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☆ FedEx is frantically cutting billions in costs as its pandemic success evaporates
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This time last year, the company said it had reached a turning point and would achieve a level of profitability not seen since the first rush of pandemic e-commerce packages. FedEx's Ground business, which makes everyday e-commerce deliveries in the US, struggled to a lesser degree. FedEx's operational missteps, combined with ballooning fuel and labor costs, created unrest among Ground delivery contractors and boosted costs across the company. Spencer Patton tried to unite FedEx contractors. A few big-time FedEx contractors have a new plan to boost struggling delivery outfits.

In this guide, we'll give you a crash course on how to quickly earn credit card rewards and book free travel. If everyone in the world expertly utilized credit card rewards to travel for free, there wouldn't be such amazing travel opportunities out there. Identify your travel goalsBefore you begin collecting credit card rewards, you should first identify your travel goals. Recommended credit card strategies for beginnersThe best practice for anyone new to credit card rewards is to invest in flexible points. You'll need: An annual fee-incurring Hilton credit card One of the greatest deals in credit card rewards is the free night certificate that comes with select American Express Hilton credit cards.

☆ As a record 8.7% Social Security cost-of-living increase starts in 2023, here's what beneficiaries should look for in annual statements
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Kathrin Ziegler | Digitalvision | Getty ImagesMonthly Part B premium payments are often deducted directly from Social Security checks. Due to the lower 2023 premiums, beneficiaries are poised to see more of the 8.7% increase in their monthly Social Security checks. "Of course, the economy is inflated at a frightful rate, but this represents the value of cost-of-living adjusted benefits from Social Security," Freitag said. What to look for in your Social Security statementJustin Paget | Digitalvision | Getty ImagesIf you're wondering how much more you stand to see in your checks, the personalized letter from the Social Security Administration will give you a breakdown of what to expect. Of note, you do not necessarily have to be receiving Social Security checks now to benefit from the record 2023 increase, Blair noted.

You can use British Airways Avios points for much more than just flights on British Airways. EQRoy/Shutterstock.comBritish Airways Avios is the rewards currency of British Airways, the UK's flag carrier. British Airways Avios points are extremely easy to collect, with an impressive seven transfer partners. $95 Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Apply now On Citi's website Apply now On Chase's websiteThankfully, British Airways now gives you the option to pay dramatically less in fuel surcharges — but there's a catch. British Airways introduces 'Reward Flight Saver' option for all flightsBefore this change, it wouldn't be uncommon to find round-trip transatlantic award flights on British Airways with between $550 and $1,900 in taxes and fees attached (depending on the cabin).

☆ Exclusive: Green logistics company GoBolt raises $55 million to build out a fleet of electric trucks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GoBolt raised a $55 million in funding, bringing its total capital raised to $162 million CAD. The company achieved a higher valuation compared to its Series B, despite the market "bloodbath". GoBolt seeks to build out its fleet of electric trucks and one day be "carbon negative". The 3rd party logistics company Second Closet hired had just called to say they weren't going to make it. The company raised the funds in Canadian dollars but the amounts have been converted to US dollars for this article.

☆ NYC taxi fares expected to increase by 23% by the end of this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Zenebou Sylla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN Business —The cost of a New York City taxi ride is expected to increase by nearly 23% by the end of 2022, marking the first taxi fare increase in a decade, according to a unanimous vote held Tuesday by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission. Additionally, the base rate for New York City cabs is expected to rise from $2.50 to $3.00, while rush hour surcharges will increase from $1 to $2.50. Gross income of TLC drivers is projected to increase by 33% due to the newly approved fare increases, which are expected to go into effect shortly before the end of this year. “Raising taxi fare rates and minimum pay for high-volume drivers is the right thing to do for our city. “I think part of it and part of our idea with increasing the taxi fare is that the financial compensation just isn’t there.

