This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence. Current subscribers can read the report here.

Mobile commerce (m-commerce) isn’t just the future of online shopping — it’s absorbing more and more e-commerce in the present. Business Insider Intelligence projects m-commerce will account for nearly 40% of US online sales by 2023, totaling $447 billion. And 49% of shopping traffic from November 1 through December 6 in 2018 went through smartphones, according to Adobe.

Despite its popularity, m-commerce faces serious conversion issues that retailers need to improve on. In North America, mobile browsers posted a conversion rate of just 6% in Q2 compared with desktop’s 11%, according to Criteo. But mobile websites still accounted for 43% of all transactions in the region among retailers that actively promoted their shopping apps, showing that they deserve special attention.

So, although consumers spend more time accessing the internet on smartphones than any other device, e-tailers aren’t able to maximize that value. And considering mobile shoppers have a similar engagement rate as desktop shoppers, but the rates at which they select products and transact are lower, according to Qubit, mobile sites clearly need to improve their ability to convert — and top e-tailers have work to do.

In the Mobile Checkout Benchmark Report, Business Insider Intelligence scores the mobile checkout experience of top e-commerce marketplaces — which includes every action from the moment a consumer chooses a product to the final purchase when they add the product to their cart and check out — to determine the current leaders in the space.

It establishes key factors in the checkout process to appropriately score e-tailers and identifies what all retailers and brands can learn from their strengths and shortcomings to improve their own m-commerce conversion capabilities. The report also looks at what developing technologies and initiatives have the potential to bolster conversion in m-commerce.

The companies mentioned in this report are: Affirm, Amazon, BigCommerce, Discover, eBay, Klarna, Mastercard, PayPal, Pier 1, Shopify, Splitit, Target, Visa, Walmart, and Wish.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• Business Insider Intelligence’s Mobile Checkout Benchmark Study ranks top e-commerce marketplaces based on their conversion capabilities on their mobile websites.
• Target ranked first, leading in the adding to and reviewing the cart stage and performing well across the board.
• eBay led the overall efficiency and checkout and payment phases thanks to its simple process, but poor conversion capabilities on product pages and carts kept it from winning overall.
• Amazon underperformed as it focuses on gathering consumer data and adding Prime subscribers rather than one-time conversion.
• Speed and simplicity are top features to drive mobile conversion, according to experts interviewed by Business Insider Intelligence, and becoming faster and more efficient in various facets of mobile checkout will pay dividends for e-tailers.

In full, the report:

• Examines mobile websites’ struggles with conversion.
• Creates a benchmarking to score top e-commerce players’ websites conversion capabilities.
• Scores e-tailers’ performances and picks out key learnings from their strengths and shortcomings.
• Identifies developing technology that will be able to bolster mobile conversion in the future.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >>Purchase & Download Now
2. Subscribe to a Premium pass to Business Insider Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> Learn More Now

SEE ALSO: The downfall of US brick-and-mortar commerce is overblown — but merchants need to evaluate their point-of-sale terminals

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here. Current subscribers can read the report here.

Esports, which is short for electronic sports, refers to competitive video gaming watched by spectators. Esports are not as mainstream as traditional sports in the US, but the number of esports fans globally is still sizable. The worldwide esports audience reached 335 million in 2017, according to Newzoo. 

And there’s still significant room for growth beyond that — we predict that 600 million consumers globally will watch esports in 2023, up 79% from 2017. 

A growing number of brands are acting to capitalize on the growth of esports as the majority of professional gaming fans are millennials and open to brand sponsors. Sixty-two percent of US esports viewers are aged 18-34, according to Activate, while 58% have a positive attitude towards brand involvement in esports, per Nielsen.

Meanwhile, Newzoo anticipates global esports sponsorship revenue to reach $359 million in 2018, up 53% year-over-year. The growing esports audience and brand activity helps explains why high-profile public figures are jumping in to capitalize on the action: In late October, basketball legend Michael Jordan and platinum-selling artist Drake both made investments into separate esports ventures, for example. 

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence will explain the growth of the esports audience and why it presents an attractive advertising opportunity for brands. We'll begin by exploring the key drivers and barriers affecting esports audience growth. Finally, we'll detail the benefits of advertising to esports fans and outline the best practices for implementing a successful esports ad campaign.

The companies mentioned in this report are: Alibaba, Arby's, Audi, Bud Light, Hyundai, Intel, Mastercard, McDonald's, Red Bull, Skillz, and Turner.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• The number of esports fans globally is anticipated to climb 59% over the next five years, but there’s still significant room for growth.
• This expansion will be driven by many factors, including investment from traditional sports leagues, a higher number of broadcast deals, and the expansion of the mobile-based esports scene.
• The majority of esports fans are millennials, while data suggests that Gen Zers are more receptive to nontraditional sports, like esports, than traditional sports.
• Brands can sponsor esports leagues, competitions, and players as well as advertise on digital platforms like Twitch to reach the eyeballs of esports fans.
• Whatever shape a brand's esports ad campaign eventually takes, displaying an authentic commitment to the gaming world is paramount.

 In full, the report:

• Outlines the drivers and potential barriers to esports audience growth.
• Details the various reasons esports fans are a compelling advertising opportunity for brands.
• Discusses the different ways brands can invest spend to reach the eyeballs of esports fans.
• Explains best practices brands advertising to esports fans should adopt in order to make inroads with the gaming community. 

SEE ALSO: The eSports competitive video gaming market continues to grow revenues & attract investors

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• Nigel Farage's Brexit Party on course to win the most seats and largest vote share in the European elections in the United Kingdom.
• The anti-EU party is projected to win a total of 29 seats, five more than UKIP's winning tally in 2014.
• The Pro-Remain Liberal Democrats come a strong second place, beating the Labour party.
• Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn signals a possible shift to more explicitly backing a second referendum.
• Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.

LONDON — The Brexit Party is set to win the most seats in the European Parliament elections in the United Kingdom after support for the governing Conservative party collapsed.

After all votes were counted in England and Wales, Nigel Farage's Brexit Party was projected to have won 29 seats across the UK and 32% of the vote, with the Conservatives achieving their worst ever national election result, slipping into fifth place.

Meanwhile, the pro-EU Liberal Democrats won their best result in their history, coming in second place ahead of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party.

Results in Northern Ireland and Scotland are due later on Monday.

European elections projected seats (UK)

• Brexit Party: 29 (+29)
• Lib Dems: 16 (+15)
• Labour: 10 (-10)
• Green: 7 (+4)
• Conservatives: 4 (-15)
• SNP: 3 (+1)
• UKIP: 0 (-24)

*BBC projected seat tally as of 01.00 AM (BST)

European elections projected vote share (UK)

• Brexit Party: 32% (+32%)
• Lib Dems: 20% (+13%)
• Labour: 14% (-11%)
• Green: 12% (+4%)
• Conservatives: 9% (-15%)
• SNP: 4% (+2%)
• UKIP: 3% (-24%)
• Change UK: 3%

*BBC projected seat share as of 01.00 AM (BST)

Speaking after winning his seat in the South East region, Farage warned that his party would win the next general election unless Brexit takes place on Halloween as currently scheduled.

"If we don't leave on October 31, the scores you've seen tonight will be repeated in a general election and we are getting ready for that," Farage in the early hours of Monday morning.

"There's a massive message here. The Labour and Conservative Parties could learn a lesson [but] I don't think they will."

The Conservative vote collapsed across the country, with the party coming in third place in Theresa May's home town of Maidenhead and in fourth place in Conservative leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson's Uxbridge seat.

The results were greeted by Conservative Brexiteers as a sign that the party should be prepared leave the European Union without a deal at the end of October.

"This is a political tsunami. The Brexit Party have absolutely romped it," Conservative MP Mark Francois told the BBC.

The Labour Party also lost ground to smaller parties in both Remain and Leave-voting parts of the country. In their London stronghold, the party came second behind the Lib Dems, including in Corbyn's own Islington constituency.

Following the results, the Labour leader signaled a possible shift towards backing a new EU referendum.

"With the Conservatives disintegrating and unable to govern, and parliament deadlocked, this issue will have to go back to the people, whether through a general election or a public vote," he said, adding that "Over the coming days we will have conversations across our party and movement, and reflect on these results on both sides of the Brexit divide."

SEE ALSO: What happens now that Theresa May has announced her resignation?

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NOW WATCH: White House photographer Pete Souza reveals what it was like to be in the Situation Room during the raid on Osama bin Laden

• Pro-Remain parties in the United Kingdom surge in the European elections with the Liberal Democrats and Green Party both making big gains.
• The anti-Brexit Lib Dems leapfrogged the Conservatives and Labour to win at least a dozen seats in the European Parliament.
• The pro-EU Greens also increased their vote share.
• Overall, explicitly pro-Remain parties are on course to win more votes than the pro-Leave Brexit Party.
• Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.

LONDON — Remain voters have surged to anti-Brexit parties in the European elections in the UK, with the Liberal Democrats on course for their best ever result.

The Lib Dems came second in London and topped the poll in a number of councils where the Labour Party had won in the last European Parliament elections in 2014.

The party — which is campaigning to cancel the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union — came into the elections with just one representative in the European Parliament — but are set to end the night with at least 15.

