Know What's Happening in Personal Finance
Know What's Happening in Personal Finance
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Low‑Risk 401(k) Strategies to Safeguard Retirement Savings
Investopedia recommends focusing on bond funds, money‑market funds, index funds, stable‑value funds, and target‑date funds to reduce volatility. These options offer liquidity, predictable returns, and align with most retirees’ risk tolerance.
The episode breaks down the key differences between prepaid tuition plans and 529 college savings plans, explaining how prepaid plans lock in today’s tuition rates while 529s function as flexible, tax‑advantaged investment accounts. It highlights the pros and cons of each: prepaid plans can suffer actuarial shortfalls and are limited to state residents and public schools, whereas 529s offer broader investment options, higher contribution limits, and can cover a wide range of qualified expenses, including K‑12 tuition and student loans. The host advises most families to favor low‑fee 529 plans, especially those under 1% expense ratios, and to consider switching to a state‑tax‑benefit plan in high school. Practical tips on enrollment timing, beneficiary changes, and FAFSA treatment round out the guidance.
In this episode, Jim Saulnier and Chris Stein continue the Ed Slott IRA quiz, testing their knowledge on IRA rules and nuances. They explain recharacterizing IRA contributions, clarifying that the deadline is October 15 of the year after the contribution,...
UK mortgage rates have jumped to over 6% for low‑deposit, two‑year fixed loans, prompting the withdrawal of more than 200 deals since March 6. First‑time buyers now face roughly $1,500 higher annual payments, intensifying affordability pressures.
NerdWallet personal‑finance specialist Sara Rathner recommends setting up automatic paycheck deposits into a dedicated savings account to build and replenish an emergency fund throughout the year. The strategy aims to shield households from unexpected expenses and curb credit‑card borrowing amid...
Australia’s A$4.5 trillion (≈$3 trillion USD) superannuation pool often contains holdings in fossil fuels, weapons and gambling, despite many funds marketing "sustainable" options. Each super fund sets its own screening criteria, ranging from outright bans to revenue‑percentage thresholds, leading to wide variation...
April 2026 brings several key Social Security updates for retirees. Payment dates are staggered by birthdate—April 9, 15, or 23—with an early April 3 deposit for pre‑May 1997 beneficiaries or SSI recipients. The 2.8 % COLA lifts average benefits to roughly $2,015‑$2,071, but higher...
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The article compares S&P 500 index funds with total‑market index funds for long‑term investors. Total‑market funds provide broader diversification across 3,000‑4,000 U.S. stocks, including mid‑ and small‑caps, while S&P 500 funds concentrate on the 500 largest companies. Historical data show the S&P 500...
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Annuities promise a steady retirement income by converting a lump‑sum or periodic contributions into guaranteed payouts, but the value hinges on the insurer’s financial strength. They can be tailored with riders such as death‑benefit or guaranteed minimum income, yet each...
Scammers are exploiting the Iran conflict to launch impersonation, romance, and fake‑charity scams. They falsely claim fraudulent charges from Iran, pose as deployed military partners, or create bogus relief organizations to steal money and personal data. The Federal Trade Commission...
One small admin change that genuinely improved my finances: Moving every bill to the 1st of the month. Paid on the last working day -> it all clears on the 1st. No more tracking 7 different due dates, and peace of mind. Call...
Fidelity’s FPRO and FMED ETFs aim to profit from the “Silver Tsunami,” the surge in demand for senior‑focused real estate and innovative healthcare solutions as Baby Boomers retire. FPRO’s active strategy positions it in senior housing, skilled‑nursing and medical office...
You don't need an inheritance. You don't need a finance degree. You don't need a financial advisor. If you want to get rich, just follow 14 simple rules:
A precious metals IRA lets investors hold physical gold, silver or other approved metals inside a tax‑advantaged retirement account. Setup is quick—typically 1–2 business days—and fees range from $50 to $200, though some firms waive them. Rollovers from existing IRAs...
Gold individual retirement accounts let investors hold physical precious metals with tax advantages, but selecting a reputable provider requires thorough due diligence. Prospective investors should scrutinize fee structures—including setup, transaction, storage, and wire fees—to avoid hidden costs that can erode...
The author has been using a dollar‑cost averaging approach for Roth conversions, accelerating conversions whenever the broader market dips. He now realizes the mistake: the target‑date fund’s share price hasn’t fallen in lockstep with the market because of its 40%...
A budget won’t fix an income problem. But you need a budget to tell you exactly how much more you should be making.
With the 2025/26 UK tax year winding down, taxpayers have only weeks left to use a range of tax‑free allowances before they reset on 5 April 2026. MoneyWeek has published a comprehensive end‑of‑tax‑year checklist that consolidates key deadlines and highlights allowances that...
Nobody handed Carla a ‘credit manual.’ She just did what most people do: paid the bill and hoped that was enough. Once she learned how limits, history, and inquiries actually work her score shot up. If credit has always felt confusing, you’re...
The IRS reports the average 2025 tax refund at $3,623, roughly $350 more than a year ago. The increase stems from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new deductions and a higher standard deduction. Financial planners are warning taxpayers to...
EVA Air’s Infinity MileageLands promotion runs through March 26 2026, offering up to a 40 % bonus that lowers the cost to about 2.86 ¢ per mile (≈$6,000 for 150,000 miles). Purchased miles must constitute no more than 50 % of any redemption and expire...
J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s chief retirement strategist Michael Conrath highlighted that more than half of Americans lack a clear retirement savings target, and most 401(k) participants contribute well below optimal rates, often starting around 3% and rarely reaching double‑digit contributions....
