alessandro DiNello, DiNello, Read, Jeremy Hunt, Hanna Ziady, Hunt, ” Hunt, Rishi Sunak’s Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Micro, Devices, Federal Reserve, Victoria Bills, Banrion Capital Management, Bank of America, Goldman, New York Community Bank, New, Community Bank, Liberty Strategic Capital, Citadel Global, Street Journal, Wedbush Securities, CNN, Bank of England, International Monetary Fund, Hunt’s Conservative Party, Labour Party Locations: New York, San Jose, United States, Hudson Bay, NYCB

☆ UK Budget: Jeremy Hunt set to cut taxes for workers as election looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A cut to national insurance — a levy paid by people who work — costing around £10 billion ($12.7 billion) is likely, according to multiple UK media reports. But soaring government debt, crumbling public services and a lackluster economy leave the chancellor with very little room for further substantial giveaways. Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesOther so-called “unprotected” areas of the national budget, such as social care and the police force, are also at risk. “That seems unlikely when public services are creaking,” they added. OBR chair Richard Hughes said in January that the government had provided no detailed breakdown of departmental spending plans beyond March next year, giving only headline figures.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Rishi Sunak’s, Hunt, ”, Laura Kuenssberg, Jeff, Christopher Furlong, “, Richard Hughes, ” Hughes Organizations: London CNN —, Bank of England, Treasury, “ Conservatives, ” Hunt’s Conservative Party, Labour Party, Reuters, Office, National Statistics, Local Government Association, House, National Health Service, Capital Economics, ” Locations: Ukraine, Birmingham, England

☆ Homebuyers are flocking to areas most exposed to extreme weather risk and pushing prices higher, JPMorgan says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But the firm says rising insurance costs could eventually dampen demand. The researchers then gave each county a composite climate risk score, measured against each area's house price index. AdvertisementA positive relationship also emerged between higher climate risk and population growth, indicating that more people were migrating in than leaving these areas. Others may simply have no intent on selling, and consider themselves too old to experience these rising costs. But changes to property insurance may force prospective buyers to give more attention to climate risks, JPMorgan noted.

Persons: Alexander Wise, Jan Loeys, Risks, Redfin Organizations: JPMorgan, Service, Foundation Locations: Florida

☆ Most people buying homes get screwed into spending thousands on a tedious fee. That may be about to change.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An alternative to title insurance called an attorney-opinion letter might help buyers save money. Title insurance, which is required to close on most properties in the US, can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. The savings from using attorney-opinion letters could help Americans facing high prices and high borrowing costs better afford homeownership. Some say title insurance is obsolete, since modern technology has improved access to public records essential for confirming a home's title or owner. "It's been clear for years that something is seriously wrong with title insurance," Schwartz wrote in 2022.

Persons: —, Insider's Mattathias Schwartz, Fannie Mae, Schwartz, Homebuyers, Forbes Organizations: Service, Street, Mortgage, Iowa, The New York Times Locations: Philadelphia, Midwest

☆ I'm a millennial who's never having kids. I don't take the decision lightly, but there are too many risks.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Jules Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

That's tough to write, even as a 31-year-old who's never wanted kids, without tacking on a "right now" at the end. I don't take the decision of whether to bring a new life into this world lightly. My partner and I have health insurance through our employers, but we've been between coverage before. Plus, there can be up to a three-month delay for health insurance to kick in when you start a new job. Now factor in prenatal care, postnatal care, diapers, and — even worse, I'm told — formula, as well as day care and education.

Persons: —, who's, I've, wasn't, neurodiversity, I'm, we've, That's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Oregon, Iceland

☆ Chubb's Ana Robic on 2024: I want to educate customers about the insurance they don't realize they need
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-28 | by ( Josée Rose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

What was supposed to be a way to get through the summer doing "the lame insurance thing" turned into a career, she said. "People's expectations of this industry are generally quite wrong," Robic told Business Insider. What makes insurance unique, Robic said, is that "the thing you're promising people doesn't change." What's one thing you're excited about for 2024? And it sounds silly, because it's insurance, and I think you're inundated with images on TV as to what insurance is.

Persons: Ana Robic, Chubb, She's, —, Robic, It's, I'm, we've, you've, We're, There's, We've, we're, Ana Robic's Organizations: Service, Chubb, Business Locations: Business, Canada, North America, New Jersey, Dallas

☆ Everybody Knows Flo From Progressive. Who Is Stephanie Courtney?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Caity Weaver | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

According to Ad Age, in 2022 the Progressive Corporation spent more than $2 billion on advertising in the United States, pouring more money into the effort than McDonald’s, Toyota or Coca-Cola. (The insurance industry’s total annual media-ad spending is estimated to be just shy of $11 billion — more than was spent by all the top beer brands combined.) It is an interminable folk tale about buying insurance, propelled by the charisma, or connoted soothing attentiveness, or gently grating peskiness, or something, of Flo, its central character. Flo debuted in 2008, working the checkout of an eldritch white store uncannily devoid of shadows or edges. (In early ads, the store’s shelves were lined with packages of insurance — cornflakes boxes and tomato cans covered with Progressive branding.)

Persons: Progressive’s, Flo, ”, Harry Harlow’s, ” — Organizations: Progressive Corporation, Toyota Locations: United States

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