Overall, explicitly pro-Remain parties are on course to win more votes than the pro-Leave Brexit Party.

Remain parties picked up votes from both Labour and the Conservatives, with the most eye-catching result of the night coming in Islington, north London, where the Lib Dems won despite Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry both representing the borough in the UK parliament.

"The Lib Dems are back in business beating the Tories and Labour. We stuck to our guns with stopping Brexit in the same way we opposed the Iraq war," a Lib Dem source told Business Insider on Sunday evening.

A Lib Dem candidate in the European elections said: "Our Stop Brexit message has been heard by the public... We will use this momentum to continue our campaign to give the public a final say on any Brexit deal."

European elections projected seats (UK)

• Brexit Party: 29 (+29)
• Lib Dems: 16 (+15)
• Labour: 10 (-10)
• Green: 7 (+4)
• Conservatives: 4 (-15)
• SNP: 3 (+1)
• UKIP: 0 (-24)

*BBC projected seat tally as of 01.00 AM (BST)

European elections projected vote share (UK)

• Brexit Party: 32% (+32%)
• Lib Dems: 20% (+13%)
• Labour: 14% (-11%)
• Green: 12% (+4%)
• Conservatives: 9% (-15%)
• SNP: 4% (+2%)
• UKIP: 3% (-24%)
• Change UK: 3%

*BBC projected seat share as of 01.00 AM (BST)

The Greens have also significantly increased their vote across the country and are set to add to the eight per cent which it won in 2014.

The Lib Dems also topped the polls in Remain-voting areas in the south east which it is targeting for the next general election, like Kingston upon Thames, Richmond Upon Thames, St Albans, Cambridge, Oxford, and Cheltenham.

The BBC in the early hours of Monday morning projected a second place nationwide finish for the Lib Dems.

Lib Dem leader Vince Cable said the results proved that the party was the "strongest Remain force in British politics."

He said: "Our clear, honest, unambiguous message has won us our best ever European election result, and pushed Corbyn's Labour into third place."

The Lib Dems' resurgence has largely come at the expense of the Labour Party.

Labour's policy of delivering Brexit and refusal to explicitly back a new referendum has led some Remainers to desert the party and back the Lib Dems and other anti-Brexit parties — including the Green Party.

Emily Thornberry, Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary, criticised her party for being clear enough on Brexit, and told the BBC that Labour should have been more explicit in its support for a referendum and staying in the EU.

"We should have said quite simply that any deal that comes out of this government should be put to a confirmatory referendum and that Remain should be on the ballot paper and that Labour would campaign to Remain," she said.

"That's what we should have done."

Speaking in the early hours of Monday morning, Labour leader Corbyn said that his party would "have conversations" and "reflect" on the European election results.

SEE ALSO: What happens now that Theresa May has announced her resignation?

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NOW WATCH: White House photographer Pete Souza reveals what it was like to be in the Situation Room during the raid on Osama bin Laden

The payments industry is transforming.

Noncash payments methods are quickly becoming the norm.

Business Insider Intelligence projects digital payments to continue to grow through 2023 and beyond.

This shift has created a battle between incumbents and startups vying to become the leaders of the future of payments.

While incumbents have massive scale to lean on, startups typically offer a much friendlier user experience. Whoever can master both first will win the battle.

That will require navigating four key digital transformations: diversification, consolidation and collaboration, data protection and automation.

In this FREE section of The Future of Payments 2018 slide deck from Business Insider Intelligence, we look at the first key digital transformation: diversification.

Subscribe to Business Insider Intelligence today for full access to the complete deck.

As an added bonus to this FREE section, you will gain immediate access to our exclusive BI Intelligence Daily newsletter.

To get your copy of this free slide deck, click here.

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• Warning: Major spoilers ahead for the series finale of HBO's "Game of Thrones." 
• HBO's new documentary about the last season of "Game of Thrones" features footage from the cast's table read of all six final episodes.
• Kit Harington (who plays Jon Snow) was one of the only actors who had purposefully not read the scripts yet.
• This means he was shocked, and almost immediately began crying, when they got to the part where Jon Snow stabs Daenerys Targaryen, killing her.
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

On Sunday night, HBO premiered a new two-hour long documentary called "The Last Watch," which chronicles the making of the final season of "Game of Thrones." Towards the start of the film, we see footage from the exact moment when Kit Harington (who plays Jon Snow) realized his character would kill Daenerys Targaryen. 

The cast were sent all six episode scripts about three days before they came to Belfast, Northern Ireland, for a massive table read. But Kit Harington was one of the only actors who had chosen not to look at what was in store.

Read more:See the 3 times Emilia Clarke tried to warn fans last year about Daenerys' final season arc on 'Game of Thrones'

This means all of his co-stars were prepared for the shock of Jon slipping a dagger into Dany's heart — but Kit Harington was stunned.

Harington pushed away from the table with his hand on his mouth right as cowriter and executive producer Bryan Cogman says, "We see Jon with his hand still on the hilt of the dagger he just lodged in Dany's heart." 

He was sitting across the table from Emilia Clarke (Daenerys), who had already read the heartbreaking scene. She pulled some faces at Harington, while others around them looked both surprised or gleeful to see Harington's real-time response.

Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) looks shocked too, so perhaps she didn't read the scripts.

Jon Snow's decision to kill Daenerys came after she burned the city of King's Landing, ascending at last to the Iron Throne but making a troubling case for continued warfare in the process. The exact way in which Jon kills Daenerys, with a blade through her heart, was part of one of the biggest prophecies involved in George R.R. Martin's original book series. You can read all about that prophecy and how it predicted Dany's death here.

Watch the entire season eight table read scene unfold on "Game of Thrones: The Last Watch," directed by Jeanie Finlay, which is streaming now on all HBO platforms. 

• Read more:
• Here's why Drogon destroyed the Iron Throne in the dramatic finale scene — and where he may have gone next
• Every major question we still have after the 'Game of Thrones' finale
• 21 details you might have missed on the final episode of 'Game of Thrones'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Nxivm founder Keith Raniere began his trial. Here's what happened inside the alleged sex-slave ring that recruited actresses and two billionaire heiresses.

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

Major logistics providers have long relied on analytics and research teams to make sense of the data they generate from their operations.

But with volumes of data growing, and the insights that can be gleaned becoming increasingly varied and granular, these companies are starting to turn to artificial intelligence (AI) computing techniques, like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing, to streamline and automate various processes. These techniques teach computers to parse data in a contextual manner to provide requested information, supply analysis, or trigger an event based on their findings. They are also uniquely well suited to rapidly analyzing huge data sets, and have a wide array of applications in different aspects of supply chain and logistics operations.

AI’s ability to streamline so many supply chain and logistics functions is already delivering a competitive advantage for early adopters by cutting shipping times and costs. A cross-industry study on AI adoption conducted in early 2017 by McKinsey found that early adopters with a proactive AI strategy in the transportation and logistics sector enjoyed profit margins greater than 5%. Meanwhile, respondents in the sector that had not adopted AI were in the red.

However, these crucial benefits have yet to drive widespread adoption. Only 21% of the transportation and logistics firms in McKinsey’s survey had moved beyond the initial testing phase to deploy AI solutions at scale or in a core part of their business. The challenges to AI adoption in the field of supply chain and logistics are numerous and require major capital investments and organizational changes to overcome.

In a new report, BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, explores the vast impact that AI techniques like machine learning will have on the supply chain and logistics space. We detail the myriad applications for these computational techniques in the industry, and the adoption of those different applications. We also share some examples of companies that have demonstrated success with AI in their supply chain and logistics operations. Lastly, we break down the many factors that are holding organizations back from implementing AI projects and gaining the full benefits of this disruptive technology.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• The current interest in and early adoption of AI systems is being driven by several key factors, including increased demands from shippers, recent technological breakthroughs, and significant investments in data visibility by the industry’s largest players.
• AI can deliver enormous benefits to supply chain and logistics operations, including cost reductions through reduced redundancies and risk mitigation, improved forecasting, faster deliveries through more optimized routes, improved customer service, and more.
• Legacy players face many substantial obstacles to deploying and reaping the benefits of AI systems, though, including data accessibility and workforce challenges.
• AI adoption in the logistics industry is strongly skewed toward the biggest players, because overcoming these major challenges requires costly investments in updating IT systems and breaking down data silos, as well as hiring expensive teams of data scientists.
• Although AI implementations are unlikely to result in large-scale workforce reductions in the near term, companies still need to develop strategies to address how workers' roles will change as AI systems automate specific functions.

 In full, the report:

• Details the factors driving adoption of AI systems in the supply chain and logistics field.
• Examines the benefits that AI can deliver in reducing costs and shipping times for supply chain and logistics operations.
• Explains the many challenges companies face in implementing AI in their supply chain and logistics operations to reap the benefits of this transformational technology.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >>Learn More Now
2. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> Purchase & Download Now

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• Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill resigned on Sunday after several members of his government defected to the opposition.
• O'Neill, who has held the country's premiership for seven years, will hand over the leadership to former prime minister Julius Chan.
• O'Neill avoided a vote of no confidenceearlier this month after senior ministers, including finance, defense and health,resigned from his government.
• Switzerland's financial regulator is in contact with global bank UBS over loans made by its Australian arm to O'Neill's government, Reuters reported.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill resigned on Sunday after several members of his government defected to the opposition.