☆ Buffett's Berkshire loses money as stocks, Hurricane Ian offset rising demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Nov 5 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Saturday posted a $2.69 billion third-quarter loss as rising inflation, falling stock investments and a big loss from Hurricane Ian offset improvement in many of the conglomerate's businesses. Berkshire also bought back more of its own stock but was cautious, repurchasing $1.05 billion, similar to the second quarter. Berkshire also said rising costs from fuel and accidents hurt respective results at two of its best-known businesses, the BNSF railroad and Geico auto insurer. Results included $10.45 billion of losses from investments and derivatives, as the stock prices of many large Berkshire investments other than Apple Inc (AAPL.O) fell. Results improved despite a $2.7 billion after-tax loss from Ian, a strong Category 4 hurricane that slammed into Florida on Sept. 28.

☆ Buffett's Berkshire loses money as stocks, Hurricane Ian offset higher demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Nov 5 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Saturday posted a $2.69 billion third-quarter loss as rising inflation, falling stock investments and a big loss from Hurricane Ian offset improvement in many of the conglomerate's businesses. It also bought back more of its own stock but was cautious, repurchasing $1.05 billion, similar to the second quarter. It also said rising costs hurt results at two of its best-known businesses, the BNSF railroad and Geico auto insurer. That helped offset a $2.7 billion after-tax loss from Ian, a strong Category 4 hurricane that slammed into Florida on Sept. 28. Net results included $10.45 billion of losses from investments and derivatives, as the stock prices of many large Berkshire investments other than Apple Inc (AAPL.O) fell.

While it used to be impossible to charge your rent or mortgage payments to a credit card to earn points, that has changed in recent years. Several services let you pay your housing expenses with a credit card, and there's even a credit card designed for this very purpose. You can still earn points on your rent and mortgage payments by utilizing a processing service. Credit cards to use on rent and mortgage paymentsOnce you have a program picked out that lets you pay your rent or mortgage with a credit card, you'll want to choose a credit card that offers maximum rewards. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightThe Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earn 2x points on almost all spending, including rent and mortgage payments.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington, U.S., October 14, 2022. World Bank President David Malpass said at the meeting that the bank would use the "full suite" of its financing and guarantee instruments "to unlock larger volumes of private finance for quality, sustainable infrastructure." Opposition from Russia stalled new agreements from the G20 and the IMF and World Bank steering committees. WORLD BANK REFORMSThe World Bank's steering committee on Saturday backed the U.S. call for change, and asked World Bank leadership to deliver a roadmap for revamping the bank's institutional and operational framework by the end of the year. It also asked Malpass to develop a plan for implementing the recommendations of an independent panel that reviewed the bank's capital adequacy rules, in time for next spring's IMF and World Bank meetings in April.

☆ The Chase Sapphire Reserve's 80K bonus is effectively a blank airline ticket — here's how to use it to get (almost) anywhere in the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Credit Cards Reporter | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

By transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to airline partners, you can fly just about anywhere on earth. Show more Regular APR 19.99% - 26.99% Variable Editor's Rating 4.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. By transferring 80,000 Chase points to Southwest, you can expect an average value of $1,120 in free flights. You can save quite a few Chase points if you're willing to pay a bit in taxes, however. Bottom lineThe 84,000 Chase points you'll have after opening the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and meeting its minimum spending requirement is basically a blank airline ticket to nearly anywhere on earth's surface.

☆ Here's what you need to know about 2023 Medicare prescription drug plans during open enrollment
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Mike Mergen | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesIf you're a Medicare beneficiary, now's the time to evaluate your prescription drug coverage for 2023. "It's a quality of life issue," said Elizabeth Gavino, founder of Lewin & Gavino and an independent broker and general agent for Medicare plans. Insulin costs will be cappedSome changes to prescription drug coverage, enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, take effect next year. This include a monthly $35 cap on cost-sharing for insulin under Part D, which will start on Jan. 1. Your tax return from 2021 is generally what would be used to determine whether you're subject to those surcharges in 2023.

