How Much Americans Ages 55–64 Have Saved for Retirement—and How Many Have Nothing
19 minutes ago
The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances shows that 57% of households headed by someone ages 55–64 had money in retirement-specific accounts in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. While that share is higher than in 2019, it’s among the lowest participation rates for this age group since 1995, according to the survey.
A household’s income, wealth, and ability to save for retirement are closely tied to age. Families tend to see assets grow over time, with earnings and net worth often peaking in the years leading up to retirement, according to the Fed’s data. For households in their mid-50s to mid-60s, median income and net worth are typically near their highest levels, reflecting decades of earnings, savings, and asset accumulation.
Americans in their mid-50s and early 60s may have fewer financial pressures than in earlier years, making it easier for some in that age group to save for retirement.
Alistair Berg / Getty Images
This lifestage can bring with it more financial flexibility than earlier years, as expenses tied to raising children or paying for college often decline. Even so, many people in this age range aren’t prioritizing—or able to maintain—retirement savings. Some households may be retiring earlier than planned or shifting assets as they prepare for income planning.
“Many households are consolidating accounts, retiring earlier, or shifting assets in anticipation of income planning,” said Eric Ludwig, director of the Center for Retirement Income at the American College of Financial Services. “Others never fully accumulated [their retirement savings] and are quietly opting out.”
Read the full article here.
–Sara Clarke
Vistra, Oklo Shares Soar on Power Deals With Meta Platforms
1 hr 1 min ago
Meta Platforms (META) did not announce financial terms of its new nuclear power deals. That isn’t preventing investors from buying shares of some of its partners.
Shares of Oklo (OKLO) and Vistra (VST) soared a respective 17% and 11% in premarket trading Friday after Meta announced it had inked “landmark agreements” with the companies and privately held TerraPower to power its AI projects.
The deals will support “up to 6.6 GW of new and existing clean energy by 2035,” Meta said, adding that “this work builds on our ongoing collaboration with electric utility companies and power providers to plan for and meet our energy needs years in advance of our data centers becoming operational.”
Meta had signed a 20-year power deal with Constellation Energy (CEG) last June.
Entering Friday, shares of Oklo have soared nearly 275% over the past year, while those of Vistra have slipped 6%. Shares of Meta, which entered the day up about 6% over the past year, was little changed before the bell.
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Venezuela Investments: High-Risk, High-Reward—Or Neither?
1 hr 31 min ago
When U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026, some on Wall Street immediately wanted to know if the world’s largest oil reserves were now open for business.
Venezuelan bonds, as well as shares in Chevron (CVX), ExxonMobil (XOM) and ConocoPhillips (COP), jumped on President Trump’s promise that American companies would “spend billions” rebuilding the country’s energy sector.
But can you invest in Venezuela? The answer is as complex as the country’s political situation. For most Americans, not yet. Any investments would be a high-risk gamble in a country with $150 billion in debt and an oil industry that needs at least a decade to rebuild.
Energy sector stocks may provide an opportunity for investors looking to profit from regime change in Venezuela. Depicted here is a sculpture outside state-run oil company PDVSA’s headquarters in Caracas.
Carolina Cabral / Bloomberg / Getty Images
When U.S. investors want exposure to a foreign country, they typically have a few options: buy an American depositary receipt (ADR), which lets them trade foreign stocks on U.S. exchanges; invest in a country-specific exchange-traded fund (ETF); or buy shares directly on a foreign exchange through a broker that offers international access.
None of that’s available for Venezuela. No Venezuelan ADRs trade on U.S. exchanges. Venezuela-focused ETFs don’t exist. Teucrium Investment Advisors filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Jan. 5 to offer a fund that would track Venezuelan companies and firms with heavy exposure to the country. But it’s not yet trading.
While the Caracas Stock Exchange keeps regular hours, it has only about 60 listings and trades in bolívares. Even if you found a way in, U.S. sanctions could make any trades illegal.
Read the full article here.
–Adam Hayes
Stock Futures Tick Higher Ahead of Jobs Report, Possible Supreme Court Tariff Ruling
1 hr 49 min ago
Futures contracts associated with the Dow Jones Industrial Average were near flat.
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S&P 500 futures ticked 0.1% higher.
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Nasdaq 100 futures pointed 0.2% higher.
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