O'Neill announced his resignation at a press conference in the capital city of Port Moresby, saying that the country's parliament has a "need for change" after a string of MPs announced their resignations.

O'Neill, who has led the country for over seven years, will hand over the prime ministership to former prime minister Julius Chan, who held the position from 1980 to 1982, and again from 1994 to 1997.

"We have agreed to a change of direction," he said.

His resignation will need to be approved by the Governor-General, a representative for Queen Elizabeth II who formally holds head of state in the Commonwealth nation.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison told journalists in Canberra that he looked forward to working with Chan "in the same way [he has] enjoyed such a strong friendship and relationship with Peter O'Neill".

O'Neill avoided a vote of no confidenceearlier this month after senior ministersresigned en masse from his government. Parliamentarians, including Finance Minister James Marape, hadexpressed dissatisfaction with several of O'Neill's policies, including his handling of a multi-billion dollar gas deal with French petroleum company Total which they claimed was not in the country's interests.

On Friday, members of theopposition said they would push for an investigation in Australia and Switzerland over a $AU1.2 billion ($832,000) loan arranged by the Australian arm of Swiss financial institution UBS for the PNG government, which saw the Pacific island nation lose millions of dollars and potentially breach local laws, according to documents seen by theAustralian Financial Review.

Reuters reported in March that the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority is "in contact with the bank" about the loan to the PNG government.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: White House photographer Pete Souza reveals what it was like to be in the Situation Room during the raid on Osama bin Laden

• Warning: Spoilers ahead for the series finale of HBO's "Game of Thrones."
• HBO's new documentary about the final season of "Game of Thrones" includes video footage of the cast's table read of all six final episodes.
• Executive producer and writer Bryan Cogman reads a line from the script for the Battle of Winterfell.
• The script says Arya "vaults off a pile of wights" to kill the Night King.
• This helps explain why it looks like she jumped unnaturally high in the air during the aired scene from episode three, "The Long Night."
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

Halfway through the final season of HBO's "Game of Thrones," Arya surprised everyone when she snuck up on the Night King and stabbed him with her special Valyrian steel dagger, killing him and ending the war against the White Walkers. Fans have been wondering how Arya managed to jump so high in the air, and now we know the script at one point said she was leaping from a pile of dead bodies.

In new footage seen in HBO's "Game of Thrones: The Last Watch" documentary, we hear executive producer and writer Bryan Cogman read the line from the script for this critical scene.

"Something is hurtling towards him out of the darkness — Arya," Cogman says. "She vaults off a pile of dead wights, leaps at the Night King, and she plunges the dagger up through the Night King's armor. The Night King shatters." 

In the version of the scene we saw play out on screen, there's no sign of Arya jumping off of any bodies. She comes out of the darkness behind the Night King, and he turns and grabs her by the throat at the last minute.

Arya is so high above the Night King that many people had wondered how she had managed that jump. This script line now makes it seem if there was simply extraneous details about the scene which never made it into the final cut of the scene. 

Read more: The final season of 'Game of Thrones' was doomed to be divisive, and the Night King twist shows why

The clever drop-and-stab move Arya pulls with the dagger also isn't mentioned in Cogman's script read. Perhaps the documentary edited around this explanation, or maybe it was a piece of fight choreography they hadn't yet thought of for the scene. 

Watch the entire season eight table read scene unfold on "Game of Thrones: The Last Watch," directed by Jeanie Finlay, which is streaming now on all HBO platforms.

• Read more:
• See the exact moment when Kit Harington realized Jon Snow would kill Daenerys on the series finale
• Here's why Drogon destroyed the Iron Throne in the dramatic finale scene — and where he may have gone next
• Every major question we still have after the 'Game of Thrones' finale
• 21 details you might have missed on the final episode of 'Game of Thrones'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Nxivm founder Keith Raniere began his trial. Here's what happened inside the alleged sex-slave ring that recruited actresses and two billionaire heiresses.

Digital has transformed retail possibilities.

And with e-commerce sales growing at nearly five times the rate of brick-and-mortar sales, retailers need to find cheaper and more efficient ways to deliver e-commerce orders.

But different age groups have different preferences for which delivery and fulfilment options are most important to them.

Find out which delivery features are most important to consumers as well as what fulfillment options retailers should be using to meet consumer demands in this new FREE slide deck from Business Insider Intelligence’s three-part Future of Retail 2018 series.

In this first installment of the series, Business Insider Intelligence explores delivery and fulfillment, including consumers’ delivery preferences, the challenges those demands pose to retailers, and the strategies retailers can use to meet consumers’ expectations of fulfillment without tanking their profitability.

As an added bonus, you will also gain immediate access to our exclusive Business Insider Intelligence Daily newsletter.

To get your copy of the first part of this FREE slide deck, simply click here.

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• Warning: Spoilers ahead for HBO's "Game of Thrones."
• HBO premiered its behind-the-scenes documentary "Game of Thrones: The Last Watch" on Sunday.
• In it, a producer confirmed that several actors were brought in to the Seville, Spain set to act as decoys. 
• News and photos of actors on-set can potentially lead to unwanted spoilers.
• It isn't the first time the show's producers have used the tactic.
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

HBO's behind-the-scenes documentary of "Game of Thrones" confirmed that producers flew in actors to its Seville, Spain set to throw off potential leaks of the finale season.

The documentary, titled "The Last Watch," gave fans a look at the production of the hit show's final season. And when the fantasy drama hit Seville, it showed several actors who weren't shooting scenes arrived, as well.

"It's very hard to keep the cast quiet, because when in Spain, you must eat and drink. So, they're going to be out and about, and so we brought out a few ringers,""GoT" Executive Producer Bernadette Caulfield said on the documentary, which aired Sunday.

The decoy actors included Kit Harington (who played Jon Snow); Vladimir Furdik (The Night King); as well as Faye Marsay and Tom Wlaschiha (The Waif and Jaqen H'ghar, respectively, of the Faceless Men), who we haven't seen on the show since season six.

"It's weird," Harington said in one scene. "I've come out as basically a decoy ... It feels weird being here and not actually filming."

The scenes shot in Seville occur after the sacking of King's Landing and the death of Daenerys (played by Emilia Clarke) at the hand of Jon Snow in which a counsel of Westeros leaders choose Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) as their new king.

The producers know that fans and paparazzi are ever-present around its international shooting locations, and reports of these sightings can give away plot points. And it isn't the first time decoy actors were employed by the series to counteract leaks.

During season six, Sibel Kekilli, who played Shae on the first four seasons of "GoT" and died at the hands of Tyrion on the fourth season finale, was spotted on set in Peniscola, Spain, and in costume during the filming of the sixth season. She, of course, never appeared on-screen again, and later confirmed she had been flown in to be a decoy.

• Read more:
• The 'Game of Thrones' documentary reveals a key detail about how Arya was able to attack the Night King
• The new 'Game of Thrones' documentary shows the exact moment when Kit Harington realized what Jon Snow does to Daenerys on the finale
• I'm a huge 'Game of Thrones' fan and I think the finale was good — sorry
• 'Game of Thrones' fans are recasting the show with all black actors, and their suggestions are spot-on

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Nxivm founder Keith Raniere began his trial. Here's what happened inside the alleged sex-slave ring that recruited actresses and two billionaire heiresses.

• The pet care industry is booming, with North American sales expected to hit $281 billion by 2023, according to market research firm Edge by Ascential. 
• Millennials are putting off marriage and having children, but turning to pets to "fill that void," according to Ryan Gass, Purina Treats' senior brand manager. 
• Pet food brands are launching more upscale and gourmet options, with Purina debuting a line of Pioneer Woman-branded products, based on recipes that television host and blogger Ree Drummond cooks for her family. 
• "I think the common thread is like how dogs make us feel and pets make us feel. I think we live in a more stressful world than ever. So, we do rely on that comfort and reassurance," Drummond told Business Insider, echoing a common sentiment among pet owners in 2019. 

The pet care industry is booming, as people around the world — especially millennials — blur the line between human child and animal. 

In 2018, pet care was a $225 billion business in North America, according to data from market research firm Edge by Ascential. By 2023, the firm expects that figure to rise to $281 billion. 

Big brands are eager to cash in on the humanization of pets. Petco is opening kitchens in stores, where people can buy meals prepared by chefs for their pets. Walmart is adding vet clinics to 100 stores. And, Purina is getting into the lifestyle brand space, with a new line of Pioneer Woman-branded pet treats. 

"Millennials are bringing pets into their household earlier than the previous generation ... They kind of delay marriage, but those pets fill that void in their life," Ryan Gass, Purina Treats' senior brand manager, told Business Insider. 

Ree Drummond, who has become a household name as a blogger and television host of "The Pioneer Woman," can relate to the sentiment. 

"From a practical standpoint, I cannot have Louis Vuitton dog carriers, because it would make absolutely no sense," said Drummond, who lives on a ranch in Oklahoma. "But I'd be in trouble if I lived in the city, because the lines would become even more blurred between human child and canine child."

