How to play the latest rate cut

Four money moves to make when you get laid off

On the Money On the Money By Lauren Young, Digital Special Projects Editor 📣 Hello, On the Money readers! It's December, and while many folks are shifting into holiday mode, we're busy launching a new personal finance section on Reuters.com, aptly named "On the Money."  Our goal is to provide clear, actionable and globally relevant personal finance journalism that helps readers — especially those early in their financial journeys — make smarter money decisions. We'll cover all aspects of money, including savings, investing, retirement, taxes, credit, family finances and more with the latest news, commentary and analysis. Be sure to bookmark Reuters On The Money for the latest coverage. Do you consider the latest rate cut a gift from the Jerome Powell and the Fed? REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque 🎉 Season's greetings and happy holidays from the Federal Reserve The U.S. Federal Reserve is ending 2025 with a bang, delivering another rate cut for consumers amid an uncertain year for the economy. The Fed nudged interest rates lower by a quarter-percentage point on Wednesday, adding to two prior cuts in 2025. That's good for borrowers (think credit cards) but not so much for savers. Here is what it means for your money now.  📚 Read, watch, listen AI bubble? Opinions divided on tech's trillion dollar question Gen Z puts crypto on holiday wish lists  How a US home insurance fix is becoming a problem Should you really wait till 70 to take Social Security? Billionaires are inheriting record levels of wealth, UBS report finds  My first job: Oz Pearlman shares his journey from busboy to stardom  Sectors UpClose: Why it's hard to make streaming profitable The labor market is in limbo See Manhattan like a local  Vanguard joins push to offer 401(k)s with a regular payout Tax prosecutions plunge as Trump shifts crime-fighting efforts 📹 Video of the week   Is it too late for you to buy in to crypto? A Bitcoin investment of $1,000 ten years ago would have grown to almost half a million dollars as the cryptocurrency saw dramatic gains and volatility in 2025. Is it just too late to buy in? Watch our conversation here.  💼 Four money moves to make after the financial shock of a layoff   Navigating a layoff is one of the trickiest money moments of your financial life. REUTERS/Nathan Howard If you're one of the many people whose job was eliminated in the U.S. this year, I feel your pain. That's why we're launching a series to help you navigate one of the trickiest money moments of your financial life: a layoff. In the coming weeks, we'll share expert guidance on taking severance, tax planning, moving retirement accounts, securing health coverage, establishing and using emergency funds wisely. We'll also look at ways to prepare yourself for a pending layoff.  I'm sure there are other related money topics we should cover, so let me know what I'm missing. I'd also love to hear from you about layoffs: If you lost a job and are willing to share your experience, please let me know if you are game for an interview. (I know it's a very difficult topic to discuss, but your experience can help others!) I want details on the smartest financial move you made after a job loss. And, knowing what you know now, is there anything you would do differently moneywise? Write to me at onthemoney@thomsonreuters.com. I read every letter! Meanwhile, here are four things to do as soon as you get laid off. Will Trump Accounts help Americans save more?   Do you plan to open a Trump Account for your kids? REUTERS/Andres Stapff Can "Trump Accounts" help lower-income Americans build wealth? The investment program is part of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, although many details are still unknown. The government expects to roll out the program on July 4, 2026. The U.S. Treasury will deposit $1,000 of seed money into investment accounts for all children born between 2025 and 2028 with a valid Social Security number. The government will invest the money in low-cost index funds that grow tax-deferred. Income taxes are due upon withdrawal. I did some reporting to understand how they will work. But, as always, I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Do you plan to open a Trump Account? Do you save for your kid's education in a 529 college savings plan or another investment vehicle? Write to me at onthemoney@thomsonreuters.com 💰 Introducing Emotional Currency     We've also launched a new feature called "Emotional Currency," which explores the emotional side of personal finance through real stories from Gen Z and Millennials around the world.  So far, we've highlighted young people who use social media to earn an income as well as to chronicle the struggle to pay down credit card debt. We also looked at the "boomerang" trend of living at home with parents to save money as well as ways to curb overconsumption. Have a money lesson or story to share? Tell us what worked for you — or what didn't — by emailing us at onthemoney@thomsonreuters.com. 💬 A$k Lauren Do you need pet insurance? Are you considering an investment in Bitcoin, now that prices are lower? Send questions to onthemoney@thomsonreuters.com, and I'll tap my extensive source network and braintrust for expert advice. Don't forget to subscribe to this newsletter! Even better, share it with a friend!  This newsletter was edited by Patricia Reaney. Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. Advertise in this newsletter or on Reuters' website Reuters On the Money is sent every other week. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here. 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