☆ Super-rich keeping flying private despite surging fuel costs making charters even more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Stephen Jones | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Surging fuel, inflation, and labor costs have sent private jet charter prices up significantly. It's a similar story for flyExclusive, another private jet charter firm. "So far it hasn't negatively impacted demand," Seagrave tells Insider, but admits that further price rises may have an impact sooner or later. For flyExclusive passengers, fuel represents between a quarter and 37% of the charter cost, Seagrave tells Insider. VistaJet runs a membership service which means its customers pay an hourly fee, but they still have to pay a fuel surcharge, Qi says.

☆ Higher-income Medicare beneficiaries may face smaller premium surcharges in 2023. Here are tips for reducing or avoiding those extra amounts
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Shapecharge | E+ | Getty ImagesIf you're a higher-income Medicare beneficiary, you may be paying less in extra premium charges in 2023 than you were this year. The higher your income, the higher the charge. "You pay a little more now to avoid higher tax brackets or IRMAA brackets later on," Meinhart said. RMDs are amounts that must be withdrawn from traditional IRAs, as well as both traditional and Roth 401(k) accounts, once you reach age 72. For investments whose sale you can time, it's also important to remember the benefits of tax-loss harvesting as a way to minimize your taxable income.

Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 6X Marriott Bonvoy Points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy4X Marriott Bonvoy Points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets2X Marriott Bonvoy Points on all other eligible purchases1,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points with each qualifying stayComplimentary Gold Elite statusA Free Night Award (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points) after making $15,000 in purchases per year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Keep in mind that transferable credit card points — like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One miles — are generally more valuable than hotel points or airline miles. Read more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card:Marriott recently unveiled two new credit cards — the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card from Chase and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card.

☆ Amazon’s second Prime Day is set to boost sales ahead of the holidays
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The announcement of a second Prime Day from Club holding Amazon (AMZN) sent shares of the e-commerce giant up around 2.5% on Monday. Prime members worldwide bought over 300 million items during Amazon's last Prime Day, in July. Analysts at JMP Securities said Amazon's second Prime Day could help "elongate the holiday spending period." As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Amazon signage is displayed outside of an Amazon.com Inc. delivery hub in the late evening of Amazon Prime Day, July 12, 2022 in Culver City, California.

☆ Bond yields soar as markets weigh threat of a recession. What it means for your investments
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bond yields jumped this week after another major rate hike from the Federal Reserve, flashing a warning for market distress. The policy-sensitive 2-year Treasury yield on Friday climbed to 4.266%, notching a 15-year high, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury reached 3.829%, the highest in 11 years. The yield curve inversion, occurring when shorter-term government bonds have higher yields than long-term bonds, is one indicator of a possible future recession. Higher bond yields create more competition for funds that may otherwise go into the stock market, Winter said, and with higher Treasury yields used in the calculation to assess stocks, analysts may reduce future expected cash flows. What's more, it may be less attractive for companies to issue bonds for stock buybacks, a way for profitable companies to return cash to shareholders, Winter said.

☆ New retirees may face surcharges for Medicare premiums. Here's how to appeal paying extra if your income has dropped
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ronnie Kaufman | DigitalVision | Getty ImagesHow much Medicare surcharges could cost youFor 2022, IRMAAs kick in for individuals with modified adjusted gross income of more than $91,000. Based on this year's standard monthly premium of $170.10, that results in IRMAA-affected beneficiaries paying premiums ranging from $238.10 to $578.30. This year, 5.3 million Medicare beneficiaries paid Part B IRMAAs and an estimated 6.8 million will do so in 2023, according to the latest Medicare trustees report. For Part D, 4.5 million beneficiaries are subject to IRMAAs this year and an estimated 5.8 million will pay the surcharge in 2023. Wait for a 'benefit determination letter' before appealingIf you think your new income would result in paying no surcharge or at least paying less, it's worth appealing.

☆ I redeemed 47,000 Amex points for a phenomenal first-class flight to Asia worth $14,000, and it was one of the best in-air experiences of my life
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Chris Dong | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Here's how I booked it using credit card points — and a rundown of the flight itself. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. More Information Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Bottom lineOne of the best things about transferable credit card points, such as Amex Membership Rewards, is the incredible flexibility that they offer.