"I think the common thread is like how dogs make us feel and pets make us feel," Drummond added. "I think we live in a more stressful world than ever. So, we do rely on that comfort and reassurance." 

Read more: 'The Pioneer Woman' is taking another major step to transform Pawhuska, Oklahoma from a 'ghost town' to a thriving tourist hub — here's what it's like to visit

In 2018, The Wall Street Journal reported that sales of traditional pet foods, including Mars' Pedigree, Nestlé's Purina, and Smucker's Gravy Train and Kibbles 'n Bits, have dropped as pet owners pick more gourmet options for their animal companions.

Read more:Millennials are treating pets like 'their firstborn child,' and it's reportedly causing problems for some of the best-known pet food brands

The industry is churning out trendier and higher-quality products. According to data analytics firm GfK, more than 4,500 new pet-food products — the majority of them premium options — were introduced in 2017, a 45% increase from the prior year.

"We are seeing the pet humanization trend proliferate, being increasingly influenced by human trends, such as ethical spending, which means there is a bigger focus on health, wellness, sustainability and transparency," Ioli Macridi, an analyst at Edge by Ascential, said in a statement. 

The Pioneer Woman-branded Purina treats fit the bill, with recipes inspired by the meals Drummond cooks for her human family and friends. 

"I've been in Purina 11 years. You would see trends in our diets, and it would take a few years before it would manifest itself in the category," Gass said. "But ... that timeline has really shrunk."

SEE ALSO: Walmart is adding veterinary clinics to 100 stores and launching a pet pharmacy as millennials spend thousands on their pets and treat them 'like their firstborn child'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How Supreme went from a small skateboarding store in New York to an $1 billion streetwear company with a cult-like following among teens

• Buying a home might be the most important financial transaction of your life. 
• Many people need mortgages to help finance their homes. 
• We asked an expert for advice on mortgages for first-time home buyers. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Buying a home might be the most important financial transaction you'll make in your life.

If you're looking to become a homeowner, you'll likely be considering a mortgage to help you finance the purchase.

We asked Danny Gardner, Freddie Mac's senior vice president of single-family affordable lending and access to credit, for his best advice on mortgages for first-time home buyers.

From finding down-payment resources to understanding lender fees, here are eight things Gardner thinks every home buyer should know about mortgages:

SEE ALSO: 24 products to buy at Trader Joe's — and 7 you should avoid at all costs

DON'T MISS: I moved from New England to San Francisco — here are the 7 things that surprised me most

A 20% down payment is not a requirement

"The one prevailing myth about home purchasing is that you are required to put down 20%," Gardner said. While you will usually get a lower interest rate if you have a 20% down payment, he noted, "that is not the threshold for achieving mortgage financing."

Freddie Mac provides a secondary market to buy mortgages from lenders so they can write more mortgages. While you will never deal directly with Freddie Mac, it has programs designed to help low income borrowers and first-time home buyers qualify for loans with down payments as low as 3%.

There are thousands of programs to help homebuyers make down payments

Many states and cities have down payment assistance programs to help you with financing. Gardner recommends checking this listing of programs to see if there's one you qualify for.

"Not all lenders participate in these programs," Gardner said, adding that "matching a lender to a program by yourself can be challenging."

If you want to take advantage of a down payment assistance program, he recommends getting a list of approved lenders from the agency.

Read more: 11 things to do before you downsize your home, according to an expert who gets hired by seniors to help them declutter

Down payment assistance can be substantial: Gardner pointed to San Francisco's program, which offers up to $375,000 in a silent second mortgage. Don't leave this money on the table.

If you're not careful, your mortgage applications could hurt your credit score.

If your credit report is pulled too many times, it can negatively affect your score.

To combat this, Gardner suggests pulling your own credit report (which you can do for free) and bringing that to lenders to get informal rate quotes.

Once you're ready to apply for a loan, your lender will need to pull your official credit report, but you can avoid having it pulled repeatedly, and you can also avoid lenders' credit check fees by pulling your credit score on your own.

Understanding lender fees and shopping around can save you money

Not all lenders charge the same fees. Gardner recommends shopping around, since most of the fees associated with buying a home are paid by the buyer.

"If a buyer gets at least two quotes, they are likely to save at least $1,500 over the life of the mortgage," he said, adding that, if you get five quotes, you could save $3,000.

To compare loans, look at their varying annual percentage rates, which incorporate the lender fees.

You might not need an appraisal

Gardner said an appraisal often isn't necessary today because "we have so much better access to data and information" than in the past.

Read more: 8 of the biggest scams to avoid when buying a car

An appraisal can cost you up to $1,000 in some cases. Gardner noted that an appraisal, for the lender to determine the value of the property, is different from a home inspection, which is for the buyer.

If you can close quickly, you could score a lower interest rate

Because of the amount of online data available to lenders, the time to process mortgage applications has shrunk. This could save you money.

Once you have a rate lock from your lender, Gardner said, "the longer the length of time for which a lender has to commit a rate to a borrower versus the time that is likely to close, the higher the cost to the buyer."

In other words, if you can close quickly, you could score a lower interest rate. The efficiencies in mortgage processing are one of the reasons for our very low mortgage rates in the US, according to Gardner.

You should prequalify for a mortgage, but you should still shop around

You'll need to prequalify for a mortgage before you make an offer on a house. But you don't have to be married to the lender who granted you that prequalification letter, according to Gardner.

"You still have the opportunity to shop rate after you have that contract in hand," he said. "Before you commit to a rate lock, shop your rate."

You'll have to do this quickly, since you'll want to secure your loan, so you don't lose the property. But you can get comparison quotes in a couple of days and you could save money over the life of your loan.

Educating yourself about the home-buying process will increase your chances of getting your dream home

The more you know about buying a home before you start the process, the better your chances of making a winning bid in a competitive housing market.

"The environment today is very difficult for the first-time home buyer," Gardner said, adding that if you start out informed, you can be a better partner to your real estate agent.

Read more: 11 tax deductions every independent contractor should know about

Gardner recommends a HUD-approved home buyer education provider, for unbiased information about the purchase process. Freddie Mac also offers online home buyer educational resources.

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Memorial Day is this Monday, May 27. Many online sales are taking place this weekend, and some even extend into the month of June. 
• The biggest sales to concentrate on include mattresses and bedding, tech, clothing, outdoor gear, and appliances. 
• As Memorial Day weekend approaches, we'll be updating this article with the best deals as we learn about them. 

Memorial Day weekend is a great time to grill, hit the beach, and of course, shop. When you're not celebrating the unofficial start of summer out in the sun, make sure to check out the big sales all over the internet that weekend.

We'll be rounding up the ones that are worth shopping this year and updating this article as we learn about the best Memorial Day sales happening online.  

Check back often to ensure you're not missing out on a good sale on clothing, home and kitchen products, mattresses, furniture, and more during this big retail holiday. 

To potentially save more on Memorial Day, you can visit Business Insider Coupons to find up-to-date promo codes for a range of online stores.

More Memorial Day coverage from Insider Picks:

• The 30 best deals you can get during Nordstrom's huge 'Half Yearly Sale' right now
• Zappos' Memorial Day sale has up to 40% off brands like Nike and Adidas — here are some standout deals
• Leesa is giving Business Insider readers 15% off their entire order for Memorial Day — plus 2 free pillows when you buy a mattress
• Casper is running a Memorial Day sale — save 10% on any order with a mattress through May 27
• Everlane's 'Choose What You Pay' sale event is going on through Memorial Day — here are the top 12 best styles
• Wayfair's Memorial Day weekend sale is officially on — here are 21 of the best deals on furniture, decor, and mattresses
• REI's biggest sale of the year is going on right now — here are 23 of the best deals you can find

Mattresses and bedding

If it's a major sales holiday, you can bet mattress startups and larger companies will come out in droves to offer big deals. 

Allswell: 15% off mattresses and 30% off bedding with code "SUMMERTIME" through May 27

Avocado Green Mattress: Through June 3, take $175 off mattresses with code "HONOR2019" and an additional $50 off for verified military and veterans; $350 off a mattress + bed frame combo with code "BED350"; 2 free pillows with a mattress purchase with code "2FREEPILLOWS"

Bear: 20% off sitewide with code "BIZ20" through May 28 

Brooklyn Bedding: 25% off storewide and sitewide through May 27

Casper: 10% off any order with a mattress with code "MEMORIAL19" through May 27 

Crane & Canopy: Up to 60% off sitewide through May 27 

DreamCloud: $200 off the mattress through May 31

Eco Terra: $150 off all natural latex mattresses through June 3

Eight: $200 off The Pod + free in-home professional setup with code "MDW200" through May 28 

Helix: Through June 10, take $100 off + 2 free Dream Pillows when you spend $600+ with code "MDW100"; $150 off + 2 free Dream Pillows when you spend $1,250+ with code "MDW150"; $200 off + 2 free Dream Pillows when you spend $1,750+ with code "MDW200"

Layla: $125 off a Layla mattress +  2 free pillows through May 31

Leesa: 15% off mattresses + 2 free pillows 

Mattress Firm: Save up to $700 on best-selling mattress brands through May 27; free adjustable base with orders of $400+ through May 27; free Purple pillow with orders of $700+ on May 25 

Nectar: $125 off + 2 free pillows when you purchase a mattress through May 31 

PlushBeds: $1200 off all organic latex mattresses + free: 2 organic latex pillows, sheet set, and mattress protector through June 3

Purple: Up to $100 off mattresses + free sheets through May 27 

Tempur-Pedic: Through June 3, take $300 off the Breeze and LuxeAdapt; $100 off the Adapt and ProAdapt; $200 off the Ergo Extend and $100 off Ergo bases

Tuft & Needle: $150 off the Mint Mattress + 2 free pillows through June 2 

Clothing and accessories

Whether you need a pair of white pants or simply want to give your closet a spring refresh, you'll have all the clothing, bag, and jewelry sale choices you could possibly want this Memorial Day. 

