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The World's Second-Largest Insurer Becomes a Tech Giant

Just 31 years after it was founded in China’s southern city of Shenzhen, Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. has grown into the world’s second-largest insurer by market value after Berkshire Hathaway Inc.—more valuable than Allianz SE and AIA Group Ltd. combined.

Money Moves To Make Now!

Among the items on our to-do list: Trim your 2019 tax bill by pruning your portfolio and giving to charity. Boost your retirement-plan contributions. Cash in credit card rewards. We also suggest moves that will boost your bottom line in 2020 and beyond.

Long-Term-Care Claims: Avoid The Obstacles

Filing a claim can be an ordeal, but these preventive measures will streamline the process.

5 Ways To Max Out Your Credit Card Rewards

Play your cards right and a first-class flight, luxe hotel suite or a pile of cash can be yours.

Our Favorite Dividend Stocks

These income-paying picks clobbered the broad market over the past 12 months.

Should Shareholders Share The Wealth?

Business leaders say firms should be accountable to customers and workers, and protect the environment, too.

It's Private Equity's World. That's A Big Deal

Private equity managers won the financial crisis. A decade since the world economy almost came apart, big banks are more heavily regulated and scrutinized. Hedge funds, which live on the volatility central banks have worked so hard to quash, have mostly lost their flair. But the firms once known as leveraged buyout shops are thriving. Almost everything that’s happened since 2008 has tilted in their favor. Low interest rates to finance deals? Check. A friendly political climate? Check. A long line of clients? Check. The PE industry, which runs funds that can invest outside public markets, has trillions of dollars in assets under management. In a world where bonds are paying next to nothing—and some have negative yields—many big investors are desperate for the higher returns PE managers seem to be able to squeeze from the markets. The business has made billionaires out of many of its founders. Funds have snapped up businesses from pet stores to doctors’ practices to newspapers. PE firms may also be deep into real estate, loans to businesses, and startup investments—but the heart of their craft is using debt to acquire companies and sell them later. In the best cases, PE managers can nurture failing or underperforming companies and set them up for faster growth, creating outsize returns for investors that include pension funds and universities. But having once operated on the comfortable margins of Wall Street, private equity is now facing tougher questions from politicians, regulators, and activists. One of PE’s superpowers is that it’s hard for outsiders to see and understand the industry, so we set out to shed light on some of the ways it’s changing finance and the economy itself.

How To Downsize Your RMDs

You must start taking required minimum distributions from your IRA at age 70½. But you can reduce the tax bill.

The Woman Trying To Shake Up Israel's Financial System

Israel is known for tech innovation, but its banks have a lot of catching up to do.

Investing - 7 Steps To A Better Portfolio

Prosper in this volatile market (or any other) by focusing on fundamentals.

Nigeria's Missing Mobile Banking App

Every Month, Ifeyinwa Abel, the secretary of a Pentecostal church in Lagos, spends as much as a quarter of her salary sending money to pay for diabetes drugs to her mother 430 miles away in Abia Ohafia, a small agricultural village.

Paytm's Sharma Is Ready To Take On The World

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, 41, founded closely held One97 Communications and its brand Paytm (rhymes with ATM) almost two decades ago.

Your Guide To Open Enrollment

You may have more health insurance options for 2020. But you’ll need to work harder to find the one that’s right for you.

A Note From The Bubble Opportunity Hedge Fund

Why we all love to spot other investors’ mistakes

Facebook's New Money

The social media giant takes on the finance industry with Libra.

Swiss Say Facebook's Digital Currency Plan Will Face Hurdles

Facebook and its partners have asked financial authorities in Switzerland to evaluate their plan to create a new digital currency to be called Libra.

Elliott Invests $3.2b In At&t, Seeks Changes

Activist hedge fund manager Elliott Management is making a new $3.2 billion investment in AT&T, roughly a 1% stake, and calling for changes at the company such as selling assets and paying down debt.

Experts Say Adapting To Climate Change Can Pay Off Manifold

A group of leaders from business, politics and science have called for a massive investment in adapting to climate change over the next decade, arguing it would reap significant returns as countries avoid catastrophic losses and boost their economies.

Street Smart Betting On Stocks Down Under

When U.S. investors diversify globally, they typically buy international or regional mutual funds or shares in companies based in Europe, China, Japan, or maybe Mexico or Brazil.

Which Broker Is Best For You?

No broker can hit the bull’s-eye for every type of client. Use our results to find the best one for you.

Market Volatility: Get Used To It

The summer swoon is probably not the end of the bull market.

How To Navigate Overseas Investing

Low-volatility funds can help you ride out the ups and downs of foreign markets.

Harvest The Fruits Of Your Savings

How to live well without running out of money.

Get In On The Gold Rally?

Stock market volatility has given investors gold fever. If you chase the rally, don’t overdo it.

Be Smart About How You Trade

Giving your broker the right order can help you get the best price.

Giving To Charity On A Budget

A few issues ago, I interviewed Doug Lynam, a former monk who now works as a money manager in Santa Fe, N.M. (see “Ahead,” July).

Another Plus For High-Deductible Plans

New rules for plans with health savings accounts could trim your out-of-pocket costs.

Too Scared To Spend!

Even wealthy American retirees are often reluctant to enjoy their money

The Incredible Sinking Argentina

Markets reeled as the country whipped back toward protectionism

UN Report: North Korea Cyber Experts Raised Up To $2 Billion

A panel monitoring U.N. sanctions says North Korean cyber experts have illegally raised money for the country’s weapons of mass destruction programs “with total proceeds to date estimated at up to $2 billion.”