☆ You can transfer Citi ThankYou points to 14 airline and 2 hotel partners, and the best programs can save you thousands of miles on flights to destinations like Hawaii
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Dan Miller | Jasmin Baron | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +30 min

Citi® Double Cash Card — This card recently changed from earning cash back to earning Citi ThankYou points directly. Otherwise, with the Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card, and Citi® Double Cash Card, the ratio is 5:4 (1,000 Citi ThankYou points = 800 Wyndham points). Citi ThankYou points retail transfer partnersIn addition to airline and hotel transfer partners, Citi ThankYou has one retail transfer partner. How to transfer Citi ThankYou pointsTransferring your Citi ThankYou points is a fairly straightforward process. Citi transfer partners frequently asked questions (FAQ)Is American Airlines a Citi transfer partner?

What are credit card and bank rewards points worth? One great feature of the program is that all points are equal, so any account that earns Membership Rewards points has access to transfer partners. If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, you'll earn 25% to 75% more points, depending on how much you have on deposit, but your rewards points are still worth 1 cent apiece. However, those miles expire after 36 months regardless of your account activity, so only transfer miles when you have immediate plans to redeem them. Non-elite members may transfer points to other members with the same address, provided both parties have been members for at least one year.

☆ Chase Aeroplan credit card review: A 70,000-point welcome bonus and unique travel perks make this card a good pick even if you don't fly Air Canada
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-16 | by ( Jasmin Baron | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightReview: Is the Chase Aeroplan card the best credit card for you? It's not often an airline credit card makes waves with a strong welcome bonus and completely unique benefits, but the Aeroplan® Credit Card has managed to do just that. Free first checked bag on Air Canada flightsWith the Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card, the primary cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation get a free first checked bag on Air Canada, Air Canada Express, and Air Canada Rouge flights. Carbon offsetsTo help reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions associated with travel, Air Canada will purchase carbon offsets for primary cardholders of the Chase Aeroplan® Credit Cardand all travel companions on the same award reservation, for any flight segments on Air Canada, Air Canada Express, and Air Canada Rouge. Otherwise, you're not eligible if you already have a Aeroplan® Credit Card open, or previously opened the card in the past 24 months.

While it used to be impossible to charge your rent or mortgage payments to a credit card to earn points, that has changed in recent years. Several services let you pay your housing expenses with a credit card, and there's even a credit card designed for this very purpose. Credit cards to use on rent and mortgage paymentsOnce you have a program picked out that lets you pay your rent or mortgage with a credit card, you'll want to choose a credit card that offers maximum rewards. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightThe Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earn 2x points on almost all spending, including rent and mortgage payments. If you can earn points on rent and mortgage payments without massive fees, it's absolutely worth it.

☆ UPS and Fedex are in for reckoning as the e-commerce boom cools and new competitors fight for a shrinking number of packages
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-26 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The pandemic-driven e-commerce boom buoyed results for UPS and FedEx the past two years. E-commerce sales in the first quarter were up nearly 7% from the first quarter of 2021, according to the US Census Bureau. The other is that the slowdown may loosen the two companies' grip on the pricing power they've held for the past two years. On the downward slope of the pandemic e-commerce boom, UPS and FedEx are going to be left with a smaller slice of a smaller pie. So far, both carriers are holding fast to their pricing power in the customary first-quarter contract negotiations, according to Roberson.

☆ You can transfer Chase points to 14 airline and hotel partners, and it's one of the best ways to get maximum value from your Ultimate Rewards
▼ + stars: | 2022-01-05 | by ( David Mcmillin | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

Transferring to partners is one of the best ways to get the maximum value from your Chase points. How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards pointsTo be able to enjoy transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you'll first need to earn them. Iberia PlusNot one, not two, but three different programs allow you to turn your Ultimate Rewards points into Avios points. The Saver option is, naturally, the lowest cost in terms of points and the best way to maximize the value of your Ultimate Rewards points. How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards pointsOnce you've found a great redemption through a Chase Ultimate Rewards airline or hotel partner, your next step is to transfer your points from Chase to the loyalty program where you want to make a booking.

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