ALALA: 20% off sale styles through May 29 with code "POOLSIDE"

Amour Vert: 20% off sitewide from May 25 through May 27 

Andrew Marc: Up to 60% off styles plus and extra 20% off sitewide with code "AMSTRIPES" through May 28

Athleta: 20% off swim through May 27

AUrate: 15% off orders under $250, 20% off orders between $250 and $750, and 25% off orders of $750+ with code "MAYDAY19" through May 27 

AYR: 30% off final sale with the code "PROKADIMA"

Banana Republic: 40% off everything through May 28

Bandier: Extra 25% off sale styles through May 27 

Ban.do: 25% off Summer Favorites + a gift with purchases of $50+ through May 28

Baublebar: New markdowns added to sale through May 27

BLANKNYC: 30% off sitewide through May 27 

Chrome Industries: 25% off new styles + an extra 30% off sale items through May 27

Club Monaco: 25% off your purhcase with the cofe "SUMMERTIME"

Coach: Up to 50% off women's and men's items through May 27

Cole Haan: Extra 40% off sale styles with code "EXTRA40" through 6 a.m. May 30 

DL1961: Extra 25% off sale items with code "KICKOFF25" from May 26 through May 27

eBags: 20% off sitewide from May 24 through May 25 + an extra 30% off from May 26 through May 27

EyeBuy Direct: 20% off frames and 30% off lenses with code "20AND30"

Frank and Oak: $35 off + no styling fee on your first box with code "GET35" through 9 a.m. May 28; 20% off sitewide with code "MEM20" through May 28

Fossil: extra 25% off on sale styles with code "READY25" through May 27

G-RO Luggage: Up to 40% off sitewide through May 27

Gaiam: 20% off sitewide with code "MEMORIAL20" on May 28

Gap: 40% off everything with code "READY" through May 28

Greats: 20% off sitewide with code "SUNNY20" through May 27 

Happy Socks: 20% off sitewide + free shipping with code "MEMORIAL20" through May 27

Holly & Tanager: 20% off sitewide through May 27

Hush Puppies: 30% off select full-priced styles with code "SPLURGE" from May 26 through June 1 

Keds: 25% off full-priced items through May 28 

KidPik: 50% off whole box + free styling and shipping with code "MEMORIAL50" through May 28

Lively: Free Tangerine tote with purchase through 8:30 a.m. May 28

L.L.Bean: 20% off your purchase through May 28 

Macy's: Up to an extra 20% off select departments with code "MEMDAY" through May 27

Madewell: 20% off dresses and sandals with the code "PERFECTMATCH"

Manduka: Up to 50% off sale items through May 28 

M.Gemi: 25% off the Before They Go section through May 27

Naadam: 15% off with some restrictions with code "SUNSOUT" through May 27

Nike: Extra 25% off sales styles with code "SAVE25" through May 29

Nisolo: 15% off select styles with code "SPRING15" through May 27

Nordstrom: Up to 50% off sitewide during the Half Yearly Sale through June 2 

Old Navy: 50% off all tees, tanks, shorts, and swim through May 31 

Pact Apparel: Through May 27, take 20% off sitewide, plus an extra 10% off orders of $100+ 

Paravel: 20% off sitewide through May 27

Primary: 50% off the Warehouse Sale through May 27 

Rhone: 2 for $150 or 3 for $198 Delta Pique Polo Classic Collar Shirt through May 27 + free 2-day shipping on the polo bundles through May 24 

Richer Poorer: Take an additional 20% off sale items with code "MEMORIAL20" through May 27 

Rocksbox: Get your first month free through June 9

Soko: Extra 20% off all sale products through May 27

Solid & Striped: 20% off sitewide through May 27 

Ted Baker: Up to 40% off select men's and women's lines through May 27

ThinkGeek: Extra 75% off Clearance items with promo code "DOORBUSTER" through May 27  

Timbuk2: 25% off hardmarked items through May 30 

True & Co: 20% off sitewide (some exclusions apply) through May 28 

Vida: 25% off any order with code "3DAYGETAWAY" through May 28

Zappos: Up to 50% off sitewide through May 27 

Zenni: 20% off sitewide with code "TWENTY20" through May 27 

Home and kitchen

For everything kitchen, living room, outdoor furniture, and decor, keep an eye out on this section. You can find a deal on anything from a new picture frame to a new sofa for your home entertainment room. 

Artifact Uprising: Receive a code for your free 5 x 5" Color Series Photo Book after any purchase through May 27

Bellacor: Extra 20% off select lighting and home furnishings + free shipping with code "MEM20" through May 25

Birch Lane: Take an extra 15% off + free shipping with code "HATSOFF" through May 28

Boll & Branch: 20% off sitewide with code "MDW20" through May 27 

Buffy: $20 off the Buffy Comforter with code "MEMORIALDAY" through May 28 

Burrow: 10% off sitewide, 15% off orders of $1,500+, and 20% off orders of $2,500+ with code "SUMMER19" through May 27 

Coddle: Up to 25% off with code "MEMORIAL2019" through May 27

Dormify: 20% off sitewide with code "SUMMERISHERE" through May 28 

Floyd: $150 off The Sofa, $75 off The Bed, and $50 off all Tables through May 27 

Home Depot: Up to 40% off patio, 20% off bath, and 35% off furniture and decor

Houzz: Up to 80% off items across the site through May 29

Joss and Main: Up to 80% off site wide through May 30

Kassatex: 15% off all orders of $100+ with code "EXTRA15" through May 28

Made In: 15% off individual items with code "MEMDAY"

Minted: 15% off all wedding orders + 25% off all save-the-dates with code "MEMORIAL" through May 28 

Modsy: 20% off all design packages with code "MEMORIAL" through May 27; free shipping on orders of $500+ with code "YESWAY" through May 31

Overstock: Up to 70% off clearance items + free shipping through May 27

Parachute: 20% sitewide through May 27

Pier 1 Imports: Up to 50% off sitewide + an extra 25% off Clearance items through May 27 

Saatchi Art: 10% off originals under $1,000 with code "MEM10" and 15% off originals $1,000+ with code "MEM15" through May 25; 15% off originals under $5,000 with code "MEMSALE15" and 20% off originals $5,000+ with code "MEMSALE20" from May 26 through May 28 

Serena & Lily: 20% off sitewide with code "SUMMERPREP" through May 28 

Snowe: Get a $50 gift card with a $300 purchase with code "MDW50" through May 27

Society6: from May 26 through May 28, take 40% tapestries, posters, phone cases + throw pillows; 30% off art prints, shower curtains, tote bags + comforters; 20% off everything else

Target: Up to 30% off home items + an additional 15% off with code "HOME"

The Bouqs Co: Get a deluxe-sized Bouq for the price of an original size with code "2xBLOOMS" through May 27 

Walmart: Up to 60% off the home section through May 27

Wayfair: Up to 70% off sitewide through May 28

Home appliances and home improvement

Big-ticket purchases like washer-dryers and refrigerators are usually on sale during Memorial Day. Additional promotions like free shipping or rebates might convince you that it's finally time to upgrade your home appliance. 

Best Buy: Up tp 40% off appliance Top Deals through June 5

Home Depot: Up to 40% off with Appliance Special Buys

Lowes: Up to 40% off appliance Special Values through June 5

Maytag: (sold at Best Buy and Home Depot) through June 5, receive up to a $700 rebate by mail with purchase of select kitchen and laundry appliances; receive up to a $600 prepaid card by mail with purchase of select kitchen appliances; receive a $100 rebate by mail with purchase of a washer-dryer set. Visit Maytag's website to see eligible appliances.

Walmart: Up to 40% off appliances 

Wayfair: Up to 35% off appliances 

Tech

Last year, Memorial Day was a good time to save on Apple devices at places like Best Buy and Jet.com. If you're eyeing a new laptop, TV, or smart home device, wait until the holiday because you'll be able to save on brands like Dell and Amazon. 

