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Financial markets made credit cheaper before Fed's rate

cut

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Stocks have surged but long-term outlook is complex

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How to plan for retirement when you're on your own

By Lauren Young

NEW YORK, Sept 27 -

This was originally published in the Reuters On the Money

newsletter, where we share U.S. personal finance tips and

insights every other week. Sign up

here

to receive it for free.

Even before the U.S. Federal Reserve approved its outsized

half-percentage-point interest rate cut last week, financial

markets started making credit cheaper for households and

businesses as they bid down mortgage rates, cut corporate bond

yields and chipped away at what consumers pay for personal, auto

and other loans.

While bonds have been a good bet for investors at the start of

the Fed's rate-cutting cycles, Treasuries already experienced a

huge rally this time around. Some investors believe they're

unlikely to run much further unless the economy enters a

recession.

And stocks? So far they've been on a tear, but the long-term

outlook is a little more complicated. Follow our Markets

coverage here for the latest insights and news!

Has the latest rate cut helped or hurt your finances? Send me

your thoughts at .

Life lessons: Sherri Shepherd's path to Hollywood's Walk of

Fame

As a popular talk show host, Sherri Shepherd's job is to get

celebrities to share their personal stories. But the most

fascinating tale might be her own.

The host of Sherri, which kicked off its new season on Monday,

has come a long way from the hardscrabble early days of getting

evicted from her Los Angeles apartment as she tried to make it

in show business.

My favorite quote from this Reuters' interview: "I remember back

in the days when my car used to get repossessed, I would be on

the bus going by Hollywood Boulevard, where the Walk of Fame is

located. I would look at the stars and dream that I would have a

star one day. Now I'm having a ceremony for it. Never let go of

that dream."

What I'm reading and watching

Bananas, cars, clothes: US port labor dispute threatens

products

Housing market sees some relief as mortgage rates fall

Consumer confidence sours on labor market jitters

Monthly house prices in the US edge up in July

Want an under-30-minute commute? These American cities have

it

Smart moves for investors after the Fed rate cute

US accuses Visa of monopolizing debit card swipes

Going solo: How to plan for retirement when you're on your

own

Holiday spending on buy now, pay later to hit record due to

debt-laden shoppers

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to On The Money

here.

In defense of consumer staples

The consumer staples sector has outperformed the wider

market since the summer on recession worries and a shift away

from pricier technology stocks. Satya Pradhuman of Cirrus

Research explains why he thinks these stocks are no longer just

a recession play.

Watch here.

An expert's guide to retirement

If you find it hard to plan for retirement, here is a

little secret: It is hard for everyone - even the world's

foremost experts on the topic.

Take Christine Benz, for example. As the longtime director of

personal finance and retirement planning for investment research

firm Morningstar ( MORN ), Benz knows pretty much everything there is to

know on the subject.

But when her own father started experiencing cognitive decline,

she assumed financial responsibilities for her parents - and was

swarmed with hundreds of retirement-related challenges one

cannot fully understand until experienced.

So Benz wrote a book about it, where she shares these five main

pointers on how to retire.

A$K LAUREN

Thanks to everyone who wrote to me about taxing Social

Security and rising pet care costs! I read every single one of

your emails, so keep 'em coming.

Speaking of which: Do you need to take out a student loan? Are

you planning to retire in the next year? Send your money

questions to , 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!