Most young people skip the emergency fund and jump straight into investing. Then one unexpected expense; a hospital bill, a job loss, a car breakdown; wipes out everything they built. An emergency fund is the foundation that protects every other investment you...
To succeed at investing, you need to have a well-throughout, ideally back-tested, game-plan that you execute, rather than make decisions spontaneously. To build a well-tested game-plan, start by looking at all the big events that have happened before, because, if it...
Charitable donations from IRAs, known as qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), let retirees over 70½ transfer up to $111,000 per year directly to charities while excluding the amount from taxable income. A new bipartisan Senate bill would expand QCD eligibility to...
Experian’s latest research reveals that British households stand to save an average of £2,881 ($3,660) per year by reviewing and switching existing credit cards, car loans and debt‑consolidation products. The findings highlight a sizable, actionable opportunity for consumers to reduce...
If the United States was a household making $150K a year, here is what its finances would look like...
A newly founded registered investment advisory announced its launch to serve medical professionals in the Berkshires and beyond. The firm aims to provide fiduciary‑level wealth planning for high‑income physicians, a segment that has drawn increasing attention from wealth managers seeking...
U.S. homeowners' insurance premiums jumped 12% last year to an average $2,948, driven by soaring climate‑related losses. Insurify’s report warns of further hikes, especially in fire‑prone California and hurricane‑hit Georgia, prompting lawmakers to consider resilience incentives.
Vanguard reports a 56% surge in custodial brokerage accounts between 2020 and 2025, reflecting growing teen interest in investing. The article outlines three steps parents can take—opening a custodial account, gifting investments, and teaching core principles—to instill disciplined, long‑term habits...
In this episode Ryan Morrissey explains how Transfer on Death (TOD) and Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designations let you bypass probate for bank, brokerage, and other investment accounts. He outlines which assets already have built‑in beneficiary options, the pros...
If you're Singaporean and you hold more than US$60,000 in US stocks, ETFs, or US-listed funds, your family could face a 40% estate tax bill when you die. On $500K in US holdings, that's roughly US$176,000. Most people in Singapore holding...
In this Women and Wealth episode, Val Cipriani and Holly McKechnie break down the UK student loan system—explaining Plans 1, 2 and 5, their interest rates, repayment thresholds and loan terms. They highlight why Plan 2, which carries RPI + 3% interest and a £30k threshold,...
Many Canadians are entering retirement without sufficient savings, burdened by rising living costs, high debt, and limited financial literacy. The article highlights common obstacles such as procrastination, over‑reliance on home equity, and uncertainty about income streams like CPP and OAS....
If you financially f*****cked up & now in your 30s or 40s you want to turn it around, crush your debt, learn to invest, and get your money right — I hope you find my page. Because it’s NOT too late...
Manulife’s RRSP suite gives Canadian advisors a range of tax‑advantaged options, from high‑interest savings accounts to short‑ and long‑term GICs. Individual accounts and employer‑sponsored group plans both allow investments in stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds and guaranteed products, with no...
Choosing when to start Social Security benefits has lasting financial consequences, especially for those who keep working. In 2026 the earnings exemption is $24,480 for workers under full retirement age (FRA) and $65,160 after reaching FRA, with a $1‑for‑$2 and...
Let me be real: buying a “home” just to live in it doesn’t make sense to me. If I’m signing up for 30 years of payments, that house better be working for me. So instead of buying a single-family home,...
If you invest $10,000 today, how much of that actually gets invested after all charges? If the answer isn't close to $10,000, you should understand why. One client found out she'd been paying a 2% upfront sales charge every time she...
Capital One is running a one‑day promotion that awards 45 times Venture X miles through its Capital One Offers portal and up to 60 % cash back via the Capital One Shopping extension on Skechers purchases. The elevated rates are limited to today...
Travel costs are based on supply and demand, and if you are willing to avoid busy seasons, you can save significant amounts of money. https://t.co/g0l2iAc2jo
reminder that "higher yield" investments often come with hidden strings attached when times get rough. https://t.co/vsz74vsEzC
The U.S. Department of Education can now order employers to withhold as much as 15% of a borrower’s disposable pay without a court order once a federal student loan defaults. About 5.5 million borrowers are already in default, and another 12 million...
[Deleted a somewhat mean-spirited reply regarding, let's call it, asset allocation for a newly rich inheritor that was getting way too much traction for comfort.]
Social Security is a key part of many retirees’ financial plans. If that’s you, make sure you’re not overlooking a potential danger: scams. https://t.co/tfaNsH0Nih
The article outlines a suite of often‑overlooked tax deductions that independent musicians can claim beyond the usual instrument and travel write‑offs. It details how home‑studio space, software subscriptions, education fees, conference travel, marketing costs, health‑related services, and insurance premiums qualify...
I am at a stage in life where my main objective is to pass along to others the principles I have learned over the last 60 years that have helped me and that I think can help others. I believe...
"401(k) is a scam because you can't retire early" People who say this don’t know about Rule of 55, Section 72(t) SoSEPP, or Roth Conversions. There are ways to access 401k before 59½. You also likely will live past 59 anyways.. Use tax...
Howard Marks: “Investment success doesn’t come from ‘buying good things,’ but rather from ‘buying things well.’” Takeaway: Entry price drives outcome.
🆕 Adviser links: helping clients set goals, the impact of tax planning in retirement, and four components of senior adviser satisfaction. https://t.co/fA8eqSMu5q image: https://t.co/uYN309n8aN https://t.co/xDdI8PtgNe
“If a #smallbiz spends 30% to 50% of sales on purchases, and 1/2 those purchases can earn you points, and, on average, you earn 2% value on those points, you'll increase your businesses profitability by one percentage point.” ¬Credit Card...