BestBuy: From May 24 through May 27, take up to 20% off sitewide;Sony 4K TVs as low as $649.99; up to $500 off a Samsung QLED TV

Dell: Up to 45% off PCs and electronics 

Lenovo: On May 27, take 50% off the ThinkPad X1 Yoga; Chromebooks starting at $189.99 

Lifeproof: 15% off all cases and accessories and get free shipping on all orders through May 27 at 11:59pm PST

Master & Dynamic: $50 off the MH40 headphones with code "MEMORIAL19" through May 27 

Monoprice: Up to 55% off select items through May 27 

Urbanears: 15% off on all Urbanears headphones with the code "URBAN15"

Walmart: Up to $800 off select Samsung TVs 

Beauty and skin care

If the sun's out, that means you should also pay more attention to your skin-care routine. These retailers are where you can find beauty and skin-care essentials for less. 

BeautyCounter: Free Countersun 3-ounce Mist and Countersun 1-ounce Lotion when you spend $125 or more through May 28

Function of Beauty: Free mystery gift with code "MYSTERY" from May 25 through May 27 

Sephora: Get the Sephora PLAY! beauty box for $9 through May 27; up to 50% off select items through May 29 

The Body Shop: 40% off regular priced items (exclusions apply) from May 26 through May 28; free shipping on orders from May 27 through May 28; free American Flag tote with a purchase of over $60 through May 28

Outdoor gear

Since Memorial Day kicks off the summer season, it's no surprise that outdoor brands discount their products to motivate you to get outside and enjoy the sun. 

Backcountry: Up to 50% off gear and apparel 

Biolite: 15% off the entire collection of Exclusive Web Specials 

Columbia: 25% off select styles through May 27; up to 70% off select styles with code "SPRING19" through June 4

Cotopaxi: Up to 50% off sale items 

Dicks Sporting Goods: Up to 50% off items across the site through May 27

Huckberry: Up to 50% off sitewide through May 27 

Lifeproof: 15% off sitewide through May 27

L.L. Bean: 20% off your purchase through May 28

Merrell: 20% off Moab, Encore, Siren styles and apparel

REI: 50% off Peak Deals through May 27

Timberland: 25% off select styles through May 29 

Miscellaneous

Also enjoy Memorial Day discounts on pet supplies, meal-delivery services, e-learning classes, and more. 

Petco: 20% off your order of $85 of more plus free shipping with the code "save20"

Udemy: Stock up and save with courses from $11.99

Veestro: Save 25% on all orders with the code "MEMORIAL" through May 28

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective. This list includes Sponsored Products that have been suggested by Casper Sleep and that also meet our editorial criteria in terms of quality and value.*

We rounded up the eight best sales and deals happening online today, with savings on Nike sneakers and apparel, Dell computers and electronics, and Casper mattresses and sheets. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out Business Insider Coupons.

1. Save an extra 25% on sale styles at Nike

Just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, Nike is having a huge sale on sneakers and apparel. Now through May 29, you can save an extra 25% on sale styles by using the promo code "SAVE25" at checkout. The sale includes everything from popular runners like the Air VaporMax 19 and Epic React Flyknit 2 to Air Jordans and workout gear. To potentially save more at Nike, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

Shop the Nike sale now. 

2. Save up to 45% on PCs, laptops, and electronics at Dell

Memorial Day is always a good time to save on electronics ,and Dell's current sale is a prime example of why. For a limited time, you can save up to 45% on PCs, laptops, and other electronics like keyboards, mice, and monitors. For other great deals and savings at Dell, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

Shop the Dell sale now. 

3. Save 10% on mattress orders at Casper

Casper, the leading mattress-in-a-box startup, is celebrating Memorial Day with a sale on all of its mattresses. You can save 10% on any order that includes a mattress by using the promo code "MEMORIAL19" at checkout. Casper also makes sheets, pillows, bed frames, and even nightstands, so it's possible to save on all the essentials for your bedroom at one time. The sale runs until May 27, so you only have this holiday weekend to save. For more deals and savings at Casper, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

*Sponsored by Casper

Shop the Casper sale now. 

4. Save 30% sitewide at Lacoste

Founded in 1933 by French tennis player Jean René Lacoste and French knitter André Gillier, Lacoste popularized the polo shirt with its sporty aesthetic and iconic crocodile logo. This Memorial Day weekend, the summertime staple (and everything else) is on sale. Until May 27, you can save 30% and get free shipping on all orders by using the promo code "SUMMER30" at checkout. 

Shop the Lacoste sale now. 

5. Save $30 on Embark Dog DNA Kits

For mixed breed dog owners, knowing your best friend's genetic makeup has several benefits. It'll give you the answer to the question you get asked regularly at the dog park, and it can help you better understand their health and how to care for them over time. This Memorial Day Weekend, you can save $30 on the Emark Dog DNA Test Kit by using the promo code "MEMORIAL30" at checkout. Insider Picks reporter Mara Leighton used the kit to learn the breed of her family's rescue dog. Read her full review here. 

Shop the Embark sale now.  

6. Save 25% on select styles at Timberland

Timberland might be a brand that only comes to mind more in the fall and winter, but the current Memorial Day sale will save you on plenty of styles for the summer, too. For a limited time, you can save 25% on select styles for men, women, and kids. From hiking shoes and sandals to rugged boots and apparel, you can find great items for tackling the outdoors in style. For more deals and savings at Timberland, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

Shop the Timberland sale now. 

7. Save 20% sitewide at Parachute

Parachute has developed a cult following of customers for its comfortable home essentials. The brand only has two sales a year — and one is happening this Memorial Day weekend. Now through May 27, you can save 20% on everything automatically. With sheets, towels, robes, pillows, mattresses, rugs, and more, you're sure to find a cozy addition to your home.

Shop the Parachute sale now. 

8. Save 30% on home and patio furniture, plus an extra 15% off at Target

If you're on a budget, Target is a wonderful place to shop for furnishings around your home — and this Memorial Day, the prices are even better. Now through May 27, you can save 30% on home good and patio furniture. Plus, you can save an extra 15% on select items by using the promo code "HOME" at checkout. For more deals and savings at Target, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

Shop the Target sale now. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I've used iPhones for nearly a decade and switched to the Samsung Galaxy S10. Now I understand Android loyalty in a way I never understood before.

• Mark Zuckerberg is the eighth-richest person in the world.
• The Facebook co-founder and CEO has an estimated $67.3 billion net worth, according to Forbes.
• Zuckerberg's net worth took a recent tumble, but he's still filthy rich.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Facebook CEO and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg lost more money than any of the world's 500 richest billionaires during Facebook's catastrophic year. But even though Zuckerberg's net worth has been on a rollercoaster ride recently, he still remains one of the world's richest people.

His estimated net worth is currently $67.3 billion, according to Forbes. In spite of his billions, Zuckerberg doesn't have a taste for opulence, especially when it comes to cars, clothes, and travel, reported Business Insider's Tanza Loudenback. He does, however, have an affinity for developing his real estate portfolio— he recently dropped $60 million on two Lake Tahoe properties.

As a member of the Giving Pledge and cofounder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which he started with his wife Priscilla Chan, Zuckerberg has dedicated much of his fortune to charitable causes.

No matter how he spends his money, it seems that Zuckerberg will always have billions left over. Here, nine mind-blowing facts that show just how rich Zuckerberg really is.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg spent almost $60 million on 2 waterfront estates in Tahoe last winter. Here's a look at the 10 properties he owns across the US, from a modest Palo Alto home to a Hawaiian plantation

DON'T MISS: We did the math to calculate exactly how much money billionaires and celebrities like Jeff Bezos and Kylie Jenner make an hour

1. Zuckerberg is so rich that he's able to live off an annual salary of $1.

He previously made a reported $770,000 from his Facebook salary and bonuses, but he slashed his salary to its current rate in 2013. That means a huge chunk of his wealth is tied to Facebook stock, of which he owns nearly 17%, reported Business Insider's Jake Kanter.

2. Each year since Facebook's IPO in 2012, Zuckerberg has added an average of $9 billion to his net worth.

At $16 billion, Facebook is the second biggest tech IPO in history. Since then, the stock has increased by more than 408% for a current market capitalization of $547 billion, reported Lucinda Shen for Fortune.

3. However, Zuckerberg's 2019 net worth sank by nearly $9 billion compared to the previous year — but he still retained a spot in the world's top 10 richest people.

Zuckerberg's net worth fell following a year of Facebook scandals, reported Kanter. He dropped three places down Forbes' 2019 billionaire's list from 5th to 8th place.

4. Last year, Zuckerberg earned roughly $1.7 million an hour, according to previous Business Insider calculations.

Business Insider found the difference between Zuckerberg's 2017 and 2018 net worths (as provided by the Forbes' 2017 and 2018 richest people in the world lists, published every March) to determine his annual earnings. Zuckerberg's annual earnings came to roughly $15 billion.

We then divided all annual earnings by 8,760, the number of hours in a year, to calculate how much he earned an hour. 

5. It took Zuckerberg less than an hour-and-a half to earn what the average American man with a bachelor's degree will earn in his lifetime — $2.2 million, according to the Social Security Administration.

The average American woman with a bachelor's degree will earn $1.3 million in her lifetime, according to the SSA.

Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of college during his sophomore year.

6. In less than two minutes, Zuckerberg makes what it takes the median US worker a year to earn — $46,696.

That's based on data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Zuckerberg earned $28,538 per minute last year, according to Business Insider's calculations.

