Building up an emergency fund can be a real struggle and many Americans are unprepared for unexpected expenses. According to a January 2025 U.S. News & World Report survey, 42% of Americans don’t have an emergency fund and 40% couldn’t pay for a $1,000 emergency expense. Many feel like it’s impossible to build up an emergency fund for tomorrow’s possibilities with so many pressing bills that are real and imminent. You don’t necessarily have to save large amounts of money each month to build up your emer ...

Conestoga Capital Advisors, an asset management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q4 2025, Conestoga Capital Advisors Mid Cap Strategy returned -5.75% net of fees compared to the Russell Midcap Growth Index’s -3.70% return. The underperformance was driven by negative stock selection in the Technology and Industrials sectors, while positive sector allocation effects partially eased underperformance. The Mid Cap Composite returned -4.73% ...

Conestoga Capital Advisors, an asset management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q4 2025, Conestoga Capital Advisors Mid Cap Strategy returned -5.75% net of fees compared to the Russell Midcap Growth Index’s -3.70% return. The underperformance was driven by negative stock selection in the Technology and Industrials sectors, while positive sector allocation effects partially eased underperformance. The Mid Cap Composite returned -4.73% ...

Each year you file your taxes you hope that it’s done and dusted and you don’t have to think about that year’s taxes ever again. However, there are cases where the IRS can assess penalties and interest for tax mistakes years after a return is filed. To drill down into the most common tax moves that can trigger these penalties years later, I enlisted ChatGPT to help me dig up what you need to know about how the IRS can penalize you down the road, and how to avoid it. 1. Failure To File or Pay on Time On ...

Core Viewpoint - Conestoga Capital Advisors reported underperformance in its Mid Cap Strategy for Q4 2025, primarily due to negative stock selection in the Technology and Industrials sectors, despite some positive sector allocation effects [1]. Group 1: Performance Overview - In Q4 2025, Conestoga Capital Advisors Mid Cap Strategy returned -5.75% net of fees, compared to the Russell Midcap Growth Index's -3.70% return [1]. - The Mid Cap Composite returned -4.73% net of fees for the full year 2025, trailing the benchmark return of 8.66% [1]. Group 2: CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSGP) Insights - CoStar Group, Inc. experienced significant share price pressure in Q4 2025, with a one-month return of -25.20% and a three-month loss of 36.10% [2][3]. - The company's market capitalization is reported at $20.797 billion [2]. - The primary challenge for CoStar Group was its aggressive investment in the Homes.com platform, which negatively impacted overall profitability [3]. - Bookings for Apartment.com fell short of investor expectations, contributing to the negative sentiment around the stock [3]. - Concerns about increased competition arose from media reports suggesting that Google may enter the for-sale home listings market, further pressuring CoStar's valuation [3]. Group 3: Hedge Fund Interest - CoStar Group, Inc. was held by 57 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, a slight decrease from 59 in the previous quarter [4]. - While the potential of CoStar Group as an investment is acknowledged, the company is not considered among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with certain AI stocks viewed as having greater upside potential and less downside risk [4].

Throughout the bull market for tech and artificial intelligence (AI) of the past few years, semiconductor stocks have been the leaders. That narrative has changed in 2026 as investors grow more concerned about how much money is being spent on AI development and whether valuations have become stretched too far. Semiconductor ETFs still aren't too far off all-time highs, but it looks like momentum has clearly shifted away from tech and growth stocks. That doesn't mean this group can't keep moving higher, bu ...

Conestoga Capital Advisors, an asset management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. US equities experienced solid returns in 2025, with double-digit gains across all major indices. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In 2025, the Conestoga Micro Cap Composite met its purpose of preserving capital during negative market returns and capturing upside during strong market returns. Micro Caps faced significant volatility in 2025. During the course of events, Conestoga Micro Cap Co ...

Real Estate Investment Insights - Investing in luxury properties may not be the most effective way to build wealth, as ongoing maintenance costs can range from 1% to 4% of a property's value annually, potentially costing millions for high-value homes [3][4] - The lottery winner Edwin Castro's experience illustrates the financial burden of luxury home ownership, as he faced significant expenses after his $4 million home was destroyed in a fire, leading to an additional $10 million investment in rebuilding [3][4] Alternative Investment Opportunities - Commercial real estate has historically provided stability and has outperformed the S&P 500 over a 25-year period, suggesting it may be a more prudent investment for those with substantial cash [6] - Multifamily rentals are highlighted as a viable option for accredited investors, especially given the robust debt markets anticipated in 2026 [6] - Lightstone DIRECT offers a platform for accredited investors to access institutional-quality multifamily opportunities with a minimum investment of $100,000, eliminating intermediaries and reducing fees [8][9] Precious Metals and Alternative Assets - Gold and silver are recommended as protective assets against inflation, with gold prices having risen significantly, including a 65% increase in 2025 and over 20% in January 2026 [15] - A gold IRA can provide tax advantages while allowing investments in physical precious metals, with Goldco offering services for a minimum purchase of $10,000 [16] - Fine art is presented as another alternative investment, with a substantial global market value and positive long-term returns, accessible through platforms like Masterworks that facilitate fractional investing [20][21]

Every day, one in four Americans falls victim to mail theft — even though the United States Postal Service has been promising a crackdown. Many are repeat victims, like Denver resident Karen Hagans, who told CBS Colorado that her mail disappears almost daily (1). “If you didn’t go get your mail the minute it was delivered, you couldn’t trust that it was there,” she said. Hagans' mail is delivered to a cluster mailbox, easily accessed with a master key — or copy of one. That's one of the challenges the ...

WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Underlying U.S. inflation increased more than expected in December, and signs are pointing to a further acceleration in January, which would strengthen ‌expectations that the Federal Reserve would not cut interest rates before June. The personal ‌consumption expenditures price index, excluding the volatile food and energy components, rose 0.4% after an unrevised 0.2% gain ​in November, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said on Friday. Economists polled by ...