A First-Class "Forever" stamp could cost 82 cents starting as early as July 2026. This represents a roughly 5% increase from the current 78 cents.
Related Brief 1h ago
retirement planning You pay the tax now so your heirs won’t have to
You pay the tax now so your heirs won’t have to. That’s the core tradeoff behind a Roth IRA conversion — a move that shifts the tax burden from your beneficiaries to yourself, on your terms. For most non-spouse heirs, inherited traditional IRAs come with a 10-year rule: all funds must be withdrawn by the end of the decade following the account holder’s death. Every dollar pulled out is taxed as ordinary income, potentially pushing a beneficiary into a high tax bracket at a moment of emotional and financial strain. Spouses can roll over a deceased partner’s traditional IRA into their own, but taxes remain inevitable on every withdrawal. A Roth IRA conversion changes that equation. When you convert a traditional IRA or 401(k) to a Roth, you pay income taxes on the converted amount in the year of the transfer. That’s not an escape — it’s a relocation. The benefit? Once the account has been open for at least five years, all withdrawals, including earnings, are tax-free for your heirs. Non-spouse beneficiaries still must empty the account within 10 years, but they do so without a single dollar going to the IRS. You control when the tax hit occurs: during a market downturn, in a low-income year, or gradually over several years to stay within a favorable tax bracket. And because you can pay the conversion tax with outside funds, you preserve the full balance of your retirement account for tax-free growth. The IRS doesn’t allow loopholes — just options. This is one where the math and the legacy align.
The United States Postal Service has proposed the hike to address financial instability. The agency has reported cumulative losses of about $118 billion since 2007 and a most recent quarterly loss of $1.25 billion. The USPS warned it could run out of cash within the next year.
Related Brief 2h ago
cryptocurrency exchange Binance doubles altcoin liquidity program to lower trading slippage
Altcoin traders will see tighter spreads and reduced slippage. This result is the outcome of Binance expanding its Spot Altcoin Liquidity Boost Program, which doubles the number of supported trading pairs from 20 to 40. To drive this liquidity, Binance allows liquidity providers to earn rebates based on their 7-day maker volume percentage. Tier 1 providers require a minimum of 0.5% market volume to secure a -0.005% rebate rate. Tier 2 providers require 1% maker volume for a -0.010% rebate rate. The updated program adds pairs such as $AAVE/$USDT, $GMX/$USDT, $CELO/$USDT, $JTO/$USDT, $DYDX/$USDT, $LDO/$USDT, and $ALGO/$USDT, while removing pairs including $LQTY/$USDT, $INJ/$USDT, and $ICP/$USDT to concentrate liquidity on assets with higher demand.
The proposal requires approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. Postmaster General David Steiner indicated that rates could eventually reach 90 to 95 cents per stamp to stabilize the agency's finances.
Related Brief 12h ago
housing affordability In Saskatchewan, low supply is the true driver of record prices — not demand alone
In Saskatoon, if no new homes come to market, there will be none left to buy within two months. That reality is reshaping how first-time buyers enter the market, as inventory sits 50% below normal levels and competition drives prices to record highs. The provincial benchmark price rose to $374,100 last month, with Saskatoon’s average reaching $435,200 — an all-time high. Regina followed at $343,700. These figures reflect not just demand, but a supply vacuum. With less than a two-month supply of homes, the market is technically in a state of exhaustion. Sellers hold all leverage. Some homes sell within hours. The average overbid in Saskatoon now ranges between $34,000 and $36,000. One agent reported offers as high as $120,000 above asking. Buyers who can’t or won’t overpay are turning to other tactics: submitting bank pre-approvals, matching the seller’s preferred closing date, increasing their deposit, or writing personal letters explaining why they want the home. Patrick Arno, a first-time buyer, said finding a home felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. He and his wife wanted an open-concept house with space for their dog, a garage, and potential for a basement suite. They compromised, stayed patient, and after two months, closed on a home for $10,000 below asking price. Most aren’t that lucky.
The Ledger Morning The essential intelligence to start your trading day. Delivered 6:00 AM EST.
Join 50,000+ professionals who start their day with The Digital Ledger.