7. The average American household spending $1 is similar to Zuckerberg spending $700,000.

The median net worth of an average US household is $97,300. Dividing that number into $67.3  billion comes to about $700,000.

8. Zuckerberg's net worth is greater than the GDP of Jordan, Nicaragua, and Barbados — combined.

Jordan's GDP is about $46.9 billion, Nicaragua's is $15.4 billion, and Barbados is $5.5 billion.

9. Zuckerberg could give every single living person in the US $100 — and still have more than half of his $67.3 billion net worth left over.

The US population is currently 328,938,134, according to the US Census. Giving every American $100 would cost Zuckerberg roughly $32.8 billion.

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

The US smart home market has still yet to meet the expectations many observers had in the early part of this decade.

The same issues Business Insider Intelligence first identified back in 2015 still plague the space — persistently high prices, technological fragmentation, and consumers' lack of a perceived benefit from the devices.

But the newfound popularity of smart home voice control has revolutionized smart home ecosystems across the country, and convinces more consumers to equip their homes with smart devices on a daily basis. The Amazon Echo, released in 2014, has become immensely popular and capable, awakening users to the utility of both voice control and smart home devices. This has prompted companies to rush to release competing devices and integrate voice control into their smart home ecosystems.

In a new report from Business Insider Intelligence, we examine the overall state of the US smart home market — both the professionally and self-installed markets. We analyze the factors driving demand for smart home devices and smart home voice speakers, and discuss the future of voice control in the home.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• Voice control is becoming a key remote interface within the home, a trend that began with the introduction of the Amazon Echo in 2014. Since then, Google, Samsung, and Apple have all integrated voice control into their smart home ecosystems.
• While progress has been made, prices are still too high and consumers still have yet to show strong demand for smart home devices.
• The US smart home market is only now entering the mass market phase of consumer adoption and overcoming the chasm that it sat in back in 2015.

In full, the report:

• Analyzes current consumer demand for smart home devices based off results from Business Insider Intelligence's proprietary survey.
• Forecasts future growth in the number of smart home devices installed in American homes.
• Analyzes the factors influencing the proliferation of voice control devices in the homes.
• Identifies and analyzes the market strategies of various companies that have integrated voice control into their smart home ecosystems.

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SEE ALSO: This is the best red wine we tried from Costco's Kirkland brand lineup

DON'T MISS: Costco wine experts dish on their favorite picks and deals that you can only get at the warehouse chain

The rosé was bland but stinging.

The rosé was probably the most divisive wine we tried, and ended up ranking last place.

Mostly, we agreed that the taste was inoffensive, if lacking. One taster even described it as the "Russell Crowe of rosés."

Descriptions of this rosé focused on its "watery" quality and "dominant alcohol note," with one reviewer describing it more generously as a medium-bodied "grassy and dry" wine with a "sweet aftertaste."

I personally thought it'd make a good, cheap spritzer wine; you could douse it with some cranberry juice for your next boozy Netflix binge. One of my colleagues added that this would make an excellent "beach drink," as it's conducive to "easy chugging." 

With the exception of one holdout, we agreed that this wine is worth its low price, but we were largely divided on whether we'd serve it to friends.

We weren't sold on the cabernet.

We unanimously concluded that Shaw's cabernet was worth $3.99, despite our lukewarm reaction to the wine.

"Not my favorite cab at all," one taster said. "Honestly not a big fan."

Adjectives like "woody,""puckery,""bitter," and "watery" were thrown around in the retail section's reviews of the cab, but all but one person said they'd serve it to friends or bring it to a party.

And the group was split on the pinot noir.

Given how much we enjoyed the Charles Shaw line of red wines, the Shaw reds felt like a bit of a step down.

That being said, reviews were mixed to positive on the organic pinot noir, and all tasters agreed that this bottle was worth the low price. One person speculated they could "get a better cheap red."

One reviewer concluded that this drink was "definitely a pinot noir, but there's not much else to be said about it." Describing the wine as "okay," another taster wrote that the wine was "nice and fruity" off the bat, but added that it "really dries up your mouth."

Another colleague added a few descriptors to their review, saying that the pinot noir featured a "savory first note," a "bitter, dry mid-note that tapers into a buttery aftertaste," as well as "grapey,""cheesy," and "bready" undertones.

The pinot grigio, however, was an intriguing beverage.

The pinot grigio was hard to nail down, in a good way.

"The flavor changes like three times and is very complex," one taster wrote, adding that they thought the wine was "really, really nice" despite the fact that they normally don't enjoy pinot grigio.

Other descriptors that got thrown around were "fruity,""floral," and "fresh," with a "buttery" and "hearty" aftertaste. This Shaw selection also packs a bit of a bite. 

One reviewer wrote that the wine tastes "bright to start," only to devolve into a less appealing "broad mineral" taste, and ended with "a lovely, buttery, vegetable aftertaste."

Then again, not everyone was a fan, with one taster likening the beverage to "grassy gasoline."

Four out of five tasters said they'd bring this wine to a party and serve it to friends, and we all concurred that the Shaw pinot grigio is well worth $3.99.

We were happy with the chardonnay, too.

Most of the Business Insider employees who attended the Shaw tasting confessed to preferring red wine to white.  

So we were surprised to find that we largely enjoyed both the pinot grigio and the chardonnay more than the red wines that would follow. The chardonnay, in particular, carried the day, and it was our top pick of the tasting.

Everyone agreed that the chardonnay was worth its price, and all but one holdout said they'd share this beverage with friends.

"It's a pretty good, down-the-line chard," one reviewer wrote.

In terms of taste, this wine makes a bold entrance, only to quietly slink off in retreat. One taster called the wine "decent," albeit "flat at the end"; another agreed that, while the first note "smashes you in the face," the taste "slowly fades away" the more you sip.

As a group, we picked up "earthy,""floral,""sweet," and "woody" notes, with one reviewer comparing the first note to "sharp cheddar."

We thought that the Shaw wines outpaced their "two-buck-Chuck" counterparts in several areas.

So how did Shaw compare to its "Two Buck Chuck" counterpart? We picked out a few key differences. 

For one, Shaw's white wines were "far better, but the reds were not as good" as their non-organic rivals. But as a whole, reviewers wrote that the organic wines were "more cohesive" and felt "fancier" than the "Two Buck Chucks," despite being somewhat "less flavorful."

"None were undrinkable, and that is a positive in and of itself," one taster wrote.

And on an aesthetic note, we also enjoyed Shaw's branding, with one taster describing its bold, sans-serif label as "very nice."

One reviewer who hadn't attended our previous Charles Shaw tasting came to a different conclusion.

"The primary note in all of these wines: alcohol. Sure there's a difference, but in the end you're not really buying $4 for the flavor."

• The United States is the world's largest economy.
• Here are 11 surprising facts about the US economy, from its near-record economic growth to the mind-boggling GDP of its largest state, California.
• Visit MarketsInsider.com for more stories.

For more than a century, the United States has been the world's economic powerhouse.

From its world-leading GDP to its powerful stock exchange, The US is the market the rest of the globe looks to, even when it’s in the doldrums.

But in the wake of the Great Recession, the US still has plenty of uncertainties when it comes to the future of its economy.

We’ve collected some fascinating facts about the US economy, from it's near-record economic growth happening right now, to the impressive GDP of its biggest state, California.

Here are 11 mind-blowing facts about America's economy:

SEE ALSO: Bank of America is hiking its minimum wage to $20 an hour — nearly three times the federal minimum

The US is on the verge of its longest economic expansion on record

Last May, the US economy’s streak of more than eight years of economic growth became the nation’s second longest on record.

It’s been a slow climb following the Great Recession, but it's growth nonetheless.

Should the economy continue to grow until July, it would be the longest expansion in US history, besting the period from 1991 to 2001.

The US has a long way to go before catching Australia, which capped off its 27th straight year of economic growth last year.

Source:Bloomberg

But the US also just hit a record 13 straight years without 3% real GDP growth

While the US has had a record period of economic expansion, it's not setting the world on fire. It’s been a record 13 straight years without reaching 3% real gross domestic product growth.

The US has come close, hitting 2.9% growth in 2018, but America hasn't hit a real GDP growth of 3% since 2005, when it grew 3.5%.

The previous record stretch? Four years to start the 1930s, a dark time in the US economy following the 1929 stock market crash. By 1934, real GDP growth was going gangbusters, growing 10.8% that year.

Source:Bureau of Economic Analysis

The decade-long expansion has generated 20 million jobs

With economic growth stretching the past decade, key figures continue to get better. A 3.4% year-over-year wage growth is the strongest in more than a decade, a good sign as stagnant wages have kept the US middle class at bay.  

However, some stats indicate a more somber storyline. The amount of part-time workers desiring full-time work grew, while some major employers, like big-box retailers and construction companies, shed jobs.

Still, the jobless rate fell to 3.8%.

Source:New York Times

Sleep deprivation costs the US economy billions of dollars

More than a third of the US adult population doesn't get enough sleep, and that costs the US $411 billion through the loss of 1.2 million work days each year.

The lack of sleep can come from a variety of factors, whether it’s overworking, poor health habits, or even the horrid blue light from electronics.

