↕️ Number crunch

Next year’s tax picture brings a fresh number crunch. The IRS outlined inflation-adjusted figures for the 2026 tax year, including the standard deduction:

• Married filing jointly: $32,200

• Single: $16,100

• Married filing separately: $16,100

• Head of household: $24,150

The system stays progressive — different slices of income are taxed at different rates — and deductions and credits still shape the final bill. Adults age 65 and older also get* an extra $6,000 through 2028. And one more number to note: 78% of Americans say having a financial plan makes them happier and less stressed, according to Empower research.

— The Editors

🚗 Choose the payment: The real number crunch in car buying is how to pay — not just what to pay. With used car APRs averaging 14.1% vs. 9.4% for new, incentives averaging 7.2% off could help flip the math. Empower research shows the average car payment is around $452, while September car-related outlays averaged $512, according to the Empower Personal Dashboard^TM.

🪙 Precious picks: Gold hit a new high above $4,000 an ounce, climbing more than 50% in value this year. Central banks are scooping up hundreds of tons of gold, while investments in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have already eclipsed the $14.6 trillion mark. Meanwhile, silver prices topped $50 an ounce* for the first time since 1980, outpacing gold’s rally.

🏦 Match game: Some friends are opening* shared bank accounts — not for bills, but for trips, traditions, and time together. The idea is trending on digital platforms, where 26% of Gen Z say they primarily learn about finances.

👫Double take: Oracle named co-CEOs* and its stock rose 3% on the announcement, after already rising 85% year to date. This dual leadership model is rare but gaining traction, with companies* like Comcast, Spotify, and Netflix adopting it as well.

In case you missed it — read on.

• Where retirement pays off: states with zero income tax
• 43% plan to make more money — and enjoy the work
• The happiness salary: Americans say $284,167 does it 

Talking salary

Massachusetts will soon make pay transparency the norm. On October 29, employers must include salaries in job postings, and workers can request pay details for their own roles. It joins a growing wave: Laws in Illinois, New Jersey, Vermont, and Minnesota took effect earlier this year and Delaware will join in 2027 for a total of 15 states. 

Empower research shows 67% of workers tie earning more to job satisfaction. Clearer pay data could help job seekers negotiate more confidently.

Skate of the art

Tony Hawk just pulled a 900* — this time at auction. An autographed deck sold for $1.15 million, the most expensive skateboard ever auctioned. The board dates to 1999 and landed Hawk the first-ever 900 (a 2½-spin aerial trick that helped launch him into mainstream fame). 

The sports memorabilia market is projected to reach $271 billion* by 2034, with a 22.1% CAGR, as more people invest in trading cards and collectibles.

Specs check

Meta is putting its smart glasses where the shoppers are — launching* pop-ups in Las Vegas and New York, plus a new flagship in Los Angeles. The spotlight is on the $799* Ray-Ban Display, an augmented-reality model featuring an on-lens screen.

Co-designed with EssilorLuxottica, the line builds on momentum: The previous version, debuted* in October 2023, has sold about 2 million pairs, with sales tripling in the first half of 2025. The lineup helped power a 7.3% revenue bump for EssilorLuxottica.

Even with new tech, the retail play is classic. Fifty-seven percent of shoppers say they want to see and feel products in person before making a decision.