It’s best to get those sleep habits under control, since sleep deprivation can weaken immune systems and increase the risk of major health issues, such as cancer.

Source:Quartz

About $100,000 separates the middle class from the upper class

In 2011, 51% of Americans were considered middle class, and that number grew slightly to 52% in 2016.

The wealth disparity between the middle and upper classes, however, grew quite significantly. The median income of middle-class households grew from $74,000 to $78,000, while the upper class saw median incomes rise from $172,000 to $189,000.

Source:Pew Research

Generation Z might spend as much as $143 billion next year

Generation Z, the population born between 1997 and 2012, will make up 40% of US consumers by next year. Those consumers are expected to contribute as much as $143 billion in direct spending, which will cause plenty of retailers headaches as they figure out how to deal with the changing habits of a generation raised on the internet and with mobile devices.

Source: Morgan Stanley

The average car part crosses into Mexico and Canada eight times in production

The United States imports and exports with its North American neighbors, Mexico and Canada, a lot.

American car manufacturing demonstrates the trade, with more than 30,000 parts involved in car production and each one crossing borders eight times.

Mexico is the top trade partner, with the US exporting $21.9 billion worth of products to its southern neighbor and importing $27.7 billion, making up 14.8% of all US trade.

Canada, meanwhile, makes up 13.8% of US trade as it imports $22.6 billion worth of American goods and sends in $23.4 billion.

China is sandwiched in between the two countries, making up 14.6% of US trade.

Source: Marketplace and  U.S. Census Bureau

If California were a country, it would have the fifth highest GDP in the world

The United States is the world's largest economy, made up of 50 economically diverse states.

Some of those states have large enough economies on their own that they'd rank pretty high on their own, especially California. If the Golden State were its own nation, the economy would be the fifth largest in world, surpassing the United Kingdom's GDP last year.

With a gross domestic product of $2.747 trillion, California would only trail Germany, Japan, China, and the US as a whole.

Texas and New York are massive on their own, as well, ranking No. 11 and No. 13 worldwide, respectively.

Source:Business Insider

The US spends more on defense than the next seven nations combined

The United States isn't likely to drop from the top of list of national defense spending. The US spends more on defense than the next seven nations combined.

At $610 billion annually, the US outspends the $578 billion combined spending of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, France, United Kingdom and Japan.

That $610 billion is good for 15% of all federal spending.

Source:Peter G. Peterson Foundation

The US national debt is at an all-time high

In February, US government debt hit an all-time high of $22 trillion.

It's not likely to start shrinking anytime soon, either, as the Congressional Budget Office expects the annual deficit to average $1.2 trillion — that's 4.4% of the annual GDP.

Only two other times has the US seen such a dramatic increase — right after World War II and during the financial crisis.

Source:NPR

The sports industry is worth nearly $75 billion

A sports-industry report back in 2015 predicted the market in North America would be worth more than $73.5 billion by this year. That includes media rights that were expected to rise to $20.6 billion this year.

The rise of sports betting and esports could have significant impacts on those figures.

Source:Forbes

SEE ALSO:

Lyft went public at a $24 billion valuation. Here's how that compares to other high-profile tech companies dating back to the dotcom bubble.

Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. We may receive a small commission from our partners, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• You can open an IRA, a type of a tax-advantaged investment account, at almost any financial institution.
• Not all IRAs are alike, so be sure to compare minimum deposit requirements, account fees, trading fees, and investment options.
• Some IRAs are free to open, but once you have an active account, you need to fund it and choose your investments.
• In 2019, you can contribute up to a total of $6,000 to a traditional IRA and Roth IRA, plus an extra $1,000 if you're over age 50.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Investing and saving for retirement go hand-in-hand. That is, one of the best ways to "save" for retirement is to contribute to a tax-advantaged investment account.

Most financial experts recommend first funding an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401(k), which allows employees to make automatic, pretax deferrals from their paycheck directly into an investment account.

If you've contributed, or plan to contribute, the annual maximum of $19,000 to your workplace plan this year; are contributing enough to get an employer match; want to invest in funds or stocks not available through your 401(k); or don't have access to a workplace retirement plan at all, it's probably time to open an IRA.

IRAs are a type of individual retirement account operated by banks and brokerages, rather than your employer, and mainly come in two forms — traditional and Roth. The only difference between the two is tax treatment.

Contributions to a traditional IRA are tax deductible, while contributions to a Roth IRA are not. Each year you put money into an IRA, you can deduct that amount (up to the federal limit of $6,000 in 2019) on your tax return, lowering your overall tax bill.

At age 59 and a half, you can can begin withdrawing funds from an IRA and it will be taxed as ordinary income. The money put into a Roth IRA, by contrast, has already been taxed as income and cannot be listed as a deduction on your tax return — it grows tax-free and can be withdrawn tax free once you reach age 59 and a half.

Are you on track to retire when you want? Find out with this calculator from our partners:

You don't need to choose between a 401(k) and an IRA. In fact, most people benefit from having both. Keep in mind, though, that if you are an active participant in your workplace retirement plan and earn above a specified amount, your ability to score a tax break on traditional IRA contributions may be limited. 

How to open an IRA

1. Set your goal

Before you even shop for an IRA, identify your objective.

Are you looking for a place to put away more money for retirement after maxing out your 401(k)? Do you want investments not offered in your 401(k) — if yes, what specifically? Will you actively trade stocks and bonds, or set and forget your investments?

There are dozens of IRAs that will satisfy almost any type of investor, so make it clear what your purpose is before shopping around. The "best" IRA will depend on your specific financial goals, which can be as a simple as "I want to multiply my money and pay minimal fees."

You don't need to decide up front whether you want a traditional or Roth IRA. Any bank or brokerage that's offering IRAs has both, and the investment options and fees will be the same. But when the time comes to decide between traditional or Roth, consider this: Do you want to get a tax break on your IRA contributions this year or do you want to withdraw your money tax-free in retirement? 

2. Compare investment options and fees

You can open an IRA at almost any financial institution. It may be convenient to open an IRA where you already bank or invest, but don't take the plunge before comparing investment options and fees.

Again, the goal(s) you established will guide you here. If you want to set and forget your investments, look for an IRA with low-cost index funds and target-date funds — this is where industry stalwarts like Vanguard and robo-advisors like Betterment and Wealthfront excel. If you don't have any money to invest yet, look for an IRA with no minimum deposit requirement where you can set up automatic transfers.

Generally, you want to look for:

• low (or no) account maintenance, closure, and transfer fees
• a low (or no) minimum deposit requirement
• a variety of investment options, including mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and CDs
• expense ratios below 1%
• individual trade fees below $7
• commission-free funds

3. Complete an application online or by phone

Once you choose the IRA you want, you'll have to complete a brief application, either online or by phone. At the very least, you'll be asked for your birthdate, Social Security number, and your bank routing and account numbers.

If you choose a robo-advisor, the set-up process will also include some questions about your financial goals and risk level so it can create a custom investment portfolio for you. 

4. Establish a beneficiary

You'll also need to name a beneficiary — the person who would inherit your IRA in the event of your death. It can be changed later if needed.

5. Fund the account

Even if you're able to open an IRA with no minimum deposit, you still need to fund the account in order to pick your investments. You should have provided your bank account information during the application process, which you can use to set up a one-time transfer or regular, automatic transfers.

In 2019, you can contribute up to $6,000 to an IRA — traditional and Roth, combined — plus an extra $1,000 if you're over age 50. Remember that your ability to deduct your traditional IRA contributions on your tax return, and how much, depend on whether you participate in a workplace retirement plan and your income. The IRS website outlines the limits.

6. Choose your investments

Once your IRA is set up and there's money in your account, you need to decide what to invest in. Your portfolio can be as complicated or simple as you want it to be.

Generally, you want to ensure your investments are diverse across, and within, stocks and bonds — not just in your IRA but across all your investment accounts, including your 401(k) or other workplace retirement plan. This can get complicated if you're choosing individual stocks or bonds, so most financial experts recommend choosing an all-in-one fund, like an index fund or target-date fund, that's designed to be diverse and minimize risk.

Target-date funds automatically choose a blend of investments based on your age — the younger you are, the riskier the investments (more stocks). As you approach retirement age, they become more conservative (less stocks).

Index funds track an entire "index," or selection, of stocks or bonds. One of the biggest index funds, Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index Fund, tracks a large selection of stocks from large, mid-sized, and small companies.

7. Set up automatic contributions

To meet the the maximum contribution limit of $6,000 (or $7,000 if you're over 50) in 2019, you may want to set up automatic transfers to your IRA, which you can do online or by phone with your provider. The money will be transferred from your choice bank account into your IRA, but you'll still have to direct the money toward specific investments once it's in there.

 8. Check your account no more than once a quarter

If you choose a fund that automatically rebalances itself, you won't have to do much maintenance, especially if you go with a robo-advisor. If you funded your account upfront and won't be making automatic transfers, you probably don't need to check your account more than once a quarter.

• Read about saving and investing for retirement:
• How to save more for retirement
• How to invest in a Roth IRA
• The best way to save for retirement
• Why you should consider rolling an old 401(k) into an IRA

Join the conversation about this story »

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